A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 43
¶ Chriſt a ſtrong Aungell, is ſet agaynſt Antichriſt: and is excellently deſcribed, ſhinyng againe in the darkenes of the church with conſolation. The .xliij. Sermon.
ANd I ſawe an other mightie angell come downe from Heauen, The .10. chapter.clothed with a clowde, and the raynebowe vpō his head and his face was as the Sunne, and his fete as it were pillers of fire: & he had in his hand a little boke open: and he put his right foote vponupon the ſea, and his lefte foote on the Earth. And cried with a lowde voyce, as whē a lion roareth. And when he had cried, ſeuen thonders ſpake theyr voices: and when the ſeuen thonders had ſpoken theyr voyces, I was about to write. And I hearde a voice frō heauē ſaiyng vntounto me: ſeale vp thoſe things, whiche the ſeuen thonders ſpake, and write them not.
Hitherto hauehave we hearde many things of the moſt daungerouſe conflictes againſt the chriſten pietie and veritie: but nothing hath ben ſpoken of the defence and maynteiners of the trewe religion: but rather the ſucceſſe and wonderfull felicitie of the wicked hath ben preached, eſpecially in the fifte and ſixte trompet, to witte vnderunder Papiſtrie & Mahometrie. Therfore it might ſeme to many, that the veritie it ſelfe was not only oppreſſed & loſte, but alſo that the veritie of Gods promeſſes began to fainte & decaie.A greuouſe tēptatiō in ye felicitie of the Antichriſtiās. For the godly oppreſſed; iniquitie triūpheth in al places: the veritie being trodē vnderunder fote, liyng reigneth eueryevery where. Who therfore would not thinke, that the thinges be in maner vaine, which are ſpoken eueryevery where of the rewardes of good men, and punniſhmēt of euill? doubtles the children of Iſraell doubted of the fayth of Gods promeſſes, when the terme of their captiuitie was extended only to three ſcore and ten yeres. What maruell is it than, if the faithful at this daye alſo, ſeyng the ſeruitude or bondage of Mahomet, and the tiranny of the Pope or Antichriſt hath continewed nowe many yeres, beginne alſo to be tempted: as alſo the Sainctes were tempted in olde time, witnes Aſaph, Pſalme .73. And verely ye ſhall hauehave at this daye, which wil ſay, perauenture this world ſhal be alwaies, ſhal neuer hauehave ende, papiſtrie ſhall reigne for euer, the Mahometanes ſhal conquer for euer, the godly ſhal be miſerable for euer, therfore it is better to frame thēſelues to the world, we hauehave nowe loked for thy iudgement a long time, yea our fathers .D.CCC. and a thouſande yeres ſince had thought the laſt day of the Lord had ben at hand, but none ende appereth any where, but all thinges are dayly renewed: therefore ſhal the ſame face of the world be alwaies, ye courſes of times dewly retourning. Who therefore knoweth, whether a rewarde be prepared for the godly, or punniſhmēt for the wicked? For there chaunce farre other thinges vntounto holy men, than many loke for? They loking for bleſſing, life & felicitie, & beholde they are ouerwhelmed with the curſes of al menne, caried to executiō, and ſeme the moſt vnfortunate of all men. He that cleaueth to the papiſtes, Turkes and enemies of the Goſpell, goeth through luckely enough, &c.
