A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 52
¶ The deſcription of the churche and of the red Dragon, fighting agaynſt the Church. The .lij. Sermon.
ANd there appered a great tokē in Heauen a woman clothed with the ſunne, and the Moone vnderunder her fete, & vpō her head a crowne of .xii. ſtarres. And ſhe was with childe, and cried trauailing in birth, & payned ready to be deliuered. And there appered an other token in heauē, and beholde a great red Dragon, hauing ſeuē heades, & .x. hornes, and ſeuen crownes vponupon his heades: and his tayle drewe the thirde parte of ſtarres of heauen & caſt them to the Earth. And the dragon ſtode before the woman, which was ready to be deliuered: for to deuoure her childe as ſone as it were borne. And ſhe brought forth a mā childe, which ſhould rule all nations with a rodde of yron: & hyr ſonne was taken vp vntounto God, and to his ſeate. And the woman fled into wildernes, where ſhe had a place prepared of God, that they ſhoulde fede her there a thouſande two hondreth and .lx. dayes.
The fourth parte of this boke exhibiteth to vsus the thirde viſion, which others that diuide the ſeconde into two,The order & diſpoſitiō of thinges of this boke. make the fourth. The lord hath often times and much made mention in the ſeconde viſion of the perſecution and fight of the faythfull with Antichriſt, and wicked enemies of God, eſpecially in the .6.9. and .11. chapters. He procedeth therefore nowe in the thirde viſion, and that aboundantly to diſcourſe of the ſame conflicte, and to ſette forth the thyng it ſelfe as it were to be ſene with the eyes,The argumente of ye 12.13.14. chapt. in the three chapt. next followyng the .12.13.14. He repeteth all thinges more depely, and deſcribeth liuely & dilligently the partes of this conflicte, and after alſo the fight it ſelfe. Therfore after the church ones deſcribed, which abideth the brunte of this warre, he deſcribeth alſo the Dragon that moueth the warre: he declareth howe buſily he watcheth, & againe leeſte any man ſhould be diſcouraged, he addeth, howe vnluckely not withſtanding he fighteth, Chriſt verely ouercoming him, finally god impeching & defeating his enterpriſes, and yelding him vanquiſhed to the faithfull. Nowe he decribeth the chiefe inſtrumentes, whiche Sathan vſeth in aſſaultyng and perſecutyng the church, to witte the olde and newe Romane Empire, and herein filthie Papiſtrie, wherin Antichriſt is alſo liuely paynted. By and by not withſtanding he annexeth to theſe vnlucky thinges, for the conſolation and comfort of the godly, that the lambe ſtandeth neuertheleſſe on Mounte Sion a conquerour, hauyng his churche with him, howe ſo euer this worlde rageth and be neuer ſo madde and cruell, that the goſpel is preached in diſpite of Antichriſt: and al men warned to beware of Antichriſt: where alſo he beginneth to reaſon of the iudgement of God agaynſt the wicked, that he mighte prepare him awaye to thoſe thynges whiche he will ſpeake in the .5. parte, touchyng the paynes or punniſſhmentes of the Antichriſtians, which treatiſe he beginneth in the .15. Hitherto therfore he treateth of the fighte or conflicte of the churche and of the wicked, namely of Antichriſt, all the whiche the father of all murther and of al iniquitie the Deuil inſpireth.
Theſe things are taken out of the .iij. chapt. of Geneſ.Therefore like as this whole boke is taken out of the ſcriptures, and expoundeth excedingly well the olde ſcriptures: ſo theſe thinges alſo whiche are by and by in the beginnyng reherſed, ſeme to be taken out of the .3. chapt. of Gene. Where the lorde ſayeth: I wil put emnetie betwixte thee (meanyng the Serpente) and the womā, betwixt thy ſede, and her ſede: her ſeade ſhal breake thy heade, and thou ſhalt bite his heele. For you ſhall reade in the ende alſo of this chapt. And the Dragon was angry with the womā, and went his way that he might make warre with the reſidewe of her ſede.
And he deſcribeth aboue al things the partes of this conflicte,A tokē appered in Heauen. her which was aſſayled by warre, and the whiche moued the warre, to witte the churche and the Dragon. And he ſayeth, how a token of theſe thinges appered in heauen. For he would not only ſaye or wryte, but alſo ſet them forth to be ſene of the eyes, and in maner to paincte, to the intente all thinges more playnely might be ſene. And where he ſayeth thoſe tokens were great, he admoniſheth, that thei were and be thinges of moſte weight, and matters of greateſt importaunce.
