A Revelation of the Holy Apocalypse, Part 2 · Chapter 11

A Revelation of the Holy Apocalypse · Part 2 · Chapter 11

p. 102CHAP. XI.

And a reed was giuen mee, like vntounto a Rod, and the Angell ſtood by, ſaying; Come, and meaſure the Temple of God; and the Altar; and them that worſhip in it: But the Court which is within the Temple, cast out, and meaſure it not, for it is giuen to the Heathen.

THE eating of the booke, and meaſuring of theſe matters,Eph. 3. 16▪ 17. 18. 19.Eph 3:16Eph 3:17Eph 3:18Eph 3:19 be of one tenor: when the ſoule is full of the Goſpell, it muſt ſhew Chriſt to bee the Temple; and all heigth and depth;1. Cor. 5.1 Cor 5 length and bredth of wiſedome to bee therein conteyned: in that God would dwell in CHRIST, to reconcile the world vntounto him ſelfe. And in his death vponupon the Croſſe he is the Altar; and he ſacrificed him ſelfe, being as Melchitzedek, whom Saint Paul, as former Talmudiques in deſcription maketh a figure of the eternall wight. He as Aharon, went through the veile of his fleſh, into the holy, from the Altar of the Croſſe, and performed all meaſures of juſtice. That is heere taught by meaſure (with a line) of Temple and Altar; Matters viſible, were to expreſſe the inuiſible. So Chriſt telleth,Iohn. 2.John 2 that he is the Temple, ſaying: Deſtroy this Temple, and I will build it againe, in three dayes.

p. 103This Law; Ye ſhall reuerence my Tabernacle, Leuit. chap. 19. 30. and 26. 2. Commaunded to reuerence infinitly,Heb. 9. and. 10.Heb 9 the Tabernacle of Chriſt. And Ben Arama, noteth truely, vppon Exod. Port. 52. That God ſoone did caſt off Moſes Tabernacle, and Salomons Temple, to ſhew that he would reſt in the Tabernacle or temple of Chriſt. Now the Iewes, to make Chriſt Aharon, and Melchitzedek, make this death, that Chriſt ſaid; Destroy this Temple, and in three dayes I will build it vp againe. The highest grace for life, the ſlaues of Sathan turne to death: whereupon, they were neither forgiuen in this world, nor in the world to come. Profane ſtates bee commonly forgiuen in this world; as the Epicure Luc. chap. 16. though in the world of ſoules, they parch for euer: but the Iewes ſinning againſt the light of the holy Spirite; and grace of ſaluation, periſh openly in this world: ſurer of eternal woe, in Haides, the world of ſoules; in which Abraham in Haides, in the kingdome of heauen, will tell them: that they are not his ſonnes. For he (in Izhak receiued from death,) ſaw the reſurrection of Chriſt, and reioyced. But the Iewes gaue money, to Souldiours, to hauehave the reſurrection of CHRIST denied.

Of meaſuring the faithfull.

The Curtaines in Moſes Tabernacle, were made fitt for the number:But when it pleaſed the Lord to make the Gentiles his people, ſaith Eſai: Make larger Curtaines, Chap. 54. 2. and the number of men aged twentie, and aboue, was thus: the ſonnes of—

Thus God in Num. 1. and 2. twiſe reckoned his choſen; of the XII. tribes, beſides Leui. And the Curtains were fitted to ſuch a number. So heere Iohns Doctrine ſhall teach a certaine number:1. Cor. 14. 22.1 Cor 14:22 ſuch as God hath choſen; and no more: the other will folow the God of this world. A man by mans witt, might maruaile why Princes, would ſuffer ſuch a deceiuer as the Pope, to ſtand one yeere: his doctrine being altogether against all light: and each Prince being able to caſt him from his territories. But God hath choſen a few only, and none can come to Chriſt, vnleſſe the Father draw him.

Of the Court within the Temple, to be caſt out; in condemnation of Iudaiſme.

Maymonides, in Bethabechica; or treatiſe of the Temple, about 430. yeer. agoe, wrote how the Iewes yet look for returne to Ieruſalem: and to hauehave a temple like Ezekiels, or Salomons. For Ezekiels Saint Peter telleth Chap. 1. 2. Epiſt. p. 105That eueryevery Prophecie, is not to be expounded properly: becauſe the holy men of God ſpake, as they were caried by the ſpirit of God. Now Dan. 9. telleth, that the Iewes Temple ſhould be vtterly deſtroyed; and all ſacrifice ended:Heb. 10. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.Heb 10:5Heb 10:6Heb 10:7Heb 10:8Heb 10:9 So by Daniell they ſhould know, that the Meſsias ſhould be the building wherein God would delite: as the very Iew Izhak Ben Arama noted aboue, in Port. 52. Iohn preuenteth Iudaiſme in ſhewing that this Temple hath no Leuites court to ſacrifice; nor ſeparation for Iſraell. But all be heere kings and ſacrificers, and their Court reacheth ouer all the Citie. And old Iudaiſme is now profaneneſſe.

A digreſsion, to compare the old Temple, or Tabernacle, with the ſpirituall.

The Temple of Salomon imitateth Moſes Tabernacle: and all Ieruſalem within the walles; the ſpace within Iſraels curtaines: as the Thalmud noteth, Chriſt is the Temple, Ioh. 3. High ſacrificer, Heb. 3. who went through the vaile of his fleſh, by his own blood into the Holy. He is the Arke: golden within and without: and conteyning the Law grauen in him. And all growen into Chriſt, ſhould hauehave the Law in their heart: and looke for the crowne of the Law.

In the outer Tabernacle or Temple, were the Candleſtick of gold, lightned with beaten pure oile, by the high ſacrificer: and the table of xij. loues ſet openly: & that had crowne worke: and the Altar of incenſe, couered with golde. The Candleſticke, the golden people: beaten pure oile; the ſpirit of grace, that commeth by afflictions; the kindler, CHRIST him ſelfe: Shem Tob; the Iew commeth in words thus farr; though he knew not God to be in Chriſt. The Table,2. Cor. 5. 92 Cor 5:9 expreſſeth the gouernor, who prouideth bread for the xij. Tribes, the p. 106xij. monethes: And that paines findeth a crowne. So King Ioſeph feeding Iſraell, held the xij. Tribes in his Beryll, on Aharons ſhoulders. King Moſes, King Ieſus, King Samuel, King David, and King Salomon, ware the Crowne for this Table. The Altar of incenſe was proper to Aharons ſonnes; high Sacrificers, and lower; as Zacharie of Abia, the eighth, of 24. courses. This worke had his crowne. Now Christ is our Angell only, to ſtande at the golden Altar, that our prayer as incenſe may come before God. In the court, an altar was of ſacrificing; where daylie ſacrifice, & the Paſcha of flocke beaſt, Kidd or Lambe, a duetie to all; and voluntarie Paſcha of Oxe, and Ram voluntaire, and of two dayes feaſt, Ioh. 18. were killed, & had their fatt brent on the altar, and blood ſhed at the foote of the altar: where pypes conueied it away. Chriſt is our Lambe, Oxe, and Altar: and when he ended ſacrifice, he gaue bread and wine, which his Diſciples did eate and drinke (in taſt like other bread and wine) to be his body and blood, for our ſoules. Symbolon, Typus, Antitypus, Icon, in Greekes: who durſt not looke for a knot in a bulruſh.

Of the holy Synagogues.

The Synagogues ſauing in 48. Leuites townes, vſually were of Iſrael & no Leuite: and they were Biſhopps all the Ancient learned, & one, Sergeant of the cōgregation, he read the Law: and the Archbiſhop requeſted the other in eſtieme, to ſpeak to the Law; how all tended to MESSIAS. So a ſabbath dayes iourney, would draw all the Law vntounto Chriſt. And all were holden wicked who being of wealth, brought not vp their children frō 7. year. in the law. Their cōmentaries to this day in peecemeales, agree with the marrow of the New Teſtam. Abben Ezra is wōderful, Dan. 9. ſpeaking better for our maine battel, thē any of ours. Where he ſaith, the 70. ſeauens, are from p. 107the beginning of Daniels prayer, vntounto the ſealing of Meſsias, the holy of holy. Our Acadamiques might be aſhamed, that a Iew in Rhodes now 500. year. ago, ſpake better thē they for our Goſpel. Zohar on Gen. 1. Elohim, in theſe words, Let vsus make man; may be likened to a father, & a mother of the work. The father ſaith, what wilt thou make man? he will rebell: and an ill ſonne will be the ſorrow of his mother: then the Mother ſaith, his rebelliō be vponupon me. This matter is deepe for a Iew to ſpeak, The ſame ſaith vponupon Gen. 49. IAH, is in Shiloh. And vpō Gen. 3. By the ſerpent, Chriſt ſhall be kild, and many of Iſrael with him. And a rare ſaying, of God Rediemer in a Iubilie, I graued in a braſſen abridgment of the Bibles concent; from Zohar, vponupon Leu. 25. In the Iubilie yere, God dwelling in our tabernacle wil be remiſsion, Redemption, and ending of Sabbath to Iſrael. fol. 53. Col. None of ours of old ſaw Iubilies, ſitted to our Lords death: the Iewes knew it muſt be ſo. Ours ſcoffe it being ſhewed: & after that be highly extolled. S. Paul deſcribing Sem, in the perſon of Melchitzedeck, to be as God, hath Rabbins phraſes: yet extāt in Zohar, for his warrant; that he held the man, and perſon as they did. And for all that epiſtle, Rabbins ſpeak the ſame that he doth. And Rabbins hauehave bin a bridle to keepe Daniel ſound; that only holy Iewes, bee the afflicted in him; and when the image afflicting holy Iewes ended thē Meſsias ſhould be borne in Bethlechem. They might hauehave taught vsus the right meaning of Daniel. So, for ending the houſe of Salomon in Iechonias, lalkut bringeth Gods oth: & Maimoni in poenit. Gods decree: & ſo Barbinel & Kimchi and Iarchi vponupon Ier. 22 and vniuerſally they conclude, that the firſt Adam, the firſt day fell: So the firſt day Chriſt is called heire of all In this ſorte the Biſhopps of the Synagogues, taught as learnedly as any of Leuie.