Therfore as eueryevery where in this boke, ioyfull thinges are mixed wt ſorrowfull, ſo here alſo after moſte greuouſe battels of the .v. and .vi. trompet, and moſte ſtronge temptations, he ioyneth a moſt ioyouſe goſpel for the conſolation & cōfirmation of the faithful, leeſt they ſhould any where doubte of the fidelitie of gods promeſſes, or reuolte from the trewe religiō to the falſe: therfore againſt Antichriſt, the blacke Aungell of the botomles pitte, is ſet the bright or ſhining Angel of heauē the lord Chriſt. Here is gallauntly deſcribed: & is ſayed to retourne vntounto his: the ſame ſweareth ſolemnely, that there ſhal be none other time, but that in the .vii. trompet the very miſterie of God ſhould be fulfilled. Moreouer the lorde Chriſt cōmaundeth S. Iohn to eate ye open boke which Chriſt held in his hande, & to prophecie againe. By al the which thinges to the cōfort of al godly is ſignified, that Chriſt ſhal retourne into the church, out of the which he ſemed by his enemie and vicar to be caſt out, with great glory and power: nother the hope and expectation of the faithful to be vaine, how ſo euer the laſt daye of iudgement be differred into many ages, and the godly fele of great aduerſitie: Finally that punniſhment and rewarde is prepared of God: and that this ſhal be geuen to the godly, and that inflicted to the wicked. For to the intent we might herof be moſt aſſured, Chriſt taketh a ſolemne othe. And ſayeth it ſhal come to paſſe, that the catholicke and chriſtian veritie ſhall agayne come into the fielde, and fighte valeauntly againſt the Antichriſtian and Mahometical doctrine. Herof therfore ſhal we learne, not to deſpeire in the lōg perſecutions of Antichriſt and Mahomet. We ſhall learne alſo howe to fight agaynſt Antichriſt, and howe he muſte be ouercomen not with warlicke, but ſpiritual weapons. Theſe is not he able to match. He whetteth one ſworde on an other. And hitherto in dede in theſe two laſt chapt. hath ben ſpoken of the warres of heretikes and of the vngodly, and of Antichriſt the head of al euil: hereafter ſhal follow of the contrary fight of the godly, and maynteynaunce of Godlynes.
Before theſe is ſet a deſcription of Chriſt moſt elegaunt,A goodly deſcriptiō of Chriſt. moſte holeſome, and moſte full of conſolation, declaryng his force in the miniſterie, by the miniſters of the worde, whō he hath clothed with vertue from aboue, & by the weake things of this world, ouercōmeth and beateth together the ſtrōgeſt things of this world, and the which ſemed inuincible. Chriſt king and Biſſhop animateth al his faythfull with his ſpirite and word indifferently, & alwaies and eueryevery where worketh many things by his vertue, ſo yt he is now felte of al mē to be cōmen againe, vntounto whō he ſemed hitherto to hauehave abſented him ſelf ſome what to long. And I doubt, whether ther be in all the canonical bokes a…ter the prophecie of Eſaye, after the ſtory of the Goſpell, and eſpecially after the goſpell of bleſſed S. Iohn, any other boke which hath mo and more goodly deſcriptions of Chriſt, than hath this boke. They are diſceyued and much abuſed, which ſuppoſe a rare goſpell to be preached in this boke. But let vsus ſee the deſcriptiō of Chriſt by partes.
Chriſt a mighty Angell.We hauehave ſhewed in the .v. and .vi. trompe, that Antichriſt the Pope and Mahomet are ſtrōg. Now is ſet agaynſt them a mightie Aungel, the lord Chriſt him ſelfe: an Angel in dede not in nature or dignitie. For he toke not the nature of an Aungel, but the ſede of Abraham, and is much greater than Aungelles, but that is lord of Aungels. Which the Apoſtle ſheweth in the .1. and .2. to the Hebrewes. But it is the aungell of great counſel, to witte the ambaſſadour of God the father vntounto vsus, as Eſaye and Malachie called him, to teache the will of the heauenly father, and to worke our ſaluation, and now alſo appointed, that frō the right hande of the father as king and Biſhoppe, he ſhould kepe and defende his church. This Chriſt I ſaye geuen to men, is ſtrong, not weake. Strong to ouercome and breake a ſonder all the force of this worlde, of his enemies, of Antichriſt, of the Deuill and of hell gates. No man therfore nede to doubt, but that he may be defended by this ſtrong giaunt: no mā nede to deſpeire in any perilles or matters be they neuer ſo deſperate, ſins Chriſte almightie liueth, which is able to helpe wery matters. He therfore muſte be called vponupon of vsus in al daungers: of him we muſt loke for helpe patiently and w…th ſtedfaſte faith.
