A Revelation of the Holy Apocalypse, Part 2 · Chapter 14

A Revelation of the Holy Apocalypse · Part 2 · Chapter 14

p. 205CHAPTER XIIII.

And I ſaw, and behold a Lambe ſtood vponupon mount Syon, and an hundred fourty foure thouſand, were with him, hauing the name of their father written in their forehead.

THEY which were called afore two Prophets, are now 144000. hauing the name of God written in their forehead: the ſame number is ſaid before to be ſealed: ch. 7. by a ſpeach from Ezekiel, ch. 9. 4. There in the 70. foreign, the terme of chap. 13. in Kimchy, a ſigne or writing. S. Paul p. 206expoundeth the ſpeach, that God will make them knowen who be his that they who profeſſe the name of God ſhall depart from wickedneſſe. So they who hauehave Gods name, are made knowen who bee his: and expound his word: and follow trueth of worſhip due to him: bearing a marke, in open profeſſion, as ſacrificers, ſuch as Aharon had. In this ſort the holy Church ſtill had ſome nūber, to profeſſe the ſumme of ſaluation; though on mount Sion a ſmall hill, for the mountaines of the world: & not one to a million of ADONIKAM and his Children of three fold, as ſtorie 666. that number chap. 13. to beare the number of his name, was vſed for any number of Apoſtatique profeſſion. So heere the 144000. twelue tymes twelue is vſed for any Company that truſteth in Chriſt, as the Patriarches did.

And I heard a voice out of heauen, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harpes, and they ſing as it were a new ſong, before the throne, and before the foure liuely wightes and the Elders.

The heauen, commonly in this booke, is the Church; waters voice, is continuall; ſo heere continuall ſinging is meant: harpes ſignifie, ſong with agreement: the new ſong is for mans praeſeruation eueryevery day. The foure wightes are the rare, as Daniel, Ananias, Azarias and Miſael: and all the Euangeliſtes and S. Paul: full of courage of Lions: ſo were all the Apoſtles, of rare patience: ready to be ſacrificed eueryevery day: and they were the true Philoſophers, thinking what ſhould befall them after death; and they were the Eagles of high flight & ſight. The Elders are the Biſhops, or Teachers: the ſage in p. 207gouernement and skill in the holy Hebrew and Greek Teſtaments. The ſong none could vnderſtand but the 144000. as no Papiſt ſoundly thinketh of all things, made for Gods glorie in Chriſt, and how by him wholy iuſtice commeth, and he onelyonly muſt be worſhipped. When this is told them, they are like vntounto men that dreame, and know not who they are that are bought from the earth: not what their religion meaneth. Thereupon it is written.

And none could vnderſtand the ſong but the hundred fourty and foure thouſand, which were bought from the earth.

What this ſonge was.

Through the whole ſcripture this ſong is one and the ſame: that IEHOVAH, our GOD, IEHOVAH is ONE: The FATHER, the SON, the Holy Spirite, be one, Coaeternall and Coeſſentiall: the SON is called the WORD; by the WORD the Father made the World, and by the Spirite beautified the heauens. And becauſe the WORD would become fleſh, the World was made to ſerue once Adam the firſt. The Angells that grudged at that, fell for euer: and deceiued Adam: and made him dead in ſin: and brought him to be turning dayly to duſt vntill he dyed, and for him the whole frame of the Creature, was pronunced corrupt. But he belieued that Chriſt, made of a woman, made vnderunder the Law, God being in him to reconcile the World to himſelfe: ſhould giuegive Adams ſoule iuſtice by faith, ſhould raiſe vp his Bodie, and make a new World: by his power, whereby hee can ſubdue all things to himſelfe. This is the ſumme of the ſong; tolde through all Bookes of the Bible.

p. 208A Digreſsion to ſhew the Concent of all the holy Bookes.The Concent of all the holy Bookes, Geneſes.

Geneſes ſheweth, how by the WORD of IEHOVAH, the heauens were made, and all the ſettled army of them, by the Spirite of his mouth: 1. Iohn. 1. 1. & 3. 8.1 John 1:11 John 3:8and when man fell; the WORD telling, that to deſtroy the workes of Satan, he would be made fleſh, and hauehave a Tabernacle in vsus. In which point, the Fathers faith, vntounto the charge of Ioſephs bones to bee caried vntounto the Land, wherein our Lordes reſurrection ſhould be a Teſtimony of a new World: taught by Ioſeph in his bones, long after his death.Heb. 11.Heb 11 By faith, he taught by his dead bones, of the new world: and therein Geneſes end, hath a new Geneſes. All ſimple, ſhould learne CHRIST from the Goſpell of Geneſes: where his Godhead ſo familiarly, delited in the holy, Prov. 8. and ſhewed in appearances, that he would be man. All yong men brought vp to be Biſhops of the Kings armies, or Church: would reioyce to hauehave learned Geneſes in Ebrew by heart. In old age they ſhould gather the fruit.

Obiection of them, that are not bought from the earth.

S. Ierome ſaith: Iewes read not the three firſt chapters of Geneſes, till they be 30. yeeres old.

Anſwere. None ſhould cite Ierome to make him a foole, or to win the Whetſtone. Maymony, in Morch Nebuchim hath this ſentence, that none, did Daraſh, read (as a Doctor expoundeth) Geneſ. 1. and 2. and 3. and Ezech. 1. before he was aged 30. So S. Ierom meant. Iewes all teach their Children, from ſeauen to read all Moyſes. It were better that Rome, p. 209were with Helice and Bura, then Popes ſhould be ſuffred, ſo to bring moſt wickedly the word of life into a deadly hatred.

Of Iob.

