The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Title page – Dedication
PAX
INFESTA malis.
A PLAINE DIScouery of the whole Reuelation of Saint IOHN: ſet downe in two treatiſes: The one ſearching and prouing the true interpretation thereof: The other applying the ſame paraphraſtically and Hiſtorically to the text.
AMOR
PACIS alumnus
SET FOORTH BY IOHN NAPEIR L. of Marchiſtoun younger.
WHEREVNTO ARE annexed certaine Oracles of SIBYLLA, agreeing with the Reuelation and other places of Scripture.
EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY RObert Walde-graue, printer to the Kings Majeſtie. 1593.
Cum Priuilegio Regali.
IN MY DEFENC GOD ME DEFEND
IN VAINE ARE AL EARTHLIE CONIVNCTIONS, VNLES VVE BE HEIRES TOGETHER, AND OF ONE BODIE, AND FELLOVV PARTAKERS OF THE PROMISES OF GOD IN CHRIST, BY THE EVANGELL.
TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT, HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, IAMES THE SIXT, KING OF SCOTTES, GRACE AND PEACE, &c.
FOrſomuch (right highe and mightie Prince) as both this our diuine Prophet S. IOHN, intreating here moſt ſpeciallie of the deſtruction of the Antichriſtian ſeate, citie and kingdome, doth direct the execution of that great worke of Gods Iuſtice and iuſt iudgement to the Kings of the earth: as alſo the whole Prophets of al ages, hauehave for the moſt part, directed al their admonitions generally to Kings, princes and gouernors, to the effect that they (as Heads-men) being by holy admonitions forewarned, might (according thereto) holde all the whole body of their commoun wealth in good order: for certaine it is, that the heade being well affected, will of neceſsitie miniſtrat health and wholſome humors to the whole body. Therefore, it is likewiſe the dutie of Gods ſeruants in this age, interpreters of Prophecies, as well (according to the example of the Prophets) to incourage and inanimate Princes, to be ready againſt that greate day of the Lords reuenge, as alſo to exhort them generally, to remoue all ſuch impediments in their cuntries and common wealths, as may hinder that work, & procure Gods plagues. For the which cauſes, wee alſo all your M. Subiects, that any waies (how litle ſoeuer) hauehave addicted our ſtudies vntounto theſe propheticall myſteries, doth not onelyonly craue your highnes to abide conſtant and couragious againſt that day of the deſtruction of that Apoſtatik ſeate and citie, in caſe (God willing) it fall in your time: but alſo in the meane time, vntill the reformation of that Idolatrous ſeate, to be preparing and purging your M. own ſeat and kingdome, from all the enemies of that cauſe: yea, and from all others any waies enemies or abuſers of Iuſtice: for verely and in trueth, ſuch is the iniury of this our preſēt time, againſt both the Church of God, and your M. true Lieges, that Religion is deſpiſed, and Iuſtice vtterly neglected: for what by Atheiſts, Papiſts, and Cold profeſſors, the religion of God is mocked in al eſtates: Againe, for partialitie, prolixitie, dearth, and deceitfulnes of lawes, the poore periſhe, the proud triumphe, and Iuſtice is nowhere to be found. Praying your M. to attend your ſelf vntounto theſe enormities, and (without caſting ouer the credite thereof to wrong wreſters of Iuſtice) your M. ſelf, to wit certainly, that iuſtice be done to theſe your true & godly Lieges, againſt the enemies of Gods Church, and their moſt cruell oppreſſors: Aſſuring your M. be concordance of al ſcriptures, that if your M. miniſtrate Iuſtice to them, God the ſupreme Iudge ſhal miniſtrate Iuſtice to you againſt al your enemies: and contrarily, if otherwiſe. Therefore, Sir, let it be your M. continuall ſtudy (as called and charged thereunto by God) to reforme the vniuerſall enormities of your country, and firſt (taking example of the princely Prophet Dauid) to begin at your M. owne houſe, familie and court, and purge the ſame of all ſuſpicion of Papiſts, and Atheiſts or Newtrals, wherof this Reuelation foretelleth, that the number ſhall greatly increaſe in theſe latter daies. For ſhall any Prince be able to be one of the deſtroiers of that great ſeate, and a purger of the world from Antichriſtianiſme, who purgeth not his owne countrie? ſhal he purge his whole country, who purgeth not his owne houſe? or ſhal hee purge his houſe, who is not purged himſelfe by priuate meditations with his God? I ſay