The woman the churche.Firſte he deſcribeth the church of God of all times vnderunder the tipe or figure of the woman. Nother is it a ſtraunge or rare thing, ſins at the firſt beginninges of thinges the womā beganne to repreſent the tipe of Chriſtes ſpowſe the church, as is to be ſene in the .2. of Geneſ. And ſo hath the Apoſtle expoūded the tipe in the .5. chapt. to the Epheſ. That I nede not nowe to recite, that Eſaye hath oftener than ones vnderunder the tipe of a woman figured the churche of God: reioyce thou barren, ſayeth he, which bryng forth no children, &c. Finally that S. Paule to the Galath. 4. chapt. hath ſet forth Sara a figure of the church: whiche Salomon alſo in his canticles diſcourſed at length in deſcribyng of his ſpowſe. The churche than is that woman coupled with Chriſt her ſpowſe in true fayth and continual louelove. After he applieth certen thinges ſeuerally to the Virgin Marie, vntounto whom not withſtanding the thinges that go before, and followe after doe not altogether agree: whiche thing bothe Methodius and Primaſius doe ſhewe, and other expoſitours alſo with great accorde.
This woman is clothed with the ſunne.The womā is clothed with the ſunne. The ſcripture calleth Chriſt the ſunne of rightuouſenes, and lighte of life. S. Paule commaundeth the churche to put on Chriſt. He therfore is the light, the life and rightuouſenes of the churche: by Chriſte is couered the nakednes of the church: Chriſte is the ornament and beaultie of the church, through him it ſhineth in the world.
The Moone is ſubiect to alterations, is variable,the moone vnderunder her fete. and receyueth ſondry colours: ſhe increaſeth, and decreaſeth: and although it ſhine, yet appereth it alwayes ful of ſpottes, and borroweth her light of the Sunne. Therefore all courſes and alterations of times, and what ſo euer is mutable and corruptible in this world, al affectiōs alſo & infirmities, the church treadeth vnderunder her fete: all the light that ſhe hath, ſhe hath it of Chriſt, the light of her rightuouſenes increaſeth & decreaſeth: finally ſhe gathereth alwayes ſome ſpottes of the nature of fleſh, which ſhe can not leaue but by death. Therefore ſhe ſhineth in dede, howebeit the church feleth ſome obſcurenes: as the Lorde hath ſayed alſo, eueryevery braunche bearyng fruicte he pourgeth, that he maye bryng forth more fruicte. And he that is waſſhed, is al cleane, and nedeth no more but to waſſhe his fete.
Furthermore a crowne is the honour of the head,A crowne of twelue ſtarres. & ſigne of a kingedome. Chriſt is the beautie, comelines and king of ye church. In this crowne are no precious ſtones, but ſtarres. For in Chriſt are, and beaultifie and lighten the church, the Patriarkes, Prophetes, & the twelue Apoſtles, whiche hauehave light of the crowne, and powre out the ſame into the church. Hereby therefore is ſignified the doctrine of the miniſters, as in the firſt chapt. of this boke. Nother is the ſhinyng miniſterie the ſmalleſt portion emōges the moſt excellēt things of the church.
A woman wt childe nere her trauell.Moreouer that woman hath in her bealy: which in a certen phraſe of ſpeache is as much to ſaye, as that woman was with childe: and had not only a great bealy (as we ſaye) but after the maner of women trauelyng cried out, and labouryng was full of payne that ſhe might be deliuered. Whiche properly apperteyneth not to the virgin Marie, but to the churche. For the primitiue churche of that firſt promeſſe of the bleſſed ſede, conceaued in her minde an hope moſte aſſured, that at the length the ſonne of God ſhould be borne of a virgin, to witte the ſede promiſed, whiche ſhould breake the Serpentes head. Therefore did the church with an erneſt deſire, and with moſte feruente prayers couet and wiſſhe, that Chriſt might ones be ingendred, in and by the excellent mē bre of the ſame the holy virgin. Moreouer Chriſt is begotten in his faithfull, when through his vertue they be regenerated. For S. Paule: my little Children ſayeth he, whome I trauell for agayne, till Chriſt be ſhaped in vsus. The Churche therefore trauayleth, and bringeth forth after two ſortes: bodily, whileſt ſhe erneſtely coueteth with out paine that chriſt mighte be borne of the virgin: and ghoſtly by fayth and regeneration, whileſt ſhe deſireth to be made conformable to Chriſt in her membres. This therefore is the nature and diſpoſition of this woman, that with a gready deſire imbracing the incarnation of Chriſte and redemption, ſhe would fayne hauehave it knowen to many: and that many times ſhe wiſſheth to be regenerated and reformed after the Image of Chriſt.