Iob, is a booke for all holy to take notice of; for inſtructing their families in the knowlede of Chriſt: which Abraham carefully did, as God teſtifieth; the comfort of it their poſterity ſhall finde: as the booke ſetteth forth the faith and louelove (the effects of the Goſpell. 1. Theſ. 1.) of his poſterity; euen before the Lawe was giuen; to ſhewe that the godly had alwaies the Law written in their hearts, 2. Cor. 3. Ier. 32. Rom. 2. Iob, is a patron to all the faithfull; in proſperitie, for louelove, compaſſion, iuſtice and equity, &c. in his afflictions, his faith and hope in the Redeemer the ſeed promiſed, whom he knew would take our nature vponupon him to dy for him, and by his Godhead rayſe himſelfe from death, and that by his reſurrection, he ſhould be rayſed in the laſt day, & be made like his glorious body; and that he euer liued to make interceſſion for him: theſe thinges were his comfort in his greateſt miſeries: and patience and conſtancie, the fruite of his hope, he ſhewed Rom. 5. and commended to vsus Iam. 5. And in Iob, God deſcribeth the ſtate of the Church, nowe floriſhing, nowe wholly afflicted: yet by faith in the Redeemer finde recouery vntounto eternall life. Briefly, the whole booke is a diuine commentary on Geneſes, both for Creation and Redemption.

Of Exodus.

Exodus ſheweth how God performed promiſſe to Abraham of multiplying his ſeed:Exodu… of their affliction in Aegypt: (for his hainous ſin as Rabbi Bechai ſaith, in giuing Sarah to Pharaoh) of reuenging Aegypt: of bringing Iſrael thence, by the blood of the Lambe: & drowning Pharaoh, wher they ſang the ſong of the Lambe.Exo. 15.Exod 15 The Tables with letters 613. Vowels & Accents, p. 210as we hauehave this day, in the ſame forme in the firſt Law, teach how we come from the Aegypt of this World: and the Tabernacle, how the WORD would hauehave his Tabernacle in vsus.

Romes error againſt this ſong of the Lambe: barbarous.

Their Latin ſayth The dwelling of the Children of Iſraell while they dwelt in Egypt, was 430. year. yet Cohach came with Iacob, Gen. 46. and liued but 133. year. Amram 137. Exod. 6. Moſes 120. Deut. 33. all in extremity maketh but 390. year. So Moſes muſt be buried 40. year. before he receiued the Law. So the Pope maketh all the Old Teſtam. nothing worth. Saint Paul maketh it but 430. year. from the Promiſſe, Gen. 12. vntounto the Law, Gall. 3. 17. So the Pope would make both Teſtaments, of small force: as his knightes, in Gen. 3. ſay, ſhee ſhall bruſe thy head, to be the ground of hope: that ſo, the Virgin Marie might lawfully be worſhipped.

Error Athean.

The heauy Commandement, Thou ſhalt not make vntounto thy ſelfe any grauen Image: in the Popes decalogue is left out. The Chaldean who deſtroyed the Temple, that all of Gold was caryed to Babel: ſo the couering of the Arke, and the reſt of the Gold: that the timber, and Tables ſeeme broken by the wicked: thoſe wicked are not more wicked then the other Babylon in a myſterie, which to receiue Idolatry, would take away one commandement from the tenne.

Of Leuiticus.Leuiticus.

When the Tabernacle was ſett vp, the voice of Chriſt, which was terrible on the mountaine, ſpeaketh ſoftly to Moſes how Leui ſhould cōtriue all the Law by ſacrifice hither: that when p. 211the Iewes had deſtroyed Chriſt his Tabernacle,Ioh. 2.John 2 hee would rayſe it againe the third day: and end Leuies trade: and the Angell commenting vponupon Leuit. 26. telleth the very houre when Chriſt by death would end ſacrifice and offring.

How the Pope diſannulleth all Leuiticus.

The Pope will hauehave Prieſt, Altar, Cope, Leuitique linnen, fleſh of Bread and Blood of Wine, to be for ſacrifice; againſt all the light that Chriſt planted in ſoules, for ſenſe of eye ſight, tast, feeling, ſmelling and hearing of wordes: and common reaſon, when words of poſſeſſions muſt be expounded, lawyerlike: not in naturall ſorte. He that ſhould vrge naturall proprietie in this. Iechonias begate Salathiel, ſhould bring infinite abſurdities vponupon the genealogie. He is more ſenſeleſſe that knoweth not ſpeaches of a couenant, how the thing ſignifying, hath the name of the ſignified. Typus, antitypus, ſimbolon, Icones, old greeks Dionyſius the forged, Origen, Euſebius, Nazianzene, Theodoret. &c. could terme the Bread and Wine, ſeales of ending Moſes Policie, which had the auctority of God, equall in wiſedome to his wiſedome in the Creation of the World. Now where God endeth all ſacrifice, and Moyſes policie, performing by our Lords death and teſtifying by S. Stephens martyrdome. Thence the beaſt ariſing from the profane earth, would with the mouth of the Dragon, erect a policie ouer the World; to make by Satan imitation of Moſes policie, to turne all Common weales to apiſh mockage, of the ſage wiſedome in Moſes: vntounto the deceite of Satan, who tranſformeth him ſelfe into an Angell of light. Thus the harpes on Mount Syon, will not agree with the Popes Policy, by Leuiticus.

Of Numery.Numbers▪ Act. 26. 22. 23.Acts 26:22Acts 26:23

When Moſes had ſhewed in figures, that Christ was to ſuffer, p. 212and being the first from the dead ſhould ſhew light vntounto the World: the people were to trye, whether by this faith, they would conquer Chanaan, & not by mans ſtrength. They are numbred in perſons, a miraculous number; to proceed in 215. yer. (whence onelyonly 70. male ſoules aroſe in 215. yeares) 603550. men of warre beſides Women and Children. But they miſbelieue and ſo come ſhort.

The Like.

Popery teacheth, that merits of ſainctes, muſt be helpes to conquer the Land of Reſt. And truſt not to the Promiſſe giuen to Abraham.

Of Deuteronomie.

Deuteronomie, Deutero.repeateth to the ſonnes the fathers religion: in an abridgement: ſhewing that all ages ſhould doe ſoe: and giueth an expreſſe Law, that fathers ſhould teach their Children the Law. And ſo, many pſalmes, and many places of the New Teſtament, abridge the heauenly wiſedome of God, for all former doctrine.

The Contrarie.

No Cardinales of Rome, nor Princes that gaue them honor, knew this much. Therefore their gold is in high gilt.

Of Ieſus.

The booke of IESVS, Ioſua.ſheweth how IESVS conquered the Land by a leſſer number then the firſt, that man ſhould not hauehave the prayſe, but only God. Pſal. 44. And their towns 324. as ſome reckon them, in Chananean names, ſhew all commodities of ſoyle for a land.

p. 213The Contrarie.