therefore, as God hath mercifully begunne the firſt degree of that great worke in your inward minde, by purging the ſame from all apparant ſpot of Antichriſtianiſme, as that fruitfull meditation vponupon the 7.8.9. and 10. verſes of the 20. Chapter of the Reuelation, which your highnes hath both godly & learnedly ſet forth, doth beare plaine teſtimony, to your M. high praiſe and honour: So alſo wee beſeeche your M. (hauing conſideration of the treaſonable practiſes in theſe preſent daies, attempted both againſt Gods trueth, your authoritie, and the common wealth of this countrie,) to proceede to the other degrees of that reformation, euen orderly from your M. owne perſone till your highnes familie, and from your family to your court. Til at laſt, your M. whol country ſtand reformed in the feare of God, ready waiting for that great day, in the which it ſhall pleaſe God to call your M. or yours after you, among other reformed Princes, to that greate and vniuerſall reformation, and deſtruction of that Antichriſtian ſeat and citie Rome, according to the wordes prophecied, Apoc. 17. ſaying: The ten horns are ten Kings &c. Theſe are they that ſhall hate that harlot, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eate vp her fleſh and burne her ſelfe with fire: Beſide alſo a warrant and commaund generally giuen to all men. Apoc. 18. ſaying, Rewarde her euen as ſhee hath rewarded you, and giuegive her double according to her workes, and in the cup that ſhe hath filled to you, fill her the double. And now, becauſe the ſpirit of God, both by all his Prophets generally, and by S. Iohn particularly, commends and directs the execution of Iuſtice to kings and rulers, I truſt no man ſhall thinke, that this our diſcouery (wherein is contained Gods Iuſtice and ſeuere iudgement againſt the Antichriſtian ſeate) can more iuſtly be dedicate vntounto any man, than vntounto theſe ten Chriſtian Kings, ſometimes maintainers of that ſeat, whome, or whoſe ſucceſſors now both the Prophet promiſes to be executers of that iudgment, as alſo in whoſe kingdomes reformation is already begunne: But becauſe of theſe kingdomes, ſometimes maintainers of that ſeate, and nowe deſiſting therefro, this your M. Realme is vndoubtedly one, as alſo this preſent treatiſe both being written by your highnes ſubiect, and in your M. natiue language, were vnproper to be directed to any of the other Princes. Therefore, of neceſsitie I am led (as by the eare) to direct & dedicate theſe primices & firſt fruites of my ſtudy vntounto your highnes, wherein, if perchance I ſhould ſeme any waies more preſumpteous then acceptable, I doubt not, but your M. clemencie will pardone that preſumption that comes of neceſsitie: But contrarily, if I herein ſhall be found acceptable, (as verely I look for, of your M. humanitie) then certainly, not onelyonly conioyne I vntounto the former neceſsitie, a voluntary heart, and ſo do offer theſe preſents, both gladly & neceſſarily vntounto your highnes, but alſo it ſhall incourage both me and others your M. Lieges, to proceede every man in his own calling, to all kinde of godly workes, and good exerciſes, to the honour of God, aedification of his Church, your highnes renowne, and welfare to your M. realme, when they ſhall finde your clemencie to become the Patrone and protector of all zealous ſtudents, and an allower and accepter of their godly exerciſes: For let not your M. doubt, but that there are within your Realme (als wel as in other countries) godly and good ingynes, verſed & exerciſed in al maner of honeſt ſcience, and godly diſcipline, who by your M. inſtigation might yeelde foorth workes and fruites woorthie of memory, which otherwiſe (lacking ſome mightie Maecenas to incourage them) may perchance be buried with aeternall ſilence. Hoping therefore, that your highnes will be a protector of vsus and our godly exerciſes: wee pray and humblie beſeech the Almightie, to be alſo vntounto your highnes ſelfe and moſt honourable bedfellowe, the Queenes M. a perpetuall protector of your honourable eſtates and welfare of your perſones, both in body and ſoule, to the quieting of your M. lieges, increaſe of the true church, and honour of God, to whome, in Trinitie and Vnitie bee praiſe for euer. At Marchiſtoun the 29. daye of Ianuar. 1593.
Your highnes moſt humble and obedient Subject, IOHN NAPEIR, Fear of Marchiſtoun.