A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 38
¶ Of the ſeuen Aungelles trompetters, and of the trompettes: and of the firſt .ii. and .iii. trompet. The .xxxviij. Sermon.
ANd the ſeuen Aungels which had the ſeuen trompettes, prepared themſelues to blowe. The firſte Aungell blewe: And there was made hayle and fire, which were mingled with bloud and they were caſte into the Earth: and the thirde parte of trees was burnt, and all grene graſſe was brēt. And the ſecond Aungell blewe, and as it were a great Mountaine burnyng with fire was caſte into the See, & the third part of the See tourned to bloud: and the third parte of creatures whiche had life died, and the thirde parte of Shippes were diſtroyed. And the thirde Aungell blewe, and there fell a great ſtarre from Heauen, burnyng as it were a creſſet, and it felle into the thirde parte of the Riuers, and into the fountaines of waters, and the name of the ſtarre is called Worme wood, and the thirde parte of the waters was tourned to Worm wood. And many menne died of the waters becauſe they were made bitter.
Our lord Ieſus Chriſt hath kindeled in earth a bright and holeſome fire, which the Apoſtles and men Apoſtolical hauehave eueryevery foote more and more inflamed. But contrary wiſe ſathan ſeketh to quenche this holeſome fire, & not only to corrupte and depraue this doctrine of ſaluation: but alſo to aboliſh it and ouerwhelme it with lies. The meaner and maner herof is at this preſent deſcribed, and euen paynted out gallauntly, to none other ende, but that the faithful beyng warned and fully taught, might be wel ware of that peſtilent infection. For the ſcope or ende of this boke is, to preſerue the church ſafe and ſounde from corruptions, or at leeſt to repare the ſame beyng corrupted.
The ſeuen Aungelles ſtande in ye ſighte of God.S. Iohn therefore ſawe ſeuen Aungels ſtande in the ſight of God. To ſtande ſignifieth to miniſter, and compriſeth the faith and diligence of Miniſters. Seruauntes ſtande before kinges, ready to do ſeruice, and to execute al theyr commaū dementes. We reade in the .1. chapter of Iob. The ſonnes of God came, and ſtoode before the Lord, and Sathan came alſo into the middes of them. The bleſſed Aungelles are called the children or ſonnes of God. They come to doe ſeruice before God: Sathan preaſeth in emongs them, foraſmuch as he is alſo the miniſter of God, for ye executiō of thoſe things, whiche apperteyne to the wrath and indignation of God agaynſt the wicked. Al elementes be Gods miniſters, and finally al the creatures of god. For he is the lord of Sabaoth, the God of hoſtes, whiche for the ſaluation and iudgement of men vſeth wel and rightly all his creatures: eueryevery one accordyng to his nature and diſpoſition. For he vſeth the miniſterie of Aungels, like Aungels: and ſo the ſeruice of Deuils, as Deuils in dede. But where as the ſeuēth numbre is the numbre of fulnes, conteyning in it ſelf al times: for there be ſeuen dayes of creation and reſt, there be ſeuen worldes or ages: certenly ſeuen Aungelles appere before God, for that they betoken all battels that ſhall be foughten to the ende of the world.
For to theſe ſeuen Aungels are geuen ſeuen trompettes, and the Aungels already had the trompettes, and euen prepared themſelues to blowe the on ſet.The vſe of trompets. Where chiefly the vſe of trompettes is to be ſearched for. The ſame is moſt plentifully deſcribed of Moſes, in the .10. of Nombres. The vſe of trompettes was diuerſe, as it is alſo at this daie. Firſt by the ſounde of the trompet the people of Iſrael were called together, to conſult of the cōmon welth. Agayne at the ſounde of thē the Senate of princes of the people did aſſemble. Moreouer they were warned by the trompet, when & who ſhould remoue their tentes. Furthermore the trompets blewe vntounto battel, what time they ioyned to fight, as maye be ſene in the .20. of Deuter. The people moreouer were called together with trompettes on the holy dayes to publicke and diuine ſeruice. Sounde with the trompet in Zion, call the congregation, ſayeth Iohel, gather the people. There was more ouer a feaſte of trompettes, and a Iubiley, hauing the name of the blowyng and ſounde of trompets: as appereth in the .25. of Leuit. Finally the preachyng of the veritie was figured by the ſounde of trompettes, neyther might any other blow the ſame but prieſtes. For it forceth much to whom you cōmitte or deliuer the ſignes publicke.
