A Revelation of the Apocalypse, Chapter 2 · Commentary 4
Scholions.
18 And to the Angell of the Church of Thyatira: Thyatira is ſo called as it were Thugatera, as we have shewed at the firſt chapter. A name well concurring with the thing. For the godlines of this Church is growing, as a daughter new borne, which alway groweth up, till shee hath attained to a full maturity. In which reſpect it is oppoſed to Epheſus: which being of full age the very firſt day, or shortly after, the further shee proceedeth, as haſting to old age, became weaker every day, while at lēgth the naturall heat being extinguished, shee fell into the coldnes of death. And here is the firſt bending from the North, to wit, Pergamus, toward the ſouth, but further to the Eaſt, being diſtant, according to Ptolemy, about foure ſcore English miles. The Antitype is the time from the yeare 1300. unto 1520.
¶ Theſe things ſaith the ſonne of God: Now Chriſt maketh himſelfe knowne by his name, eyes, & feete: every one of which doe appeare more clearly frō the Antitype of what ſorte they are. As touching the name, now firſt of all it offereth it ſelfe, not expreſſed before eyther in the things ſeen or heard in the firſt chapter. There was mention of the ſonne of man, ver. 13. but the whole viſion did declare ſufficiently that he was the ſonne of God. It ſeemeth here to be uſed, as though now he would returne out of Egypt. He had bin exiled now a good while, but in the renewing of the Church he returneth as it were home, beginning more familiarly to be knowne to his, frō whom he had ſeemed before time to be farr of. The firie eyes, are thoſe ſpoken of in the firſt chapter fourteen and fifteen verſes: by whoſe clearenes he sheweth to the Thyatirens, that now the time flourisheth wherein the light of the truth should diſpell darknes of errours and falshood, as it flyeth at the ſight of the fyre: as came to paſſe about the yeare 1300. when a new company of Teachers aroſe, by the iudgement of all which the Pope was ſtrangled, and began to be ſpoiled of his eſtimation, which he had kept nowe a good while by fraude. For they did maintayne earneſtly, that the Imperiall Maieſty ought to be prefered above other, and that the Pope had noe power over it. Among theſe were Ockamus, Marſilius, Patavinus, Dantes, Iohn de Ganduno, and many other.
The feete like fine Braſſe doe teach, with what kinde of tormēt the Romane Balaam should rage againſt the faithfull feet of Chriſt, he should deliver them to be burned in the flame, endevouring to quench one burning by another. Which cruelty he hath not exerciſed now the firſt time, but hath brought it to noble infamy, by more frequent burnings then ever before. The fires ſhyned through all Europe many Martyrs burnt every day. But notable before others were Iohn Hus, and Hierome of Prage, who a noble payre of feet like fine Braſſe did ſhyne in the fornace of Conſtancie in the eyes of all our world. But Antichriſt was deceaved who thought to have conſumed thoſe feete by fire. For now at length he hath had experience, that theſe feete are not ſtubble, but fine Braſſe, which shineth more in the fyre, and is not conſumed.
19 I know thy workes: The workes which are rehearſed, Charitie, Miniſtration, Faith, & Patience perteine to private duty, rather then publike office: aſthough this Church were hid in ſome ſecret members, and was not famous in an excellent adminiſtration of thinges. Such was doubtleſſe the ſtate of the Thyatirian City: It is plaine touching the Antitype. For although there were every where many excellent men, who did defend the trueth by writings and lively voice, yet no publike Churches companies were conſtituted or ſet in order. Or if any were, as about the end of this periode men began to meet together ſomewhat boldly, they obteined not a lawfull reformation.
The chiefe prayſe was of their Love one to another, but not that feigned, wherby men promiſe largely, but performe nothing, but wherby both by deed and worke they holpe where there was need: whereupon unto charity he adioineth miniſtration. Their mutuall Faith alſo was excellent free from all fayning and trechery. For this Faith ſeemeth to be a fruit of that which is properly ſo called, to wit, Faithfulnes, wherby they regarded from the hart one an others goods. When it ſignifyeth a Truſt in God for Chriſts ſake, it is wont to be ſet in the firſt place, as the fountaine and welſpring of other vertues; which peradventure deceaved the olde Interpreter, and cauſed him to ſet this word before the other, contrary to the truth of the Greeke copies: For ſo he readeth, and Faith, and Love, & Miniſtr…tion, and Patience. Patience was ſeene in ſuffering the calamityes wherwith they were troubled continually by the hatred and plotting of the Romane Prelat.