The Iewes were told by Dauid, Pſal. 95.Ps 95that IESVS ſettled not the people in the true reſt: but biddeth them enter into a Reſt from mans Ceremonies: where Baptiſme for Circumciſion, and Bread with Wine, (tokens as ſtronge as the worlds frame, vponupon Gods word, of life to faithfull receiuers) are all that religious policie requireth, that wee hauehave a Rest from the infinite toyle of Moſes Policie. But the City that crucified Chriſt, denyeth this Reſt: and bringeth from mans wicked braine, wicked toyes innumerable, to be religiouſly obſerued: wherof the leaſt were as bad as the ſtrange fire that Aharons ſonnes did kindle.

Of the Booke of the Iudges.

Ioſeph in his Beryll, Iudges.bare the XI I. Patriarches names: as a King and ſtay of the common Weale: when the people fell away, other tribes: Iuda, Beniamin, Iſachar, Zabulon, Nepthaly and Dan in part, and Leui to alteration, vponupon ouerthrow, in Elies ſonnes. The 70. for a ſpeciall reaſon, ſet in Greeke for Ioſephs Beryll, the Emerauld of Leui, that heathen might not ſay: the God of Iſraell did not foreſee what would come to paſſe. Ioſeph bare the ſway: and Ephraim of Ioſeph caried (except Iuda) all tribes landed away. VponUpon the Greek tranſlation Chryſoſtome, ſharper witted then skillfull in the originall, in Photius liberary, would make the high ſacrificer the ſtay of the ſtate: where his office was for the World to come; and vponupon this the Patriarkes would be checking not teaching the Emperor, till both came to nought: as Elie his ſonnes, ouerthrew all the glorie of the ſtates vnderunder the Iudges. The Pope paſſeth all Greeke Patriarches ouer Kings; by whom they ſtand, and by whoſe guiftes they had means to ſtudy the word of God, p. 214If they had grace, and to helpe many landes ſo to doe: that in the Pope (as in Elies ſonnes,) a fall extreeme ſhall be.

Of Samuel, &c.

When God haſtening to ſhewe CHRIST from Iuda,Samuel. gaue Iſrael a minde to chooſe a King: hee would giuegive one of Beniamin, that Rachel ſhould be aequall to Leah: but ſoone remoue him:Pſalmes. then commeth DAVID of Iuda: Dauid rare for faith and all humanitie: whoſe Pſalmes tell of Chriſt all that can be known: from Stories paſt, and in Prophecies for the ſtate following. That all men, high and low, rich and poore, ſhould ſtill ſing his pſalmes. And to him, is promiſed an aeternall throne in Chriſt. Now to prooue, that this throne is not for this World. Salomon hath all wiſedome, proſperitie, and pleaſure, and writeth a ſong of ſonges, that is all in continued allegories of true ſoules following Chriſt:Canticles. and Prouerbes, to warne Ephraim from Idolls: Prouerbes Eccleſiaaſtes.and Eccleſiſtes to tell that all vnderunder the ſunne was vanitie. To the ſame effect the hiſtorie of poore Ruth, Ruth.of Lot, leauing Countrey, kinſ folke and fathers houſe, conteineth a ſage hope in the ſonge for the Lambe. And Salomons Temple is ſoone caſt off, to be deſpyſed, and the Kings of his ſeede;1. and 2. Kings. in 1. and 2. of the Kings; to ſhew that a King of Nathan Salomons brother, ſhould be the true King; when Salomons Kings ſhould cauſe captiuity to Babel, and ouerthrow of all.Chronicles. The Books of Kings, and Chronicles, ſhew that in euent. Then Daniel, ſheweth 7. tymes ouer, how vnderunder Kings Iuda ſhall bee in affliction,Daniel. till the King of Kings commeth.Hoſea. In Prophecie, Hoſea telleth of his ſaluation, how he ſhall be called from Egypt, and deſtroy death, and aryſe the third day, Ionas.which matter Ionas in figure experienced before. This ſaluation Oſee teacheth and how Lo-Ammi, ſhould be Ammi, p. 215and Lo-Ruchamah, Ioel.ſhould be Ruchamach. Ioel, ſheweth Gods fauor for the ſpirite vponupon all fleſh, to ſpeake of the reſurrection, chapter 2. and ſharpe iudgement cited in this Chapter. And Amos, Amos.of erecting Dauids Tabernacle. Iſaiah, is an Euangeliſt from chapter 40. ſpecially chapter 53. and where not:Iſaiah. and who is like to Michah, Michah.telling Herod of Bethlechem, where the ſonne of Dauid ſhould be borne.Nahum. Nahum, comforteth the true Iew with the faire feete of them that ſhew peace: and ſayth: Aggie Aggeicha: feſtiue thy feſtiuities; though Niniueh ſcattred Iſrael, yet Iuda ſhould be built. The name of Aggei the Prophet calleth that into minde.Habba. Abbakuk, embraceth the people with comfort againſt Babel, and leaueth a meſſe of potage for Daniel, and all good: that, the iuſt ſhall liue by faith. Ieremie.Ieremie, 40. year. telleth Iudah their Ceremonies cannot turne their heartes from ſtrange Gods: But Babell ſhal bee their dwelling to conſume the wicked, & to ſhew Gods glorie, where the Towre brought ſhame to all nations, built to worſhip Creatures, and to forget the Creator. Tzephain, telleth that (Tze-phan Iah) the aeternall hath ſealed vp iudgement for deſpyſing the Redeemer, (taught by the Paſſouer in Ioſiahs dayes) therefore he will viſite the Kings Children for cloſe Idolatry, the rulers for cruelty, the falſe Prophets for lying vanities, ouerthrow the ſtate & cary them to Babell, but after confeſſion of their ſin, he will leaue a poore and humble people, that ſhall truſt in Meſſiah the Lord. Obadiah, telleth Edom, that for helping Babell to deſtroy Ieruſalem; by Babell they ſhould be deſtroyd: yet in tyme Sauiours (that is Apoſtles) ſhall come from Syon to conquer and iudge them (Luc. 22. 30.) that is, to bring them to the faith, and that, of that Kingdome Chriſt ſhall be King. Ezechiel ſheweth the ſonne of man glorious aboue the Cherub, p. 216Ezechiel.Chap. 1. and from 40. a new Ieruſalem: and chap. 38. ſheweth to the eye the reſurrection: touching his Ieruſalem: S. Peter tuneth the Harpe on Mount Sion, that: eueryevery prophecie of ſcripture is not to bee expouded properly: becauſe the holy men of God ſpake caried by the holy Ghoſt.Daniel. Daniel, expoundeth him, that the death of Chriſt ſhall bring all nations to be an heauenly Ieruſalem: Of Daniel I hauehave written more then any ſince Daniel wrote, how his holy Goſpell, ſheweth Chriſt vntounto Children. The Copies of my laſt edition hee that vſeth, as the Perſians the Prophete, ſhall be commended of mee to the God of Daniel, whom hee knoweth not. For if he had knowen him, he would not ſo hauehave crucified againe the Lord of glory. So deſcribed king of the Iewes, and firſt named CHRIST, meere properly in Daniel. Ages folowing ſhall enquire how God will deale with the men.Aggei. Aggei, anſwering in name (as was ſhewed) to Nahums words, ſheweth that of Zorobabel, the SIGNET ſhall come: who ſhall ſhake the heauen of the Iewes policie;Zacharic. and the profane earth. Zachary and Malachy, Malachie.with him, ſhewe what Zachary & Malachy Luc. 1. ſhould learne to begin the New Teſtament, by the Angell Gabriel,Ezra. on whom they comment: Ezra, and Nehemias, Nehemias.alſo record his trueth, and celebrate the names of the chiefe returned, and the number of all. And Mordecai, in Eſther,Eſther. telleth how by faith in Chriſt they eſcaped the edge of the ſword: Thus vponupon Mount Sion of old, they tuned their harps, in the ſtrang land of this world: knowing that God would receiue them hence into his Ourano polin: yet they were not perfected in their muſique heere, to ſee and feele as 1. Ioh. 1. the word of life. S. Peter writing to poore Iewes 2 Pet. 1. commendeth the reading of the old harpes, as a light ſhining in a darke place, till the morning ſtarre (Pſal. 22. Apo. 2. & 21. and p. 217Dauid Kimchi vponupon Pſal. 22.) ariſe in our hearts.

