A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 78
¶ Counſell is geuen to the godly, which are cōmaunded to go out of Babilon. Enemies are ſtired vp againſt Babilon, & they are cōmaunded not to ſpare her. The .lxxviij. Sermon.
ANd I hearde an other voyce frō Heauen ſaying: come awaie from her my people, ye ye be not partakers of her ſinnes, leeſt ye receiue of her plages. For her ſinnes ar gone vp to heauē, & the lord hath remēbred her wickednes. Rewarde her euen as ſhe rewarded you, & geue her double according to her workes. And poure in double to her in the ſame cup, whiche ſhe filled vntounto you. And aſmuch as ſhe glorified her ſelf & liued wantonly, ſo much powre ye in for her of pūniſhment, and ſorrow for ſhe ſayeth in her hart: I ſitte being a quene, & am no widowe, & ſhal ſee no ſorrow. Therfore ſhal her plages come at one day, death & ſorrow, and honger, and ſhe ſhal be brente with fire: for ſtronge is the lord God which ſhal iudge her.
The ſeconde place of this chapt. is the faithful coūſel of the lord, geuen to the godly,The counſel of God for ye faithfull, howe thei ſhould vſe themſelues. how they ſhould demeane thēſelues in the felicitie and deſtruction of the citie. Rome hath in dede of long time ben lady of the world, the richeſſe & pleaſures of the whole world hauehave bē ſene at Rome. Yf any at Rome or in the prouinces, ſhewed himſelf tractable & obedient to the Romanes, & loued much the Romiſhe religion, & made him conformable to the corrupt maners of ye Romanes, he was much made of, & might come as it were by degrees to high promotiō & dignitie, to the greateſt richeſſe, & moſt choſen pleaſures. Yf any man would reſiſt the Romiſh religiō, and would not aſſente to the Romanes: he was vexed with perſecution, he was ſpoiled & driuen into exile, or caſt in priſon, or led to execution. Therfore were the godly greuouſly tempted, & knew not whither to tourne them. As we ſee the like done at this daye in newe Rome, and popiſh kingdome through out the world. Wherefore God, which will not that man ſhould periſh, but be ſaued, geueth here the beſte counſell of true felicitie and ſaluation: which ſo many as obeye, are bleſſed.
And ſtreight wayes from the beginnyng he ſheweth the authour of this coūſell, to thende he might get it authoritie, & that we might boldely receiue it. I hearde, ſaieth he, an other voice from heauē, from God therfore out of heauē procedeth this counſell: which they that followe, obeye God: they that obeye it not, contemne and diſpiſe the counſell of God. And what is this counſell?Flee from Babilon, is ye coūſel of God. briefe, playne, poſſible, honeſte, & holeſome, doubtles: come awaye, ſayeth the Lorde, from her, to witte Babilon, Rome both old and newe, my people: that is to ſaye, you that will be called the people of God, and be written in the nombre of the citizens of God. This ſame is his counſell, and none other. The ſame counſell God by his prophetes gaue to his aunciēt people, when they were in the captiuitie of Babilon. For thus ſayeth Eſaye in the .48. and 52. chap. departe, departe, come ye awaye from thence, touch no vncleane thing. Come awaye frō her, be ye made cleane, which beare the veſſelles of the Lord. And Ieremie in the .51. chapt. flee from the middes of Babilon, and let eueryevery manne ſaue his ſoule, that ye be not roted out in her wickednes. For the time of Gods vengeaunce is at hande, he will rewarde her. The lorde therefore counſelleth to flee, and that ſo our ſoules ſhuld be ſaued. For els vnleſſe we flee, we ſhall periſh. Howbeit the Prophetes taught not the Iſraelites to flee out of Babilon bodily, by motion localle, as they terme it. For Ieremie in the .29. chapt. exhorteth the people captiue to dwel in Babilon, and to make their prouiſion there, til the time of deliuerie come.¶ What flight is counſelled. For than muſt thei come out of Babilon. In the meane ſeaſon he would hauehave them departe not by bodily motion, but by vnlikenes of maners. For albeit they ſhall dwel in the middes of the ſuperſtitiouſe, vngodly, and Idolaters: yet would not the lord hauehave them made like vntounto thē. That fleyng therefore in this, that they ſhould abſteyne and refrayne themſelues from vngodlines, idolatrie, ſinnes, to witte, bloud, vſurie, pride, lecherie, and other like vices: but to perſeuer in true godlines and innucencie.