The laſt prayſe is of their laſt Workes, which are moe then the former. For ſo doth reade the Comon tranſlation, the Complutent Edition, and the Kings Edition, who is alſo uſed by Robart Stevens, in his Edition thus, And thy laſt workes moe then the firſt, to wit, by putting out the ſecond and.
And ſo indeede the ſentence runneth better; eſpecially ſeeing workes are rehearſed in the beginning of the verſe: which if they were ſet downe againe, and not read togither, peradventute the repetition should be ſuperfluous. As touching the matter, it is an excellent prayſe to growe in godlines, and to exceed the former times in the fruitfulnes of good workes: which thing indeede befalleth them that are planted in the houſe of the Lord, which in old age are fatte and green, Pſal. 92.15. Whoſe way ſhineth as the light, it ſhaineth more and more to the perfect day, Proverb. 4.18. So this Church alway encreaſing and proceeding further and further, grew ſtronger every day frō ſmall beginnings. About the yeare 1300, many ſtronge couragious men ſprung up, faithfull deffendours of the truth, but about ſeventy yeares after, Iohn Wicklefe added much to their beginnings: hee made cleare the doctrine in farre moe pointes, and confirmed that more plentifully with arguments, which they had barely ſearched out. And fouty yeares after followed him Iohn Huſſe and Hierome of Prage: by whoſe preaching and martyrdome there was made a farre greater encreaſing. The Bohemians followed theſe, who openly did fall away from the Romane Antichriſt, and appointed a more reformed worship in their aſſemblyes. And then the myndes of all the godly became ſtouter through all Europe, who more bouldly profeſſed the truth, howſoever they knew, that they did it with the danger of their life. Neither did Thyatira ſtande ſtill here, but about the yeare one thouſand five hundreth, ſhee powred out largely a new plenty of moſt learned men: who gave noe vaine hope of a fuller and clearer light to breake forth by & by after. And theſe are the laſt workes more then the firſt. Worthily therfore ſhe is Thugateira that is, a daughter growing ſo notably, even as the waters running from the Temple, which at the firſt being ſmall, after full of ſhallow places, could not at the laſt be paſſed over for the deepnes, Ezech. 47. And ſo in this firſt bending from the North, was made the firſt payre of contraries; For this growing Thyatira is directly oppoſite to Languiſhing Epheſus, which became omiſſion, leaving, as we have ſhewed, worſer in the laſt times, by the continuall omiſsion of labour and watchfulnes, then alſo heaping up ſuperſtitions, till at length all care of true godlines awas abated, and ſo in the two following Churches it became alway worſer: Now at laſt it began to returne, and to oppoſe three other Churches to theſe three, as we ſhall ſee in ech one of them.
