The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 20

The Image of Both Churches in Revelation · Chapter 20

The xx. Chapter.

THe laste enterprise of Sathan the common aduersary of mā, doth this chapter folowing declare, fetching an originall from the béeginning of Christes spiritull kingdōe to conclude with the whole for our necessarie instruction. As a briefe rehearsall of all that is in a maner spoken afore was this vntounto Iohn, leaste hée shoulde of obliuiousnesse forget (as mannes nature is forgetful) these wō derfull misteries and singuler premonishments of the Lorde, most expediēt to be knowen of his church. That she might by them, s… aforehande the wily craftes of the diuell and his members, and to beware of them. Besids that to take courage, patiently to suffer their cruell persecucions. For a thing oft rehersed departeth not so soone y^e memory, as y^t is but once tolde. Which caused this Euangelist not onelyonly here in this place▪ but also in his Gospell & first Epistle ofte to repeate the sayinges, least he shoulde seme fayntely to passe them ouer, and bycause y^e reader shoulde the more earnestly marke them.

THE TEXT.

1 And I savve an Angell 2. Come dovvne from heauen 3. hauing the key of the bottō lesse pyt. 4. And a great chayne in his hande 5. And he toke the Dragon, the olde serpent (vvhyche is the Diuell and Sathanes), 6. And hee bounde hym a thousand yeares, 7. And cast hym into the bottomlesse pitte, 8. And he bounde hym, 9. and sette a seale on hym, 10. that hee should dis…eyue the people no more, 11. tyll the thousande yeares. vvere fulfilled, 12. And after that must he be losed 13. for a lyttle season.

The Commentary.

1 IN the end of these reuelations afore rehersed (saieth S. Iohn) sawe I in a secrete vysion an Angell of most singuler bewtye; betokning Iesus Christ the Aungell of Gods eternall couenaunt.

2 From the high heauen aboue came this Angell downe vntounto the earth, sent of the euerlasting father. For neyther spared that louing father to sende his most dere and onelyonly sonne at the time appoynted, nor yet the obedient sonne to submit him selfe to the shape of a seruaunt and so become manne. …i… t…riously did he ouercome both deathe and the Diuell, as appeareth by hys great miracles, resurrection and ascē cion. And lyke as he came downe first of all with a p…ssible meekenesse, so came he downe ater y^t wyth an impassyble and inuysible mayiestie. Sodeine was thys latter comminge downe & most maruelous to y^e worlde, such tyme as he by his heauenly spirit replenished his Apostles with all necessary knowledg. And the noyse therof was hearde the worlde ouer, tuche tyme as they did preach it abrode. Sī sibly was this cōming downe expressed in Saule, & olso the mighty power therof, when hée throwe him to the grounde, and sayd, Saule, Saule, why persecutest thou me?

3. Thys Aungell had the keye of the bottomelesse pet or power ouer hell, and a greate chayne in hys hande or full libertie to restrayne the spirituall aduersarie. For vntounto him was geuen all power in heauen and in earth.

4 Authoritie had he to destroye him that had rule ouer death, which was than the Diuell. Though I was dead (sayth Christ) yet am I now a lyue … euer and euer, hauing the keyes both of death and hell.

5 And accordinge to his authoritys (sayth saynt Iohn) he toke the fierce Dragon in hande that was wonte so maliciously to noy, that olde wily serpent that of so long tyme hath wyth infinite craftes deceiued, which is the very diuell himselfe or malicious accuser of man, and is called Sathan, or the cruell aduersarye as he is moste worthy. For both is he a spightfull aduersarie to God, euermore withstā ding his will, & also vntounto man in plucking him backe frō folowing y^e same.

6 Lyke a most valiaunt captain fell he vpō that stronge armed house watcher, & ouercame him, depriuing hym both of weapon and spoyle. He layed a snare for the outragious Behemoth, and caught him. He ringed the nose of the greate Leuiathan, and so brought him vnderunder. Yea, he bounde that malicious sathan and made him sure for a thousande yeares space, to make of the vessels of wrath y^e vessels of mercy. This did he by his stronge worde of couenaunte, whome he made for a thousand generations. And a full perfourmaunce it is of Gods first promise for mannes behoue, that Christ should tread downe the head of the serpent. For a thousande yeares was this restraynte. Marke besides the misterie, the tyme from the ascention of Christ vntounto the dayes of Siluester the second Bishop of Rome of that name, and ye shall all finde that it was frō Christes natiuitie a complete thousande, after all the Historiographers. By such Nicromancy as he learned of a Sarazin in Spayne obtayned he the papacy, & as witnesseth Iohn Wycleaue in his booke De solutiōe sathane, in Christes vicarship he lowsoned that diuell whō Christ had afore shut vp, and sett him againe at large to deceiue a freshe. Cō sider for the tyme that hée was thus bound, the constaunt saith of the christians, and the inuincible heartes of thyr martyrs, and ye shall finde them farre different from them which hath bene since. He was then so weake, so infatuate and babysh, that not onelyonly wyse men, learned men, and stronge men, dyd set him lyghte, but also yong maydens, chyldren, and tender infantes in a maner did laugh him to scorn, & set all his subttle slaights at nought. Euidente wyll this bee to all them that shall read y^e liues of y^e holye martirs & sainctes of y^e primatiue church. Lyke a byrde was that croked Leuiathan in those dayes so tamed, that no man set by him at all.

7 For not onelyonly was he then bound but also throwen downe with violēce into the bottomelesse pytte. For that tyme might they go safe vponupon the adder and scorpion, they might tread vnderunder their féete both the Lyon and Dragon. Both the Diuell and his Angels might they then set at nought.

8 Yea, he was shutte vp, and so was double bounde. So was his power taken from him, that vponupon neither side could he harme. Neyther was he able to plucke them from Christes fayeth by flatteringe prosperitie, nor yet by vrgent aduersitie. Neither could tyrā nies nor herisies for that time preuail agaynst the Gospell.

9 Fynally he set a sure seale vpō him which was his word, will, and commaūdemēt, y^t he should no more of his own presumption deceiue y^e people w^t errours & Idole worshipings y^t beleued in him, or that were predestinat to be saued, till such time as the afore sayd thousād yeres wer fully acōplished, or as he shoulde permit him thervnto for their vnbeleues sake.

