The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Chapter 8
The viij. Chapter.
THE TEXT.
1 And when he had opened the seuenth seale, 2. there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an houre. 3, And I savv seuen Angels, 4. standing before God. 5. And to them vvere giuen seuen Trompettes. 6. And an other Angell came, 7. and stood before the aulter, 8. hauing a golden censer▪ 9. And much of odours vvas giuen vntounto hym. 10. that he should offer of the prayers of all saynctes vponupon the golden aulter, 11. vvhichwhich vvas before the seate. 12. And the smoke of the odours vvhichwhich came of the prayers of the Sainctes ascended vp before God out of the Angelles hande. 13. And the Aungell tooke the censer, and filled it vvith fyre of the aulter, 14. and cast it into the earthe, 15. And voices were made, and thunderings, & lightnings, 16. and great earthquake. 17, And the seuen Angels vvhichwhich had the seuē trumpets, 18, prepared them selues to blovv.
The Paraphrase. 1
IN the seuenth seale openyng (which is the next & the last) there was silence in heauen (saieth Sainct Iohn) by the space of halfe an houre.Esa. 32, 1. Iohn. 2. Augustinus, Luke. 2, Iohn. 14 Hiere. 51, Apoca 17. 2. Thes. 2. Apoca. 20 Esa. 32, Mich. 4 This signifieth that there shall bée in that age, that peace in the Christian churche, which Christ brought with him from heauen, and left héere with his discyples. Then shall wretched Babylon fall, then shall the bloudie beast full of blasphemous names perishe, then shal ye great Antichrist with his whole generaciō com all togither, to naught, then shall the fierce Dragon bée tyed vp for a M. yeres. Thē shal raign peace & cōcord, ye truth shal be beloued, gods word shal be had in estimacion, & hys seruants shall liue wtout check. Happie are they that shal sée those dayes.
2 This silence shall endure but half an houre space,Psalm. 125 Bedas. Apoca. 20, 1. Iohn. 2, 2. …ara. …. Psalm. 89, Rom. 11, Hiere. 23 Luke. 15 Iohn. 10 whiche may bée the thousande yeares that are spoken of héere afore, consideryng that all the age after Christ is but the last houre, and a thousand yeares before God is but as the day that is paste. In the time of this swéete silence shall Israell be reuyued, the Iewes shall bée conuerted, the Heathen shall come in agayne. Christ will séeke vp his lost shéepe and bryng hym agayne to hys folde, that they maye appeare one flock, lyke as they hauehave one shepeherde.
3 And I sawe (sayeth sainct Iohn) seuen Angels standing before the maiestie of God,Apoca. 1. Mala. 2 Albertus Magnus Franciscus Lambertꝰ Esa. 27, Ose. 8, Hiere. 16▪ which signifieth ye preachers of his worde for the seuen seuerall times of the vij. seales opening, to euerie seale corresponding an Angell. For all that the preachers hath done from the beginning of the Gospell, to the tyme of this last seale opening, shall then appeare at once.
In that day (sayeth Esay (the Trumpet shall be blowen, they that were lost shall come from the Ascirians, the scattered flocke shall come from Egypt, & worship ye Lord in Ierusalem.
Daniel. 7, Hebr, 1, Esa. 58. Eucherius4 These Angels stoode before ye presence of God, as mynisters of acceptacion, readie to execute his heauenly will and commaundement.
5 And to them was giuen vij. hollow trumpettes,Hiere. 23 Iohel. 2. Apoc. 6. 1. Cor. 4 the ministracion of his worde was vntounto them committed. They ran not foorth vnsent, they spoke not vncommaūded. They blew their trumpettes one after an other. As the seales were opened, the misteryes they declared as came to theyr course.
6 And another Angell (sayeth sainct Iohn) of a much higher nature then these,Mala. 3. Esa. 64, Nume. 4 Phil. 2. came forth, yea euen the Angel of the couenaūt that was so sore longed for, came to hys holye Temple.