An Aungel cam doune frō heauē.A ſtarre in dede is fallen from Heauen, but in the meane time of Antichriſt crepte out of the bottomles pitte, & Chriſt deſcended from Heauen. The Lord cōmeth not from heauen corporally, but vntounto the laſt iudgement: but ſpiritually he is ſayed to retourne, ſo ofte as he hath ſemed a little, to hauehave withdrawen and abſented him ſelfe. For he is neuer abſent, he is euer preſent with his, which is eueryevery where. And he is ſayed to be abſent, when his ayde is not felte, but are tourmoyled with aduerſities, and as it were broken with euilles. Chriſte therefore deſcendeth vntounto vsus ſo ofte as he geueth vsus ayde and counſell ſtanding in nede. So in the moſt daungerouſe conflicte of Antichriſt and Mahomet, finally of heretickes and of al other aduerſaries, Chriſt him ſelfe with his ſpirite is preſent with his, helpeth his, incourageth and animateth his, and defendeth his.
Antichriſt as it were clothed and wrapped with the ſmoke of the botomles pitte, is euill fauoured:Aungel couered wi… a clowde. and Chriſt couered and as it were decked with a clowde, bothe ſheweth him ſelf to be God, whiche can conueye vp his aboue the ayre and clowdes into his kingdome, and can raine downe dewe or holeſome ſhoures to cowle and make fruictfull his choſen. A clowde many times in the holy hiſtorie was a token of God preſent. A clowde toke vp Chriſt as it were girded from the eies of his diſciples. Clowdes with Eſaye in the .45. and .60. chapt. droppe downe grace. Finally we ſhall be taken vp in the clowdes with al the choſen to mete the Lord in the ayre. Antichriſt is crowned with a crowne, whiche he gote to him ſelf by craftie meanes, by flatterie, threatenings & diſceiptes: and kepeth the ſame by wicked practiſes, blouddy weapons,An Aungel crowned wt the raynebowe. and all kinde of craftie inggelyng and vngodlines. But the rainebowe is on the head of Chriſt. For he is kyng of peace, pacifiyng and reconciling al thinges vntounto God: recōcilyng alſo mē themſelues together with the bonde of charitie. The raynebowe is a token of the leage & amitie of God towards vsus, as we mentioned before in the matters of Noe. Of Antichriſt is wo, deſperation, anguiſſhe, and a moſte afflicted and troubled conſcience. Chriſt is a conſolation, and peace of the conſcience, that no man nede to ſaye: ye Mountanes fal vponupon vsus, and couer vsus. For the faythful deliuered, crie Abba father. The ſame Lorde Chriſt ſayed alſo in the Goſpell: in the world ye hauehave affliction, but in me peace. And agayne: come to me all that labour and are burthened, and I will refreſſhe you. Therfore the raynebowe ſitteth on no mans head more rightly, than vponupon Chriſtes head. For in the head of this angell appered the raynebowe, as though it had bē his crowne or Diademe. And now we vnderſtande, from whence conſolation and pacificatiō is to be loked for in moſt greuouſe perilles and afflictions of Antichriſt.the face of the Angell was as the ſunne.
The ſunne through the ſmoke of the botomles pit, reyſed by the Aungell therof beyng darkened moſte filthely, was a great grief to the world. But the face of this our Aungell is clere, and clarifieth, and ſhineth as bright as the ſunne: as in times paſt alſo he is ſayed to hauehave ſhone in the .17. of S. Matt. The brighte face of Chriſte bringeth ioye and vnſpeakeable gladnes to the beholders, and pacifieth the mindes. And the ſame is ſene of vsus ſpiritually and by faith. S. Paul is the beſte expoſitour of this place in the .2. to the Corinth. 3. and .4. chap. Certenly of the ful knowledge of Chriſt, wherby we beleue him to be geuen vsus of the father, that by him ſhoulde be accōpliſhed, and he himſelfe alone ſhuld be to vsus al thing, & as a moſt ioyful light arriſeth in the mindes. For we are lighted of the light, as is declared in the goſpel of S. Iohn. Howeſoeuer therefore the terrible darkenes of errours & calamities be ouer caſt in the world of the prince of darkenes by ye pope and Mahomet, & other corrupters of Gods veritie, yet the light which is in the mindes of the faithfull through faith in Chriſt, directeth, lighteth, comforteth and preſerueth.