Of the Synedrion.

Tha…. Ieruſalemy in Sanedrin ſheweth, that the Sanedrin p. 108of 70. might be all of Iſrael, without any one of Leui. And that the high ſacrificer was not of the Sanedrin: but as another if he were rarely learned, and ſage. And for all faltes he was iudged and puniſhed as another: and that often they were ſo ſimple, that the councill taught them their duety on expiation day. The high ſacrificer might be excommunicated, but the King might not, but in Ieroboams caſe. Where Mallachi telleth, they ſhould aske the Law at Leui, that is; becauſe they were alway at the Temple: and bound to be learned. But Samuel of Korah, and Daniel of Iudah, were not inferior to any.

Of Athean imitation of Aharon.

It was death for any of Iſrael, to meddle with Aharons office. Samuel of Korah, and Elias, whoſe tribe is vncertaine, had Gods diſpenſation. Otherwiſe they had neuer ſacrificed. And nothing about the Temple might be in Iſraels houſes; no building like the Temple, arke, candleſticke, table of bread, Altars, or Leuites attire: yet the father of Rome, will counterfaite: he will hauehave a Candleſticke, Cope, Linen garments, precious ſtones, mitre, girdle Prieſt, ſacrifice, Altar: Sathan taught him ſo, to dally with Gods Law. Greeke fathers began the name Prieſt and high Prieſt, to be fitted to their Doctores, but in the end the gangrene crept to harme vnſpeakable: that Satan by Turke and Pope ruled the world.

How Biſhops were made in Iſrael.

Maymony, in Sanedrin ſheweth how the Biſhops of the Sanedrin made a D. to teach the people: that they called him p. 109Muphla, wonderous learned, and held him ſo, firſt: then ſome of the Sanedrin laid their handes vponupon him and ſaid;Mat. 16.Matt 16 Rabbi, take thou auctority to teach,Pſal. 109.Ps 109 what is bound, and what is looſe. Our Lord vſeth that ſpeach in making his Apoſtles Biſhopps: Act. 1.Acts 1in giuing them auctority to teach what is looſe, and what is bound. But Iſcariot, let another take his Biſhoprike, the reſt were faithfull Biſhops.

Of excommunication.

In King Moſes tyme, and other Kings, Ciuill puniſhments were vſed: but when heathen ruled: then the congregation could doe no more but remoue the party from the companie: by open voice in their Ciuill court: Kehelah in Adams tongue: Eccleſia in Iauans. Any of the ſeniors might excommunicate; but if the excommunicated complayned of iniurie; the Sanedrin examined the cauſe, and vponupon iniury they excommunicated the excommunicater.

A iust; but ſtrange doctrine.

Thal. Ieruſal. in Illu Megallechim, writeth of a Rabbin, who fell into an haunt of Iewe thieues. They took his mony from him: he pronoūced the Anathema for them: they returned the curſe vponupon himſelfe; that amazed him: and comming home, he asked Rabbies whether he were in danger of curſe: doubtleſſe, ſaid they: a money matter, where Lawes be open, giueth no Anathema: ſo the falſe Anathema, returned ſound vponupon thy ſelfe. On this he went to the thieues haunt: and confeſſed ſinne, that for money he gaue them to Satan: and requeſted abſolution, then ſaid the thieues, abſolue vsus & wee will: they agreed to both. There a woman commeth by a p. 110ſcholmaiſter, beating a boy cruelly; & ſaith, thou art Anathema; the ſcholmaiſter asked a Rabbi, whether that could binde him frō the Synagogue the ordinary time; A mounth doubt leſſe, ſaid the Rabbi: not the perſon, but the matter, giueth the authoritie; go and confeſſe thy fault to the woman, and thou art free, and ſo he did. Thus reaſon, not politique authoritie giueth the force; and the Law, 1. Cor. 16. If any louelove not the L. Ieſus Chriſt, let him be anathema Maran atha The Pope the greateſt murderer & Idolater in the world, he will be excommunicating Princes. They ſhould returne the curſe vponupon his owne head, and leaue God iudge: & others may deale alike with al of the Pops keies: and God will make knowen who be his: ſo Moſes vſed Pharoh; ſo Elias vſed the ſoldiers; ſo Eliſeus vſed the 42. of Bethel; ſo Ieremie vſed Ieruſalem; ſo S. Paul vſed Alexander, ſo the martyrs heere deale with the king of Locuſtes.

A digreſsion to expound the terme Biſhop.

Much ſtrife is for the Biſhop of Rome, and for others. The manifold ſenſe of the terme muſt be opened to end the ſtrife. In Iob, EL, the Almighty God, is tranſlated Epiſcopus. A looker to mans dealing. In the Law PAKID, a man of charge, as Eleazar, or the biſhop of the armie, is trāſlated Epiſcopus Iudas had Epiſcopon, as I mentioned afore: therefore the Apoſtles were Epiſcopi: in S. Paul, 1. Tim. the terme Epiſcopus is tranſlated in Arabique Zeken, a ſenior, & that is the right meaning. Policarpus the meſſinger of the congregation of Smyrna, is in Greeks Epiſcopus. And ſo the great teachers: ſo Caluin was, and Beza in Geneua was Biſhop: or yet Archbiſhop, though they tooke other names, as high Paſtor, is vſually the ciuill Gouernor, and for Moſes that is vſed, he was Meparnes to Iſrael 40. year. that is Feeder. So Biſhop is a terme, for Lawfull calling, and commēdable: p. 111if learning & tender care of people be to it: Otherwiſe Ananias ſhalbe excommunicated of S. Paul as a painted wall.

And they ſhall tread downe the holy Citie, two and fouretie monethes.

Heere, by Citie, is meant folke, as Ebr. 12. the Citie of the liuing God, the heauēly Ieruſalem, ſo in this chap. where the tenth parte of the Citie falleth, people, not wall is meant. So when the Citie is called ſpiritually Sodoma, and Egipt, & where Chriſt was crucified: People of Religiō moſt lothſome, to chaſt truth: and of tyrāny murtherous, and the People by whom Chriſt was crucified; as Tiberius the Emperor; Pilate, his Deputie, Cēturion, and the ſoldiers. So the holy Citie ſignifieth here the heauenly Ieruſalem. foreign people is once tranſlated by the 70. foreign Citie.

Of the xlij. Monethes.

Elias ſtaid raine 42. monethes, when he was fretted by wicked Iſrael: & Antiochus the wicked trode downe Ieruſalem 42. moneths; as I ſhewed vponupon Daniel. And our Lord preached 42. moneths: or 3. yer. & a halfe; or dayes 1260. or a tyme, two tymes and an halfe. Euſebius, & many after him, hauehave ſhewed that: Old Beda, and Beroald and others. Heere by tyme, the manners from a like tyme is meant: the perſequuting Phariſees manners; reuiued by the Pope. And no certaine tyme; for Chap. 12. all rage of the Serpent is but dayes 1260. And againe the profane Caeſares rage, which endured 300. yeares is termed but 42. moneths.

And I will grant the two witneſſes of mine that they ſhall prophecy dayes 1260. clothed in ſackcloth: theſe be the two oliues, & the 2. Candleſticks, which ſtand before the Lord of the whole earth.

p. 112The terme two, meaneth a ſufficient number, according to the Law phraſe: In the mouth of two or three witneſſes, ſhall eueryevery matter ſtand. Zach. 4.Zech 4Nine and fourtie thouſand and moo, who came from Babilon, are the two oliues that ſtood before the Lord of the whole earth: and the two witneſſes heere be as much. Therefore by two, may whole ſtates, and many millions be ſignified.

Of Prophecying.