In like maner now, whiter ſo eu…r the godly ſhoulde hauehave fledde vnderunder the olde Romane Empire, they ſhoulde eueryevery where hauehave fallen agayne into the handes of the Romanes: like as we alſo at this daye,1. Cor…n. 5. although we chaunge our place, yet hauehave we poperie eyther nere, or iminente. Therefore the Apoſtle ſayeth well: we muſte get vsus out of the worlde, if we will not be conuerſaunt with ſinners. This therefore is the trewe and godly flight, if remaynyng in this world bodily, in minde & maners we departe furthermoſt out of the world, ſo that we abſteine from al idolatrie, and prophane worſhippyng, if we allowe it not, if it pleaſeth vsus not: if we nother aſſent, nor frame our ſelues to the maners of the vngodly: yf we ſhall not betraye our religion, eyther for menne, or for worldely gaine. So therefore the Chriſtians which liued vnderunder the Romane Empire, fled Rome ſo, that they vtterly abſteyned from worſhippyng of idolles, and the corrupte maners of the gentiles, althoug they liued emongs the heythen. For that the auncient churches in Aſia were ſuche, we hauehave hearde in the .2. and .3. chapt. of this boke. Albeit therfore that we alſo dwel vnderunder the Popiſh kingdome, and in thempire, that perſecuteth the goſpel: yet muſt we flee papiſtrie, that is to ſaye popiſh churches: none of ye godly ought for worſhipping or obedience ſake to enter in, none to acknowledge, allowe or vſe any Popiſh rites or ceremonies: but from their vices and corruptions to flee ſo farre as is poſſible. For ſo the Apoſtolical ſcripture teacheth vsus in the .12. to the Roman. 2. Corinth. 6. in the .5. to the Epheſ. and .1. Pet. 4. And S. Iohn at this preſent as it were expoundyng him ſelf: be not ye, ſayeth he, pertakers of her ſinnes, foreign, communicate not with her ſinnes. And ſinnes be not only thoſe which are done agaynſt the ſeconde, but alſo that are committed, and that much more agaynſt the firſt table: of the which ſorte are idolatrie, impietie, the abuſe of Gods holy name, ſtraunge worſhipping, agaynſt the .2. and .4. precepte of the firſt table. Thoſe were than, and ſo are at this daye taken for very good workes, where they be abominations. Partakyng is chiefly in the cōmunion of ſacred thinges, agayne if they be geuen to the ſame diſſolute riot with filthie men. Yf therfore we beware of thoſe thinges, we flee out of Babylon, and followe the good counſel of God.
But herein we offende at this daye cōmonly,How men offende at this daye agaīſt this counſell of God. whiche are called goſpellers. For many thinke it to be ſufficient, in caſe thei obſerue I wote not what religion in their harte priuely: and openly doe cōmunicate with them, whiche maye eyther helpe or hurte. Ye ſhal hauehave them, that wil crowch and kncle before idolles, whiche will heare Maſſe and popiſhe ſeruice. There be ſome that know many abominatiōs of the popiſh prieſthood, but yet neuertheleſſe make their ſonnes prieſtes. Becauſe that promotions, and that clerkly life, that is to ſaie the welthie and pleaſaunt life liketh them wel. There be ſome that intrude their childrē through the bonde of wedlocke into the middes of Papiſtrie: nother doe theſe regarde any thing els, but richeſſe, and worldly honours and frendeſhippes. Againſt al theſe the prophetes with the Apoſtles, and at this preſent Chriſt the ſonne of God from the righthande of the father, thondereth and crieth out a lowde, come awaye from her my people, and be not partaker with her ſinnes. Theſe wordes do not admitte any wittie or ciuile reaſoning, nor carnall or craftie qualifiyng. For it followeth, leeſte ye receaue of her plagues. For if ye like Rome, if ye like the Romiſh religion, if Romiſh prelacie pleaſe you, richeſſe and promotiōs, yf the Romiſh corruptiō contente you, let the iudgement, payne and damnation dewe to Antichriſtianiſme contente you alſo.