7 He stood before the aulter, he humbled him selfe, hée became man, hée tooke the shape of a seruaunt.
8 He had in his hande a golden censer.Hebre. 9. Iohn. 4. 1. Tim. 2, 1. Iohn. 2. Psalm. 140, Gene. 15, This Lorde Iesus Christ the soueraygne messenger of our saluacion tooke it vponupon him alone to be our mediatour our aduocate before God, and the onelyonly attonemente for our sinnes.
9 And much incense of odours was giuen vntounto hym by the great fayth of Abraham, Iohn Baptist,Hebre. 11. and of all the sanctified number.
10 That he shoulde offer vp vntounto God so much of the prayers of all the faythfull beléeuers vponupon the golden aulter or in his glorifyed nature,Hebre. 13 Ephe. 1. Apoca. 12 as was right afore him.
11 Which aulter is now before the throne of God.Hebr. 7 Iohh. 14, Acto. 7. 1. Iohn. 2 Act. 4, He hath an euerlasting priesthood, he is able to saue them that come vntounto God by hym, and lyueth …mmortal, standing on his right hand as one euer readie to make interpel…acion for vsus. All they consented in …ne that hée should be theyr generall …ttourney, consideryng he was their …nely sauiour and redéemer.
12 And the swéete smoke of the odorous incense, which came of ye wholsome and fe…uent desires of them that had fayth,Psalm. 140, Proue. 11. Hebre. 1 Rom. 8. Hebre, 9 Iohn. 14 ascended vp before God out of ye Angels hande. By his onelyonly meryte was their fayth accepted, and for his deaths sake their works pleased God.
13 The sayd Angel tooke the censer, he prepared his godlie spirite.Hiere, 31 Luke. …2 Act, 2. Iohn. 1, He filled it with fire of the aulter, whych was his eternall charitie.
14 And he cast it into the earth, with poure he sent it downe in clouen fyerie tounges vponupon hys Apostles, of whose plentuous aboundaūce all wée hauehave receyued.
15 And as it was come down, there were noyses,Apoca. 4, Iohn▪ 16, Marci. 16 Iohn. 3, Esa▪ 1, Math. 15. 1. Tim. 6 Apoca 6, Nath. 2, Acto 4, Iohn. 11 thunderings, and fearefull lightnynges, for it rebuked the world of sinne, of rightuousnesse, and of iudgement. It reprooued the world of vnfaythfulnesse, for contempnyng the light of Gods veritie. It threatened it for supersticions, hypocrisie, and outwarde obseruacions. And vtterly it condempned it for obstinacie of corrupte interpretacions.
…6 There was also a terrible earthquake as it was comen into ye world. The vngodly rulers were mooued, the ambicious prelates were vexed, …he couetous lawyers fretted, the hypocrites and priestes waxed madde, yea they are not yet quyeted to thys day. They still lye & prate, they blaspheme and accuse,Math, 5 Iohn. 15 Psalm. 73 they persecute and kill, they hange, burne, and drowne, their malice hath none ende.
…7 And the sayd vij. Angels (sayeth Iohn) which are the vniuersall preachers of Gods veritie,Luke. 9 Esa. 58 hauyng theyr vij. trumpettes or full aucthoritie giuen them of the Lord.
…8 Prepared them selues by power of the holy Ghost,Iohn. 15, Marci. 16 to execute their offices, & to blow ech one in his course.
THE TEXT.
1 The first Angell blew, 2. And there was made hayle and fyre, vvhichwhich vvere mingled vvith bloud, 4. and they vvere cast into the earth. 5. And the third part of the trees vvas brent, 6. and all greene grasse vvas brent.
The Paraphrase.
1 The first Angell first stoode foorth, and blewe his Trumpet.The first angel. Acto. 2. Rom. 10. Iohn. 12 Act. 13. Hebr. 3. Apoca. 22, The Apostles after ye first seale opening (which was at the comming of the holy ghost) went forward with the gospell, and taught it the worlde ouer. And when they had beléeued and throughly receiued the word which were predestinate of God to bée partakers of the glorie with Christ, the residewe still blynd & obstinate, perseuered in theyr infidelitie, and so perished.