Prophecying, is taken for expounding Moyſes by ages following, when the ſumme of Religion is ſhewed, how later ages would follow it, or leaue it: all falſehood falleth. So whē Cittim, Num. 24. is compared with Daniell xj. to know the nation: and with Iſai xj. and the Goſpell for the crucifiers of Chriſt: and 2. Theſſ. 2 and withall the Apoc. this prophecying reuealeth the beaſt, that commeth out of the earth, the king of Locuſtes: how as the profane Caeſars, had all their diuinitie from the vncleane ſpirite; ſo hath the Pope all his: to mke a ſpirituall moſt vncleane large commune weale: His Idolatrie matcheth the profane Caeſars: & he making Saints & Archangels, to pray to; and a third world of Purgatorie, & merittes, not to reſt in CHRIST; and forbidding ſtudie in the holy Bible, and mixing the Apocrypha, moſt fooliſh and wicked fables, as Toby and the 2. Maca. with the moſt holy Ebrew Bible, matcheth or ouermatcheth all the Caeſars profaneneſſe. Therfore he cannot abide expounding of Moſes, when he cannot abide the reading of him.

Of the Decalogue.

The holy Iewes honored the Decalogue, or Tenne ſayings, p. 113grauen by God in two great ſtones, with ſuch high & heauenly reuerence, that, becauſe it cōteyned the ſumme of Diuinitie; they reduced all Moſes vntounto it: and as the Decalogue had letters 613. ſo they reduced all the Commaundements, that could be gathered out of Moſes vntounto 613. And reduce to them all that can be ſpoken in Diuinitie. And the Prophets, and our holy New Testament goeth no further.

Of the Popes theft.

The Pope ſtole from the people this Law: Thou ſhalt not make vntounto thy ſelfe any grauen Image, &c. A Citie in Iſraell that had ſcraped but one letter from the tables number, had been deſtroyed. And of with infinite wickedneſſe, then muſt we holde the Popes and Popistes to be, that ſo dare contemne the grauen tables of all the frame of Moſes Law, contriued into the two tables number of lettes, for lawes 613. which is by the Popes theft, brought out of frame. And all muſt bee holden wicked, that wiſh not his vncleane ſpirited commune weale deſtroyed.

Groundes which all ſhould know, that ſoundly prophecie, or expound Scripture.

Firſt, a Doctor ſhould be a grammarian, for both Teſtaments; to know the text ſound: and the meaning plaine.

2. The Maſſoreth defendeth eueryevery letter, in the Law or old Teſtament: that no modeſt witt would wrangle.

3. A worke called the Glorie of Iſraell, ſpeaketh ſagely; that the forme of letters which we hauehave now, were not inuented by Ezra, but were in the two tables, and vowells & accents, p. 114as we hauehave them now. The holy Ghoſt hath giuen a double reading, a text reading and a word in the margine, to expoūd the text: which very often ſtandeth vponupon like letters, as foreign & foreign & foreign & foreign &. Now they who feigne letters, late inuented by the forme which we hauehave now, ouerthrow the authoritie of the double reading: and ſo of all.

4. Piſistratus, Tyrant of Athens, was elder then Ezra: hee parted Homer into Alpha, Beta, &c. the Illiad. into 24. letters names: and ſo Odyſsea. Hence it appeareth, that the Greeke letters names be elder then Ezra. Moreouer, they are from the Hebrew: Aleph, Beth, &c. and ſo later then they. And the Ebrew names bee after the forme, in foreign. Therfore theſe formes were very ancient: and all of Gods wiſedome at the firſt. Moreouer in Noēs familie, like letters foreign. gaue double names: Dodamin and Rhodamin: Diphath & Riphath: and many ſuch, doth Dauid Kimchi note, vponupon the firſt of the Chronicles. And when the ſeptuagint tranſlated by old dim copies, like letters; gaue them oftē occaſion to leaue the exact ebrew, & foreign turned to foreign Abbak 70. & Act. 13. foreign turned to foreign Amos 5. Lxxij. & Act. 7. Aedom turned to Adam, Amos 9. Act. 15. a Prophecier wil trouble him ſelf, if he know not theſe grounds.

5. The Alphabets order is celebrated of Gods wiſedom, often; ſometimes neerly perfect, ſomtimes wholy perfect; ſomtimes with a verſe more: ſometyme with parentheſis in the middes, as Pſal. 37. 34. 25. 111. 112. 119. 145. Pro. 31. Ier. 1. 2. 3. 4. This ſheweth the order to be old. Beſides, the order is conſonant to the forme and lines, as they depend one vponupon another foreign. ſo the frame muſt be as old as the order.

p. 115Of Arias Montanus worke; of diuers readings.

I noted 848. double readings: both holy. Kimchi, praef. to Ioſ. thought the text corrupt, in Babell: & amended after the returne in Ezraes dayes. Rob. St. praef. to the new Teſta. folowed that: and Arias Montanus; at him I marueile: & more at Kimchi, who in particulars giueth ſounde reaſons of the double readings. And Pagninus abridgment, refuſeth Arias his mind: And Elias Leui. praefa. to Maſſoreth; in Moſ. ſoundly defendeth both readings: and ſtill the text is the ſubtiler; as of curioſitie, and not of negligence; and the margin, an helpe for the ſimple.

Of Lindanus, quareling with the text, and one Erostratus.

Lindanus labored to breake the authoritie of Scripture; ſlandering the text, as corrupted: and namely, Caari for Caaru, Pſal. 22. was brought of him. Iohn Izhak the Iew paid him. And Arias Montanus paid Eroſtratus. All Doctors ſhould bee readie in that: to defend their ground; wherevpon all their doctrine muſt ſtande.

Of Law, vowelled and vnvowelled.

The Law Copies were ſome vowelled, and accented: the commune vnvowelled and vnaccented: becauſe the tongue may by vſe be read, reaſonablie without them; but in doubtes, to ſmall certeintie. Rabbi Iacob, the bringer of the Maſſoreth into a Dictionarie forme, with notes, ſheweth that Moſes gaue vowells: but the people had few vowell'd copies: till Ezra made them commune: and Aben Ezra ſaith well. p. 116He that ſet the vowells and accentes, was a perfect wiſe man: for He neuer miſſed of the beſt ſenſe. But the 70. tranſlated by vnvowelled; that they might hide their minde: when dull heathen would quarrell with trueth.

Of the 70. differing: thirtie ſixe hundred of yeares from the ſtrickt Ebrew.

Many blaſpheme Gods worde by the 70. differing from it, Gen. 5. and 11. in opuſculis Patrum, one worke blameth the Ebrew: and all Grecia ſtill followed the 70. ſo Arabia, ſo Abyſsini, ſo Muſcouia. The text Gen. 5. faith; Adam liued 130. yeares, and begat Seth, and liued afterwards 800. The Lxx. Adam liued 230. yeres, and begate Seth, and liued after that but 700. Our notes not well ſet, 1603. hauehave this note; Adam liued 230. yeares, and begate Seth, wherein Moſes omitted 100. yea. &c. This note daſheth all Moſes authoritie, if he were not true in his narration. S. Augustine could not tell the reaſon of the difference, Ciuit. Dei. I hauehave ſhewed it in Concent. Scrip. & Melchitzedeke; though my recompenſe hath beene, but vngratefull ſcophing of vncleane ſpirites. DD. that know not a letter, vowell, or accent, what authoritie they hauehave from God: ſuch vncleane ſpirites are good helpes for the king of Locuſtes; when they hinder the grounds of all prophecying.

Of Perfection in Scripture.

The text hath perfect Diuinitie. The holy in all their ages knew the Trinitie: and that Christ would be made man, of a woman; according to our kinde, as of Mary, of Ely, of Adam. Heere Anabaptiſtes and Lutheranes, are in an heauie caſe. All the holy p. 117knew that mans ſoule returneth in death preſently to God: to receyue the Aboundance of grace of the gift of Iuſtice in Chriſt, and ioy vnderunder Gods throne: or Anger for their ſin, and contempt of Gods louelove in Chriſt, before Gods angrie face, Leuit. 26. Apoc. 14. The ancients liued by the law grauen in all hearts: ſome few they had, deliuered, tokens of redemption. But for all life, the heart lawes ſerued, Ier. 31. Rom. 2. Iob telleth what ſtore of lawes, hearts helde. Moſes for an whole great nation gaue law written: but the moſt bent to Leui: & imperfect without the Goſpell. Iob and the Apoſtles hauehave no Lawes, but ſuch as wiſe heathen, all would commend.

Authores for tongue.

Chriſtians may paſſe in Ebrew, very rare Ebrewes: becauſe the Apoſtles tranſlate much in ſpeciall elegancie. Beſides, they allow very much in the 70. What they handle not, ancient Hebrewes make plaine. And they who will expound Ebrew beyonde this warrant, as ſome doe, for Hell place, and Hell torment, in life, do not well.

Prayer is our ſeruice of God. Maymoni in prayer from all Rab.