Of this ſundry vſe of trompettes, none ſhall agree better to our mater, than the warlicke. For this world hath a ſhape of warre. In it are the campes of good men, and the campes of euill: the tentes of Catholickes, and tentes of heretickes. The chiefrayne of theſe is Sathan, and of thoſe Chriſte: the Captaine and Emperour of theſe is the Deuill, of the other the ſonne of God. And now the Aungels ſounde their trompettes, and blowe the onſet: not that the good Aungels and God him ſelfe is the Authour of hereſies and of heretickes, whoſe original is referred to Sathan and ſinne: but ſoūding their trompettes they geue in dede warnyng to all men, and ſignifie that moſt greuouſe warres ſhal arriſe in the worlde, and euen in the church it ſelfe. But diuerſe men are diuerſely moued and worke in warre accordyng to their natures. The trewe catholikes beyng warned by the trompet, take heade to themſelues, praye, and finally taking in hande ſpirituall weapons, prepare themſelues vntounto battel and māfully fight for Chriſt, and for maynteinyng and defending the veritie. Heretickes, ſectaries, and menne of corrupte mindes, accordyng to theyr mallice, takyng to them alſo Armour, runne ſorth and fighte agaynſt Chriſt and the veritie, defende lies, and ſuch as be weakelynges they take, ſpoyle, beate downe and diſtroye. The good ſhepardes, are the trompets of God and of Chriſt: the Deuill bloweth vp Archeheretickes and beginners of ſectes.
Of the good, and of their fight, we ſhal heare in the .11. and in the chapt. following. Neuertheles in eueryevery cōflict we muſt vnderſtād that the ſainctes ſlepe not, nor be any where idle, but to doe their duetie eueryevery where. It was nowe in dede enough for the lord to ſhewe vsus the heretikes & ſectaries ſighting, & to declare, how much they maye hurt, that we might watche more dilligently, and beware of all corruption.
The firſte trompet or fight.The firſt Aungel ſoundyng the firſt trompet, denounceth vntounto vsus the firſt conflict. All and ſingular battels hauehave ſome thing like, and diuerſe. It is like, in that all hereſies doe impugne Chriſt, and would hauehave the trueth of the Goſpell, eyther extinguiſſhed, or wraſted out of the true ſenſe. And that ſame is ſingular or diuerſe, that at an other time, Sathan aſſayling other doctrines, hath ſpred abroade in the Churche ſundry hereſies. Therefore whileſt the Aungell ſoundeth the trompet, that is to ſaye proclaymeth warre, he warneth the Sainctes to watche. Therfore as he is yet blowing, through Gods permiſſion, accordyng to his iuſte iudgement, by the meane and ſuggeſtion of Sathan, ther was made hayle and fyre mixed with bloud, the whiche beyng ſo tempered, was ſente or fell vponupon the Earth. For S. Paule acknowledgeth ſpiritual policies in the heauenly ſpirites. And the Scripture in a certen place doeth figure rightwell, the ſounde and holeſome doctrine by the heauēly dewe and ſhowre that maketh the earth fruictefull: moſt rightly therfore S. Iohn cōpareth the falſe and hereticall doctrine to hayle. For that deſtroyeth the fruictfull places of the earth, and marreth vtterly the plē tiful fruicte of the earth. Wherfore like as els where