A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 100
¶ Chriſt is ſhewed agayne to be Authour of this booke, how great he is here. Here is alſo declared the deſire of the church, wiſſhyng for the commyng of Chriſt, and the liberall promeſſe of the Lorde. The .C. Sermon.
I Ieſus ſent mine Angell to teſtifie vntounto you theſe thinges in the cō gregations. I am the rote and generatiō of Dauid, and the bright mornyng Starre. And the ſpirite and the bryde ſayde, come. And lette him that heareth ſaye alſo, come. And let him that is a thirſte, come. And let who ſo euer will, take of the water of life, free.
The Authour of this booke Chriſt.The tenth place of this concluſion ſheweth againe the authour of this worke to be Ieſus Chriſt, whiche is brought in here of S. Iohn ſpeakyng, to the intent the thing that is ſpoken maye hauehave the more authoritie, and credit be geuē more eaſely of the Auditours to the whole worke. Wherefore nothing is to be aſcribed to S. Iohn, but the writing of ye worke, that is to wit, that he firſt ſaw al theſe thinges, indited & committed them to writing. And the maner alſo of the reuelation is repeted. Chriſt himſelfe came not downe into the earth, or into theſe lower partes, but ſent forth his Angel, which from Chriſt, & in Chriſtes name opened & ſhewed theſe thinges to S. Iohn. The ende alſo of the Angelles ſendyng or reuelatiō is ſpecified, that he ſhould teſtifie theſe thinges in congregations, and to you al that are in the world, vntounto thende of the world. And we learne of thoſe fewe wordes that credit muſte be geuen to this boke, as that which is propoūded of the very ſonne of God by his Angel and Apoſtle, and that in dede propounded to all that are in the church. Agayne that Ieſus Chriſt is very God, the lord of Angelles: as S. Paule alſo affirmeth in the .1. chap. to the Hebrewes. Chriſt very God.Of the which thing is ſpoken alſo before. And theſe moſte clere teſtimonies of the ſcripture ought to moue the faithful more, thā al the dotages of Seruetus the Spaniarde, and Seruetanes playing the Arrians and Iewes. Let vsus obſerue moreouer, that Chriſte ſente his Angell, not to Iudge or to teache: but foreign,The holy writinges are Authē ticall. that is to teſtifie. Teſtimonies lawefully taken, or committed to wryting and ſealed, it is not lawefull to ſpeake agaynſt. For they are altogether taken for Authentical. But all this boke was written by S. Iohn, and is a witnes or the teſtimony of the Angell of God. Therefore is it vnlawefull to doubte any thynge thereof. And alſo ought to hauehave the ſame opinion of all other bookes of the olde and newe Teſtamente. For the Prophetes and Apoſtles are called the witneſſes of God: and the Goſpell, and doctrine of the Prophetes and Apoſtles, the witnes or teſtimonie. He is madde, that thinketh not the Canonicall Scripture to be of it ſelfe Authenticall, vnleſſe it be firſt made authenticall by the approbation of the church and Counſelles. Moreouer we vnderſtande that the doctrine of this whole boke belongeth not only to the ſeuen churches of Aſia, but to all diſperſed through out the whole worlde: and therefore to apperteyne chiefely and ſingularly vntounto vsus, whiche liue at this daye at Zuricke or in Swycerlande, Englande, Fraunce or Germany. Aretas Biſſhoppe of Ceſaria: that he ſhould teſtifie, ſaieth he, that is to ſaye, that …e ſhould proteſte not priuely, nor obſcurely, but in the audience of all Churches, diſperſed in all the worlde, that no man pretendynge wilfull ignoraunce, ſhoulde remayne vncorrected.
And incontinently the Lord him ſelfe alſo ſheweth and declareth,Chriſte is the roote & ſtocke of Dauid. who, and howe greate he is, and what we faythfull hauehave layde vp in ſtore in him. And he vſeth agayne parables and alluſions for the more perſpicuitie: And firſte he calleth him ſelfe the roote and generation of Dauid, that is to ſaye a trewe and naturall man. For we hearde before that he was very and naturall God. And he cutteth of from al Heretikes deniyng and impugnyng the trewe fleſſhe of Chriſte, all Senewes: moſte ſtrongely prouyng, that he after the fleſhe is of our owne nature. Whereof he is called alſo in the Scripture the fruicte of the wombe of Dauid, and he that is ryſen of his loynes. Moreouer it is ſayed to the Dauidicates virgin and mother of God: thou ſhalte conceaue in thy wombe and bryng forth a ſonne. Therefore he calleth him ſelfe alſo both the roote and generation of Dauid. And the phraſe of ſpeache is to be marked. For the like is red in the .16. of Ezechiel. Thy roote and thy generation is of the lande of Chanaan: that is to ſaye, thy birth is of the Chananites, or thy of ſprynge is of people polluted, yet ſemeth here neuertheleſſe alſo an other certen thyng to be ſignified. For the rote beareth a tree, and nurriſheth or quickeneth the ſame. The roote is not borne or nurriſſhed of the tree: and Chriſte the Lord is the foundatiō, and preſeruation of the houſe of Dauid, and Churche of the faythfull. That Dauid is preſerued, that the ofſpryng of Dauid is not rooted out, whiche ofte times hath deſerued to be, it is done in reſpecte or merite of Chriſte the Lorde: Chriſte hath ſaued them, the ſame ſaueth alſo, ſo many as are ſaued, as he that is of al the promeſſes made vntounto Dauid the head, vertue add ſome and euen perfection, as in whome is perfit ſaluation, and all fulnes, as the clere teſtimonies of the Prophet Eſaye beare witnes in the .7. and .37. cha. and els where, alſo in the 3. of Oſee, 34. &. 37. of Ezechiel. And not a much vnlike place is in the .3. boke of Kinges. the .15. chap. Iohn alſo the .1.Chriſt is ye bright morning ſtarre chap. of this boke named Chriſt the rote of Dauid. &c.