The Popes contrarietie.

S. Peters moſt deadly enimie the Pope, which would make him the Rock, or God: and will not learne how he expoundeth Rock: to be the Creator. 1. Pet. 4. from 2. Sam. 22. will not ſuffre the people to read the Law: a Pope or Daemon, openly bent againſt the goodneſſe of God.

Of the New Teſtaments muſique. The Goſpell.

The holy Publican maketh in his firſt Chapter,Matthew. a ſtately porch to the new Temple; ſhewing from Abraham to Dauid, that the Fathers of Chriſt, were all afflicted in this world: and knew the holy Trinitie, and foreſaw Christ, and his kingdom, which ariſeth from David by Nathan: not from Salomon: whoſe houſe would not be vpright with God. 2. Sam. 23. All be faltie: but Ioakim ſo wicked: that becauſe hee ouerthrew the ſtate; the Iewes enacted, not to name him, in their narrations: and ſo S. Matthew left him out: Now when Nathans houſe commeth in, for whom all Daniels Viſions ſpeake, in them wee ſee heauen opened: and howe God ſate vponupon a Throne, as if he were like Iaſper and Rubi, with the Rainebow like Moſes Smaragd about the Throne: and his harpe hath all tunes of Law,Marke. till Chriſt be taken vp. So Marke playeth vponupon Gabriels harpe,Luke. Dan. 9. till CHRIST is King in heauen. Luke. playeth firſt vponupon the laſt ſtring of Malachie: and the ſame tunes as the other two. The Sonne of thunder beginneth from before the beginning,Iohn. ſhewing that by the SON, God made the world: and harpeth moſt vponupon that ſtring: and teacheth the Pope, that hee, not Peter was the beſt beloued: and needed p. 218not a threefold incouragement to feed the ſheepe. Thus the man Leui; the Lion, Marke. The Oxe, Luke; Eagle Iohn, play all Dauids tunes: That mighty Theophilus ſaw in eueryevery one, Man, Lion, Oxe, Eagle; as Ezekiel chap. 1.

Of the Actes.

The Actes telleth that S. Luke was full of eyes,Acts. ſpecially for depth of Ebrew skill. Act. 7. and 13. as in his Goſpell ch. 4. which poinctes I touch in a Latin Epiſtle to PP. of Germany, and to our K. Maieſtie. The Antiochian ſheweth how Antiochia firſt had Chriſtian name: to ſhew that Chriſt would be great ouer Magog, Ezek. 39. and he alone was a miracle of Gods mercy: But Nicolaus ſtood not ſound: as Antioch by Pride had a fall. Though Peter were there, and an heauenly company: of which if Rome might hauehave bragged, a 1000. Martin Luthers, and Zuinglians, and Martyrs & Bucers, ſhould not hauehave ſhaken the Popes pride: who ſwelleth that Paul comforteth the ſmall Company, who had no Apoſtles to ſtrengthen, that yet their faith was ſounded ouer the world. And S. Luke endeth in Paules ſpeach vntounto Iewes, who knew not what the Goſpell meant, till hee came thither: that the Pope might be aſhamed to ſay that S. Peter was there: whoſe writing is all in Iewes veine; and if hee had bene there, but one day, the Synagogue had heard what the Goſpell was. In that he telleth how S. Paul was borne free in Rome, and thereby found great protection, and freedome, and how Ieſus our Sauiour told, that he ſhould bee the Apoſtle to bring his name before Caeſar, & of the famous courſe, by appeale from Feſtus to Caeſar, known to king Agrippa, by famous nauigation and miracles: theſe ſhew the Popes badneſſe, that would p. 219put all this out of tune: to beg landes to match Emperors, by a lye that S. Peter ſhould be at Rome: whereof God hath not giuen one ſyllable of found. The Teſtimonie of Origen, Clemens, Alexandrine, Tertullian, Euſebius, all vnſound and nothing worth, without teſtimonie from them that ſhould ſee him there. The Pope muſt cut of all the ſtringes of S. Lukes harpe, on mount Sion, and vſe Poliphemus muſique to Galatea, from Aetna, if hee will ſtand in his old forgery. Epiphanius would not ſtay vponupon that fable: though Latin writers to glory of the Weſt, could foſter the fable.