the peruerſe doctrine is called darnell, leuen, chaffe, &c. ſo is it here called haile. But this hayle is tempered, and of a wonderful mixture. For it hath fire and bloud ioyned with it. Theſe thinges muſte be expounded after an allegorie, not after the letter. Haile is water congeled wt colde.Hayle is corrupte doctrine. And water they hauehave called the wiſedom of the ſcripture: haile therfore ſhal be falſe wiſedom. Yet fire is put vntounto it. The pretenſe of ye ſcriptures and inſpiration of the holy ghoſt, wherunto is added bloud, the euil affection of man, to witte the vice of Ambitiō, wrath, contention, hatred and like affections. Of theſe is compounded an haylie doctrine, hurtfull doubtleſſe and peſtilent. For when falſe doctrine ruleth or depraueth the Scriptures, and wicked affections of teachers are ioyned with all, a peſtilent doctrine arriſeth. Such was frō the beginnyng the doctrine of the Nazareans, or Mimeorites, and of the Hebionites, cōtending that iuſtification came not by the only faithe of Chriſt, but by the law. Our men fought ſharpely, to wit S. Paule & thother Apoſtles, againſt this perniciouſe doctrine. And frō the beginning many corrupt with Philoſophie,Diuinitie corrupt by Philoſophie. others blinded with mens traditions, hauehave brought forth moſt corrupt opinions. Hiſtories beare witnes herof. And Tertulliane not without cauſe called Philoſophers the patriarches of heretickes. For S. Paule moſt diligently warned, that the godly ſhuld be ware of Philoſophie. They that hauehave not kepte thē ſelues from it, & hauehave ſet more by Philoſophie, & I know not what traditions, they in ſtead of the heauenly dewe & ſwete ſhowres, hauehave caſt into the church great heauy hayleſtones.
And hauehave verely hurte the church very much. For the .iii. part of trees was burnt, and alſo al grene graſſe. This nūbre is intimated in foure trōpets, and in fixe likewiſe. And it ſemeth to ſignifie, that a greate parte of men inconſtaunte and vnſtable are ſeduced & lofte, geuing thēſelues to be diſtroyed of wicked men: agayne, the beſt part of the ſaythful to be ſaued. The lord him ſelf knoweth the numbre exactely. It is enough for vsus to know theſe thinges which he hath reuealed vntounto vsus, nother to ſearche curiouſely any further.
That men are ſignified by trees,Trees. appereth by the .9. chapt. where it is ſayed, & they had cōmaundement, that they ſhuld not hurte the graſſe of the earth, nother any tree, ſauing only men, whiche are not &c. After he had ſayed, ſaue only thoſe trees, which were not marked: but he had rather ſaye, men, that he might as it were with this keye vnlocke the miſterie. Nother is it rare to ſhadowe men in the ſcriptures by trees, floures, and graſſe: as we maye gather of the .1. Pſalme, the. 40. of Eſaye, and the .12. chapt. of S. Matthew. But that latter poincte, that al grene graſſe was brent, muſte be fauourably expounded. For who can beleue that al men were diſtroyed by thoſe firſt hereſies? we vnderſtād therfore that the mindes of the faithful were diuerſely afflicted and tourmoyled with thoſe errours and troubles: but yet as the Golde tried in the fixe, not to be vtterly conſumed.