God forbid that any ſhould pray but to God. Menachen vponupon Gen. and Deut. 6. Mat. 4. and 6. neuer any holy prayed to a Created Angell, or man. Men the beſt, had great faultes; as Abraham long worſhipped creatures; Philo and Maym. in Idoll Bechaia, ſheweth exceedeth ſinne of his, for Sarah, for which his poſteritie ſmarted in Egypt.

p. 118Of the New Testament.

The ſoundneſſe of text, & playneneſſe in foure Dialects, I handled in our Lordes familie; againſt which booke I hope none will raue, but for Ioakims buriall.

Concluſion.

Poperie hath no defence, by any ſound groundes of ſtudie; not to any one article.

Blaſphemous groundes of Popistrie.

1. That they ſay, the Scripture is corrupt in text. The Maſſoreth, or Dictionarie for eueryevery letter, prick and accent. checketh that for the old Teſtament. And the new Teſtamēt can none blame, but to his ſhame; as I hauehave ſhewed Princes in Latin.

2. That they ſay, the ſcripture is doubtfull; no booke was euer penned ſo certeine for Lawes meaning: Viſions, Allegories, bring no new rules; as Ezekiel and Cantica. The New Teſtament hath not one phraſe, but the eaſieſt to learned Iewes: not one from the beginning to the end.

3. That they ſay, the ſcripture is imperfect, they might as well ſay, God made not the world perfect: But the Pope can make moo Creatures, and better: as Archangelles, and Purgatories, and ſoules departed, to vnderſtand our heartes: and bold to teach God whom he ſhould pitie: and to make Mary commaund Chriſt. Satan in his owne perſon, durſt neuer be ſo bold.

4. They plead from the Law of Sanedrin; where a man muſt ſtand to their iudgement.That the Popes iudgmēt muſt ſtād The Sanedrin might be without any Leuit, as Ieruſalemy noteth: though the Law ſpeak of that, which moſt vſually falleth out: that Leui ſhould bee p. 119readie in his owne profeſſion: But Eſay ſaith to them, who was ſo blind? and Mallachi ſpeaketh to the ſame effect: & the Leuites whole condemnation of holy Ieremie, where one of Iſrael cleared him. But the Pope his Cardinalls, & Archbuiſhops, hauehave no more to do with Leui: then apes to ſtand for men.

5. The Pope maketh a ſpiritualtie,Heb. 11. By faith theſe turned to flight, the armies of the aliensHeb 11 & a Clergie: to tie learning to them. Dauid had his warriers, the beſt learned in Moyſes: that by foreſight of Christ thence; one frighted 1000. and kill'd 800. And in Babel; Iuda in Daniel, Ananias, Azarias, and Miſael before Ezechiel of Leui came thither, were the glorie of men.

6. All wealthy ſhould be brought vp in the Bible, in frame of art, to know it throughly: what lawes it hath; what diſputations are vponupon thoſe Lawes; what ſtories: and how the ſentences of Iob, Dauid, and Salomon comment vponupon the ſtories. All our nation might hauehave ſeene this plaine, if wicked had not hindred: by their ſpirituall keyes. And in Popes proceeding they make him knowne to be wicked.

7. By Gods Law, Eccleſia, the Sanedrin court, ſhould rule in all matters. And old Wicklife, in Walſingham, did hit the naile vponupon the head, ſaying: That if the Commune Lawes of England might take place, the Pope ſhould hauehave no more to do with vsus: then any other. Yet frō Satan he will rule all: and make Eccleſia to be not ciuill courts: but his courtes. Our commune Lawes praemune that ſagely▪ and the lawleſſe reſiſt God.

8. The Pope from Rome will rule; and the Rome-free-borne. Apoſtle; after he taught the Theſſalonians of Pope, from Rome: giueth a charge to the Romans, to keepe eueryevery ſoule in obedience to the ciuill gouernement: and by Ciuill gouernement, S. Paul eſcaped from death by Scribes traditions.

p. 120How yong men learned in liberall artes, might be rarely exquiſite, in the greeke new Teſtament.

GOD perfect in wiſedome, knew that the Iewes would marueile why the New Teſtament ſhould be all in Greeke, and not any whitt in Ebrew. Therefore to ſhew it Gods worke; againſt whom none may plead, he maketh one little booke exceed for varietie and elegancie of wordes: aboue 4600. choſen wordes. Thus the booke might be made eaſie.

1. The wordes ſhould be all in a table: that all might read them quicklie.

2. Appellatiues, and propre, ſhould be ſett in their colours.

3. For Appellatiues, all Attique and eloquent Speaches of them; (as Rom. 12. 3. Paul paſſeth all Athenes) theſe ſhould all come in their families.

4. Next, many thouſand frō the 70. with Ebrew to them: and in how many God followeth the 70. departing from the Ebrew. This would carrie the Reader through all the old Teſtament.

5. Thalmudique ſpeaches be plentie,Mat. 12.Matt 12 and eaſie to a Rabbin: as,Maymo. poenit. Forgiueneſſe neither in this world, nor in the world to come: and girded about the brest: Apoc. 1.Rev 1ſecond death: and ſuch: theſe moſt trouble Greekes,Maymo. and would be eaſieſt handled, in their veines: and they be very many.Beidh.

6. Sometimes the Apoſtles mende the 70. or ſpeake more eloquently:Apo. 20. as in Iaſpis Apoc. 21. verſ. 19 it is Beniamins ſtone,Iſai 22. VzielidesIsa 22 after the Ebrew. Exod. 28. But verſ. xj. the Carbuncle, Iſai 54. So Sardonix for Zabulon, and Chryſophraſe for Nephtaly, are the Apostle Iohns, paſſing in Greeke skill. And foreign, Eb. 1. 3. from Iſai. 4. Tzemach Lecabod, and foreign. From Exod. 23. foreign theſe S. Paul p. 121bringeth. All this kinde ſettled together; would bring light and delight, to all godly learned.

Of propre names.

Many propre names be taken from the old Teſtament: wherein the 70. is communely folowed. Sarra, will try a ſcholar, and Phanuel: from the margine reading: and Ionanan, Luc. 3. and the names from Iſraell in Egypt, being full many: ſhew they knew Ptolomies Egypt ſhould fall: many cō teyne, Pſal. 89. as Zorobabelidae, Mat. 1. many other ſpeciall ſtories; chiefly Townes full many, call to Seleucidae and Lagidae: as Antiochia, Seleucia, Philadelphia, & ſuch. Many are cleared by Thalm. Ieruſalemy, as Lazar, for Eleazar: and Alphai for Chalphai a. ſ. in the fathers ſtead: and ſuch. The Greeke and Latin in one familie; Alexander and Rufus, ſhew that the Thalmud lieth, bringing Ieſus our Lord his dayes to the Maccabees tymes. The name Marck and Paul, and all the Latin termes ſhew, that, vnderunder the Romans Chriſt was on earth.

Epilogue.

Thus when eueryevery word ſhould be handled alone: and wordes toſſed in diſputatiō handled alone: the whole booke would be ſoone eaten: and millions would be able to Prophecie: and to defend the faith, againſt the Beaſt that commeth out of the pitt, of Sathans deepeneſſe: & to make Seniorie of true Biſhopps: that vnlearned pſeudo-piſcopi, ſhould no longer pine better learned in priſon: ſage and learned be lawfull Epiſcopi, beſtowing reuenues aright: but nobles ought, and lower gentrie to be the beſt learned, and to keepe all in ſage p. 122dealing. So the King of Locuſtes would ſoone looſe his crowne. The 2. oliue trees in Zacharie, which poure oile into the golden Candleſtick, are they, who not by might, but by Gods ſpirit, as they vnderunder Aggei and Zachary built the Temple. The chiefe ruler was holden as anointed: ſo King Ioſias, though none but the firſt of the houſe, as Dauid, or in ſtirre as Salomon for Adonias: and Ioaſh for Athalia, & Ioachaz for elder Ioakim, were annointed. The high ſacrificer was of courſe: ſo both ſtates were vnderunder the two oliues: and whē all be ſacrificers, Apo. 1. Then the gouernor that prouideth for bread, and they who labor in word, are the two oliues; that giuegive matter of light, to the golden Candleſtick. Clothed in ſackcloth: in ſadneſſe of their minde: conſidering how the gold is darkened.

The restorers of the Goſpell, be as Elias.