Of the Epiſtle to the Romanes.

As the ſtringes of the Wolfes entralles,Romanes. will neuer hauehave concordes with the ſheepes, the muſicall: ſo the fable from the Pope that belieueth not that Chriſt, is the only Rocke. Pſal. 18. will neuer agree with the ſtringes of S. Paules epiſtle. It Catechiſeth men, as needy of ſtay: and telleth of a long deſire that way: and giueth expreſſe Law, that eueryevery ſoule ſhould obey Caeſar, in matters of gouernement: as to Iewes not taught in that. And Modeſtly ſheweth his reaſons of rules fitt for ſimple: though he was perſuaded they could teach one another. He had not paſſed ouer S. Peter if hee had taught them. And hee pleadeth for his Biſhoprick charge ouer the Gentils from Ieruſalem to Illyrico, all ready gone ouer: and the Romanes to be of his Biſhopricke where the name of Chriſt had not bene ſounded by any Apoſtle. And in ſalutations to fiue and twentie, not one ſyllable ſoundeth toward that S. Peter had bene, or euer ſhould bee at Rome. If the Pope had knowen IAH IEHOVAH, THE ROCKE OF ALL AGES, this epiſtle had taught him the Ebrews ſonge: and to auoide them that ſhould make ſedition and ſcandala from this doctrine.

p. 220Of the first to the Corinthians.

This teacheth that the authority of Cephas, 1. Corint.Paul, Apollos (the cunning lawyer,) might not be of auctority: But with expreſſe doctrine of Ceph to Rocke: whereupon they that build be Cephae ſet vponupon the Rocke. And for excommunication, he followeth the Synagogues ſage manner: That the open Court, not Angelus Eccleſiae ſhould practiſe it. Though the Pope will be excōmunicating kings: which thing Thal. Ieru. in Sanedrin, holdeth neuer vſed nor lawfull. Other Thalmudique queſtions he decideth, many: and for the Lords ſupper, putteth tranſſubſtantiation out of tune: and ſheweth how all the Church ſhould be as one body, full of charitie and goodneſſe, and exhorteth all to hauehave skill in the Bible.

Of the ſecond to the Corinth.

It continueth in the ſame tenor:2. Corint. and that afflictions be the adiunctes, to teachers of ſaluation, not the Popes eaſe and quietneſſe:2. Cor. 4.2 Cor 4 and that the Goſpell ſhineth to all, whom the god of this World blindeth not, though ignorance be the mother of the Popes holy deuotion.

Against Purgatorie.

Where he ſayth: we know that if this earthly houſe of tabernack hath an end, we hauehave a building from GOD, an houſe not made with hands, euerlaſting in the heauens: The Rock Leuit. 26. powreth water of that Doctrine to Moyſes: So Haides to all godly is heauen.

p. 221Of the Epiſt. to Gal.

Galatae barbarous Canniballs in Strabo, Galatiansare brought by S. Paul to the Rocke of ſaluation: by faith without workes of the Law, and if they ſtick to any one of them as Circumciſion, Chriſt profiteth nothing. By this Epiſtle Martin Luther ſhewed the Pope to be an enimy to ſaluation. And where he ſaith after many yeares he found Peter at Ieruſalem, and that Peter was the Iewes Apoſtle, to ſaue whom hee could before the nation ſhould be ſcattred. And ſo he was for Greeks. This water from the Rocke ſhould waſh away the Popes lies. And the whole Epiſtle might tell him that he might as well repete Circumciſion as Prieſt, high Prieſt, Mitre, Cope, Linen, ſacrifice.

Of the Epiſtle to the Epheſians.

The Epiſtle to the Epheſians conteineth a perfect doctrine of all faith:Epheſ. penned eaſie for all to learne: and daſhing all popery.

The Philippians.

Are taught to reioyce in afflictions:Philippi. as the martyrs by Rome Apoc. chap. 1. and 7. and 11. and 12. and 14. and 15. and 17. and Pauls afflictions brought the name of Chriſt into Caeſars pallace.

Coloſsians.

Epaphras brought the Coloſsians to the Rocke: Coloſſi.the ſon of God of whoſe aeternity and dignity S. Paul ſpeaketh heauenly: p. 222and to their building into all riches of full vnderſtanding in the myſterie of Chriſt: about deceit of Philoſophie, & Iewes Ceremonies for meate; the Pope in both matters is buſie: that his Wolfes ſtringes make no muſique, but where Lupa gaue milke to Rome builders.

Of the firſt to the Theſſ.

They in affliction be an example for the Martyrs in Spaine haters of the Popes idolls.1. Theſſ. The laſt glorious comming of Chriſt will be their comforts.

Second Theſſ.

They ſhould not looke that the laſt dayes were come to the World,2. Theſſ. as to the Iewes Common weale: in Prophets, Geneſ. chap. 49. Dan. 2. and Ebr. chap. 1. Becauſe not onelyonly open tyrannie ſhall try Lions and Oxen: but alſo mighty deceite (that they which receiue not the louelove of trueth, may be damned for louelove to lies) ſhall try man, and eagle: and who be full of eyes. From this place Greekes tell Antichriſt ſhould ariſe from Rome: ſee chapter 2. Th. 2. he maketh the matter plaine. So at the firſt he ſhewed his care for Rome. And as Daniel chapter 2. calleth the Counſell of God in the afflicters wicked, a mysterie: eloquent Paul taketh his terme thence, teaching that as thoſe matters had a moſt ſure euent, euen to Antiochus figure of Antichriſt, exalting himſelfe aboue all religion. So when the Emperour ſhould fall: The Papae or Diuinity fathers of Rome ſhould be foreign, with all force of Satan. That text is an abridgement of the Apocalyps.

p. 223Firſt and 2. Timothie, and Titus.