2 For vponupon them came hayle & fyre, which were myngeled with bloude. Their wickednesse ouer went them, their stubborne stomakes sturred vp their furie,Exo. 9. Eccle. 9 Rom. 1. Sapi. 2. their fiercenesse kindled euer more and more, & theyr madnesse made them blynde.
Iohn, 16, Acto. 4 Iudie. 1, 2. Cor. 4. Act. 7, 8.12 14.19.3 And these they coupled alwais with crueltie & murther. For when Christes disciples had preached the Gospell, the wicked sort of the Iewes and Gentiles in no case would beléeue it, but their obstinacie so blinded them, and their malice so inflamed them, that they sought their death and procured the effusion of their blood. Ouer all the Actes of the Apostles this is euident.
4 And they were cast into the earth. So occuppied their earthly hartes this wilfulnesse and anger with thirstynge of innocent bloude,Ezcch. 14, Math. 23, Osee. 4, Iude. 1. Luke. 13. that all grace in them was extinguished, and all goodnesse cleane consumed.
5 The third part of the trées was brent, and all the gréene grasse came to nought. Though the chosen people were euer the lesser number, and the wicked the much greater (as in Zacharie) yet are they not héere so noted,Math. 7 Zacha. 13 Psalm. 33, Luke. 12.for so much as in the sight of the Lord the infinite rable of infidels are nothing to the smal flock of faith.
Consider also that in Zacharias time, the Iewes were the people of God, which were nothing in comparison to the Gentiles. But now are the Gentiles his people, which euer excéeded them in number. The thride part of the Trées wythered in their wickednesse were founde without fruit in the Gentiles.Osee. 11, Rom. 9. Esa. 54, 1. Iohn. 2 Act. 1…, Hiere. 2, Iohn. 4, Math 21, Luke. 11 Primas. 1, Haymo. Franciscus Lambertꝰ
6 All the Iewes which somtime were the gréene grasse by the manyfolde gifts of God, and by Christes comminge of them, were then brent vp cleane. True faith went from them, and their owne malice blinded them.
Though this were veryfied of them onelyonly, which were at the first Seale openinge, and the fyrste Trumpet blowinge, yet doth it touche the bloodye Antechristes, Hypocrites, and vngodly rulers, withstanding Gods word to this present day, the poore Christians beinge gréene, and bringinge foorth fruit in pacient sufferaunce.
THE TEXT.
1 And the second Angell blevv, 2, And as it were a great mountaine burning with fier, 3, Was cast into the sea. And the thirde parte of the sea turned to bloude. 5, And the thirde parte of the creatures vvhichwhich had lyfe, dyed, 6. And the thirde parte of the shippes vvere destroyed.
The Paraphrase.
1 The seconde Angell blew his Trumpet at the seconde Seale opening, which signifieth the preachers,The second angell. Mala. 2, Apoca. 2, Eusebius cesariens…s declaringe the secrete misteries of Gods verytie immediatly after the Apostles time.
2 And as they were at the pleasure of the Lorde so doynge, a monstrous thinge in manner of a great mountayne burninge with fier was cast into the sea.
A cruell sorte of false disciples and wicked brethren arose vp frō among them,Zacha. 4▪ 1. Iohn▪ 2 1. Tim. 3. all earthly minded to couetusnesse, puffed vp with pride and ambicion,2. Tim. 3. Act. 20 2▪ Peter. 3, Esa. 17, Ezech. 6 Luke, 18 inflamed also with anger, spight & vengeāce, they boysterously entred in among the people, so mutable and fickle as the sea, which chaungeth with eueryevery winde. These are the mountaines that swell vp thinkinge much of themselues. These are the rysing hylles that boast so much of their good workes, of whose ouerthrow by Gods word both Esay and Iohn Baptist dyd prophesie. Such fyery mountaines were Iānes and Iambres,Esa. 40 Luke. 3 2. Tim. 3, Hiere, 20 Iohn, 18. 3. Iohn. 1, Act. 19, Act. 13, 2. Tim. 4. that maliciously resisted Moyses, so were Phassur and Semeias, which vexed the Hrophet Hieremy.