20 But I have a fewe things againſt thee: The reprehenſion is, that the womā Ieſabell was permitted to deceave the ſervants of God with her vaine ſhewes, Therefore either their negligēce, or faint heart, or both are blamed; wherby it came to paſſe, that ſhee dealt not with the wicked according to their deſerts; but they were ſuffered to ſleepe ſecurely in their ſinnes. Who this Iezabell was in the Thyatiren City, the old Hyſtory sheweth not. From this place we underſtand, that in the ſame place there was a certen Chiefe and famous woman, an Idolatrice, Sorcereſſe & Harlot, like the ancient Iezabell, which was the wife of Ahab; yet by thus much more furnished to deſtroy, becauſe this shewed her ſelfe openly an enemy and adverſary to the truth: that would be accounted for a Prophetiſſe. From that which followeth, appeareth that shee was taught to the naughtines in the ſchoole of the Nicolaitans, of which shee became a ſchoole miſtres, teaching others the ſame rules. For the Heretiques abuſed the labour of women to ſparſe abroad their poyſons. Simon Magus hath his Helena, Carpocrates his Marcellinam, Apelles his Philumenam, Montanus after in the latter times, in places nigh to this Thyatira, his Priſcilla & Maximilla. In the Antitype the thing is clearer. For this Iezabell is Rome Queene, Idolatrice, Sorcereſſe, Whore, Killer of Martyrs, Prophetiſſe, the head of all Churches, and the whole way of ſalvation, which never yeelded to any hereſyes, and many ſuch like, with which wee shall ſee her adorned by the Holy Spirit partly in this book, partly shee boaſtingly ſetteth forth her ſelfe impudently. Lately we learned tha the Pope was ſignified by Balaam, now we have the city shewed by Iezabell. Both which perteine to the deſcribing of the ſame Synagogue of Sathan, ſee in the Biſhop and City, are things very neerly conioyned. And how doth it fit the times, that the Spirit doth ſet before our eyes now ſuch a city? How long time did the Pope deceive under a shew of godlines, as the Hypocriticall Balaam in the former ages about the beginning of increaſing honour and reputation? but after he was growē to an inmeaſurable greatnes, lifted up above Kings & Emperours, ſo as now all mē quaked at the very name of the Pope of Rome, his Rome became the Queene Iezabell, an impudent and painted whore. Balaam therefore and Iezabell declare the ſame kinde of impiety: onelyonly they are diſtinguished by the increaſe an times. Rome in her infancy, as Balaam, handled her matters more warily and ſecretly: shee pretended that shee could not ſpeake, but that which the LORD should put in her mouth: being grown to full age, as the Prophetiſſe Iezabell preacheth openly that ſhee cānot erre, and that ſhee is the rule of faith and all godlines; That abuſed the labour of Kings to bring in and ſet up Idolatry: This by her owne authority commandeth to committe fornication and to eate thinges ſacrificed to Idols, in exacting the worshipping of Idols & Images. Who can admire enough the ſingular art of the Spirit, who hath ſo lively ſet forth this matter. This then is Iezabell: the holy men of this time shaking too ſoftly & modeſtly this peſte, have therein ſo much the leſſe approved themſelves to Chriſt our head, who would have no earneſtnes ſpared in repreſsing ſo great impudency. Learned men have dealt ſome what more boldly and freely, then they had done in former times: yet they uſed not that earneſtnes that was meete in a cauſe of this ſorte.
¶ And I gave her time to repent: In theſe words is shewed the ſtubburnes of Iezabell. Chriſt dealt ſome while patiently with that impure Thyatiren woman: ſo alſo with the city of Rome, the ſtormy trouble of Barbarians being quieted, and the Longobardes being overthrown. Nevertheleſſe this peace brought noe amendement, but increaſed rather the apoſtacy, while they came to this height of impudent Jezabell. For wee shall ſee that after thoſe times all ungodlines did grow, the Papiſts ſtriving to oppreſſe the former dimnes with infernall darknes.
22 Behold I will caſt her in a bed: The punishement of Iezabell. The bed is ſometime to delights and riot, as in the Prophet, ſitting downe on beds of yvory, and abounding upon their heds: Amos 6.4. Sometime to ſicknes and weaknes, as, The Lord will upholde bim on the bed of feeblenes, and turne all his bed in his ſickenes: Pſal. 41.4. Of which in this place? Not of delights, although this be a great punishment, to be given up to the occaſion of ſinning: but of grief, as appeareth from this, that by and by after followeth, where they that committe adultery with her, ſhalbe caſt into great affliction. Therefore the Thyati…ē womā hath languished. Rome alſo hath bin ſicke ſince the year 1300 cō ſuming more every day, as being ſicke of a conſumption. For ſince that time palenes hath covered her face, her ſtomake is grown weaker, her ſoule is become heavy, & her flesh conſumed: yea her infirmity hath grown ſo farr, that if thou beholde her at this day, thou wilt ſay that shee is a dry carkaſe in reſpect of her former plight and good liking. O the infinite wiſdome of God, which even in one worde, hath given ſo lively image and picture of a time ſo farre of Could the languiſhing deſtruction of Rome be noted out more elegantly and evidently? God would not have her perish on a ſwift or ſpeedy diſeaſe, that the peoples ſhould not forget her, but with a waſting conſumption to be corrupted and waxe rotten, both to the end that her lingering punishement should be an image of the eternall paine, and alſo that shee might be a ſpectacle to many ages, whom shee had led in errour ſo long a time. Certenly unleſſe Rome doe feele and acknowledg this her conſumption, shee muſt needs be ſick, not onelyonly of a conſumption, but alſo of a Phreneſy.