Paul in Timothie telleth all,1. and 2. Timot. what great learning they ſhould hauehave, which ſhould gouerne others: eueryevery man of charge is Pakid foreign in Adams tongue foreign in the LXX. Elders Acts. 2. and Titus 3. In vertues of regeneration they ſhould be rare: and by ſtudy they ſhould be learned. Exod. chap. 18. is the ground Sanedrin, Maymonie, an explication. Of theſe the King chiefly was Doctor, Maymonie Hagigah. And Archyſynagogus and the reſt choſe one of their company, to be Sheliach Zibbur, Orator of the congregation: he read the Law: and dealt in exhortation; and all prophecied; and none ſhould rule ouerthe people but in mildeneſſe, 1. Pet. 5. Maymon in Sanedrin whoſe words for our Athean tyrany, in BB. forcing othes, &c. I wrote in my Booke to I. C. of reuerend, memory.Titus. Titus is taught the ſame. Now an ape is liker a man, then the Pope Pauls Biſhop; in 2. Theſ. 2. 1. Tim. 2. Tim. Tit. The opening of S. Paul by the Talmudiques ſitting in Moyſes chaire, would cleere him more then all others. He in Greeke abridgeth them writing to Timothie and Titus, who knew them at large. Geneua doth well this farre: that all ſhould bee kept in order: in excommunication farr from S. Paul: and in letting the raines to Preachers to be Rome Popes.

Of Philemon.

After he had deſcribed the gouerners,Philemon. learned, and louers of the people: he handleth the cauſe of Seruants: from Exod. 21. and Iſrael ſeruant in Egypt, Exod. cha. 20. whence in Talmudiques, a long common place is of ſeruants. The marrow of all p. 224which Gamaliels Scholar contriueth to one ſhort epiſtle. And heere the gracious prouidence of Christ, in the notation of Philemon and Oneſimus conteyneth the duty of Maiſter and Seruant: ſo wiſeing al to learne Pauls tongue. Philemon is louing: ſo ſhould eueryevery Maister be to his ſeruant, Eph. 6. knowing that they hauehave a Maister in Heauen. A famous Greek Poet, much cited for Haides, Heauen and Hell, from Sophocles, Herodotus with Menander and Diphilus, was called Philemon. Oneſimus is by interpretation profitable: ſuch ſhould all ſeruants bee to their maiſters. Not in ey-ſeruice as men pleaſers but as ſeruing the Lord. The poore Daughter of Iſrael in Naamans houſe, cauſed him to ſeeke Eliſeus, and GOD: and when hee tooke peper in the noſe, for Iordan: his ſeruants ouerruled him, as Oneſimus to ſaluation. The name Oneſimus is in Lyſias the Attique: as vſuall in Greekes, Oneſiphorus S. Pauls great helper, is of the ſame notation.

How the Seruant of Seruants is Concordant.

The Seruant of Seruants is ſuch an Oneſimus, that he bringeth all to pouertie by his treachery: and by his Peter-Pence for Chimineies, made millions of eyes dimme with ſmoke: and can forge Conſtantinus donation for the kingdoms of the Weſt. If Iulian had heard any ſuch matter: he had ſet that among the chiefe ſchoffs for his Vncle: But neither hee nor any Greekes could heare of ſuch a matter: which all the world had knowen in Conſtantines dayes, if it had beene true. The robber thus recompenced Conſtantine for bringing in Chriſtian politie: to deſtroy new Rome, and to roote out from the Eaſt the holy Goſpell.

p. 225Of the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes.

From Rome S. Paul the moſt reuerend Papas,Hebrews. that euer was in Rome, (and S. Luke next him) the Ebrew of Ebrewes telleth the Ebrewes, that were vponupon reuolt: that all Moyſes Policie ended in Chriſt: and that no further ſacrificer muſt be on the earth: and that faith giueth true commendation, from the Creation to the Maccabees dayes, who in Dan. 12. hoped in the better reſurrection. In this Epiſt. S. Paul abridgeth all the Bible.

The Popes Contrarietie.

The Popes whole doctrine, as I ſhewed, would make a new policie ouer the World by imitation of Aharon: ſo that he commeth to the height of ſin: and denieth the whole doctrine of iuſtification by faith: and that Abraham and the reſt went hence to heauen; againſt S. Pauls expreſſed words, praetending, chap. XI. II. vlt. Where he ſpeaketh, as through the Epiſtle, of perfection in the Doctrine: which the Goſpell hath aboue the Law, and not a word, hee nor any of reward in the World of ſoules. Alſo Auguſtinus Nabienſis writeth wickedly, that the Greeke is a tranſlation: and faulty, in, thou hast made him a little inferior to Angells. He would hauehave it: A litle inferior to God, yet Chriſt could ſay how in humanity deſpiſed he was a worme; as infinitely inferior to his Godhead, though both together make the Perſon great GOD.

Of the Epistle of Iames.

S. Iames frameth his ſpeach to Iewes,Iames. who knew that no p. 226Biſhops of Elder, could be aboue another: and bringeth a Law not to praeferre any before the rich in knowledge: and where Iewes then and yet holde that beliefe in the trueth of the Law, and reuerence to it, iuſtifieth: as Abr. Sabung in Zeror, writeth of ſome; and Moſes de Kotzi, praef. in Talm. Hee telleth ſuch a faith is a dead faith: regeneration muſt follow: as all teach.

Of the first and 2. of Peter.

Both Peters epiſtles,1. and 2. Pet. are written in Iewes veine, that by affliction, (not by the Popes pompe) we get heauen: and that Chriſt tooke that courſe beeing kill'd in the humanitie, and made aliue by the ſpirite (the holy Spirit in the Ethiopian and Oecumenius) in which hee went (ten tymes is that ſpeach of God in the Law) and preached to them which are now ſpirites in priſon: becauſe they belieued not when Christ preached in the dayes of Noë. And, he biddeth vsus commend our ſoules to the faitfull Rock, chap. 4. teaching the Pope how hee vnderſtood the terme Rock, to bee all one as Creator: where the Pope (as I often told) chalenging that name, ſheweth himſelfe in the Temple of God, as if he were God. And chap 5. he telleth expreſly that the choſen Church in Babilon ſaluted them and Marke. And all ſpeakers bee wicked deceiuers that vſe not proprietie, where all mindes require proprietie: and otherwiſe the whole world ſhould be deceiued. And in the ſecond, Boſor, with S. for Y, vſed onelyonly in Arabia, and Chaldea, telleth where he kept.

Of the 1. & 2. & 3. of Iohn.

