A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 29
¶ Here is deſcribed the commendation and Hymne ſayed vntounto Chriſt of the Aungels and al creatures. &c. The .xxix. Sermon.
ANd I behelde, & hearde the voyce of many Aungelles aboute the Throne, & about the beaſtes and the elders, & I hearde thouſande thouſandes ſaiyng with a lowde voice: worthie is the lambe that was killed, to receiue power, and riches and wiſedome, and ſtrength and honour, and glory, and bleſſing. And all creatures which are in heauen, and on the earth, and vnderunder the earth, and in the Sea, and all that are in them, hearde. I ſaiyng: bleſſing, honour, glory, and power be vntounto him, that ſitteth vponupon the ſeate, and to the lambe for euer more. And the .iiii. beaſtes ſayed, Amen. And the .xxiiii. Elders fell vponupon their faces and worſhipped him that liueth for euer more.
In the fourth place nowe come the Aungels of God alſo to the Elders and to the beaſtes,The Aungels alſo prayſe Chriſt. I meane to the moſt excellent creatures of God, and together with them prayſe with an hymne God and the lambe: doubtleſſe for an example to vsus, that, as I ofttimes ſaie and repete, we might vnderſtand what thing becometh vsus alſo.
Of Aungels Dauid in .c.iiii. Pſalm. ſpeaking emōgs other thinges: which maketh, ſayeth he, his Aungels ſpirites,Of Aungels. and his miniſters a flame of fire. He teſtifieth therefore that the Aungels were made or created of God. By their ſubſtaunce he calleth them ſpirites, & by a parable a flame of fire, which is pure, bryght, moſte ſwifte, pearſyng, and burnyng. Therfore after their ſorte and meane the Aungelicall ſpirites be altogether ſuche: whome by their office he calleth miniſters,Reade. 24. ſermon folowyng. to witte of God and manne. For S. Paull alſo to the Hebr. brynging this ſame place of Dauid, be they not al, ſayeth he, miniſtring ſpirites, whiche are ſent forth into miniſterie, for them which be heyres of Saluation? verely vnderſtandyng men. Theſe thinges teach vsus to iudge rightly of Aungels, and that no man ſhould worſhippe miniſters, or any be they neuer ſo excellent creatures, for theyr godly giftes. Nother in dede can the Aungels or Sainctes abide them ſelues to be worſhipped. Here doubtles they attribute all glory to God and to the Lambe, to God three and one, that all we ſhould doe the like. Here is alſo declared the place, wherin the Aungelles were, about the Throne, about the beaſtes, and about the Elders. Therefore they garded al theſe places rounde about as it were a garde. Daniel in times paſte ſawe thinges not muche vnlike theſe in the .7. chapt. Certenly they ſtande like miniſters and ſeruitours, ready to do ſeruice. Aungels are ſayed alſo to be about the godly vponupon earth, & to attende vponupon the ſaluation and miniſterie of men. In the .34. Pſalm. Dauid ſingeth, he beyng afflicted called vponupon the lorde, and the Lorde hearde him, and from all his troubles he deliuered him. The Aungel of the lord pitcheth his tentes about them which feare him (the lord) & he deliuereth thē. And not much vnlike things you maye reade in ye .91. Pſalm. And thou ſhalt here note, that thoſe that be afflicted do cal vpō the lord, and not the Aungels: And that the lord doeth heare, and deliuer, and for the workyng therof vſeth the miniſterie of Aungels, as his miniſters. And like as no man that is wel in his witte doeth reuerence, cal vponupon, and worſhippe the ſonne, for that God by the ſame geueth great benefites to men. So no mā honoureth, calleth vponupon, and worſhippeth Aungels for that God vſeth their miniſterie in deliueryng of men.
The nūbre of Angels.Now alſo he putteth the nōbre of Aungels, but a certaine for an vncertayne, thouſande thouſandes for innumerable. He alludeth in the meane time to that ſaying of Daniel in the 7. chapt. Thouſande Thouſandes ſerued hym, and ten hondreth thouſande aſſiſted him. Of a greate and innumerable armie we are woonte to eſteme the power of kinges. What than ſhall we thinke of the power of our God, whiche is the God of hooſtes, and whome not only innumerable legions of Aungels, but all creatures ſerue? And what an excellente prayſe is it, whiche is ſonge together of ſo many bleſſed ſpirites?
For after this, the proper duetie or office of Aungelles is touched: They ſinge prayſes to God, and cōmende the lābe of God, and that with a lowde voice. It ſkilleth not greatly wheter with a lowe or an high voyce thou ſingeſt prayſes to ye Lord: but for aſmuche as they that crye with a lowde voice, are for the moſte parte ſore moued, as ouerwhelmed wyth great ſorrow, or with great gladnes reioyſing, therfore ſhall we prayſe God with a lowde voyce, in caſe with a ſtoute ſpirite, and with the inwarde affection of the harte we ſhal prayſe God.