¶ And thoſe that committe adultery with her: The punishement of the adulterers, who are the Kinges and Princes of the earth, as is after in the 17. chap. 2. Vnleſſe theſe shall forſake the whore, they shall feele great affliction. Have not yet the Kings learned this ſufficiently by experience, the moſt fierce and ſavage Turke on the one ſide vexing the Emperour, the Spaniard on the other ſide? Remember the ages paſt ſince the yeare one thou ſand and three hundred, in which Iezabell began to languish: Who can attaine to declare the great evils which Tranſilvanie, Polen, Boheme, the houſe of Auſtriche, the Emperour, The Venetians, the Spaniards, have ſuffered at the handes of this barbarous Turke? Did not this your affliction begin at the ſame time, wherein Iezabell Rome was caſt into this her ſicke bed? Why doe ye not obſerve that your adultery, which this whore hath brought forth, and cauſed all theſe evills unto you? But this calamity hitherto, while Jezabell lyeth ſicke in bed, is nothing to that wherewith at length yee ſhalbe punished, unleſſe yee renounce betime her ungodly commerce and ſociety, when shee shall yeeld her laſt breathing, as wee shall ſhewe afterwardes. Is it then now time o yee Princes and Peers, to fly like cowards from the true God unto the whore of Rome? They have noe pardon or excuſe, who bewitched with her beauty while shee flourished, companied with her. What torment awaiteth your wretched luſt, whoe doe nowe embrace a ſtinking carkaſſe? For the love of Chriſt provide for your ſelves in forſaking with all ſpeed this Harlot, leaſt ſuddenly at length yee be overwhelmed (when your repentance ſhall be too late) both with the moſt grievous calamityes of this life, and alſo thoſe that shall be endleſſe.
23 And J will kill her children with death: The third punishement is of her children. Theſe are the Popes, Cardinals, Archbiſhops Biſhops, Prieſts, Ieſuites, and the reſt of the whole troupe of this Hierarchie. Chriſt will deſtroy by death all thoſe, not onelyonly by this firſt, but alſo unleſſe they repent, by the ſecond. This is yet to come, begun after a ſorte, but nowe shortly to be accomplished, as after shalbe declared.
¶ And all the Churches ſhall know; The Churches teſtimony of the iuſt and ſevere iudgement of God. For at length the other multitude of Chriſtians ſhall have experience that Chriſt is ſuch a one, as he hath declared himſelfe alwayes in his word. His long patience hath almoſt taken away credit from his holy threatnings, but in very deede he shall shewe at length, that they were not vaine terrours of wordes, but which shall bring moſt certen vengeance in their time: and this partly begun, partly is yet to come. What reformed Church doth not ſee the long cōtinued languiſhing of Rome, and prayſe the iuſt God and celebrate him, crying out, O the deepnes of his iudgements? But there ſhall be a more plentifull argument of his prayſe, in her laſt and full deſtruction.
And wheras he ſaith that he ſearcheth the reynes & hartes, in the ſame he sheweth to what end his eyes were like a flame of fyre ver. 18. to wit, becauſe not onelyonly his ſervants should approve themſelves to be sharpe ſighted in ſearching out the deceits of this whore, but alſo Chriſt should shewe him ſelfe ſuch in adminiſtring of things, laying open the impiety of Rome, howſoever coloured with many coverings.
24 And to you J ſay & the reſt: Now he commeth to the Conſell, as we have noted in the Analyſis, teaching how they should defende themſelves againſt this wickednes of Iezabell. And it is given to you and the reſt of Thyatira, that is, to thee the Angell with the company of thy colleges, and the reſt of the Church which have abode in ſounde doctrine, as Theod. Beza hath expounded very well. The comon tranſlation, the Complutent Edition, and others doe put out the particle and, but to you I ſay the reſt of Thyatira: But Aretas doth reade the ſame, whith whom other written copies doe agree. From which particle it is evident, that not onelyonly the laſt clauſe doth perteine to the Church, but alſo the whole narration, although it reſpecteth chiefly the Angell and ſpeaketh to him by name. The ſame iudgement is to be holden of the reſt, for there is the like reaſon of each one.