Theſe be wholy for contempt of this world:1. 2. and 3. Iohn. and cleane contrarie to the Popes doctrine: as his Apocalyps.

p. 227Of Iude.

Hee in teaching of Iewes fall by the Rebels in the wilderneſſe,Iude. by the Angells that fell, and by the vncleane Cities, brent from heauen: warneth not to bragg that the Church cannot erre. And where Iewes thought gouernement, a tyranny: he ſheweth from Talmudique vponupon Moſes Buriall Midras Rabba, Aboth Rabbi Nathan and others, that MICHAEL the Archangell, could not ſuffer Satan to ſpeak ſlander of king Moyſes: So hee will not ſuffer Popes to blaſpheme Kinges. But the Popes vnderſtand not ſo much as Iudes text: to know MICHAEL to bee IEHOVA: but make him a created Spirit: ſuch blinde batts they be. And thus all the ſcripture agreeth as harpes to follow the LAMBE: whoſe doctrine the Pope ſtayneth by idolatrie: that none can vnderſtand the drift of the Scripture, but the hundred forty and foure thouſand.

Theſe be they which hauehave not beene defiled by women. For they bee Virgins.

This ſpeach is taken from the ſong of ſonges: which ſaith, O that he would kiſſe mee with the kiſſes of his lippes, for thy louelove is better then wine. Thy name is oynctment poured out, therefore the Virgins louelove thee. Draw mee, and wee will runne after thee. None may thinke that mariage is a pollution. But this ſpeach is a trope for the virginitie of the minde: free from Idolatry, which is ſpirituall whoordome.

Theſe follow the LAMBE which way ſoeuer hee goeth, being the firſt fruite for God and the Lambe: and there is p. 228no guile found in their mouth, for they are ſyncere before God and the Lambe.

They follow the warrant of Gods word for eueryevery thing, and bee bought from men, the firſt fruites for God and the Lambe, which was a ſmall part of the whole: and they hold no haereſie: but hold them only happy whoſe ſinne is forgiuen, and whoſe iniquitie is couered: as Pſal. 32. & be iuſt before God, in the iuſtice of Chriſt.

The Combat of the 144000.

And I ſaw another Angell fleeing in the sky hauing the aeternall Goſpell, to preach to them that dwell vponupon the earth: & eueryevery nation, and tribe, and tongue and people. Saying with a great voice. Feare God, and giuegive him glory: for the houre of his iudgment is come▪ & worſhip him, which made the heauen and the earth & the ſea:Ier. 10.Jer 10 and the fountaines of water.

In the ſeuenth chap, Martyrdome was ſhewed, but without telling by whom. In chap. XI. the Perſecuter was told, and the perſecuted were called two prophets: and chap. 12. the Perſecuter is double, the vpper part of the Dragon, and the taile: and the perſecuted is the woman, clothed with the ſun: but the cauſe of perſecution is not told: chap. 13. deſcribeth the Dragon by ſure ſtate, ſpecially in the Empire reuiued by the Pope: and how no man could liue in the Empire, without his profeſſion. Now that it ſtandeth manifeſtly in Idolatrie, that is heere told: and perſecution is for preaching, that God onelyonly muſt be worſhipped, and not the Empire, or Pope, and Idolls. For now God will defend his flock which of long p. 229tyme he ſuffred to be deceiued. Now he will iudge and defend their cauſe. The Popes Idolatry is in worſhip to Mary and creatures, called ſaintes, and in prayer to them: due only to God: creator of all things: of whoſe power, creatures put vsus in minde, and he will not our inuention. Now of Idolatry, the next Angell telleth, how God will reuenge the Citie.

And another Angell followed,Iſai. 21.Isa 21 ſaying BABYLON the great City is fallen,Ier. 51.Jer 51 is fallen: Becauſe ſhe hath made all nations drinke of the Wine of the anger of her fornication.

The old BABYLON now had no auctority to force Idolatrie: while it was vnderunder the Greeke Empire, or Turke which hateth Idolls. But now Rome beareth ſway; ſo ſhaken from tongue of ſcripture, as old Babylon from Adams tongue: which remayned in the houſe of Heber, and farre paſſed the old Babel in Idolatrie. Therefore ruyne is ſpoken, to be ſure for it, as fell by Iſaiah 21. and Ierem. 51. vponupon the old Babel.

And a third Angell followed them, ſaying, with a great voice: if any worſhip the beaſt and his Image,Pſal. 75Ps 75 that is, taketh a marke on his forehead, or hand, he alſo ſhall drinke of the Wine,Pſal. 21Ps 21 of the anger of God; the Wine mixed in the cuppe of his anger,Eſa. 34.Isa 34 and ſhalbe tormented in fire and brimston, before the holy Angells, and before the Lambe: and the ſmoke of their torment aſcendeth for euer and euer. And they hauehave no reſt day nor night, if any worſhip the beaſt and his Image, that is, if any take the marke of his name. Heere is the pacience of the ſaintes tried: p. 230heere are they tryed which keepe the commandements of God, and the faith of IESVS.

Patience in this ſorte heere, and faith of the ſainctes was equally ſpoken of in the profane Caeſares dayes, heere greater terror is ſet downe: and fit warning againſt the ſubtile work of Satan by man of ſin, to deceiue, if it were poſsible, the elect. One poinct heere is to be noted, that Gehenna is on high, no leſſe then Paradiſe, as in Leui. cha. 26. before the angry face of God. So the Iewes in Cether Malcuth folio 11. hold: that on high, place of torment is, no leſſe then place of ioy: They who thinke that ſoules deſcend, and that the holy were in Hell: and after warning hold this, ſhould feare the puniſhment heere deſcribed. And the reformed Churches as Zurick, take the wiſeſt order, that deſtroy all the Popes markes: and moſt ſtraitly looke to ſcholars cariage twiſe in the yeare, and referre all puniſhments to the Conſul: and Synedrion ſuch was the Apoſtles doctrine, and the Synagogues of old. Great reuenues are now moſt needfull: to breede learned to deale with Papiſt and Iewes. But Simon Magus Buyſhopps, ſhould hauehave no place in the Church, following the Buy-ſhopps of Rome, As Ananias the painted wall, and Eleazar his ſonne (in Raba) cauſed Ieruſalem to bee deſtroyed. So one like may bring an whole nation vnderunder curſe.