The Himne of the Angels, ſayde in ye prayſe of Chriſt.The aungelical Hymne is now annexed, which accordeth in al thynges with the Himnes of the Beaſtes and Elders. For they celebrate the lambe, that is to ſaye the ſonne, which as he is the ſauiour alone, ſo hath he deſerued to receyue all power and glory, & to gouerne al thinges: as is ſayed before.
And ſeuen thinges do the Aungelles attribute to the lābe, that is to Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, on the right hande of the father. Firſt foreign, power to witte godly, almighty, viuificatiue, and conſeruatiue. Of this I ſpake alſo before. Secōdly foreign richeſſe. For he is riche, as the Apoſtle ſayeth, for al that cal vpō him. Rom. 10. And Primaſius: Chriſt him ſelf, ſaieth he, is the treaſure of al good things, &c. For ſchaddais, the ſufficiencie of al goods of the minde and body: And if it be lawful to attribute a prophane worde vntounto God, he is very Saturne, fulfillyng al creatures. And ſins the Aungelles do ſo cōmende Chriſt, who woulde thinke, that men ſhould ſo ſcrape to themſelues, as though they themſelues could fil their owne deſires? Than they attribute to Chriſt wiſedom, to witte godly and great. For the ſonne is the wiſedome of the father. Wherof treateth Salomon much. By this wiſedome cā he rule al things by moſt agreable and beſt gouernment. Who ſhall ſaye? Thus it ſhould hauehave ben done. The wiſedom of God hath moſt goodlily & wel made al thinges from the beginnyng, ſo that our reaſon can iuſtly blame nothing: what thing ſhal we blame than nowe in the vniuerſal gouernmēt of Chriſt? They aſcribe vntounto Chriſt alſo ſtrength to execute verely ſuch thinges as he hath moſt wiſely ordeyned, finally ſtrength to defende his, and to ſubdewe the aduerſaries. For he is almightie. Such thinges as follow, honour, glory, and thankes geuing, are declared before, what they be, and of what force: ſauyng that the thing he called firſt foreign he calleth now foreign, bleſſing, prayſe, and geuyng of thankes.
This Hymne ſayed in the praiſe of Chriſt,Chriſte is greater thā Aungels, & the lord of Aungels. teacheth that Chriſt is very God, of the ſame ſubſtaunce and coequal with the father, greater than Aungels, yea the lord of Aungelles, whom the aungels themſelues alſo worſhip, as S. Paul in the 1. to the Hebr. hath declared. Here than are confuted who ſo euer preferre Aungels to Chriſt. The heretikes are confuted that are called Aungelical, to witte worſhippers of Aungels. The aungels themſelues do here reproue their errour: that not without cauſe they are accompted of S. Auſten emongs heretikes. Yf richeſſe, glory and honour be dewe to Chriſt alone, and that he excelleth them, wherfore are the ſame cō municated to creatures? Otherwiſe we admoniſh all godly, that they thinke highlye of Aungels, and acknowledge and maruel at the benefites of God in them: and that we louelove the ſame as bretherne, and felowes, and coinheriters of the ſame ſaluation: much leſſe contemne or blame them, Whereof I wil ſpeake more at an other time.
Hitherto hath he recited the excellent prayſes, the Panegyrical verſes or Himnes of the excellent creatures of God, of thoſe Elders in dede eſpecially and generally of al,The praiſe & agrement of all creatures, to ye glory of Chriſt. moreouer of Aungelles alſo, ſayed vntounto Chriſt our redemer and prince. And yet not with theſe contented he addeth morouer in the fifth place, the agrement, and prayſe, and ſubmiſſion of al the creatures in the world, to the intēt that if haply we be not moued with the excellent example of the excellent creatures, Elders and Aungelles, nowe at the laſte we might be abaſſhed, whiche ſee all creatures of their owne accorde to do their duetie. For manne ſins he is Lorde of all, and all thing were for him created, howe I praye you ſhal he offende more haynouſely agaynſt God, whiche hath made him Lorde ouer all, than if by his hardenes, ingratitude, and maliciouſnes he not only doeth not his owne duetie: but is rather inferriour to al creatures: as he whiche alone contendeth with God, and attributeth not to him dewe prayſe. Therefore doeth this example greatly excite man, that he ſhould ſubmitte him ſelfe vntounto God, and geue God the whole glory: and in no wyſe ſtriue with God, nor complayne of any thinge. But marke I praye you with howe diligent a diuiſion of thinges he compriſeth all creatures, excludeth none, the Deuill only excepteth, what time he raccompteth the creatures that are in Heauen, whiche are in Earth, which are vnderunder the Earth, and in the Sea: finally he addeth, and all that be therin. Therfore if all thinges created doe celebrate and worſhippe him that ſitteth in the Throne and the lambe, and ſubmitte themſelues vntounto him: is it not a ſhame, yea and a ſoule ſhame, that manne alone, Lord of all, ſhould reuolte to the ſworne enemie of God, the Deuill, & with him to expoſtulate with God, to taūte and blame and finde faulte with his iudgementes and gouernementes to complaine of his workes and will?