¶ And who have not known the deepneſſes of Sathan, as they ſay: But who are they which ſay? As farre as ſeemeth to me, the teachers of this heinous wickednes: aſthough they should bragge that they alone did knowe the deepneſſes of Sathan, to perceive all his cunning and ſubtilityes, and togither alſo to knowe the way wherby they may reſiſt his miſchievous deviſes, and therfore that they permitted confuſed luſt and buggery, or at leaſt whoredome, for to avoid a greater evill: that the other teachers which the comon ſort holde true Miniſters, are ſimple men and unsk…lfull, altogither ignorant of Sathans entrepriſes. The name of Sathan ſeemeth not to be caſt in their teeth of Iohn in reproch, but to have bin uſed of thē ſelves willingly, in that ſence which I have ſaid. So ungodlines is wont to vaunt it ſelfe, challenging to her ſelfe alone the power to looſe and deliver others, when her ſelfe is on every ſide bound with the ſnares of the Devill. Wherefore the greeke worde is more fitly tranſlated by the olde Interpreter, who have not knowne. For the Spirit doth rather checke the boaſting of the wicked, then praiſe the integrity of the faithfull.
¶ J will lay no other burden upon you; That is, I will denounce no more grievous thinge againſt you, as well expounde it Theod Beza. A burdēſome Prophecy was wont to be called Maſſa, that is a Burden. Theſe words then shew, that noe notable calamity ſhould invade this Church. Which ought to be beleeved ſo to have fallen out in the city of Thyatira. Wee know that it hath come to paſſe in our parte of the world, there having happened no other notable mutation, beſides that which was ſpoken, from the yeare 1300. by the ſpace of 200. yeares after and ſomewhat more. For frō that time the Turke waxed ſtrong, but this perteined to the affliction of Kings, that committed adultery with the whore, as wee have shewed at ver. 22. The true Church getteth no great loſſe therby, but that it is a griefe to hear, that men of Chriſtian name, should be trode under foote ſo cruelly of a moſt wicked enemy. Otherwiſe while the Turk vexed the Romane whore and her adulterers, the trueth ſpringing up againe got leave to grow.
25 Yet that which yee have, hold till I come: He exhorteth to conſtancy, that they keepe faithfully the things gotten. Neither is this exhortation onelyonly a precept what they ought to doe, but a Propheſy what should be done, as often elſe where. Therefore they should goe forward in the light of the trueth, neither should ſuffer themſelves to be driven from the right way. And the comming of which he ſpeaketh is a fuller reformation, wherby Chriſt being banished from us as long as ſuperſtitions and errours doe reigne, when they are taken away doth come to us, and giveth the confort of his preſence. Therefore this ſparkle of truth should continue alive, while at length it should breake out into a flame, to wit, even to the times of Luther, as by and by wee shall ſee.
26 For if any ſhall overcome &c. And he that overcometh and keepeth to the ende my work…s I will give to him &c. in ſteade of and to him that overcome…h and keepeth J will give, &c. an Hebraiſme, ſuch as is alſo in the chap. following, ver. 12.21. where the nominative caſe is put abſolutely, by defect of the prepoſition lamech, as in Pſal. 11.4. Iehova, in the heaven is his ſeate: that is, of Iehova, or as touching Iehova, his ſeate is in heaven: So Pſal. 18.31, God himſelf…, his way is upright, for Leel Deo, that is for God, or, as touching God: that of Paul is like, foreign &c. Rom. 8.3. which doth ſo trouble the Interpreters, not marking this Hebraiſme, whether to adunaton be the nominative abſolute▪ the ſenſe whereof is, for as touching the impoſſibility &c. But the end which he here mentioneth, is not of this life, but of this period; which should then ceaſe, when a perfiter reformation should come.