Such burning hylles were Cayphas and Annas against Christe, Diotrephes, Herpocras, Hebion, and Cerinthus against Iohn the Euangelist, Demetrius, Bariehu, Himenius, and Alexander against Paule, with such lyke moody prelates resistinge the truth to this present day. Suche smocky mountaines of contradiction both dayly withstande Christ in the edifying of his Christen Church,Hebre. 12 Zacha. 4 Esa. 17 Rom, 16. Apoca. 20. as rebuked Zorababel in ye building of the Iewes temple.
3 They sturre vp the sea, they moue the weake people, and make them blynd as Asses. In their hate they prouoke the Princes to cruelty and malice. They cause them to punishe the poore Preachers,Acto. 16 Lucke. 11. and put asyde the trueth least they should fal vntounto it.
4 By reason of this burning hyll fallyng into ye sea, the third parte of ye water turned into blood,Exod. 7 Apoca. 17 Act. 6 Math. 10, Ioan▪ 16 Math. 5. 1. Ioan. 3 ye third part of ye people seduced by them became hatefull murtherers. Not only they accused GODS seruauntes, but as bloud thirsty beastes they consented to their deathes, not consyderynge that he which doth but onelyonly hate his brother is an homicide.
5 The thyrde parte of the creatures, which had lyfe dyed. Of those which séemed to be faithfull amonge them,Acto. 1…. Apoca. 3. 2. Tim. 3. a great number were worse then nought. Dissembling with faith they betraied the truth, and wrought much wickednesse.Eusebius cesariensis Eucherius Many martirs were then eueryevery where.
6 So that the third part of the shippes were destroyed also. Many Churches or pryuate congregations called parrishes, for feare of loosinge their goodes, and for doubt of imprisonment and death, refused the faith and fell cleane from the trueth,1. Tim. 6. and so were perished and loste. For Shippes in the scriptures betokneth them.Luke. 8, Act. 5…
THE TEXT.
1 And the third Angell blevv, 2. And there fell a great Starre from Heauen, 3. Burning as it vvere a Creshet. 4. And it fell into the thirde parte of the Riuers, and into fountaines of vvaters. 5. And the name of the Sarres is called vvormvvode, 6. And the thitd part of the waters vvas turned to wormevvod. 7. And many men dyed for the vvaters, because the vvere made bitter.
The Paraphrase.
1 When the thirde Angel blew hys Trumpet at the third scale openinge,The third angel. Daniel. 12 Iude. … there fell from heauen a great mighty Starre, burning lyke a Creshet,
2 As the preachers of that time opened the trueth of god,2. Tim. 4 Philastrius Brixiensis Argustinus many great doctors and excellent learned men, as Arius, Macedonius, Cutices, Ualens, and such other, declined from the sincere faith, and fell to blasphemous opinions concerning the Godhead.
3 These séemed gloryous to the earthly minded people,Luke. 16 Osee. …, 2, Tim. 4▪ Iohn. 6. Apoca. 2▪ 1. Iohn. 2. 1. Tim, 4. they appeared notable and famous to the blind forsaken sort, yet was their learninge madnesse, and their doctrine fables and lyes. But this is here to be noted, that they which are true techers remaine still in heauen, they perseuer in the christen church, where as the other are fallen cleane frō thēc… by apostasie, and errours, so that they are none of Christes.
2. Corin. 4. Esa. 55 2. Tim. 2 Luke. 12, 1, Cor. 2, Amos. 5.4 This starre fell into the thirde parte of the ryuers, whiche are the scriptures peruerted, and into the fountaynes of waters, whiche are Gods owne very wordes depraued. These hauehave the false doctours, yea pernicious heritikes infected with their errours, corrupted with their lyes, and with theyr false interpretations made them bitter and vnsauerye.Hiere. 9
Gene. 26. Primasius Bedas, Here. 2, 1. Cor. 5 Psalm. 18, Math. 15, 2. Thes. 2.5 For the name of the starre was wormewoode, whose nature is to withdraw all swéetenesse. These with their bitter heresies and their noysome doctrine destroyed the pits of Abraham, they troubled the Text, they mixed the truth wt falshod, they poysoned the waters, they tooke away the louesomnesse of them, they left them vnpure and vnperfite (not that they can be so of thē selues, but of their false workinge) they made them vnpleasant, vnprofitable, yea and most perylous vntounto many.