10 By thys doth the holy Ghost, here assartayne vsus that Christ hath so suspended the subtilties, and suppressed y^e venemouse craftes of Sathan for his electes, that he can not hurt them in one heire of their head. For onelyonly is all this spoken for the chosen number. No part hath therein the reprobate vessels, neuer was the Diuell from thē yet speared, bat hath bene in all ages with thē famyliar. OnelyOnly are the consciences of the rightuous by thys fréedome quieted, all other still left in captiuitie. This reuelation respecteth in this poynt the inwarde kingedom of Christ, or the hidden congregation of the faithfull, whom the worlde beholdeth with froward eyes, and not the blasynge Sinagoge of Antichrist whom it laugheth vponupon so freshly.

11 None otherwyse were they for all those thousand yeares vexed of Sathā and his curssed members, but as was pacient Iob, in their outwarde substaunce & bodies. No power had he vponupon their soules all that longe season.

12 And where as it is here sayed y^t after these thousand yeares Sathan must be let lose agayne for a certayne teme. Consider it to be the promise of God, which must in effect be fulfilled. Not y^t he shall agayne lose him which hath once bound him for euer, vut y^t he shall permit other to doe it according to his threatning promise, y^e vnthankefulnesse and mallyce of wicked doers requiring none other. In y^e end of these thousand yeares raigned in y^e papacy at Rome the afore named Necromanser Siluester, which was both a blacke Mouncke and also a Frenchman borne. This beastly Antichriste boasting himselfe not onelyonly to bée Christes vicar in earth, but also to be equal with him in maiesty and power, set f…rst the Diuell at large by his Necromancy, which toke frō the heartes of mem the liuing worde of the Lord leste they shoulde be saued. Frō thēce forth were not the holy scriptures regarded, but olde wyues tales & Iewish fabels most highly reputed. Them came in Cannōs, Decrées, Sentences, Sinodals, Decretals, Clemētines, Exextrauagauntes with other Popysh …awes, the gospell claene set apart. About this time ollo (as master Iohn Carion wryteth in hys cronicle) floryshed the Lordly order of cardinals, and grewe into a wonderful estimacion in y^e worlde. The vniuersites were thē furnished w^t learned mē, mightely to proue the Pope Christes vicar in earth, and the onelyonly husbande and ouerséer of hys churche. General counsels were oft gathered to dyspute w^t all Christendome, that none might dispence in matters of conscience, but he and they whom he should appoynte, and that he could in no wyse erre. No, though when the candle were out, he went to bed with an other mans wife, besydes that I wil not spaeke at this time. By this meanes got he an imperial seate, and might make both Emperours & kinges at his pleasure. And lykwyse depose them when he lusted. He myght distribute the kingdomes and geue the great possessions of this worlde to whom he lust…d, yea to hys owne bastardes and chamberlynes as he dyd manye tymes. For of the Diuell he hath receyued them, where as Christ did vntterly forsake them. And for so much as he was the high Priest after y^e order of Sathā, be myght kepe a generall marte all hys lyfe tyme, & sell all the Bishoprickes, benefices, degrées, and offices of hys church. He might subiect the gospel to his owne interpretation, make new constitutions, release synne for mony, make eueryevery day new Gods, and doe many other thinges els. No end was then of their gaudyshe ceremonyes, brawlynges in the temple, Singings, bels, orgayns, Images, ornamentes, lampes, candels, holy dayes, shauings, surplesses, pater nosters, cōmaunded …, & such like, that a man woulde hauehave thought them Angels when they were very Diuels in dede. For the tyme that Sathan was thus sette at large by Christes onelyonly vicar, was ther not one martyr alowed vnlesse it were for deposinge of Princes, and defending the liberties of holy churrh agaynst them, lest theyr murtherers & théeues beynge wythin sacred orders, shoulde be hanged with the secule…, Marke the condition of the tyme.

Afore that Sathan was thus at libertie, he remained secret in the harts of euill men. Now is he abrode in theyr outward ceremonies and rites, ready to be séene of all the worlde, if pryde, pompe, hawtinesse, vaine glory, may shew him, or if hipocrisie, errour, supersticion, and all other diuellishnesse can tell wher he is. When Christ shut him vp, he toke Idolatrie from the people, the Pope hath restored it vntounto thē againe in thus settinge him at large. In this is he not denied to hauehave bene afore this time abrode among y^e wicked. For little lesse then foure hundred yeares afore the end of this thousand, began y^e two Monarks of Antichristes kingedome the Pope in the West vnderunder Phocas the Emperour, and great Mahomet in y^e East vnderunder Heraclius, marke it in the cronicles who so list. For afore that time was not the Pope taken for the vniuersall head of the church, nor yet for Christes vicar. And this could not hauehave béen vnlesse he had after some sort, béen at libertie. Euermore hath he reigned w^tout restraint among the vngodly.

But neuer so manifestly as then, hys abhominacions accouonted for holynesse in the churche. At this losinge of Sathan or very defection as Paul calleth it, openlye appeared the man of sinne, the sonne of perdicion, and the aduersarye which exaleth him selfe aboue al that beareth the name of God. Faith wared so fainte and charitie so colde, y^e scarce appeared one spark of y^e truth. The church becāe a peruerse generation, & hir children were very vnfaithful. Afore regned be enermore in y^e world, but neuer in Christes congregation till that time. Neuer was the vniuersall church of Christ defiled with so many abhominable kindes of Idolatrye before.

13 But it so continued not longe. For the text saieth, he was losed but for a litle season. Immediately after perceued Berengarius the Archedecon of Angoy in Fraunce that all was well, and with Bruno the bishop impugned their realitie, Idēptitie, & naturalitie in the sacrament, to bringe it againe to Christes cleare institution. After him followed Waleranus y^e bishop of Medeburge and did the same in Germany, with many other prelates and doctours Consequently ensued y^e Waldeanes and Albigeanes pretending the Apostles life & doctrine, men doubtlesse of a godly zeale and spirit, and of them the Antichrists slew more then a hundreth thousande, besides an hundreth and foure score whome they brent bycause they would neuer abiure. What Guid… Bonatus, Ioannes Semeca, Guilhelmus de sancto amore, Marsilius Paduanus, Arnoldus de villa noua, Frāciscus Petrarcha, & other learned men dyd against them after that, it were very long to write. Iohn Wicleaue in Englād, & Iohn Husse in Boheme, men of excelent life & learning, with diuers other more, replyed earnestly against their transubstanciaciōs and other sorceries. Laurēcius Ualla, denyed the donation of Constantyne. Ihō Wassalus of Groning in Friesland, called the light of the world, cō dempned vtterly their purgatory and pardōs. Now last of all commeth Martyne Luther, Ioannes Oecolāpadius, Huldricus Zwinglyus, Pomeranus, Brencius, Melācthon, Bucer, Bullinger, with other sincere and godly deuynes, and they turne ouer their vniuersall kingdome. So merciful is the Lord to hys people in this latter ende of the world, that by these and such other the Antichrist is clearly vttered, and all his Hypocrisy disclosed. I doubt not but within fewe dayes, the mightie breath of his mouth (which is hys liuing Gospell) shall vtterly distroye hym with hys whole generation of shauelings, by their faythfull administration in the worde.