¶ I will give him power over the nations: The reward is double, of power over the nations, and of the morning ſtarre. We have ſaid that the rewards are applyed to the times, and doe ſignify thoſe good things, which the ſaints enioy in this life, howſoever they be alſo pledges of future things. Power then over the nations, is power over the enemies of the Church. This name once lighted upon all, as many as were not the people of Jſraell, but ſtrangers frō their lawes and covenant, now of the Gentiles themſelves, all that profeſſe Chriſt ſyncerely are counted among the Iſraelites: The other multitude, that openly deſpiſeth the trueth, or embrace it onelyonly in name, doe ſtick ſtill in their former myre, and are called by the old name of G…ntiles. There were therefore Gentiles amonge the Thyatirens, namely Iezabell with hers. Amōg us Rome with her Adulterers and children. Neither muſt wee doubt but that the Thyatirens obtayned victory againſt Iezabell, as ours againſt Rome and her followers. For when Luther aroſe, ſome Princes of Germany, departed from the ſervice of the Romane whore: Whō at length after ſome ſtrugling, they caſt to the ground and trode her under foote. The ſame came to paſſe by the grace of God in many other places. Therfore this promiſed power is the ſociety of the victory againſt Papiſts: which at this day all reformed Churches enioy: whereof in ſhort time there shalbe a full triumphe as after in his place, by God his helpe, wee ſhall ſhewe.
27 And he ſhall rule them &c. Theſe are the attributes of the former power. To rule with a rode of iron, is mightily to ſubdue and to compell to obedience will they nill they. Which was done of the Proteſtants Prince in Germany and elſwhere, Who turned the Papiſts out of their Monaſteries, Collegies, Temples, Groundes, and other goods, and beſtowed them on former uſes, to wit, to the maintaining of godly teachers, widowes, orphanes, ſchooles, or finally on whatſoever could make to the promoting of Chriſtianity. But the Papiſt cryeth out that this is ſacrilegious and tyrannicall: Let him cry out as much as he will: the more he mourneth, the more we doe acknowledge the hard iron rode to be upon his backe. Therefore as many of the Thyatirens as should preſerve even to the end, the trueth kindled among them, they should ſee this ioyfull day with their eyes & should be partakers of the victory. Not that it should be neefull for them to be living at that time, which aroſe about the yeare 1300: but becauſe that is wont to be attributed to all which are of the ſame condition, that happeneth to any of them, to wit, to them which ſhould be alive at the end of this period. For ſo the cōmuniō of ſaints require that that which is a few ſhould be alls.
¶ And as the potter &c. It is without any hope of reſtauration, even as the fragments of earthen pottes, which are for no uſe. Let then the Romā Pope ſweate & move every ſtone, that he may recover his former authority: he ſtriveth in vaine, his fall is unrecoverable: he ſhall finde no glew, whereby his earthen veſſels may againe be ioyned together. That in the end, As I have received of my father, ſignifyeth that this power ſhall not be obtayned, without blood, For Ch…iſt firſt ſuffered, and ſo entred into glory. So Chriſtians after ſome dangers and battels, yea overthrowne in warre, as wee knowe to have fallen out in Fredericke Saxon, Philipe the Lantgrave, & their armies, shall obtayne this dominion over the Papiſts, as wee shall shew more fully in his place.
28 And I will give him the morning ſtarre: An other reward noe leſſe agreeing to the times. This ſtarre is Chriſt, as wee shall ſee after in the 22. ch. where he hath thus, I am the roote and g…neration of David, that bright morning ſt…rre: ſo called, partly becauſe in this life he imperteth to the ſaincts himſelfe a pledge and firſt fruites of the true glory, leaſt through a long deſyre they be diſcouraged in their mindes: partly he taketh to himſ…lf this name in reſpect of the divers adminiſtration of things. When he shineth fully, he is both the morning ſtarre, the Day and the Sune; but when he giveth a leſſe light, but ſo yet that he giveth hope of the perfit day following by and by, he is the morning ſtarre, the Precurſor of the Sonne. And we muſt knowe (that which shabe clearer in the expoſitiō following) that a moſt bright light of trueth, of all godlines and religion shall shine upon the earth, when our brethren the Iewes shall be converted to Chriſt. Seeing therefore that then shalbe the full day, that renewed Church which goeth nex before, is the day ſtarre, which in the morning being ſeen nigh the Horizon, sheweth that the fountaine & spring of light will ſtraightway appeare. And this Church is that reformed, which ſucceedeth the Thyatiren, taking his beginning after the yeare 1520. Which the full reſtauration of the Iewes followeth at the heeles, as the Sunne the morning ſtarre. That which is here but barely avouched, as much as may be ſ…fficient to illuſtrate this place; the ſequent treatiſe shall adde proofes. Wherfore in this place the promiſed morning ſtarre, is that ſweet communicating of Chriſt, which one shall enioy in the reformed Churches, whereof he shall be enrolled a citizen: which communication, shalbe followed of the full happines of the ſaints, as great as can be on earth, shortly after.