The ſecōd trompet.The ſecond Aungel ſoundeth the trompet, ſignifiyng that newe warres are nowe a brewyng: and therfore exhorteth, that al the godly would defende themſelues with weapons. And there is caſt into the Sea not a Mountaine, but as it were a Mountaine burning with fire. The ſea beareth a figure of the world,A burning moūtaine. than the which there is nothing more vnſtable. It is a thing moſt frequented in the prophetes, to call this our world, wherin we liue, a ſea. By mountaines are ſignified kingdomes, witneſſe Eſaye in the .2. chapt. Daniel the 2. And Zacharie in the .4. chapt. And Chriſt him ſelfe in the .7. of Matth. By remouing of hilles or mountaines, ſignifieth any harde thinge, and by the opinion of many impoſſible. Nowe therfore ſpringeth vp an hereſie and a doctrine in the church, as it were a burnyng Mountaine, as the which was in dede moſt furniſhed, and as it ſemed inuincible. We reade that ſuch was the hereſie of the Valentinians, Valentinians.whoſe ſecte the holy martir Ireneus teached to be diuided into many. Suche was the fury of the Manicheis Manicheis.and Montaniſtes. Montaniſtes.They ſemed to many to burne with the ſpirite of God, and to be whole nothinge els but the ſpirite, and all their oracles to be of the holy ghoſte. Manichaeus called him ſelfe the Apoſtle of Ieſu Chriſt. The Montaniſtes bragged of a newe holy ghoſt. Ther was moſte greate plenty of this darnell throughout the vniuerſall church. Nother was the ſucceſſe therof ſmall. For the thirde parte of the Sea was made bloud. The Apoſtle ſignifieth the wickednes of ſectes. For howe vile and impudent were the heretikes called Gnoſtici, the valentinians, and Manicheis, Ireneus, S. Auſten, and Epiphanius doe teſtifie. And a great part of the creatures in the Sea periſſhed. And he ſpeaketh of ſuch as hauehave ſoules, not of fiſhes in dede, but menne. Many ſhippes moreouer were loſt, to witte Mariners, and Ilonde men, beyng corrupte with theſe hereſies.
That time thoſe hereſies ſprange vp in dede of thoſe Authours which I named: but as yet thei be not vtterly extinct, corrupte men buddyng vp in a maner at eueryevery time, and renewyng the olde errour. Wherupō a bitter ſtrife remayneth yet at this daye in the church: and we are dayly admoniſhed, that we ſhould beware of thoſe corruptions.
The thirde Aungell bloweth his trompet, proclaymyng new warres:The third trompet. and behold a great Starre fell doune from heauen, burning like a creſſet, and infecteth the thirde parte of riuers and fountaines of waters,A burning creſſet. that ſtarre is called wormwood. I tolde you in the .1. Chapter that Starres are called, Preachers, Biſſhoppes, and notable men in the churche. It ſignifieth therefore that ſome notable man ſhould fall awaye from the trewe faith into hereſie, wherwith he ſhould infecte a great parte of the world, in corrupting the Scriptures, and ſounde doctrine of fayth. And theſe thinges ſeme to be fulfilled in Paulus Samoſatenus Paul Samoſatenusand Arrius. Arrius.This creſhet burned horribly, and inflamed the whole worlde without recouerie. That peſtilence denied the deitie of Chriſte, and made the whole Goſpel to vsus moſte bitter. For if Chriſte be not very God, how is he a Sauiour, King, Biſhop, interceſſour, mediatour, and ſaluation of the faithful? He quenched the light, that denied the deitie of Chriſt. Therefore is he called by the name of wormwood. The prophet Ieremie vſed the ſelfe ſame allegorie, or metaphore, or alluſion, in the .9. and .23. chapt. And Amos in the .6. where he ſayeth, that the Iudges hauehave tourned iudgement into Wormwood.
The Scripture and doctrine whiche is trimly figured by riuers and fountaines, corrupted of the Arrians was to many the occaſion of death. The Scripture and doctrine of the Goſpel, is of it ſelfe mortal to no man, but rather liuely to al… corruption maketh it deadly. Poyſon put in wine, maketh the wine deadly: the wine of it ſelf killeth no man, but rather gladdeth and reioſeth al men. Reade the Eccleſiaſtical ſtories of Euſebius, Theodoretus, Sozomenus, Socrates, and others, and ye ſhal perceyue howe aptely S. Iohn hath written all theſe thinges, and how rightly they are al fulfilled. No ſmal parte of that bitternes hath flowed vntounto our time, whileſt that old errour is often times by the inſtigatiō of the deuil renewed. For what that vncleane beaſte Michell Seruetus Michell Serueto.a ſpaniarde vomited againſt the Sonne of God, for his impenitent wickednes, and continuall plaſphemie burnte at Geneua, the world knoweth. We muſte praye therfore to the Lorde, that in ſuche daungerouſe conflictes, he would kepe vsus ſafe and ſounde. Amen.