And I heard a voice from heauen, ſaying to mee write: Bleſſed are the dead that die in the Lord, from this praeſent. Euen ſo ſaith the Spirit, to reſt from their labours: and their workes follow with them.

Becauſe in tyme of blindneſſe, none could buy nor ſell in p. 231Popes Kingdome, but of his profeſſion; other were killed: heere is a ſure comfort to ſtrengthen the martyrs: God who knoweth all, being the ſpeaker from heauen: that praeſentlie after death they are fully happy, which dy for Gods truth, or in faith: to reſt from the labours of this life: and their workes follow with them: their open profeſſion: that God onelyonly is to be worſhipped; and their carefull life: teaching all, to conſider ſtill: as all muſt dy: ſo praeſently followeth iudgement.

Compariſons of phraſes, for holy ſoules departed.

When the fift ſeale was opened, chapter 6. Iohn ſaw the ſoules of them which were killed for the Word of GOD, and for the teſtimonie which they had, he ſaw them vnderunder the Altar: who is Christ. The Thalmud of Rabbi Nathan, in Moyſes, ſaith, that his ſoule and all the iuſt, are vnderunder the throne of God. So as Saint Paul ſaith, Rom. chap. 10. The Apoſtles doctrine is confirmed by Thalmudiques directly in all thinges, ſauing the Perſon and office of Meſſias.

Chap. 7. The martyrs hauehave white garments, and palmes in their hands: they be before the throne of God, &c.

Chap. 11. They are called vp into heauen: and their enimies ſee them, going vp in a cloud. Hence purgatorie is confuted: which hath no ground from the old Teſtament: as any Talmudique did euer expound it. For Leuit. 26. telleth, that hence men goe to Gods tabernacle to ioy, or before his throne to feele aeternall anger.

p. 232Reuenge: for Christ his Iuſtice.

And I ſaw and behold a white Cloud: and one rode on the Cloud, like the SON OF MAN, hauing on his head a Crowne of gold: and in his hand a ſharpe ſickle.

The cloud is Gods chariot, Iſaiah 19. as I told chap. 1. and this place telleth what Perſon was there deſcribed. Heere he hath a crowne of gold, as in Pſalm. 20. a token of victorie by death: ſo, chap. 6. In Maym. Poenit. the iuſt hauehave Crownes in the World of ſoules. So to Talmudiques, the New Teſtam. would bee cleare.Ioel 3. 13.Joel 3:13 The ſharp ſickle, in Ioel, is Gods vengeance vponupon Iudahs enimies; Aſſur, the Image, yea and the Image of the beaſt, heere. For he ſpeaketh of all enimies. The roaring like a Lion, and the 7. thunders tell the ſame thing: and chapter X. and the earthquake: and deſtroying of them that deſtroyed the earth.

Reuenge for the prayers of the Church.

Another Angell came forth from the Temple; crying with a great voice, to him that road vponupon the Cloud: cast fourth thy ſickle and reape, tyme is come to reape: for the harueſt of the earth is ripe.

The Church be the faithfull: the Angell is the repreſenter of their ſtate. So Nebuchadnezar ſaw one watchfull and holy. Who telleth that his puniſhment of 7. yer. beaſtlineſſe, came by the prayers of the iuſt: Spaine perceiued in the Low Coūtries the force of this: & is like to feele as good at home. p. 233What ſhall befall our Buuy-ſhop that vrgeth better learned to othe then himſelfe, neuer heard of in Iuda by either Teſtament,Againſt the law of nature & againſt the lawe of England. and impriſoneth better learned then himſelfe, that will not profane the name of God: & pineth vntounto death in cruel priſon, them who deny him to be lawfull Buy-ſhop, and put by Teachers of ſaluation from their maintenance 400. What ſhall become of this man: from whom the heart of a man hath bene taken 7. yer. Nabuchad. dyed two yeares after hee came to himſelfe, ſo may this man. How prayers of the iuſt be heard, the next verſe telleth.

And he that roade vponupon the cloud caſt forth, his ſickle into the earth: and the earth was reaped.

So the crye of the poore aſcendeth into the eares of the Lord of Hoſtes.

Reuenge by the iniuried themſelues.

And an other Angell came out of the Temple which is in heauen: hauing alſo a ſharpe ſickle.

The faithfull heere hauehave equall ſtrength: and try combat with Pope: as this yeare for Clieue: and Iuliaque: All the Proteſtāts againſt the Pope. Oh that our Albion would thruſt in the ſickle of good Laws againſt thoſe Popoi; leſt they be ſtill prickes in our eyes, & thornes in our ſides; as they hauehave bene.

And an other Angell came forth from the altar, hauing authoritie vponupon the fire: and cried with a great voice to him that had the ſharpe ſickle, ſaying: Caſt forth thy ſickle, & cut the clusters of thr earth: for her grapes be ripe.

p. 234In Daniel, the Angell telleth, chap XI. that in the firſt yeere of Darius the Mede, chap. 5. hee was a ſtrength and might to him: Iacob had a campe of Angells: which ſtory Dauid turneth to all faithfull. One paid Sanacharib: one ſtrengthneth our Lord: One ſaued Peter, Act. 12. So heere the liuely ſpeach of the Angell, is an open token of aſſiſtance from the Angells of Chriſt: as they be all ministring ſpirites ſent foorth to ſeruice, for them that ſhall inherite ſaluation. Angells rule fire: as that which brent Sodom, Gen. 19. and Babel in Xenophon compared with Dan. XI. And water in S. Pauls voiage. So all anger from God is fire: and Angells, his ſeruants.

The ſure euent.

So the Angell did caſt his ſharpe ſickle into the earth; and ſnapt off the Vine of the earth, and caſt it into the great winepreſſe of the anger of God, and the wine-preſſe was troden out of the Citie: and the blood came forth from the wine-preſſe vntounto the horſe bridles ouer ſtadia, (furlongs) a thouſand ſix hundred.

The Citie is the aſſembly of the holy, the place out of it is the dwelling of the faithleſſe: The ſtadia or furlongs 1600. are taken from the quantitie of Chanaan: which Talmudiques calling to a ſquare: make Ris, that is Stadion; eueryevery way. The place I hauehave cited in my Concent: where I abridge the Apocalyps.