And if any man will hurt them, fire commeth out of their mouthes, and eateth vp their enimies: yea, if any man will hurt them, ſo he must be killed. Theſe hauehave power to ſhut vp the heauens; that raine, raine not in the dayes of their prophecying

Heere, the kingdome of the beaſt ariſing from the darke pitt, is cloſſelie compared with Iſraell, in Achabs dayes: when Baal was worſhipped by ſo many falſe prophetes. And Elias knewe none but him ſelfe, left of true religion in Iſraell:1. King. 19. 10.1 Kgs 19:10 and the Altars, which GOD tolerated extraordinarie, were all broken downe. The Papiſtes damne themſelues mightilie, when they caſt in our teeth: That our companie had not open policie ſtill. Sigibertus complayneth, that at 1200. England admitted not the Popes ſupremacie: So hee anſwereth Papiſtes. And ſtill our commune Lawes made it p. 123treaſon, to appeale vntounto the Pope: and holy Wickliffe condemned him as freelie as any in our tymes: Wickliffe, that ſet ouer the Bible into Engliſh: Wickliffe, that taught how the cōmune Lawes would vtterly fall the Pope: Wickliffe, whoſe Bible many yet hauehave: the Copiers of which ſhew, where the Church of God was. Such had the ſpirit of Elias, which called for fire from heauen into Bohemia, and Prage, and Saxonie, to burne much of Rome: as Elias called fire from heauen to burne two Captaines, and two fifties: ſo Eliſeus called fire from Hazael, that brent vp Iſraell; And Iohn Baptiſt, called for fire from heauen, that brent vp all Herodes houſe. And as Elias ſtaide raine three yeares and an half, ſo Eliſeus ſpirit, brought famine to Samaria: and the Chriſtians in Claudius dayes: and the martyrs by the black horſe, bring corne to be weighed as ſpice, for dearth: ſo ſtill God ſendeth famine for his martyrs.

The Martyrs be as Moſes.

Theſe hauehave power to turne the waters into blood: and to ſtrike the earth with any plague, ſo often as they will.

This ſheweth Rome to be a new Egypt: ſtill rebelling againſt Moſes, and therefore hath plagues to the ſame effect.

1. Egypt had waters turned to blood: ſo Rome, chap. 11. and 16.

2. Egypt ſwarmed with frogges: Rome hath all the plagues of Aegypt but two.ſo Rome, chap. 16.

4. Egypt was plagued with ſerpents; and all ſauage: ſo the Locuſtes had tailes like ſcorpions: and their plaguers had horſes with Lions mouthes: and their tailes had heads like to ſerpentes: and the Caeſares people were ſpent by the beaſtes of the earth.

5. A plague killed the beaſts of Egypt: ſo the Caeſares people, 6.

p. 1246. Boyles vexed Egypt: ſo the marked of the beaſt. Apo. 16

7. Haile Fire vexed Egypt: ſo, Rome haile and fire mixed with blood, chap. 6. and chap. 16. great haile.

8. Locustes, ate the fruites of Egypt: Locuſtes, ſtrangers ſwarme, Apo. 9.

9. Darkeneſſe, vexed Egypt: the throne of the beaſt is darkned. Thus God compareth propre Egypt: and the king of Locuſtes Egypt: how they that folow Moyſes Law, and Prophecie: and bid the king of Locuſtes grant freedome to Iſrael, ſtill plague their Pharaoh.

And when they had ended their martyrdome, the beaſt which ariſeth out of the deepe, ſhall make warre with them: and ſhall kill them and their carcaſſes ſhall lie in the large Common weale: which is called ſpiritually, Sodoma and Egypt: where alſo the Lord was crucified.

For doctrine of vncleane ſpirites, Note, how and why Rome is called Egypt & Sodom, & Babel, ch. 18. and compare the old ſtories of the old Teſt. with Rome.they are termed, as a Citie brent from heauen: for many plagues, by Egypt: for good note, a broad Citie, as Romes policie was broad and large. And for a moſt ſure note, the Citie, policie and authoritie large: in which the Lord was crucified. This name ſtriketh the naile vponupon the head.

Of the Citie which crucified the LORD.

Thalmud Ieruſalemy noteth in Sanedrin, and Maymonie; that fouretie yeares before the deſtruction of Ieruſalem; cauſes of life and death were taken away from Iſraell: ſo they teach, that Chriſt was not crucified in the policie of Ieruſalem, but vnderunder Pontius Pilate, in the Roman policie: as the foure Evangeliſtes record carefullie. When the Sanedrin concluded to kill Chriſt, they brought him to Pilate: he cleared him; p. 125yet whipped him, and deliuered him to bee crucified. And the Romā ſoldiers ſhewed all wickedneſſe. 1. They brought him into the Common hall. 2. They gathered the whole band againſt him. 3. They put off his owne apparell, & put in mockage a ſcarlat robe vppon him. 4. They platted a crowne of thornes, and laid it vponupon his head. 5. They kneeled in mockage, and ſaid, All haile King of the Iewes: and ſpate vponupon him; & with a reed they ſtroke him on the head: and when they had ended mocking of him, they put off the robe, and put his owne clothes on him, and brought him to be crucified: and pierced his handes and his feete: and pierced his ſide with a ſpeare, and caſt lotts for his coate. Theſe ſo great contempts from Romanes the vilest in the world, againſt the Lord Eternall, could neuer be put vp. But that Rome ſhould bee the miſerie in tyrannie, while the world ſtoode, Pilate kill'd him ſelfe; and the Emperours for 300. yeres were miſerable. And Rome, by many ſpoiled: and ſince Popes ſupremacie a new Egypt; Now as the Iewes, who betrayed Chriſt, are ſlaues ouer the earth: ſo Rome that went further, was to bee revealed, to hauehave all curſes: the old ſerpents poyſon, chap. 12. Cains murder of Abel, chap. 13. a Deluge, chap. 12. Biting of tongues, chap. 16. conſumption as the curſed brent Cities, cha. 11. Egypts miſerie told aboue: Ioſuahs haile, cha. 16. Siſeraes fall at Mageddon, chap. 16. Iezabels miſerie from Elias, chap. 11. Daniels beaſts miſerie, chap. 13. and the Romans miſerie by Pompei and Iulius, Pſal. 97. handled in Appian fullie: and as the Pope knew more then the Caeſares, ſo his ſinnes were more ſtrong againſt the holy Ghoſt: and he ſhould be openly Man of ſinne, to all ſage in this world. The foure Euā geliſtes might teach the ſimpleſt this much. That ſeeing Rome grieued Chriſt, as he complayned (Iſai 49. & Pſal. 22.) p. 126and felt too; moſt high griefe. Rome ſhould bee Sathans throne while this world ſtood: and all reliques of theirs a curſe.

And people, tribes, tongues and nations, ſhall ſee their Carcaſes three dayes and a halfe.

So this Citie muſt meane a very large Common Weale, and Kingdome: and the two in generall may be full many thouſandes in particular. And as all the time of perſequution of the liuing, is three yeares and a halfe: the bodie is heere three dayes and a halfe.

And they ſhall not ſuffer their carcaſes to be put in graue.

This plainely ſheweth the burning of Martyrs, whoſe bones and aſhes may be ſeene three dayes and a half; and are not put in graue. So good Bucers bones in this honor, were taken out of the graue, not to rot there; but with pure fire, to hauehave conſumption: as Elias in his fierie chariot, had his body conſumed; and our Father Henoch, that in his life matched the dayes of the ſunne 365. was without paine diſſolued: when God tooke his ſoule to heauen: and Moſes had not mans buriall; God prouiding ſomewhat better for the ancient: that they with out vsus were more perfect, and for rare honor to their perſons, though by the doctrine of the Goſpell aboue the Law, we hauehave the perfecter: but no whit to ſoules ioy. But as they with ſmaller helpes paſſed vsus farre, in following God: ſo their minde heere was infinitely fuller of graces, then ours: though the ioy of aeternall life is aequall to all. In not ſuffering the beſt men in the world to be buried; the Citie that crucified Chriſt, is openly the throne of Satan.

p. 127And they that dwell on the earth, ſhall reioyce ouer them and be glad: and ſend giftes one to another: becauſe theſe two prophetes tormented the dwellers vponupon the earth.

The dwellers on the earth are the Locustes, & their friends earthly minded: and feared the companies of ſound Chriſtians; becauſe they taught Princes to hate the Popes religion, and Pride, and Wealth, & Monaſteries. The Hypocrites immitated the Iewes;Heſter. 9.Esth 9 who vponupon the death of Amalekites kept in open Townes, the xiiij. of Adar, with ioy and banquet, and wake day, and ſending of giftes one to another. Theſe two Doctores of Diuinitie (Prophet is heere in that ſenſe) were ſuch a torment to the Papiſtes: as the firſt martyrs to the prophane Caeſares: who taught that they were not Diui, and had no religion but from vncleane ſpirites.

And after three dayes and an halfe, ſpirite of life from God entred into them: and they ſtood vponupon their feete, and great feare fell vponupon them that beheld them.

In his Viſion of the Lordes day, he hath by light and darkneſſe three dayes & an halfe, reſembled vntounto him: for viewing of the martyrs, from the eye-ſight, to the minde: thus we muſt turne it. When men behold the bones and aſhes of the martyrs, they hold them not dead, but paſſed from death to life: becauſe they died for honor to Gods plaine religion: teaching to honor GOD onelyonly: and to receyue aeternall life onelyonly by his merciemercy in CHRIST, the onelyonly Rocke: and to pray onelyonly to GOD: and to hauehave a ſure faith in him: and to lothe all proceeding that is not agreeable to Gods holy worde; and that it hath a plaine and ſure meaning.

p. 128The old Martyrs for theſe groundes were in honor with the Pope: theſe two armies of Doctores died in the ſame cauſe, therefore their enimies heartes muſt needes confeſſe, that they are gone to heauen: euen as if they had heard them called vp, and ſeene to aſcend as followeth.