THE TEXT.

1 And I sawe seates, 2. and they satte vponupon them, 3. and the iudgement was giuen vntounto them. 4. And I sawe the soules of them, 5. that were beheaded for the vvitnesse of Iesus, 6. and for the vvorde of God. 7. vvhichwhich had not vvorshiped the beast, 8. neither his Image, 9. neyther had taken his marke vponupon their foreheads, 10. or on their handes, 11. And they lyued, 12. and raigned vvith Christ, 13. a thousand yeares. 14. But the other of the dead men lyued not againe, 15. till the thousande yeares vvere finished.

The Commentary.

1 Whiles the Dragon was thus tyed vp and throwne into the bottomles pit for a …housand yeares space, a certayne continuance of beinge, the elect had. Whose peaceable estate and condition for that time the text here following declareth, by maner of recapitulation. After the afore rehearsed vision of the serpent. I behelde (saith S. Iohn) seates prepared without number. I saw the harts of faithfull beléeuers (which are the seats of wisdōe after Stlomon) bewtifully garnished w^t vertues by the preaching of y^u Apostles & other godly techers. Uery peaceable & quietus were these seats. For thogh they had in the worlde on eueryevery syde tribulation, yet had they their contciences quieted in Christ. They considered themselues partakers of the heauenly calling, and reioyced in hope of the glory of gods children.

2 Upon these seates sate they which are afore called that people whome Sathan should no more deceine. They setled them selues in the wisdome y^e god loueth. They groūded theyr dwelling w^t discreation in his vnderstanding and knowledge. Fast dyd they cleaue to his louinge worde. And for none aduersitie woulde they moue theyr foote from the hard rock whiche is Christ. Thus sate his people in the beautifull seates of peace after Esay in the tabernacles of trust, and in a most plentuous rest, the deceuers and mockers put aparte.

3 And as they were thus quieted, the iudgemente or true vnderstandyng of the Lordes verytie was giuen vntounto them. Their sences were opened, and great knowledge had they in the scriptures. The figures and prophesies that were hyd to other, were manifeste and open vntounto them. The Dark vale was remoued from Moyses face, and the light of the laws appeared. They coulde then decerne good from euill, light from darknesse, and swéete from sower. The yoke was then taken from them, & no longer were they subiecte to straungers. Dead men perceiued the secrets of the Booke. The eyes of the blinde might sée without mist of darknesse.

They whiche afore tyme were of an erronious spirite, had than the ryght vnderstanding, and were learned in the lawe. In their inward partes was the knowledge thereof planted of the Lord, and the truth written in theyr hartes, he becomming their God & they his people. Bycause we should not seperate the dead from the quicke, or the departed from the liuing, and so iudge them dyuers, cōsidering they both are of one God, and liue by one spirite, being of one hope and calling. The holy ghost doeth here couple them togither, as shéepe of one pasture, féeding all of one spirituall meate, and drinkyng of one spirituall rock accompanying thē, and as members of one misticall body of Christ in thys present reuelation.

4 I also (sayeth saint Iohn) behelde in this secrets mysterie of the spirite the innocent soules of godly men and women, that were beheaded of cruell tyrauntes for the faithfull testimony of Iesu and the constante assercyon of the true word of the Lord God. I perceyued by the scriptures that his true harted witnesses remained not in deth with the wicked, but passed through… with the rightuous from the death vntounto lyfe, & had the lyfe euerlasting. They are not forgotten wyth the vngodly, but they nowe followe the lambe, and dwell where as he dwellethe. Else would Paule neuer so ernestlye hauehave desired to be dissolued frō this fleshe, and so to be wyth Christ.

5 Not onelyonly is this here spoken of them that wer beheadded, and of none other else, thoughte it séemeth so in the letter, but of all them that hath dyed for the veritie. For than should Esaye, Ieremye, Ezechiell, Amos, Micheas, Zacharye, Steuen, and Iames the lesse, with all those that hath bene burned, strangled, quartred, drowned, stoned, crucyfied, spytted, racked, …layed, boyled, stycked, shot throughe wyth arrowes, and that hath suffrid all other terrible tormentes, be rekened to be none of that number. Beheaddyng is here taken for depriuacion of lyfe, lyke as the heade is in scripture taken sometyme for the soule, sometyme for the whole man.

6 For standing by Christes veritie, confessinge hym God and man, dyd they loose their liues, which was in the end no losse vntounto them but a profitable winning. For vntounto such remaineth the crowne of lyfe, the delyghtes of Paradise, and a seate wyth god.

7 These worshipped not the beastlye Antichrist, the verye body of Sathan. They bowed not downe, nor yet gaue them selues to such wycked tradicions as that carnall generacion made for their beasty bellyes sake.

8 Neyther reuerenced they thys prodigious Image, or such vngodly princes and magistrates as (their trewe offyce set a parte) dyd counterfet hym in crueltie and diuelishnesse. But they rightlye considered with y^e faithfull Machabées and apostles, that in such case it was much better to obey God than men.

9 Neither had they in their lyfe time taken the printe of his filthie seale vponupon their foreheades, professinge in their inwarde consciences those diabolicall rules.