29 Let him that hath an eare; The uſuall Epilogue, but to be obſerved by reaſon of his divers placing. For to what end in the 3 firſt Epiſtles is the reward ſet after the cōcluſiō: In the 4 laſt this Epiphoneme holdeth alwayes the laſt place? Firſt the Spirit teacheth this, that there is a certen difference betweene the three firſt and foure laſt: which wee have obſerved, diſtinguishing all the ſeaven into the three f…rſt Churches growing worſer, and the foure laſt waxing ſtronger after ſicknes & feeling themſelves ſomewhat better. Secondly there may be an other reaſon, which I gather from the event, that the rewards in the three firſt, as to eate of the fruit of the tree of life in Paradiſe, not to be hurt of the ſecond death, to eate of the hidden Manna &c. were not payed on the ſudden and in one moment, but perteyned to a time farre of and delayed.
Whence doe follow the Epiphonemes, as though after the admonition, they ſhould give time to deliberate: but in the foure laſt they goe before the Epiphoneme, as if the admonition once given, there should be no place left for to take counſell, but the thing forthwith should obtaine an iſſue, beyond all expectation, togither the deedes and ſayings. And ſo wee know it came to paſſe in the reformation begun by Luther, which we have shewed to be a reward in reſpect of the Antitype of the Thyatiren ſtate. Who would have beleeved that from ſo ſmall beginnings that thing could have gone ſo farre at length? Luther indeede thought nothing leſſe, then any alteration or defection from Rome: or who could have expected in ſo ſmall a ſpace ſo great a change of things? But now was the time, when there ſhould be power over the nations; and therefore the matter once begun, proceeded of it owne accord, an alteration of thoſe things being made in a moment, wherat the world then not without cauſe was aſtonied, & at this the enemies doe at this day beholde with ſo heavie eyes. It ſeemeth that there ſhalbe the ſame ſuiftnes of the following rewards, which a man shall ſee given before he shall heare that they were to be given: and therfore in place they goe before the admonition, which alſo noe leſſe they ſhall goe before in time. You therefore o Paſtiſts, you againe I ſpeake unto, if peradventure the Spirit hath given any of you eares, that you may heare: attend diligently thoſe things, which have bin ſpoken. See what a one is your Rome which you embrace with ſo great reverence, and whether you ran the laſt yeare to celebrate your wicked Iubiles: shee is not a holy virgine, as you are perſwaded falſly, but a moſt impudent Jezabell, a moſt cruell murdereſſe of the ſaints, from whom wee ought rather to fly into anie wildernes with Eliah, then to runne to her by ſea, by land, leaving at home the moſt chaſte ſpouſe of Chriſt. Behold alſo that this ſorcereſſe had lyenſike now many yeares agone: (can you otherwiſe deny it?) which calleth the Turke to come upon the Chriſtian world, expelleth our brethren out of their places of abode, turneth them out from their goods, ſpoiled them of their children and wives, and conſtrayneth them to be carried away into moſt cruell ſervitude, and heapeth many calamityes upon us all, which are farre of from that burning hatred. And not onelyonly theſe thinges at this preſent, but which shall bring finally an horrible death upon you her children. Can it be doubtfull to any, who shall weigh diligently theſe things with himſelfe; but that wee ought to flee very ſoone & very farr from this plague and miſchiefe? The Spirit give you eares to heare; I will ſpeake noe more; to them of whom the trueth is eſteemed, a bare ſignification of the …ill of God shalbe ſufficient: let him be filthy ſtill, who shall contemne this.
I will turne my ſelfe to the unfoulding of thoſe things that remayne.