Agayne the Lorde calleth hym ſelfe a Starre, and that not obſcure, but ſhynynge and brighte, and euen the mornyng Starre. When he called hym ſelfe a Starre, he had reſpecte to the moſte auncient Oracle of Balaam that moſt wiſe Prophet in the Eaſte. He prophecied that a Starre ſhulde arryſe out of Iſraell, that is to ſay a celeſtial ſtarre, and euen the very ſonne of God ſhoulde be borne of a woman. And that the ſame ſtarre did arriſe the magiciens, being alſo of the Eaſte, teſtifie in the .2. chap. of S. Mathew. And it is called bright, becauſe Chriſte is the light, illumining all men that come in to the world. Of the which matter the ſame S. Ihon hath treated much in the firſt, eight, and nynth chapt. of his Euangelicall ſtory. The ſame our Lorde is alſo the morning ſtarre, ſo called of S. Peter, 2. Pet. 1. And of this our S. Ihon in the .2. chapt. of the Apoca. For lyke as Lucifer arriſing, draweth the daye ſtarre after him: ſo Chriſt ſhyning in the hartes of the faithfull, doth lighten them more and more in this preſent world alſo, and in the lyfe to come doth cloth them whole with the light celeſtiall. Thomas of Aquine expounding this place: the morninge Starre, ſayeth he, is to witte the meſſager of the day, that is the euerlaſting felicitie through his reſurrection. And theſe thynges hauehave we hearde hitherto of the mouth of Chriſte, concerning Chriſte, who and howe great he is, and what treaſures we hauehave layde vp in ſtore in him. He is very God and man, was incarnate for vsus, that he might be our roote, vertue, lyfe, light, and ſaluation. Therfore hauehave we repoſed in him, all fulnes of Saluation. And ſo we ſee agayne, that this boke is written with the Apoſtolicall ſpirite, which ſpirite verely ſo ofte as occaſion ſerueth, reaſoneth excellently of Chriſte, and preacheth his ſaluation, and commendeth the fayth in him, vntounto all the faithfull. The ſame ſpirite therfore hath inſpyred eyther booke both of the Goſpell, and Apocalipſe of Saincte Ihon, and cauſed them to be written of the ſame Authour.
11. In the eleuenth place is brought in ſpeaking the church,The deſire of ye church for the cō myng of Chriſt. wyſhing the comming of Chriſte vntounto iudgement. For ſins our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte is ſo good, ſo benigne and holſome, whome all this booke hath promyſed to come, and to delyuer the church of Sainctes afflicted in this worlde, nowe is reſited the deſire of the ſame his church, wyſhing and calling the Lorde, ſayeng, come. For anone we ſhall heare the Lorde promiſing, and ſaieng, be it I come quickely: And the church agayne reporting Amen. Euen ſo come Lord Ieſu. And that the ſpirite within our body crieth buſily to the Lorde for our deliueraūce and glorifieng, the Apoſtle mentioneth much in the .8. to the Romanes. Notwithſtanding that by the ſpirite may be vnderſtand eueryevery ſpirituall man alſo. And therefore Aretas, he nameth them ſpirite, ſayeth he, which are accompted worthie of the ſpirituall mariage: And the bryde, the church it ſelfe. Thus ſayeth he. Of the bryde we hauehave ſpokē many times in this worke, ſo that we nede not to be tediouſe in repeting the ſame. Howe be it with a wonderfull deſyre all the godly couet that the Lorde wolde come vntounto iudgement: To the wicked that daye is terrible & abhorred, to the godly moſte ioyfull and wyſſhed for. For the godly perceaue that they ſhall ones be deliuered from all euylles, and plentifully rewarded with all good thynges, that the glory and veritie of God ſhall be auaunced and eſtabliſhed, that all vngodlynes ſhall be aboliſhed, and the wicked by the iuſt iudgement of God tormented. Wherupon S. Peter in the .3. chapt. of the Actes, calleth this day the reſtoring & perfourming of all ſuch things as God hath at any time ſpoken by the mouth of his Prophets. In that ſame day therfore ſhall all the promeſſes of God euen of the greateſte matters, be fulfilled througely. Therfore ſayeth the Lord in the goſpell: lifte vp your heads, for your redemption draweth nere. They that mourne and are deſperate like, caſt downe their heads: The Lord biddeth vsus lifte vp our heades, to be cherefull and of good hope. For we ſhall certenly be delyuered and glorified, which hauehave ben in the world a laughing ſtocke, and had in deriſiō of all men. Therfore muſte the places be expoūded fyguratiuely, which pourport the exceding great lamentation and howling that ſhall be in that day. For the wicked for anguyſhe and payne and vtter deſperation ſhall crye oute, and teare themſelues: The godly ſhall reioyce in him, whome they ſee comming, ſhewynge the woundes wherewith they are redemed. Lyke as therefore the deſyre of Sainctes was greateſte, when the firſt commyng of our ſauiour approched nere, as in Symeon alone appeareth, Luke the ſecond, right ſo at the ſecond comming of Chriſte vntounto iudgement, all Saincts with vnceſſable voyces ſhall crie, and continually do crye, come Lorde Ieſu, come and delyuer vsus, come and maynetayne thy glorie and church, almoſte broughte to naught: come our redemer and Sauiour ſo wiſhed and loked for, diſpatch vsus from euilles, graunt vsus the good thinges promiſed, &c.