And they heard a loud voice from heauen, ſaying vntounto them: Come vp hither: and they went vp to heauen: and their enimies ſaw them.

As the caſe of Elias was to the body, ſo the Martyrs is to the ſoule: expreſſed bodily in this viſion.

Of all ſoules paſſage at death.

It is appointed for all men once to die, and then cōmeth iudgement, Eb. 9. ſo all ſoules muſt, when they leaue the bodie, returne to God that gaue them: to iudgement for eueryevery hid thing, good or euill, Ecc. 12. 2. Cor. 5. ſo all aſcend, Ecc. 3. And onelyonly the ſoules of the beaſt deſcend.

The commune place is called in Greeke Haides: and the happie part of it, is heauen to Abraham, Eb. xi. Luc. 18. And a place of burning torment to the wicked. The faithfull went hence to Gods eternall tabernacle, Leuit. 26. 2. Cor. 5. Mat. 8. Luc. 13. our Lord, Ioh. 15. and 16. Luc. 23. Eb. 9.

Of Purgatorie.

The impudencie of them which would eſtabliſh Purgatorie, is vnſpeakable. Moyſes hath not one ſyllable that way: therefore it can not be in religion. They that wrote in Iudah for the Maccabees ſtorie, make but two ſtates: as reſurrection to honor, and ſhame from Dan. 12.

p. 129Saint Paul profeſſing difference from Scribes, but in the incarnation and reſurrection of Chriſt: where they hold but Paradiſe and Gehenna: concludeth, that he helde no moe places for ſoules.1. Cor. 3.1 Cor 3 Where Saint Paul handleth a commune place, of teachers; what doctrine will abide ſound: what fire of iudgement will conſume as ſtubble: they that hence would hauehave ſoules fier, out of this world, little regard Paul. He taught nothing but what Moſes and the Prophetes taught. But no Thalmudiques, who beſt knew their tongue, could finde a purgatorie in thē: therefore Saint Paul taught it not.

Of the ſecond of the Maccabees.

The ſecond of the Maccabees, doth the Pope muſt aeſtime, chap. 12. for ſacrifice for the dead, but litle conſidereth the vileneſſe of that booke. Iewes would tell him that it was Hagada; a fable made vponupon phraſes: as where they ſacrifice, Ezr. 2. and no mention is of fire: he feigneth a moſt ridiculous fable, of fire hid by the ſacrificers, when they were caried to Perſia forſooth; not Babilon; and found by their poſteritie, turned into a thicke water; which when wood and ſacrifice was brought: Nehemias bade them annoint both with this water: and the Sunne ſhone, and kindled a great fire. Who would not iudge this to be a moſt ridiculous fable. By what witt could the ſacrificers dreame of ſuch matter, that fire could be turned into water, or by ſhun-ſhining kindled, pleaſe God. It must be kept vnquenched. The whole conſent of Iewes in the chaine of their Cabala ſaith, fire from heauen kindled the ſacrifice. A man would thinke the whole Nation in a ſenſible matter, ſhould be of more credite then obſcure Iaſon of Cyren.

p. 130Moreouer Zorobabel of Salathiel; not Nehemias of Chilkia, was gouernor at the returne. But ieſters vponupon phraſes, in Iarchi, make Cyrus and Artax all one; becauſe Cyrus end is not recorded. So in Iarchi they make Zorobabel and Nehemias to be all one: for memorie of phraſe: that Zorobabels remoning is not recorded. They that cannot iudge betwixt a ridiculous fable, and a ſad ſtorie, are in great darkneſſe. So the fable, of Ieremias, hiding the Tabernacle, and the Arke and Altar of Incenſe in mount Choreb,Such, the Apoſt. only ſpeakes of, Tit. 1. 14. & many other places: and he writing by the ſpirite, could not croſſe the ſpirit, Rom. 15. 4.Titus 1:14Rom 15:4 is not heard of in the Thalmud; nor agreeable to reaſon. And the Law of the eternall God, not to regard Iewes fables, heere taketh place: and they bee lawleſſe that breake that Law. This much for the whole booke, made one frō fiue of Iaſon of Cyren: that little knew Moſes, or yet Ieruſalems ſtorie.

Of Iudahs ſacrifice.

In Iudahs ſacrifice, the Writers ſpeach doteth: Iudah doubted not, but that they ſlept in godlineſſe, Chapter 12. 45. And what foole euer ſpake ſo ſenſeleſſe as this is; if hee had not hoped for the reſurrection, it had beene in vaine to pray for the dead, verſ. 44. Now, what ſenſe can bee in that ſpeach, that ſacrifice ſhould helpe the reſurrection: The ſtorie durſt not touch any eaſe to the ſoule, for that had ſtrouen with all Talmudiques. Maymony ſheweth, they offred for the dead; the heir did in Siphra Col. 31. But no otherwiſe, then as paying a debt, which the predeceſſor ſhould hauehave payed heere: And that, when they doubted not of the others ſaluation; but honouring him in paying that which the other ſhould hauehave payde. And Iaſon of Cyren harped at ſuch a ſtring, but could not bring his minde about. Now the p. 131Popes Purgatorie is holpen nothing hence: from a trifling booke, and ſenceleſſe ſpeach: and wreſted beyond all religion of the Iewes.

Epilogue.

As the two Prophetes were ſeene called vp into heauen in viſion: ſo all faithfull ſoules by ſcripture trueth, are to be ſeene called hence into the ioy of Chriſt.

What the Greeke Fathers thought of Purgatorie.

The Greeke Fathers ſhould bee thought to vnderſtand the Greeke Teſtament, better then Latin: and none of them could finde Purgatorie there; but grant all holy a paſſage hence to the Kinglie Palaces: ſome ſtaggered at the ſpeach Ebr. chap. xj. They without vsus were not perfected. Saint Paul in all that heauenly Epiſtle, diſputeth of the Goſpell, perfection to the Law; and of perfection of Doctrine in this world: and he had ſhewed in the ſame Chapter, That the Fathers deſired the heauenly Citie, & God prepared that for them: ſo they, who denie the Fathers perfection, by S. Paul, marke him not well. Baſill did once, vponupon Pſal. 49. but called himſelfe backe, vponupon Pſal. 15. and often. And Chryſostome, who ſeemed to ſtagger, placed Lazarus and Abraham in the kingdome of heauen, 2. Corinth. homil. 6. Mat. 8. Luc. cap. 13. and the principall Diuines, in Theophyl. vponupon Luc. chap. 23. and vponupon the Pſalmes; and in Photius Librarie, Philo in Greekes, and Ioſephus, I hauehave cited, and Azarias, who turned into Ebrew, Philoes wordes. And the Greekes bee greatly iniuried, when Limbus Patrum, is faſtened vponupon them.

p. 132Hegeſippus, and others that wrote the Maccabees martyrdome, doubted not but that they went hence to ſaluation, Dan. 12. And it had beene an infinite diſgrace to our Greeke Doctores, if they could not ſee ſo much by the New Teſtament. Now, let vsus returne to the text.

And at that houre there was a great earth quake, and a tenth part of the Citie fell: and there were killed by the earth quake 7000. perſons of men, and the rest were afraid: and gaue glorie to the God of heauen.

When the Popes perſequution came to ripeneſſe, then Princes by warres ſhake him off: as in Germany, Englande, Zwitzerland and Netherland. And Chriſt heere roareth like a Lion: and the 7. thunders tell, the thunder of his power. In Venice, he is now a mockage; and hath but Spaine to his ſtrength: Queene Maries perſequutiō, is now turned againſt the Pope: and his ſtirring Iriſh to rebell, vndid Ireland; And now his men the chiefeſt in learning, ſticke litle to him: and ſpeake to his ouerthrow, not much leſſe then we doe. And now the Dukedome of Cleaue, will make him weake in Germanie; If Geneueans would leaue their Gehēnean torment; and our ſide prophecie ſoūdly: we ſhould weakē him more by learning then by ſtrength of ſpeare: ſeeing the beſt learned of his owne ſide labor for vsus: as Arias Montanus hath done in much, about Plantines great Bible: & the beſt learned Papiſtes reioyce to ſee Daniel his 7. fold comfort of Nathans houſe: and the certen yere of the Lordes ſupper, to hauehave no more the body and blood of a Lambe, his body and bloud of Couenant: but Bread & Wine to ſhew, that no more fleſh & bloud may bee in ſacrifice. In Ebrew, Greek & Latin they ſaw Iewes requeſt anſwered: p. 133and were very thankfull in ſpeach and letters: and ſhew that now they would ſoone caſt off the king of locuſts: if they might hauehave good maintenance to hold vp better truth: and liberall artes that ſerue trueths honor.

