The Image of Both Churches in Revelation, Conclusion – Colophon
A conclusion of the vvhole vvorke.
HEre hast thou good christian reader, to thy soules consolation, from the eternall Trinitie, ye Father, the Sonne & the holy Ghost, three distincte persons in one euerlasting godhead, the vniuersall estate of the church from Christes ascencion to the ende of the world, in wonderfull mysteries discrybed, & directed vntounto thee of him, by the most holy Apostle and Euangelist Saint Iohn. Wherein it is fully by all due circumstances manifested of the sayde holy Ghost, what the innocent Christian church is, with all hir iustifications & blessings, to the singular comforte of the Lords true electes, and what the proude Synagoge of Antichrist is, with hyr filthy superstitions and plagues, to their fore warning also. This is specially done here of the sayde holy ghost, yt no true beleuer should professe him selfe a citizen of this wretched world with Cain, Nemroth, & other reprobate vessels, at the execrable doctrine of men, but at the pure voyce of God with Abell and Abraham, to seeke for that heauēly heritage which is purchased for them in Christes bloud. Marke heere the condition of Iohn being in most paynefull exile, for he in misterie through all this booke representeth eueryevery godly beleuer. By this shall ye well knowe in this reuelation the one church from the other, for the one is mayntayned by the onelyonly preaching of Gods pure worde, the other by all kyndes of Iewishe ceremonyes and heathenish superstitions. And by this they also differ, that Christ wold hauehave all of louelove, Antichrist of tyrannous constraint, as euidently appeareth in Mahomete and the Pope. For that only cause are many necessary thynges here written in mysterie, that they should bee hid from the worldly wyse Hypocrites, and that ye iust or Gods meeke spirited seruaūts, should aske them of their Lorde in fayth and prayer. In the which dayly prayer, is that most worthy minister of God, Kyng Henry the eight afore all other to thée remembred, which hath so sore wounded the beast, that he may before his departure, or Prynce Edwarde after him, throw all his supersticions into the bottomlesse lake agayne (frō whence they hauehave commen) to ye comforte of his people. The grace and peace dyrected from God the Father & his Son Iesus Christ, with the holy Ghost, in ye beginning of this reuelatyon be vntounto all them which vnfaynedly louelove hys veritie. Amen.
¶ Printed at London by Thomas East.
End of the text · John Bale, The Image of Both Churches in Revelation (1570)