The deſcription of ye church.This is verely a goodly deſcriptiō of the church. Herunto compare them, which at this daye ſet forth themſelues with the title and pretence of the church: and iudge, how wel they agree with this deſcription. But this trewe church of Chriſt is brought in daunger and battell.
Let vsus heare now in the ſecōd place,the diſcription of the deuil vnderunder the ſhape of a Dragon. & as it wer on the cō trary parte, what maner one is the aduerſarie or ennemie of the church: to witte that oulde ſerpent, which was a lyer and a murtherer from the begynnynge, the onelyonly authour of all euyll, of all miſchiefe, of all errours, of all iniquitie, murther and diſquietneſſe, and moſte vngraciouſe Deuyll: whome afterwarde he calleth Sathan, ſeducer of the worlde, and decketh him wyth other tytles, mete for ſuch a maieſtie.
This is the Dragon, and that the greate Dragon,The great Dragon. to witte of great power through oute the worlde in his membres. And a Dragon, for bycauſe in oulde tyme he toke vponupon him the ſhape of a ſerpente, and diſceaued our parentes. Of Dragons Plinie and other authours wryte many thinges. The Scripture in ſome places,Eſay. 27. calleth the Deuyll a wrythen Serpent. For he is wonderfull ſubtyl, and can turne himſelfe in to fouldes infinite, that he maie diſceaue, and kepe the diſceaued in erroure.
He is red. For he is full of fyer,Red. and bloud of ſainctes and of innocentes. A right bloud hounde, the parent and patron of al perſecutours and bloudie ſouldiours. In him ſticke yet the ſpottes of the bloud of Abell. He ſmelleth yet, of the ſhedding of the bloud of the Prophetes, and Apoſtles.
The ſame hath ſeuen heades:Seuen heades, & ten hornes. vppon eueryevery one of theſe is ſene a crowne royal. He hath alſo ten hornes. For the Deuyl is called the Prince of this worlde: and hath in very dede ben gouernour of the wicked rulers of al ages, and ring leader of all hornes and blouddy realmes. He was therfore the head of Ninus, the King and and prince of Pharao, chief captaine of Balthazer King of Babilon, of Cambyſes alſo the Perſian, of Antiochus the Macedonian, of Iulius Caeſer the Romane, and likewyſe of all other tyrauntes.
The Prophet Eſaie called a falſe prophet, tayle,Tayle. by reaſon of his ſoothing and flatterring wordes, for that with his mealy mouth and ſwete words, he crepeth in fauour with great men. Therfore with flattering and deceaueable wordes, and lyeng promeſſes, wherewith (as in times paſt) he promiſeth his worſhippers godly thinges, he perſwadeth to al wickednes, ſtarres, that is to ſay, preachers & notable men: whom taken from heauenly things, he caſteth vntounto earthly things, that hauyng forgoten celeſtiall matters and their holy office and duetie, they maye cleaue nowe vntounto earthly thinges, beyng wrapped in the earthly foldes of the Deuilles taile. And thus in dede he ſhal corrupte not a fewe. For he putteth the thirde parte of ſtarres, for a great nombre of notable menne, whoſe miniſterie he vſeth agaynſt the church. Hereof there be many and that notable exāples of al times in al hiſtories.
The Dragons enterpriſe agaīſt the church.And after he hath deſcribed this fowle and filthie beaſte, and ſworne enemie of al ſainctes from the beginnyng of the world: ſtreight wayes alſo he vttereth his attēptes, treaſons and bitter poyſon agaynſt the church, and howe he beganne to moue warre. This dragon, ſayeth he, ſtode before the woman, whiche was ready to be deliuered: and he ſtode watchyng, dilligent, attentife, and awayting buſily, at al times: and he obſerued, and toke that occaſion of hurtyng the church, nother hath he omitted any oportunitie. But the ende of all his enterpriſes was, to deuoure the ſonne, borne of ye ſpouſe of God. He hath alwayes euen from the beginnyng of the world gone aboute to intercepte the glory of Chriſt: & if any faithful beyng of the church regenerated ſpiritually be made confourmable to Chriſt, he attempteth alſo to bryng them into errours and diſtroye thē. Wherefore S. Peter not without cauſe ſayed, that the Deuill goeth aboute like an hongry Lion, ſekyng whom he maye deuoure.