Of the third woe, and laſt Trumpet.

The ſecond woe is paſt: behold, the third woe commeth: And the ſeuenth Angell ſounded the Trumpet: and there were great voices in the heauen, ſaying; the Kingdomes of the world; are now of our God; and his Chriſt: And he ſhall reigne for euer and euer.

Where the kingdome of the beaſt Abyſsigena, bred from the Pit, is gone: all the Church proclame; that CHRIST will hauehave no more alterations; vntill he ſhew heauen to all his. So the ſpeach paſſeth to the worlds end. The Prophets communely paſſe ouer matters of cōmon ſtate: as needleſſe to be handled ſpecially: and ſtepp from one thing of plague, preſently to Meſsiahs kingdome: as notably in Hoſea, after mention of Iſraels ſcattring, the kingdom of Meſsias is ioyned. So wen Eſay had ſpoken of Babels fall, after Sanecheribs; then he ſteppeth thence to CHRIST his preaching, By the voice of a crier in the wilderneſſe. So Daniel telleth of his kingdomes, their comming vp: their vrging of Idolatrie: their chaſtiſement: their ouerthrow, omitting matters of ordinarie courſe; where the preſent age would looke to it ſelfe. So Apoca. 6. handleth the prophane Caeſares: and thence, omitteth the Churches ſliding away, till it come to an abſolute fall. And then telleth of tyranny: and after tyrannies end; ſteppeth to the worldes end.

p. 134The third woe, is the plague of the enimies: by Kings of good religion: continually vntounto the end.

The ſumme of the Bible.

Great voices, expreſſe the voice of whole nations: and the Kingdome of God & Christ, the matter of all the Bible. Adam had that theme, to preach 930. yeares. Sem the great, by S. Paul and Gamalies likened to the eternal author of iuſtice & peace, figured this matter: and confirmed Abraham in this, 75. year. & reioyced in Elam, troden downe by Abraham: And all the large writings breathed by the holy Trinitie, teach no other matter but this: and puniſhments for contempt of this: and nothing ſhould be ſuffred in the Church, but to this ſumme. In the prayer which our Lord preſcribed for a cōmon forme to the whole Congregation; this conteyneth all: Thy Kingdome come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heauen. So when Iohn Baptiſt opened the kingdome of Chriſt: when the Leuiticall policie was to ceaſe: and all nations ſhould ſerue God by Lawes writtē in the heart, Rom. 2. Ier. 31. Then the kingdome of heauen is ſaid to come, when men humble themſelues to receiue the iuſtice of Chriſt; and to be clothed with the SVN. The fulneſſe of kingdome cōmeth when the holy ſoule foreign leaueth this world, & goeth to God, and there reigneth for euer: and ſeeth the Locuſts pitt-bred, in Haides torment, fryed in fire for euer and euer. The pitt-bred beaſts had ſunne and aire much darkened: when they knew not, whether mans ſoule aſcendeth or deſcendeth: and whither the holy goeth, to heauen or to hell. This ſaying, Catercheſthaeis haidon, is neither more nor leſſe, then to goe to p. 135God: when the godly, hauehave a light place of ioye: and the godleſſe, a darke place of torment. And this expoſition cutteth off at the leaſt fifteene bad opinions, direct bad for this article: by conſequents fifteene ſcore. The Kingdome heere ſpoken off is termed Haides in the Creede: and wee may not put Hell for Heauen; nor deſcending, for going to God. Purgatorie falleth when Haides hath but two partes: Heauen and Hell; and with it all Poperie: Satan entred into many vnthankefull Caytifes: that could not ſuffer the holy ſoules going into the kingdome, to be moſt eloquentlie ſpoken in the Greeke Creede: if they deſcend not to Hell as our Lord did in the Creede; they ſhall aſcend vp, and before Gods throne hauehave an hell for euer and euer.

And the 24. Elders, which ſate on their thrones before God, fell vponupon their faces; and worſhipped God, ſaying: Wee praiſe thee, O Eternall, who is, and who was, and who will bee; that thou takeſt vponupon thee, thy great power, and doeſt reigne. As the Nations hauehave kept a ſtirre, thine anger is come, and the tyme of the dead to be iudged; and to giuegive rewardes to thy ſeruants the Prophetes, and to the holy, and to ſuch as feare thy name.

The Elders be the Gouernors of Gods people in all offices: & ſpecially in ſage vſage of Scripture, on aſſembly dayes: all learned in the ſcriptures, and able to giuegive faithfull exhortatiō out of it; and all borne in wealth, are brought vp amiſſe, that are not gronuded in yong yeares, to read with delite in the holy Booke. Albion ſeeth, who hath opened that way: and faithleſſe Iewes cōfeſſe: though Atheā pāches for enuy burſt. p. 136Theſe hauehave thrones before God: not Buyſhops and Archbuyſhops of Papiſts; But choſen of the holy congregation: to teach what God telleth: but as Moſes gaue no commandement of his owne head; nor Chriſt in the fleſh, but as he taught in Moſes: ſo theſe ſpeake all frō ſcripture: few wordes by old playne warrant: and yet in few lines ſhake of all poperie & all errores. In number they be 24. as knowing the XII. tribes ſtory; how the tribe ſhould not depart from Iudah, till his childe came: and how the XII. Apoſtles gathered the XII. tribes, to make them the foundation, of the heauenly Ieruſalem. Theſe are not many: but 24. yet a reſonable good number. Many nobles in Albion and others, that liue by their owne reuenues, ſtudie the Bible, with as good dexterity, as any feed-men: and know it better then ſome: after 42000. Brabant Gilders charges, & againe 40000 crownes charges: ſuch be humble and know Iehouah, who is, who was, who will bee ſtill, the ſame, to rule all ages to one ſumme of ſaluation in Chriſt: how in him, GOD, was manifeſted in the fleſh, and taken vp in glory, and the ſaluation of all ages. Enoſh age, the flood, Babel, Ieroboam, felt the price of deſpiſing this life. And after the great ſaluation begun by the Lord himſelfe to be ſpoken, and confirmed by his hearers, with all guiftes of the ſpirit: for contempt, the world was ſoone giuen ouer: to Arius, Pope, and Turke, yet God ſealed a few, and at length placeth them in open kingdomes to be ſeene: though ſtil the greater part in open policy, careth but for this life: as in Salomons dayes, all were of great ſhew: but ſoone after his death, Ephraim turned all but Iuda; to worſhip calues, not God. So great Conſtantinus holpe Chriſtians, but few of his men cared for God. So heere, Popes Idols, & murder of the ſaincts, cauſe God to ſhake him to duſt: as he ſhoke the Macedonians p. 137after Antiochus Epiphanes perſequution: That the Iewes receiued their owne kingdome, vnderunder the Maccabees: and that meanes the pſalmes, 97. and 99. and others about them; howe the power of Chriſt breaketh Idoll kingdomes; that God ſhould take the protection of all into his owne handes. So heere Elders ſhewe Popes ſtrength caſt of; that others be ſo ſtrong as hee: But as vnderunder the Maccabees new corruption, left ſcant any in faith for Chriſt his firſt comming: ſo it will bee for the ſecond: that ſcant faith will bee found in the earth: The true Elders complaine not for mens negligence: but looke for Chriſt his ſecond comming: vponupon the Popes full fall; as vponupon his firſt comming the Macedonians had not a foote of ground.

Of the Worldes end.

No man can tell, when the world ſhall ende, nor when the Pope ſhall bee vtterly conſumed by the ſpirite of Chriſt his mouth: But that many hundreth yeeres remaine yet; we hauehave many arguments of likely-hood.

Of the Iewes calling.

S. Paul ſheweth that the Iewes ſhall firſt be called, Rom. 12. But Chriſtians in name, are miraculouſly bent againſt that: very neere open Atheiſme: ſo their calling cannot bee yet: when Chriſtian ſtates ſwear to hinder that. Agent Barton, moued a Iewe, to requeſt an explication of the newe Teſtament; how it is the perfection to the old. Two copies of one Epiſtle from a Rabbi, the beſt learned in the Eaſt, came to England; in a ſtrange Character: ſuch as was neuer ſeene in the Weſt, & in ſtile, vnlike all Chriſtians veine. And in date, p. 138and particular circumſtances; ſo, for the writers occaſions, that all the wittes in the world, of the Weſt, could not feigne ſuch a Character, ſtyle, and particular matter. From England, after long viewing, theſe copies were ſent to Baſill, to the partie for whoſe worke they were written. The Epiſtle is printed: and the ſumme, (as requeſt was made) commeth forth in Engliſh. Now marke the recompence, from a moſt thankfull nation. Libellers the impudenteſt that euer were in the world, that ſcoffe a Concluſion of their owne auctores allowed ſillogiſme; a moſt learned worke that brake Gehennean torment; (the cauſe is well knowen) theſe raue againſt him, whom the Q. Agent made the Iew belieue to be the ableſt of all Chriſtians, to handle our Goſpell in Hebrew veine: And this ſcoffe, from a moſt vnlearned wight: is allowed by the Buyſhops.