10 Nor yet on their handes, agréeyng to vse them in the outward conuersacion of their bodyes. No yoke woulde they drawe with the infidels, thinking that Christ coulde hauehave no agréement with Beliall. For through faith they perceyued (as he that is of the spirite discerneth all things) that though they séemed glorious in the face of y^e world, yet were they before God abhominable sacriledge. Diligētly they searched the scriptures, and beleued not all spirites, but first proued them whither they were of God or naye. By that knewe they that the homage of soule ought to be giuen to none other than to one liuing God alone, and that none other preceptes of liuing were to bée followed of them, than Christ their sauiour had taught. All other traditions of mē tooke they for straūge doctrine, & for crafti colors of diuilish deceitfulnes

11 Therfore whā they were thought of the wicked to be dead, they liued in all swéetnes of y^e spirit, in desire of his latter commyng which shall bée to theyr double glory.

12 And they reygned w^t Christ the pastour & high bishop of their soules, not onelyonly here were as they suffred wyth hym for a thousand yeres space, but also aboue where as he sitteth on the right hand of gods maiestie seat, thousand wythout end. Than raigneth the godly numbre most of all, whan they seme to y^e wicked least of all to reigne, as whan they suffer persecution and death for Christ. For after none other sort reigneth hys churche here, thā he reigned afore them, whose tryumphe was greatest vponupon the crosse.

13 The thousand yeares of y^e reigne of the godly, stretcheth here no farder than the thousande years of the fall of the vngodly, Christes yeares also deducted which is the head of his congregation. For as the one kyngdome decreased, the other alwayes increased, very fewe Christian martyrs are constaunt witnesses perceiued, frō thence forth. For as it appeareth by the historye many were abiured and recāted (which was not séene in the former age) and all in a maner, a small number of the poore, except, vtterly renoū ced the veritye, for the cruell behauior of the Antichristes. In these ii. sortes afore rehersed, of them that sate vponupon the seates and of them that were beheadded for the testymony of Iesu, is it to be marked, that all were not martyrs whome God alowed for his in the prymatiue churche, but that there were of both sortes. So well was he accepted that mortyfied the desires of the fleshe, and offered himselfe a lyuinge sacryfyce vntounto God as hée that gaue his life for the veritie.

14 But the residue (sayth saint Iohn) or the other sort, called the deade men for that they were not numbred with the ryghtuous, neyther among them that sate vponupon the seates, nor yet amonge them that were slayne for the witnesse of Iesu, lyued not agayne after they were once dead, tyll the thousand yeres of their death was throughly fulfilled. The time was whan they which wer dead through sin, did heare the voyce of the sonne of God. They fatihfuly beleued y^e word therof, & so it reuiued in him vntounto y^e lyfe euerlasting, which was both y^e life & light of men. Wher as y^e froward con…ēners of y^e lyuing word, hauing their cōsciēces sealed w^t y^e beasts marke, remained stil in their infidelitie, which is y^e very death of y^e soule, & so were by the right iudgemēt of God lost for euer. For the sin against y^e holy ghost (which is a resistāce against y^e manifest truth) shal neither be forgeuen in this worlde nor yet in the world to come.

15 A time without end doth this word till, cause this thousand here to be, after the commō vsage of the scripture. Noe sent forth a Rauen out of y^e arke, whiche returned not agayne tyl the waters were dryed vp, that is to say, he neuer returned again. Ioseph knew not Mary til she had brought forth hir first borne sonne. That is to say he neuer bodely knew hir. Thou shalte not out of prison till thou hast payde y^e vttermost mite .i. thou shalte neuer out. With an hundreth of suche places in the Bible.

THE TEXT

1. This is that first resurrection. 2. Blessed and holy is he, that hath part in the first resurrection. 3. For on suche shall the seconde death hauehave no povver, 4. But they shall be the prists of God and of Christ. 5. And shal raign vvith him a thousand yeares.

The commentary

1 This is the first resurrection vntounto lyfe, to ryse from sin to repentaunce, from ignoraunce to godly knowledge, and from darknesse to faith. Through the offence of one man entred sin into the world, and through sin death. Necessary it is therefore, to dye vntounto sin, and to liue vntounto rightuousnesse. And so to rise togither with Christ, séekyng the things which are aboue, & not vpō earth. For neuer shal they come to the seconde resurrection which is vntounto the lyfe euerlasting, that will not ryse by repentaunce vntounto a new lyfe in hym, which is both resurrection and lyfe.

2 Blessed is that man of y^e Lord, yea, holy, iust, and perfect may he be reported also of all men, which hath porcion conuenient in y^e first resurrection with Dauid, Magdalene, Zacheus, and Peter. Happy are they which hearing the word of God, retayneth it in theyr lyuing. For they being renued with the glad tydinges of lyfe, are depured by the spirite of Christ, sanctified and so made the habitacles of y^e holy Ghost.

3 Upon such Godly dysposed persons hath the seconde death of the soule (which is eternal dampnatiō) no maner of power nor effectual iurisdiction. For no damnation can be vntounto them which are in Christ Iesu, not walking after y^e fleshe. Though they hauehave bene great sinners, yet shall not theyr sinnes be to them imputed, but in the resurrectiō of the wrightuous shall they ryse to immortalyte, and be as the very Angels in heauen. He y^t hath taken frō thē the poore of death, shall make thē sure of eternal inheretaūce w^t god.

4 They shall surely bée the chosen priestes of God the euerlasting father and of his eternall sonne Iesus Christ whiche are of the firste resurrection. Though they be here in the flesh, yet fight they not after the flesh, but they shall folow y^e gouernaunce of y^e spirit, & geue ouer their bodis for a liuing sacryfice holy and acceptable vntounto God.

5 And thus shall they reigne w^t christ their merciful sauiour & redemer for y^e space of y^e thousād yeres afore named. None other toke they all y^t longe seasō for theyr spiritual Messyas, their eternall King, their hygh Bishop for all, their mayster, their Lorde, their gyde, their lyght, and y^e shepeherde of theyr soules. None other wold they acknowledge but him for their mediatoure & attonement maker, neyther Moyses nor Samuell, Noe, Daniell, nor Iob, Iohan Baptist, Mary, nor Peter. Hée onelyonly was vntounto them all wysedome, ryghtuousnesse, holynesse, and redēption. In none other name coulde they fynde health and saluation but alone in hys. Nothing pertayneth this vntounto the Popes masse sayers, for they call vponupon many names wyth Ora pro nobis, and are of a far other priesthode as we hauehave declared afore. In christes kyngdō is none outwarde Priesthode, nor sacryfice to be made for sin. For he hath w^t one oblaciō for all fully satysfied for y^e sins of his electe number for euer. The office of a Christē man now is onelyonly to offer vp himselfe by y^e deniall of himselfe, and by the mortificatiō of his fleshe. In the holy supper of the Lorde (which is a mutuall participaciō of his bodi & bloud) is no new sacrifice to be made, but onelyonly a faithfull remembraūce to be taught of that full and perfect sacrifice that he made once for all, vnlesse we will betray him and crucifie him againe. The dutie of a minister in Christes cōgregation, is with all study and diligence to labour in the holy worde of God, be he bishop, priest, Chaplayne, Pastour, or preacher. Hys ministration is great labour & no dygnitie, payne and not pryde or arrogancie. And hauing his foode and rayment, he ought to require no more.