Chriſte was incarnate, & geuen to the church.He ſheweth now by the waye, that Chriſt, as he was promiſed, is exhibited to the church, nother that the dragō could do any thing agaynſt him. Wherupon he wil hauehave vsus vtterly to conclude, that he ſhal hauehave no power ouer vsus nother, if we abyde in Chriſt. For nowe he ſkippeth from the vniuerſal church to the ſingular and moſt excellent membre thereof the virgin Mary, and knitteth vp in fewe wordes the miſterie of the incarnation: that excellent woman, whereof is ſpokē in the .3. of Geneſ. the doughter of that Matrone, I meane the church, the holy Virgin, brought forth a man childe, that is to ſaye her firſt begoten, king and prieſt: as S. Luke teſtifieth in the .2. chapt. By and by he declareth, what and of how great power he is, and whie he called him a man childe. He it is, of whome (Dauid) prophecied in the .2. Pſalm. That he ſhould rule al nations with a rod or ſceptre, not of wood or leed that is pliable, but of iron to witte ſtronge and durable, namely the worde of God: but ſuche as will not obeye Gods worde, with an iron ſtaffe, that is with power, which no manne is able to reſiſte, he will beate downe farre and nere. But for this ſo mightie a prince Sathan layde an Ambuſſhe, that olde Dragon, which ſtired vp agaynſt the chiefe of the Iewes and gentiles: but he founde in him nothing at al, as the lord him ſelfe ſayed in the .14. of Iohn: no more ſhall he at the laſte finde any thing in the faithful of Chriſt: moreouer whileſt the Dragon attempted greate thinges agaynſt Chriſt by thelders of the Iewes, beyng riſen from the dead, the Lord was taken vp, as it were out of the throte or hoteſt aſſaultes of the Dragon, vntounto his heauenly father, and ſate on the right hande of God the father, the olde Serpentes attemptes made fruſtrate. And thither alſo wil he receiue vntounto him his faithfull, though the Serpentes guttes ſhould burſt. For through hope we ſit together with our head in the places ſuperceleſtial. Epheſ. the .2. And this is the chiefe and greateſt hope of the church in this conflicte. For thus he gathereth: the Dragon moſte ſtrongely and fierſely inuadeth not only the auncient churche, but euen the very head of the church, and redemer Chriſt: howebeit with his furie outrageouſe he could nothyng preuayle: therefore he ſhal no more preuaile agaynſt his membres.
Now he retourneth againe to the church, and ſayeth:the church fleeth into wildernes. after the dragon could bringe nothing to paſſe agaynſt the ſonne of God, he wente and made warre agaynſt the church, and the churche fled into wildernes. Certenly Iewrie in the prophetes is compared to a place moſt frequented: the gentiles are called a deſerte or wildernes. Therefore after Chriſtes aſcention, the Apoſtles departyng out of Iewrie, repared to the gentiles: yea and the Iewes inſpired of the red dragon, caſte out the church out of their limites: which was conſtreined, as appereth in the Actes of Apoſtles, to flee vntounto the gē tiles. And where the Lorde hath prepared a place for his churche, and the churche was greately augmented emongs the gentiles, certenly it was through his grace (and by no merite of man) whiche prepared the place, whiche calleth, directeth and kepeth his ſhepe, the ſame hath diſpoſed, and yet doeth diſpoſe for this churche miniſters or paſtours, which may fede it, as the rauens did Helias, al the time that ſhal be, vntounto the worldes ende. For as for the nōbre of thoſe daies I diſcourſed before. And by this expoſition is ſignified that the dragon ſhal fight ſtoutely againſt the church, ſo that ſhe ſhal be cōpelled to flee: but how much ſo euer he ſhal rage againſt the churche, the lorde God ſhal yet prepare a place in earth, wherin ſhe maye dwell ſafe: and will euer ſende paſtours to fede. He ſheweth moreouer, that the flight ſhall not alwayes be reprochable. The Lord ſaue and kepe vsus. Amen.