The fete of the Angel, pillers of fyre.Antichriſt hath the tailes of Scorpions moſt venemouſe: but the fete of the lord Chriſt are as pillers of fire. Al thinges of Chriſt are firme, right, and moſt cleane. In an other place alſo the veritie of the lord is figured by pillers. And god him ſelfe is called a conſumyng fire, burnyng vp all vncleanes. Morouer fire pearſeth, nother can it be eaſely quēched, whē it beginneth to catche, and to burne. And who ſhall lette the courſe of the fire of the holy ghoſt:He ſetteth his fete on the Sea & lande. with theſe is ioyned an other thing, that the Angel ſet his right fote vpō the Sea: and the lefte on the Earth. But to ſet fote, is to chalenge to him ſelf ſome poſſeſſion. For as we ſaye in dutche, for that which is, to fire the minde to dwell in any place: ſo we reade of the Hebrewe phraſe, what ſo euer your fote ſhall treade vponupon, ſhall be yours: that is, what ſo euer ye ſhall winne, ſhall be your owne right and poſſeſſion. And Chriſt ſemed as it were to be caſt out of his poſſeſſiō by Antichriſt, Mahometanes, and the reſt of his enemies. For we hauehave heard many times that they hauehave wonne landes and Ilandes. But this viſion inſtructeth vsus, that Chriſt recouereth agayne, reentreth i… poſſeſſion, and bringeth vnderunder his ſubiection, ſuche places … ſemed to hauehave ben taken and loſt both by ſea and lande, tha… is in al partes of ye world. For by the preaching of the goſp… many are recouered, which were plucked awaye frō the true religion: that now I nede not reherſe, that Chriſt hath in all parts of ye world his choſen, which neuer bowed their knees to Baal. In them hath he a moſte ſtrong and moſte purified kingdome, figured by the firie pillers. Certes thapoſtle calleth the churche a piller and baſe of veritie .1. Timoth. 2. And Chriſt him ſelf alſo ſayeth that his kingdome in the world is vnmouable, howe ſo euer it be aſſayled of Antichriſte. The gates of hel ſhal not preuaile agaynſt it, and his church.
And like as Antichriſt coueteth to hauehave ye boke of the goſpel ſhutte, and cloſed, obſcure and vnperfit:The Angel holdeth in his hand a boke open. ſo the lord Chriſt holdeth the boke open in his hande. He openeth, and no man ſhutteth. You vnderſtād therfore wherof it cometh that Antichriſt, although he be of moſte great power, can not at this day ſhut the goſpel boke, which he ſeketh with al his force to do. Of chriſt & his ſpirite we hauehave the word bright & clere. By the grace of Chriſt we hauehave the bright preaching of the goſpel, cōtrariwiſe a darke & an intricate ſophiſtrie of Antichriſt: of this boke ſhal follow herafter more plēti…ul thinges. Herunto apperteineth the worthie inuention and godly benefite of Printing, neuer cōmended enough. This openeth bokes,Printing. and ſendeth them abroade into the world in diſpite of all the enemies of Gods veritie, and ſcattereth them abroade in eueryevery corner of the world. So that they whiche can not heare preachers, to them come godly bokes not without fruicte.