THE TEXT.

1 And vvhan the thousande yeares are expyred. 2. Sathan shall be loosed out of prison, 3. and shall go out, 4. to diseeiue the people, 5. vvhichwhich ar in the foure quarters of the earth. 6. Gog & Magog, 7. to gather them togither to battle 8 vvhose number is as the sande of the sea, 9. And they vvent vponupon the plaine of the earth, 10. and compassed the tentes of the sayntes about, 11. and the beloued Citie. 12. And fyre came dovvne from God out of heauen, 13. and deuoured them, 14. And the Diuell that deceyued them, 15. vvas cast into a lake of fyre and brymstone, 26. vvhere the beast and the false Prophet vvere 17. and shall be tormented daye and nighte for euermore.

The Commentary.

1 After the plentnous description of the true church of Christe, which is vnknowen to the worlde (for the glorious doughter of the eternall Kinge, is from within, sayth Dauid, now foloweth in course the pernicious kingdome of Antechrist, whan it was in y^e hyghest pryde, so soone as the afore rehersed thousande yeares (sayth saynt Iohn) are fully accōplished or brought to an ende.

2 Sathan the common aduersarie of man shalbe loosed out of his darke pryson, and so shalbe set at large by the sufferance of God, mans wickednesse deseruing none other. A full libertie shall he hauehave to do all myschiefe vponupon earth, and strongely to delude the vnbeleuers for their vnbeleues sake.

3 He shall go fourth with all deceytefull power wherof he is full, transforming himselfe into a resemblaunce of the Angell of lyght, to deceyue the vniuersall people of the world.

4 Through the operation of erroure he shall cause them to giuegive credence vntounto lies and false myracles, that they myght be dampned for refusing y^e truth and consentinge to such wyckednesse. Uery crafty shall he compasse thē with gynnes of hypocrisye too blinde theyr vnfaythfull myndes, leaste the lyghte of the gospell shoulde be open vntounto thē. The abhomination of desolacion shall he set vp in the holy place, to the vtter destruction of theyr fayth.

5 Yea, he shall séeke out this people from each, iiii. quarters of the vniuersall earth, to corrupt their consciences with all maner of supersticions.

6 Which people of him thus peruerted is called here in misteri, Gog & Magog which is as much to say as couered, & of reuered. For both y^e graūd capitains, and multitudes of thē depending doth these two words cōprehend, y^e one couering y^e diuel w^t many false religiōs & the other in his sorte folowing y^e same wicked cōsent. S. Augustine in his .xx. …ooke, de ciuitate dei, willeth by Gog to be signified y^e glorious hipocrites of the world, & by Magog y^e opē enimies of rightuousnesse pretēding y^e contrary as testifieth Berrosus the Caldeane in y^e first booke of his histories, & fyft chap. Gog was a mighty gouernour in the landes of Sabea and Arabia the ryche, vnderunder Nemroth y^e great Kinge of Babilon and their ruled wyth Sabus his father in the .xviii yere of hys reigne. In the .xxxviii. chapter of Ezechiels Prophecy is he called the chiefe prynce of Mosoche & Turball, whom some expositours take for Capadoce & Spayne. But after the opinion of saint Hierom and Isidorus whych was a Spanayrde, the Hebreues doth take this Thurball for Italye, whyche is muche more agreable to this purpose. Magog was y^e second sonne of Iaphet, whyche was the third sonne vntounto Noe. Thys Magoge (as wytnesseth Iosephus in the first booke of his antiquities the xj. Chapter) was the first beginner of the Magogytes, whome y^e Grekes called the Scitheanes, & wée now the Tartareanes. And al y^e chiefe wryters specyfieth the Turkes of thē to hauehave takē their first originall. Now marke thys wonderfull misterye, & consider therein both the tyme & story. So shall ye well perceiue y^e holy ghost to meane none other hereby this Gog and Magoge, but the Romish Pope & Mahomete, with their blasphemous and wicked generations. Serche the Cronicles and ye shall finde that their beginninges were base, and their estate, simple before y^e thousand yeares were finished. But after that they grewe vp so high by theyr fayned simplicitie and simulate holynesse, y^t they became the .ii. chefe Monarkes of the earth, and so in processe ruled the vniuersall world. These are the .ij. horns or beastly kingdomes of the great Antichrist or whole bodye of the Diuell, rysyng vp by the earthly studyes and diuelysh deuises of wicked men. By y^e doctrine of Aristotle, Plato, Porphirie Auicenne, Auerois, Auenzoar, and such other, became the Romish Pope Christes vycar, and head of the vniuersall churche. Petrus Lombardus created him a newe diuinitye, so dyd Gracianus monachus a newe Cannō law of decrées to establyshe the same besydes that was done thā by Petrus Conmestor the thirde brother. For all they thrée were the chyldrē of one aduoutrous mother, as witnesseth Antoninus, Hermannus Schedel, Ioannes Textor, and diuerse other Chronographers. By the crafti cōueyaunce of Sergius a false Monke of Constantinople, and of one Mathew the Archdeacon of Antioche, was Mahomete taken for the Apostle of both testamē tes, for the great Prophet of God, and for Messias among the Tartareanes and Arabies, wtth other peoples of y^e East. To establish this by a pretensed religyon, and to bring it to a myghty monarchy, by the aduisement of Phinées, Abdias, Cabalchabar, Balteira, Merban, and Elgug, with other Iewes, Iacobynes, Nestorianes, and Arlyanes, they made the blasphemous lawe of their Alchorane, as testifyeth Iohn Cuspiniane in his boke de Turcarum origine and other auctors else. Thus for the wickednesse and sinnes of the people suffered the Lorde abhominable hypocrites to hauehave the domynion ouer them. The two hornes are lyke the Lambes hornes at a blushe. For boeth they pretende holynesse in fastinges, in praiers, in almesse dedes, in washings, & in other holy rytes and ceremonies. That a mā seing thē (not hauing knoweledge of y^e truth of god, which trieth all) wolde thinke nothing to be more pure, honest, godly, innocēt, cleane, holy, & angleycke, than are their tradicions. Both they confesse one God. Both they commende christ. Both they allowe the scriptures of both lawes. Mahomete callerh Christ the worde of God, the spirite of God, and the soule of God, the most excellēt Prophet and the worthiest among creaturs. But in no case wyll hée hauehave hym taken for the sonne of GOD, no more than the Pope wyll hauehave hym taken for a full sauyour wythout hys masses and suffrages. And lyke as the Pope hath rysen vp by the wilye practyses of Phylosophers, Sophysters, Sentencioners and Canonystes, so hath Mahomete commen vp by the Sobellianes, Manyches, Eunomyanes, Macedonianes, Nestoreanes, and Arryanes with other heretiques. Out of whose opinyons was contriued hys Alchorane as a meane lawe betwyxt Moyses and Christ, bicause y^e one (saye they) was too ful of hardnesse, the other too full of libertie. And to call vponupon him both Iewes & Christianes, he admytteth after a sort both Circumcision and Baptyme graunting them lybertie to hauehave many wiues with other voluptuous pleasures.