How al creatures can praiſe god.You maruell, I wote well, howe al creatures, ſyns many of them be voide of reaſon, and inſenſible can prayſe God. Howebeit this figure proſopopeia that is the faynyng of perſones is very common with al the prophetes, and chiefly with Dauid, prayſe ye him Sunne and Moone, ſayeth he, praiſe him ye bright ſtarres. Prayſe the Lord from the earth ye Dragons and all depe places, fire, hayle, ſnowe, Iſe, &c. And by ſuche maners of ſpeakyng the Prophetes would incourage and ſtire vp men to prayſe God: ſeyng that creatures whiche hauehave no life, do after their maner prayſe God, ſee that you after your maner doe prayſe God in Hymnes and ſpirituall Pſalmes. And in dede Dauid ſheweth a plaine reaſon, whie he commaundeth bodies that hauehave no life to prayſe God, let them praiſe, ſayeth he, the name of the lorde, whie? becauſe he commaunded, and they were created. As though he ſhould ſaie: they be his creatures, and in that they remayne yet, they hauehave it of him: therefore lette them make the name of God gloriouſe, as of their maker and preſeruer. And he ſignified alſo the maner of praiſing, where he addeth, he hath ordeyned them, that they ſhould indure for euer: he gaue them an ordenaunce, neither is it tranſgreſſed. As if he ſhould hauehave ſayed. Where they neglecte no parte of thoſe things, wherunto thei are made, but are ready in their place, order, and time, and do their duety exceadingly well, do they not preache vntounto men the wonderfull wiſedome and power of God? For in an other Pſalme alſo dauid ſayeth, the heauens ſhewe forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the workes of his handes. &c. Thus I ſaye the creatures with out life do praiſe and cōmende the name of God vntounto men, what time they are moued, worke wonderfully, and obediently do the thing were vntounto they are appoincted.
The Hymne of al creatures, like as that was of the beaſts,An Himne ſayed vntounto Chriſt of al creatures. and Elders and Aungels, is here alſo trimmely deſcribed, although briefly. But where it hath nothing, that hath not bē declared before, I wil not by oft repetyng and ſpeakyng the ſame thinges, moleſt and werie the gentle hearers. Howbeit that one thing ſemeth chiefly to be obſerued, that they ioyne him that ſitteth in the throne, and the lambe together, ſo acknowledging the ſonne to be coequall with the father, and they both to be worſhipped with like honour, and with like praiſes to be celebrated and cōmended. They attribute peculiarly to the lambe Empire or kingdome, for that he receiued the boke of the father, as is declared before: to wit al power, and authoritie to gouerne al thinges.
The foure beaſtes ſinge to it Amen,A cōſ…nt is approued, diſſente is reproued. eyther ſo confirmyng the Hymne of the creatures, or thus declaryng their conſent with them. To the intent we ſhould with one minde praye together and prayſe God bleſſed for euermore. With theſe are moreouer confuted the deſſenſions of men. The Lord alloweth the concorde and agrement of menne, and requireth vtterly, eſpecially in prayers and godly prayſes. For he cō maundeth in the Goſpell to laye downe thyne oblation, whiche thou wouldeſt offer, in caſe thou doeſt remēbre any diſcorde betwixt thee and thy brother, to goe vntounto him, and to renewe amitie, and than to retourne to thine offeringe: which in the prophetes is called an abomination, in caſe it be offered of myndes poſſeſſed with rancour and mallice. &c.
Thelders worſhippe agayne.Finally the elders fal doune agayne and worſhippe him that liueth for euer, doubtles that by their ofte worſhipping al we in earth might be moued vntounto obedience. For if theſe thinges be done in heauē of the bleſſed ſpirites, what I praye you is mete for vsus to do here in earth? And marke, that they are ſayed to worſhip him that liueth for euer, who neuertheleſſe fell downe firſte alſo before the lambe, and before the Throne, out of the which the ſpirite proceded, and wherupō ſate he that ſitteth: wherof we gather, that the Father, the ſonne, and the holy Ghoſt, are in dede diſtincte in perſones, yet theſe three not to be three Gods, but one God liuing for euer.A medicine agaynſt all hereſies. And verely this notable viſion and treatiſe maye be in the ſteade of a moſte effectuall remedy agaynſt ſondry poyſons of hereſies, eſpecially of the Arrians and Seruetanes, or rather perdetanes, moreouer agaynſt diuerſe and curiouſe diſputations and temptations touchyng the workes, iudgmentes and prouidence of God. Yf we be wiſe, we will obediently ſubmitte our ſelues to the liuing God with all the creatures and Sainctes of God, worſhipping him, and with the Prophet criyng: thou art iuſt Lord in al thy wayes, and holy in al thy workes. Thou haſt created vsus, al thinges are thine. Thou gouerneſt al thinges in beſt order. Thou loueſt man. Thou haſt geuen vsus thy ſonne. Thou by thy ſonne our redemer gouerneſt al thinges vprightly. We worſhip thee the father, the ſonne and the holy ghoſt, one very god. To thee is dewe the kingdom, honour, and glory for euer and euer. Amen.