Hiere. 23. 2▪ …or. 2 2. …ete. 2. Tren. 3,6 For it followeth, When the third parte of the waters (whiche are the scriptures corrupted by them) was turned into woormwoode, or bitternesse of errours.
7 Many men dyed of them. They perished by those doctrines, bicause they were made bitter. Yet were not all men cast away, for two parts were left vndefyled, and many that dronke the poysoned waters,Haymo. Ambrosius Ansber…u… Hiere. 2. Psalm. 18. 1. Tim. …. enometed them againe. OnelyOnly were they lost that retayned thē styll. The pure waters are héere doubled vntounto the waters infected. For double in value is the verytie before GOD, and the true minister therof worthy double honour, where as the other are nothing at all.
THE TEXT.
1 And the fourth Angell blew, 2. And the third part of the Sunne vvas smitten, & the thirde parte of the Moone, & the third parte of the Starres. 3▪ So that the thirde part of them was darkened. 4. And the day was smitten. 5. That the thirde parte of it shoulde not shine, and lykewise the night. 6. And I beheld and heard an angell flying through the midst of heauen. 7. And saying with aloude voyce. 8. Wo, wo, wo, to the dwellers of the earth, 9. Because of the voices to come of the Trompetes of the three Angels, which were yet to blow.
The Paraphrase.
1 At the fourth Seale opening the fourth Angell stoode forth and blew his Trumpet.The fourth angel. …ath. 20, Lucke. 20 Marci. 12 Math. 28 Hieronimus▪ Rufinus. Cassianus Heraclides. Neuer was the time yet so perylous but some trewe preachers hath bin in it. Were there neuer so many herisies abroad, yet hauehave there reigned some godlye ministers, what though they were vnknowne to the worlde. Many sincere fathers were in the desert wildernes when most mischief was in doynge amonge the cruel tiraunts which priuyly resortinge to Cities, taught them whom God had appointed to be saued.
Of this number was Paulus Antonius, Hilarion, Macharius, Pambo, Theonas,Baptista Mantuanus Ioannes tritemius Franciscus. Lambertus Effrem, & suche lyke. And longe since their time Anastasius, Persa, Theophilactus, Fulgencius, Beda, Alcuinus, Strabus, and such other many.
Not with standinge all that they taught and wrot was not gospell. All was not without superstition though they lyued in much purenesse of lyfe.
1 These blew the Trumpet as they had receiued that time.Ioannes Oeclampadius in Da…n elem. Ioannes VViclenus de antichristo …t membres. But the false Hipocrites and the Antichristes so preuayled more and more vnderunder Mahomet and the romish pope that … Christianitie and spirituall holynesse was turned into supersticious sects. None was well christened that had not a moonkish disguising. None was thought spirituall, vnlesse he were shauen on the crown. Then brought thei in many new waies of saluatiō, to proue Christ but a second Sauyour, as pardons, pilgrimages, Masses and fryday fastings. Then was god able to helpe no disease, but images were sought vp eueryevery where, saincte Iob for the pox,Platina Nancleru… Otho. Brunfelsi…us. Erasmus. Lutheru…. … Saint Roke for the pestilence, sainct Germine for the ague, saint Appolyne for the tooth ake, sainct Graciane for thrift losinge, and sainct Barbara for gonnshote.
That Lady in that place, and that Lady in that.Ioannes Olneye C…rthusianus. Vincencius This Roode héere, and that Roode there. And he that dyd miracles héere, coulde doe nothinge there. Thus was all chaunged into diuilishnesse, and their preachers for lucre confyrmed alwayes the same,2. Timo. 3 3. Reg. 18, 2. Tim. 4, whiche were many more in number then were the true messengers of God,
2 In this most corrupted and dolorus age,Iohn. 15, Luke. 21. Esa. 13, 2. Cor. 2. 1. Tim▪ 4 Treno. 4 Acto, 8. the fourth Angell blowinge his trumpet, the poore forsaken disciples shewing the trueth, the thirde parte of the sunne was smitten, so was the thirde parte of the Moone, & also the thirde part of ye stars. Good creatures they found ye third part of Gods heauenly word sore blemished by the hypocrites, the Christen Churche piteously disfigured by the antichrists and the inferioure ministers thereof, darkned by Tyraunts and cruell magistrates.