7 Thus vnderunder simulate religion or pretence of Gods lawe & seruyce, these two tyrauntes, Gog and Magog, the Romysh Pope & Mahomete with their whole generatiōs of like spirite wyth thē, hauehave gathered thē selues together into one wicked consent against god & his christ. For vnderunder Gog & Magog are al they cōprehēded, whō sathā deceiued after y^t he was set at larg, though these two hauehave not accorded in other things, yet hauehave they boeth agréed in this one poynt by the Diuels entycement, to battayle agaynst the lambe. To withstande the veritie, and impugne the truth of y^e Gospel, they hauehave bene readye eueryevery where, in eueryevery lande, in eueryevery cytie, and in euerye towne. Of one cruel purpose and study to do mischyefe hauehave these two enymies bene in all places of the world, to persecute Christes poore congregation. This thing doth the daily practises of them both so manifestly declare, that all the worlde se it▪ well inough. These doeth Esay call that strong multitude, whose spoyle Christ shall deuyde, the smith that bloweth the colles in y^e hote fyre, and the waster that destroyeth, Ezechiel doeth compare them to a raging tempest, Daniell to the King of the Northe, and Zachary to the Princes of the earth.

8 Whose excéeding number (saith saynct Iohn) is as the drye sande that hath bene bast vp wyth the sea, which can in no wyse be numbred. In thys full well maye it be …onsidred what a small thynge Christes flocke was in comparison of these souldiours of Gog and Magog, after sathans going forth, & for y^e tyme of their battayle. Innumerable were the sectes of the Pope with those that they brought to that false fayth and obedience. And so were the Prophetes of Mahomete with y^e peruerted mulytude. Theyr power was great for the tyme, and their malice vengeable, yet were they as sande drye and vnfruitefull.

9 They rose vp in pryde, ryches and ryalty, and alwaies went ouer where as they sée the earth made playne and smoth, and that in eueryevery lande compasse. Their generall iourney was all the worlde ouer towardes them that were poore in spirite, or whose l…stes were mortified from the worlde… Consider them for an example, whom they hauehave cruelly burned and slaine where as they perceiued their croked custōes throwen doune, and the streight rule of Gods worde faythfullye receyued, there persecuted they moste …ier…sy, there we…ed they furious and mayde, sparing neyther swerde, fyre, gybbet, nor other torment.

page missing such heretykes as woulde not beleue as holy church commaunded. Thys hath bene theyr order for the tyme of Sathans lybertie. And this hauehave they taken for an hygh poynt of Christan religion. For thys is that houre that Christ prophecyed of, wherein men shold think to do vntounto god gret good seruice whā thei put one of his vntounto deth.

11 Thus hauehave they wyth all prodigious tyranny compassed the derely beloued Citie of God, or the holy cōgregaton for whom Christ dyed, vtterly to ouerthrowe it. By all maner of craftes and diuelyshe circumuentiōs hauehave they gone about at that tyme (as they woulde doe yet styll) to destroye that samll remnaunte or church of y^e Lord, builded without materiall stone & morter, y^• swéete spouse of his with out spot or wrincle. Not onelyonly sought they in y^e enterprise to bring to naught the particular cōgregatiōs, but for as much as lay in thē, y^e vniuersal church of god, thā liuing. Blessed be our lorde god, though it hath ben since y^e loosing of sathā but a pore wretched neglected thing, & of no reputatiō before y^e world, yet hath it bene alwayes before hym a beloued Cytie, and hath defended it so mightely, that nothing hath peryshed of it. No not one heire of theyr heades. What the Turke wyth Mahomets host hath done for hys parte in Egipt, Gréece, Palestyne, Hierusalem, Bulgary, in y^e borders of Italy & Spayne, at y^e Rhodes, in y^e kingdom of Hūgarye, Ludouirus y^e king there rufully slaine, & nowe last of all against y^e citie of Uyē, I thinke it is knowē vntounto all mē. We may se by y^t is here writtē of these two enimies Gog & Magog, the daily experiments confirming the same, that they are farre aboue vsus in number and power being as the sādes in the sea. Most vainely are we occupied, if we assertaine our selues to hauehave the victorye ouer them by any other way than the Lorde hath appoynted. Let vsus pray therefore vntounto the Lorde for grace and than amende our liues, and the plage shall cease. OnelyOnly hath he promysed to destroy them all wyth the breath of his mouth and wyth no bodely armoure nor strength of men, as here after foloweth. Let vsus in the meane tyme giuegive our selues vntounto feruent prayer, to compassion of our brethern, to dedes of charytie & pitty, to abstinence from synne, and to the forsaking of our owne desires. For sure we are, y^t he shall shorten their dayes of mischiefe for his electes sake.

12 In the processe folowing must we take for the tyme past, y^e tyme to come, for the clere declaration of the mistery considering euer more the vsage of y^e scriptures for tymes. Whan these enimies Gog and Magog, shalbe at the hyghest in their vengeable enterprises agaynst the elect Citie or peaceable congregation of Christ, a consumyng fyre (sayth Saint Iohn) which is the eternal worde of the Lorde shall come downe fréelye out of heauen from the mouth of the great omnipotent God.