The ſownde of Antichriſtes winges,The Angel roareth like a lion. is as the noiſe of charettes, when many horſes runne into battel: therefore Chriſt alſo maketh a noiſe, and crieth in dede with a lowde voice. S. Iohn addeth a parable. He roareth (foreign, he loweth, which is aſmuch as if he had ſayed, he roareth. For Eraſmus, perauenture, ſaieth he, the Grekes kepe not ye difference betwixt foreign and foreign as the latines doe betwene Rugire and Mugire that is to roare & to lowe) as a Lion. We hauehave hearde before how Chriſt is called a lion of the tribe of Iuda. Therfore like as when a liō reareth, as Amos noteth in the .3. chap. Al are affrayed of themſelues: ſo when the Lord Chriſt crieth by his word al the wicked are amaſed. Wherby is ſignified that the goſpell ſhalbe preached agaynſt Antichriſt conſtantly and with Authoritie, to the terrour of Gods enemies. And doubtleſſe although the princes aſwel ſpirituall as temporall, ſeme to contemne and vtterly to diſpiſe the preaching of the Goſpell, yet is it certayne by many tokens and coniectures, that they are excedingly fore affrayed, of that preachyng whiche as vile they diſpiſe. For they indeuour with all force of minde, and herunto applye all theyr counſelles, that thei might aboliſh that ſame preaching. But in caſe thei ſuppoſe it to be of no force, whie are they ſo affraied therof? whie are they at ſo great charges? whie can they neuer be at reſt? herunto apperteineth the common prophecie, which telleth, that whileſt antichriſt reigneth, Helias ſhal come, which with a ſharpe, liuely, & manly preaching, ſhal confute the triflings of Antichriſt. Therefore the ſpirite of Helias, and his erneſt preachyng, is that roarynge of the Lion, whiche roareth out Chriſtes veritie.
The voyces of the ſeuen thō ders.And as ſoone as that roaryng was hearde, the ſeuē thonders vtter alſo theyr voyces. By the which voyces are ſignified the ſondry graces of the holy ghoſt, and chiefly the terrible preachyng out of the veritie of the canonicall ſcriptures, as appered in the .4. chapt. of this boke. For with the goſpel in the latter ages ſhal be expounded agayne the Scripture of the prophetes, whiche ſemeth as it were to thonder agaynſt Antichriſt, agaynſt ſinnes and wicked people. Verely Iames and Iohn bretherne and Apoſtles of Chriſt, of the free, plaine, & erneſt preachyng of the trueth are called of the lorde Boanerges, that is the ſonnes of thonder, thonderers, that is to witte excellently ſharpe in preaching, and to be feared.
He is forboden to write the voices of thōders he is cōmaunded to ſeale them.And S. Iohn would by and by hauehave written the voices o… preachyng of the thonders, but he is forbidden ſo to do: b… is cōmaūded to ſeale them only. For ſins the holy ſcripture, through the inſpiration of the holy ghoſt, was writtē and … forth already by the ſeruauntes of God the Prophetes and Apoſtles, what nede were it to wryte and ſet it forth againe. Thoſe thinges are ſufficient for the godly that are written. Therof maye the preachers take vntounto thē agaynſt Antichriſt and al ſectes thonderinges, lightenings, and thonderboltes. And where he is cōmaunded to ſeale vp the thinges ſet forth already, it alludeth to the laſte chapt. of Daniel: and that ſealyng is referred aſwell to the godly as vngodly. Sealed letters are doubtles of moſt authoritie. S. Iohn therfore by his ſealyng maketh not now the Scriptures authenticall, but in ſealyng them declareth, that they are authenticall enough: ſo to the full ſcriptures no godly man goeth about eyther to adde, or diminiſh. Thus I ſaye the Scriptures are ſealed to the godly, as to thē that are moſt perſwaded, that the ſcriptures are moſt perfit and Authentical, which may moſt fully ſuffice in the church for trewe pietie againſt all vngodlynes. Where the wicked will not ſee this, & ſeke not for al thinges of godly religion in the Scriptures, nother care greatly for the ſcriptures: what maruell is it, though the Scriptures be ſealed to them, that is ſhutte vp, whiche they neyther greatly care for, nother vnderſtand, nor yet wil vnderſtande? And on this wiſe is Chriſt ſette againſt Antichriſt, and recouereth agayne his church, diſcomfiteth and ſubdeweth Antichriſt: to whom be malediction for euer.