Becauſe, your armes be the owles, you thinke you must bring owles to Athenes: and becauſe, the Rabbin ſaluteth you, as you feigne, you thinke you are the onelyonly Thalmudique of the world.

The ſimple people were perſuaded, that the Epiſtle was forged: thinking, that, no ſlaue of Satan, durſt euer be ſo impudent, as to borrow the princes authority, to a ſlander: and ſeing two impreſſions, of the Libel were ſoone ſold vnderunder authority; they held not (as they ought) the ſlanderers, to be Anathema Maran Atha: but ſuppoſed they ſpake true, and ioyned with them to ſerue Satan. Now Chriſtians ſhould hauehave the firſt benefite, in ſhewing the Harmony of both Teſtaments: and where Chriſtians hinder their owne good; GOD will giuegive them no honor for Iewes. The like prank, one of Geneua plaid; being aduertiſed of the Iewes petitiō, p. 139and being requeſted to lend Sadaias Arabique Moſes, kept a coile as though the matter was forged: that many marueiled, and gaue information of him: and when the Senate gaue leaue, to printe the Iewes Epiſtle, and anſwere; he by one Grinetus forbad to vſe the Senates leaue: and bred much coile. Thereupon a Greeke oration, accuſing him of machmadiſme, is ſent to the Senate. They call him to his anſwere. Then he ſaith, he thought the Iewes Epiſtle was forged. The Libell from England cited him, and hardned him in that. And others in Germany kept a ſtirre; (that, therupon I called his diuinity to accompt) and altered Princes from great promiſſes, towards Ebrew opening of the Bibles Harmonie.

Of our Kinges rare bent: to the honor of the Bible.

Our King vowed, to the Bibles honor (ſo that the partie would, and might conueniently, take the worke in hande) 1596. a thouſand poundes a yeare; after that he reigned in England. Satan hindred the workeman, by one that made Gehennea torment, of going to Paradiſe, in the Creede: And blamed the workeman, as deceiued: vntill he cleared himſelfe; no modeſty would requeſt the Kings penſion; nor no wiſedome grant it. The more religious promiſſes bee made; the more circumſpection is to be had, to the worke of their ground, which failing the Promiſſe is no Promiſſe. Alſo the BB. would take the Bibles clearing in hand: for which worke much of the old purpoſe began: ſo the workman was cōtent to be freed. After queſtions were cleared, a cold letter moueth the king, with mention of old bent. The King moſt redily telleth by a Knight, of a royall penſion, to open the Bible againſt Iewes: the offer is accepted: a booke is p. 140printed: chiefe obiections are diſſolued, and after nobles, an high preferred Clerke, hath a copy. He denieth the Kinges meſſage: and ſaid he would ſtay the King from allowance to Ebrew clearing of the Bible: where the King was ſo willing: and a Clerke ſo croſſe: A learned man wrot vntounto mee, that God meaneth not yet, to call the Iewes. But of duty, I hauehave now 12. yer. celebrated the Kinges redy bent: and moſt conſtant faith. And I ſee that God ſtirreth vnlearned ſcholars, to force a calling of them to accompt. Now by Ebrew, and Greeke, Iewes muſt be taught: and Zwitzerland would perſuade mee, that they knew none by ſtory of my ſtudy that way: and I thinke ſome hundred of yeares will paſſe, before another of like paines will ariſe to call them.

Of the Popes ſcholars.

The Popes ſcholars in Latin, Greeke, and Ebrew; are terrible to ours: as D. Piſtorius, of Friburge was: & they ſo play vponupon our errores: that they hauehave turned millions ſo from vsus. Geneueans checking of the Greeke Teſtament, makes Ieſuites vſe the Latin, & reiect the Greeke: many armies would not ſo much help them: Beſides raſh termes: as Deus agit, excitat, impellit, mouet peccatores. Theſe giuegive Ieſuites victorie. God, leadeth them into temptation, to ſhew his iudgement: but in light of cōſcience warneth againſt ill. But the wicked rebell againſt light. Againe theſe; aſyſtate, ſtand not together. Deus operatur omnia in ominibus; in good and bad: and Deus non agit in malis: Beza hath both: And this no better: Deus agit in impiis deſerendo. This trifling of vnlearned diſputing, increaſeth papiſtry exceedingly. So; this cānot be denyed: God hath ſet vntounto anger, all that he calleth not to faith: But p. 141he furthereth not by inward inſtinct, their deſtruction. He hardeneth by patience, or too great affliction. This ſpeach, he praedeſtineth men to deſtructiō, is not from God. For that terme is vſed in furthering the meanes; as in the godly, for ſaluation. So one raſh terme of a weake ſchole, will turne many away.

Of Daniel.

Long did Beza roare in french homilies againſt the Pope, from Daniel: Ieſuites reply, that no ſyllable there medleth with him: ſo all their powder without pellet is loſt: till Lemanus-lake-fiſhers emend their nettes, they ſhall not catch 153. great Fiſhes: and they muſt launch on the right ſide.

Of the poore Indians calling.

Of loctan, Gen. 10. come the Eaſt-Indians, their names famous in heathen; for nationes, mountaines and riuers, tell that; Their contempt of Godly teaching Chriſt was great, Noe, Sem, Arphaxad, Selah, Eber, Phaleg, brother to Ioctan, hath caſt thē of hitherto. The Weſt-Indians ſeeme to come of the Eaſt: as both ſpeake ſome Ebrew. Now God driueth vsus to both Indians, not for Pepper and Tobacho: but in tyme, to ſhew his name. And the Ieſuites in teaching the holy Trinity, Perſon, and Iuſtice of Chriſt, may ſaue many: and the Pope ſhall hauehave an outward reward of longer ſucceſſe, and ſome hundreths of yeares muſt be ſpent this way.

Of the old opinion of 6000. yeares.

God hath caſt old ages into a pleaſant frame of meaſures: of them for Iewes, and from Iewes, I dedicated an Ebrew p. 142worke to the Landtgraue of Heſſia. Now thouſandes I will touch. In 3000. exactly, the Temple was fully furniſhed: euen to the Arke. In 4000. exactly the Romanes deſtroyed the ſeconde Temple: if without it Meſſias dayes hauehave 2000. yeares from the yeare of Chriſt 1609. of Adam 5536. One as Heber may come to the worlds end, by 464. yer. The trueth God only knoweth: reaſon telleth affaires in worke require ſuch tyme: But no particular perſon is ſure of one day: but all ſhould watch, when the Bridegrome commeth.

And to deſtroy them, that deſtroy the earth.

Although no Creature but Angells and men know God: yet the cloſe bent of all Creatures is framed to ſerue man for Chriſt: God bending them ſo. And in that ſenſe, eueryevery thing is weary of their toyle, Eccl. 1. and groneth looking for the Redemtion of the Children of God. Rom. 8. and being turned to ſeruice of Idolls grone in Gods eſtieme, as corrupted: ſuch was the old world in corrupting their wayes: ſuch were Babel builders, till heathen came to God: and almoſt all to this day. And Apoc. 5. All creatures giuegive glory to the Lambe, in ſeruice of Chriſtians. But alas, men to this day would neuer ſearch Gods word, the wealthie, and principall of ſtate, but remit that ouer vntounto others: as a baſe worke, for themſelues to regard; whereby God caſt off the world.

And the Temple of God was open in the heauen: and the Arke of his Couenant, was ſeene in his Temple: and there were lightnings & voices & thunders, & earthquake & great haile.

After papiſtries ouerthrow, Chriſt who is the Temple, p. 143and the Arke, who hath the Law within him: & is the mercy ſeat, ſhall be opened to the few ſaued: and God will pay Papiſts with warres, for the haile and fire that they mixed with blood: troubleſome meteores eloquently expreſſe troubles of ſtate: as before our Lordes firſt comming, the Romans miſeries, deſtroying themſelues, were a wonder to hiſtoriques: becauſe Craſſus robbed the Temple: and Pompei afore made Iſrael ſerue Rome; and Brutus with Caſsius; and Antonius with Cleopatra: and againe Iulius: ſo Rome that ſtill will crucifie Chriſt, ſhall hauehave as great ſtirrs to warne them of vtter ruine. But by warres, profaneſſe breedeth; to all ſides: that when the SON OF MAN commeth, he ſhall ſcant finde faith vponupon the earth. The beſt way, to keepe faith is to exerciſe our vniuerſities in the Ebrew and Greeke Teſtament: and to leaue ciuill gouernement to ſage courtes fitt for it: as Zuricke in Zuitzerland doth; that, Scholars tyrannie make not new papiſtrie. And thus once, all is reueiled vntounto the end. New viſions tell the ſame matter: for better clearneſſe.