13 As a fearefull lyghtninge shall it fall vpō thē, and as terrible fyre shall it deuoure them, lyke as the materyall fyre, did eate vp Sodome and Gomorre, rebellions in y^e desert, & the enimyes y^t sought Helias. The fyre y^t is kindled in the wrath of God, shall burne vntounto y^e bottome of hel, & cōsume vp those terrible termagauntes.

14 That worde of y^e lordes indignation shall with great violēce throwe the diuel that wi…y serpēt, which deceiued gog & Mogog with their innumerable souldyours, into a foule stynking lake or boyling pit of wylde fyre & brimstō.

15 Upon the wicked (saith Dauid) shall y^e lorde rayne snars. Wyld fyre, brimstone, w^t tirrible storme & tēpeste, shall they hauehave to rewarde, for theyr etarnall punishment. Herein are to be marked & considered, both y^e intollerable greuousnesse of y^e paines, & also the euerlasting continuaunce of them.

16 In the same place of intollerable torment, were the beastly generatiōs of Antechrist & al their scholemaisters of hipocrites doctrine. Or eternallye of god were they therevnto appointed as the vngodly communaltie wyth theyr capitaine, and as the bodye and members with their wicked heade (for all readie is it done by his worde, but thā shall it folow in effect) wheras they shalbe as y^e Lord hath appoynted, most sharpely afflicted w^t vnspeakeable tormentes both day and night without pause or ceasing for euer and euer without ende.

17 Neuer shall their fyre be quenched (sayth Esaie) no… yet theyr gnawinge worme be taken from them. For all maner of griefes wherwith God vexed the wicked, may this fyre here be taken after the scriptures. For as witnesseth saint Augustine in his xx. booke and xii. chapter De ciuitate Dei, not onelyonly is this punishmēt to be referred to the latter iudgement, but alo to the extermination of Antichristes h…st by the worde of God the worlde ouer. Be the Gospell once purely taught amōg men, it will condemne all that they hauehave done vponupon their owne presumption without the grounde of Gods veritie, be it ceremony or Sacramente, priesthode or sacryfice, reseruinge the deceiuers to his most fearefull iudgement.

THE TEXT.

1 And I savve a great vvhite seate, 2. & him that satte on it, 3. from vvhose face fled avvay both the earth & heauē, 4. & theyr places was no more founde, 5. And I sawe the dead, both great and small, 6. stand before God. 7. And the bookes were opened, 8. And an other boke. vvas opened 9 vvhych is the booke of lyfe, 10. And the dead vvere iudged of those thinges, 11. vvhyche vvere vvrytten in the bookes, according to theyr deedes, 12. And the sea gaue vp hir dead, 13. vvhych vvere in hir, 14. And death▪ 15. and hell delyuered vp the dead, 16. vvhiche vvere in them, 17. and they vvere iudged eueryevery man according to hys deades▪ 18. And death, 19▪ and hell vvere cast, 20. into the lake of fyre▪ 21. This is the second death 22. And vvhosoeuer vvas not found vvrittē in the booke of lyfe, 23. vvas caste into the lake of fyre.

The commentary

1 A none after this I behelde (saith Saynt Iohan) in secrete mysterye an imperiall throne or seat of estate, faire splendaunte, and bewtyfull. None other is this than the iudgement seate of the Lorde.

2 Great it is, for the Maiestie and power of hym that shall syt therevpō, is of inestimable magnificence & greatnesse. Fayre and whyte, both for the celestyall cléerenesse that shall at that houre apere with hym, and also for y^e purenesse, equitie, and ryght of his vniuersal iudgementes.

3 From the aspect of whose fearefull countenaunce shall both the earth beneath and the other elemētes aboue flée awaye. All the creatures of his creacion shall wyth reuerence tremble & quake at his mighty aperaunce. The Sūne shall thā be darkened, y^e Mone shall not giuegive hir lyght. The Starres shall fall downe from aboue, the powers of heauen shalbe moued. The elementes shall melte wyth heate, and the whole earth shall teare in péeces lyke a ragge.

4 A terryble fyre shall go before the iudge, to burne vp hys enimyes on eueryevery syde. The places of them that lyued here supersticiously and voluptuously, shall no more after y^t be founde. Neuer shall they resort agayne hither to theyr olde wantō pleasurs. Of their bewtyfull Cyties, shall not one stone be lefte vponupon an other. Their proude paynted Synagoges as duste in the wynde shalbe scattred away from the earth. Neither shall the skye nor yet the ground beneth be as it was, but both they shalbe renewed & chaunged. They shalbe deliuered from corruption, and so appere both a newe heauen, and a newe earth, according to the expectation of the creatures.

5 Immediatly after that (sayth saint Iohn) y^e iudge thus sitting vpō y^e sca…e of his eternall Maiestie. I sawe styll in mysterye after the blast of the trū pet, that all they which were deade, arose out of the earth. And that both hygh and lowe, great and small, good and badde, King, and begger, prelate and plough man, tirant and perscecuted innocent. Yea, the sucking babe y^e died in y^e cradell so well as y^e aged mā.

6 All they séemed vntounto me to stande before their generall iudge Iesus Christ, to whome the euerlasting father had giuen ouer his whole iudgementes, which there appeared as hée was in dede a verie omnipotent god. All we shall appere (sayth Paule) before the iudgement seat of Christ, that eueryevery one of vsus maye receyue according to y^t he hath done, be it good or ill.

7 And y^e bookes of reckennings (which are the seuerall consciences of men) were open before y^e iudge. That afore was hidde, will thā be manyfest, and that was secret, wyll than come to light & be disclosed. Euident it wil be vntounto him who hath fulfilled the commaunded works of mercy & who hath left them vndone, their owne constences bearing witnesse to y^e same. For what can be hid from him which seeth both y^e inwarde reynes and the secret thoughtes of the harte? In this generall rekening yet, shall prayse with y^e eternall rewarde redowne vntounto them from y^e mercyfull Lorde whose walking here hath bene accordinge vntounto fayth. There shall they be reproued to hauehave bene pitiful to y^e poore, hongry, thursty, nedy, naked, sicke, & in prison.