Iohn, 12, Osee. 43 By their wicked strocke the light of GODS verytie was hydden, and appeared lesse by ye thirde part then it was afore.
Lesse was Christ the sonne of rightuousenesse knowen,Mala. 4 Apoca. 2 Esa▪ 56. 2. Pet▪ 3. Rom. 1. lesse was the Christen Church faithfull, and lesse were the preachers godly. More ignorant was at ye time then afore, more supersticion, hipocrisie, and falshod, wherfore the third parte of them all was darkned.
4 At that time also by reason of them, the day was so smitten, that the thirde parte thereof shewed no clearenesse,Hiere. 6. Albertus Magnus, Ioannes VVicleus in supplimento …ialogi▪ and so was the night lykewise.
5 In no case might Christe shine in the Curates and religious, which …ooke themselues for the day, nor yet Christen fruits in the common people whiche were estéemed the night, OnelyOnly were their will works alowed, and their dyrty traditions thought godly.
The true trumpet blowers or ministers of the word,VValdenꝰ in fasculo zizanio…ū, Bedas Haymo were then compelled by cruell cōmaūdements, & the …ōmons by cruell lawes enforced in …o case to medle wt ye truth, least their …bhominable doynges were espyed. In this therefore marke, what a detestable thinge false doctrine of hypocrites is,Sebastianus Meyer. for it bringeth in all darknesse an ignoraunt blindnesse, and it shadoweth vnderunder pretence of vertue, all wickednesse, and sinne.
6 And then (saith saint Iohn) I behelde an Angell,Apoca. 7 Osee. 8, Mala. …. flyinge through the middes of heauen, as it had bin an Eagle, which betokeneth certaine peculiar seruauntes of GOD, illumined with some knowledge, and lea…ing an high conuersation in the church. Such were Ioachim Abbas, Cirillus of Carme, Angelus of Hierusalem,Phil. …. Bapt. … Mantuanus Ioannes … Nauc…rus Theolespherus of Cusencia, Raynhardus, and other. And since their time Petrus Iohannis, Robertus de vsecio, Iohannis de rupescissa, Arnoldus de villa noua, Hieronimus Sauonarola, with suche lyke.
7 These perceiuing the light of Gods veritie,Ioachim …. …uper oracu…o ciril. li. Baptista Mantuanꝰ and the true teachers therof dayly deminishinge, considering also the mighty increase of darknesse with a lowde voyce they cryed earnest writings they sēt the world ouer, vnderunder the title of reuelation and prophecie.
8 Saying by the threatninges of scripture, wo, wo, wo,Zacha. 12 Ephe. 4 Apoc. 22. 2. Tim. 3, Iude. 1. 3. Reg. 10 to the inhabitours of the earth. More wickednesse is comming, more blindnes and more darknesse to the vngodly infydels and earthly minded people. It will stylll be worse and worse to the foolish ignoraunt sorte, through the errours, lyes, and abhominable superstitions of the false Antychristes and cruell Chaplaynes of Baal.
9 And this rebuking crye,Franciscus Lambertus was because of the voyces of the other thrée Aungels were yet to blowe with the Trumpet, whose blastes they shoulde also more déepely contemne. By prophesies & scriptures,vvaldenses 1. Tim. 4. Acto. 20. 2. Tim. 3, VVicleus Math. 22 Apoca. 20. hath many godly men perceiued afore hande with Paule, the fall of faith, the increase of errours, and that diuers shoulde decline from the truth, and earnestly they hauehave premonished the gouernours of it.
Yet hauehave they neglected the warning, and vtterly dispised them for it, leadinge the People into the depth of all errours and filthy abhominations.