Wherfore the things that follow,Come. may be referred eyther to the church or to S. Ihon, that eyther the church or S. Ihon ſhulde ſay: And let him that heareth ſay, come. Aretas expoū ding this place briefely and well: by theſe wordes he inſinuateth them, ſaieth he, which ar not yet aſſūpted to the flocke, yet ready to heare godly matters, and geue their dilligence to knowe the Lorde. So much he. And doubteleſſe the deſyre of the godlye is ſo greate, that they couet that all creatures ſhoulde praye the Lorde to come vntounto iudgement: as many times we ſe in the Pſalmes, the godly to exhorte the Sun and Moone & all creatures, to praiſe and ſpeake wel of the Lorde.
12. The .12. place of the concluſion, conteineth a moſt large promeſſe and comforte of Chriſte.❀ And le… him that is a thyrſte, come. For he promiſeth agayne frankelie. As thoughe he ſhulde ſaie: I knowe what thinges the faithfull ſhall ſuffer vnderunder Antichriſt, what alſo and howe great crafte the ſame ſhall practiſe. All thinges will he ſell for money, Heauen and Earth, and thoſe things alſo which are not in his power: And he ſhal deceaue many, and ſhal ſpoyle many: And al the godly ſhall he vexe and oppreſſe with greuouſe perſecution. Therfore yf I tary long, and come not incontinently, in aſmuch as the wiſſhes of Sainctes couet the ſame, you that louelove and beleue in me, flee Antichriſte, geue not your ſelues to be ſpoiled of him: loke ye for me, hauehave recourſe vntounto me. He that is a thirſt, that is, he that deſyreth an heauenly gyfte, or he that is in angwyſh or tourmented with cares, and ſondry euilles, let him come to me, to me I ſay let him come: I ſhall fyll him with good thinges, delyuer from euyll, and wyll comforte him, and ſtrengthen him with my ſpirite, in al maner daūgers, that he may paciently beare and ouercome all euylles. And he ſemeth to hauehave borrowed theſe holſome wordes and moſt ful of conſolation, of the doctrine of Eſaye, which is in the .55. chapter, and in the ſeuenth chap. of Ihon. Hereof are ſpoken certen thinges aboute the beginning of the .21. chapt. Where we re…de …he Lord to hauehave ſaide: And to him that is a thirſte wil I geue of the well of the water of life frely.
And he that wille.But where he ſayeth: and he that will: he meaneth not, as many miſtake him, that it ſtandeth in our will, that we maye be ſaued. For we knowe that the Apoſtle hath ſayde: it is not in the wille, nor in the rūning, but in the mercy of God. The Lord of his owne good wil ſaueth vsus: yet not withſtanding he ſaueth not the vnwillyng, but the willyng. But he geueth vsus that we maye will: accordyng to that ſaying of thapoſtle, it is God that worketh in vsus both to will and to accompliſh. Primaſius: by no good giftes, ſayeth he, goyng before he receyueth the water of life frely. For what haſte thou, ſayeth the Apoſtle, that thou haſte not receyued? Therefore hauehave we receyued of God frely the wil of cōmyng alſo: vntounto whome we gaue nothing firſte, that we ſhould be: much leſſe that we ſhould of ſinners be made rightuouſe. Thus ſayeth he. Not withſtandyng it might ſeme to be ſuch a maner of ſpeakyng as is emonges the Germanes: which is I make it free for al to come: I doe clerely exclude no man, I bid al come: ſo, and he that will: that is to ſaye, come al, and receiue water, &c. To the lorde be glory.