8 After this was an other booke opēed of a farre diuerse nature frō the other bokes, for it was y^e swéet boke of lyfe, wherin be regestred al y^t were predestinate to be saued, frō y^e worlds beginning. And this boke is y^e eternal predestinatiō of God. 9 Before y^e worlds foūdatiō (saith s. Paule) y^e lord predestinate vsus into y^e addoptiō of his childrē, through Iesus Christe. Of this booke made Moyses mencion, whan he said, Eyther pardon thys people, or els race me out of thy booke which thou haste written. And Christ also to his seuentie disciples. Be glad (sayth he) that your names are written in heauen. Moreouer Iosue called this the booke of the ryghtuous, and Iohn here the boke with seuen claspes. This sheweh the holy ghost here vntounto vsus, much after the custome dayly vsed among vsus. For of the most notable men and women our maner is bothe longe to remember the names, and also to speake of them as occasion giueth. So equall is thys eternall iudge, that no personage respecteth he in iudgment, neither of Emperours nor Pope, Kinge nor Byshope, Lorde nor prieste. But as he is ryghtuous of himselfe, so iudgeth he rightuously.

10 For they that were dead (sayeth saynt Iohan) or that had ledde their lyues here without fayth and y^e spirite of Christ, were iudged of hym there, according to the thinges which were regestred in y^e bokes of their cōsciēces.

11 That is to say, according to y^e fylthy workes wherof their desperat cō ciences accused them. OnelyOnly are the wicked to be takē here for y^e dead. For the rightuous shall thā hauehave nothinge, wherof their cōsciēce may accuse them. Neyther shall y^e euill doers as witnesseth Dauid, be of coūsell with thē at y^e day. They hauing y^e lyfe euerlasting, shall not than be iudged, though they than appere, but shall sit with Christ in iudgement, and reioyce in the condempnation of the vngodly blasphemers. The rewarde of their vnfaythfulnesse shall thā be powred vponupon thē, to their perpetuall care. At that daye shall none bée absent but all shalbe séene, eyther to honour or els to reprofe.

12 Neyther shall the depth of the sea, nor the darkenesse of death, nor yet hell that is bottomelesse, bée able to hide any frō the face of this iudge. For the sea (sayth saynt Iohn) that is myghty and greate, shall at that daye delyuer vp cleane hir deade, or those whome the Lorde suffered hyr to swallowe in for their outragious sinnes.

13 Lyke as were the giauntes in the floude of Noe, y^e great host of Pharao in the red sea, and such other more.

14 So shall gréedy death doe also, which after many strange sortes hath consumed the enimies of God. As for an example, Cain by a chaunce vnsought, Nadah and Abyn by fyre, Achan by standing, Holofernes & Saull by the swerde, Naball by excesse of wyne, Iesabell by treading of horses, Daniels accusers by the lyons, Menelaus by breaking his necke, Iudas by hanging himselfe Herod, by wormes, the children of Israell by swerd, fyre, serpentes, and soden death, and such other lyke.

15 Hell whych is insaciable, shall in lyke case render vp the innumerable swarme of the dead whom he wyth open mouth, hath swallowed in quicke for their abhominations.

16 Of whose number were Chore, Dathan and Abiron with their affinitye, the Cytyes of Sodome and Gomorre, the vncircumcised gyauntes, the ryche rourer and the ryche glotton in Luke, Symon Magus, wyth dyuerse other. Hell hath gaped meruelouslye wyde (sayeth Esaye) and hath rauenouslye deuoured the hygh mynded, sturdye, and dysobedyent nacion.

The vncircumcised giauntes (sayth Ezechiell) wyth theyr weapons are gone downe to hell, whose swerdes are layed vnderunder theyr heades, theyr wyckednesse vponupon theyr bones. Of the wycked onelyonly is all thys spoken héere, if ye marke well the text, and in no wyse of the Godly, what though many, of them hath bene drowned in the sea, burned, béeheadded, and hanged vponupon the lande, and buryed quicke in the earth.

17 For it foloweth also, that they were iudged of the iudge and receiued eueryevery one accordynge to theyr deseruinges.

Accordynge to the fleshely fruites of theyr owne inuentions shall they bée rewarded, theyr vnfaythfulnesse iustly measured vntounto them.

Theyr bodyes shall than take parte wyth theyr wretched soules, in the euerlastynge cursse of dampdamnacion, y^e elect numbre rewarded wyth perpetuall felicytye.

18 And as concerninge death it self, which is the vniuersall enimye of man, it shalbe destroyed for euer.

19 Hell also (whych is here taken for sinne) shall neuer more be séene amonge the creatures of God.

20 For both shalbe throwne into the great lake of boylinge fyre and brymstone. The victorie of death shal be swallowed vp, and hys stinge done cleane away, which is sinne. That is nowe corruptyble shall put on vncorruptiō, & that is nowe mortall, immortalitie. Thus that the Lord at y^e houre make of all hys enimies hys fotestole according to his promyse by Oseas the Prophet. O death I wil be thy death. O hell I will bée thy destruction.

21 This tirrible appoyntmēt of the iudge (sayth saynt Iohn) is the second death, or perpetuall depriuation of y^e sight of God, yea, the vtter fall from his fauour, grace, and mercy. This death is the whole vengeaunce of all innocent bloud which hath bene shed vponupon earth from iuste Abell to the last faythfull witnesse. Yea, thys sentence is y^e stone y^t shall grinde the enimies to pouder, the very eternall dampnation both of body and soule.

22 Now for a conclusion of y^e whole matter, whatsoeuer he be king or Emperour, Priest or prelate, laye or religious, that shall not be founde writtē in the booke of lyfe, which is y^e eternall predestination of god, for that he hath worshipped the beast and his Image, he shalbe cast by the irreuocable sentence of the iudge, into the stynking lake of fyre, perpetully there to burne with the Diuell and hys Angels. So that he which hath had no parte in the fyrst resurrection, shalbe sure to taste of this seconde death which is dampnation.

23 He that beléeueth not the gospell whan it is faythfully taught hym, repenting hys former lyfe, but refuseth the grace thereof, fréely offered, shall for euer be damned. Neuer shall his sin be remitted, neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come, that reststeth the holy ghost, withstanding the open verytie. OnelyOnly remaineth a fearfull expectatiō of iudgement vntounto thē that here treadeth Christ vnderunder fote▪ not regarding his bloud shedding, but doeing iniury to the spirite of grace for their owne inuention.