We hauehave moreouer at this preſent, what aūſwere we may make to the Romaniſtes,What thou mayeſt aū ſwere to ye crime of reuolting. obiecting & laiyng to our charge reuoltyng or apoſtaſie, & for the ſame cauſe alſo the crime of Schiſme. Ye hauehave fallen, ſaye they, from the holy church of Rome, & by that ſame forſakyng declare openly, that ye are ſectaries and Schiſmatikes. Whereunto we aunſwere, that we put a diſtinctiō in the church of Rome. For we acknowledge a certē olde church of Rome, notable, and Apoſtolicall. Of the whiche wrote S. Paule: your fayth is ſhewed in the whole world. Frō the ſame who ſo euer departeth, without doubte ſhal be both a Schiſmatike, and alſo periſhe for euer. There is agayne an other church of Rome, newe, and cleane contrary to the olde, no longer nowe Apoſtolical, but Papiſticall rather, wherein be not the miniſters of the worde and Sacramentes, but either princes, nothing vnlike the gētiles: or marchauntes, of whom the Sacramentes, the remiſſiō of ſinnes, heauen it ſelfe, and all thinges in the church are to be ſolde for a little mony. They teach a doctrine ſwaruing quite from the doctrine of the goſpell. Theſe are openly, not infected, but ſwimmyng and ſtinkyng of moſte ſhameful vices euen of the filthines of whoredome: to ſpeake nothing nowe of Chriſten bloudſhedyng. Nother is there ſene in them any repentaunce. With theſe to perſeuer, with theſe to cōmunicate, is to periſh euerlaſtingly. Therfore from theſe mens cō pany the lord cōmaundeth vsus here to departe, yea and to flee frō. Therfore, that we hauehave done, we hauehave done at the lordes cōmaundement, which openly here cōmaundeth vsus to come awaye, departe, and flee from the purple whore, and frō this Babilon. There be alſo other notable places commaundyng this departing: which who ſo liſte to know and conſider, let thē reade Deuter. 13. Ieremie the .23. the wordes alſo of the lord in the goſpel of Luke the .6. chapt. the .7.23. and .24. of Matth. Reade both the Epiſtles of S. Paul to Timoth. eſpecially the .6. chapt. of the .1. and the .3. and .4. chapt. of the .2. In the .16. to the Romanes he ſayeth: I beſeke you bretherne, marke them which cauſe diuiſion, and geue occaſions of euill, contrary to the doctrine which you hauehave learned, and auoyde them. For they that are ſuche, ſerue not the Lord Ieſu Chriſte, but their owne bealy: and through flatteryng wordes. &c.
And rendring the cauſe, whie we ſhould flee from Babilō,Whie Babilon is to be auoided he vttereth the profit, and diſprofit. Leeſte ye receaue of her plages. For who ſo euer matcheth him ſelfe with the vngodly, idolaters, filthie & vncleane perſones, receyueth the ſame rewarde with them: and the rewarde of this life preſente, a curſe, a reprobate minde, & ſondry calamities, recited in the 16. chapt. and elswhere, and after this life, euerlaſtyng tourmentes. Therefore he treateth of no lighte matter, when he threateth of flyeng from Babilon, or of auoyding the Romiſh religion. Many beleue theſe thinges: for that they conſider not, how great is the abomination of ye church of Rome before God: and therfore heare theſe thinges as it were a fable, and perſeuer in the ſame kinde of life, wherin they ar and hauehave liued hitherto. But he lieth not, that ſayeth, howe they that prouide not for themſelues to flee out of Babilon, ſhall ſhortely periſh with Babilon, and with the whole fellowſhip of the wicked. Wo be to them.
Howbeit for aſmuch as ye wicked in this world ar cōmonly fortunate (whereof many gather,That God remēbreth wickednes yt God knoweth not our matters, or at leeſt if he know thē, not to care greatly for thē) there is added of thapoſtle, or oracle brought from heauē: for her ſinnes are cōmen vp to heauen, & the lord hath remēbred her wickednes. God verely neuer forgetteth iniquities. For al things are euermore preſent before him. Yet ſemeth he not to remembre, when he punniſheth not. For ſo men ſuppoſe: but when he pūniſheth and viſiteth ſinners, he ſemeth vtterly to hauehave had conſideration of our matters, and to hauehave remembred wickednes and wicked menne. Therefore God is rightuouſe, and mindeful of euil, and of good alſo: and when he ſeeth time will recompence all mens workes, and chiefly the euill. In the meane time he ſignifieth alſo, that the ſinnes of olde and newe Rome are great and full of enormitie. For in the .19. of Geneſ. the ſinnes of Sodome are ſayed to hauehave aſcended vp to Heauen, and as it were to hauehave exclamed agaynſt the doers of them, and required vengeaunce. So we reade in the .51. of Ieremie that the ſinnes of Babilon aſcēded vp to the clowdes. For S. Iohn in a maner eueryevery where vſeth the places of Scripture, to the intent he mighte get his boke more authoritie, although otherwiſe inſpired of ye holy ghoſt And in dede the olde Satyrical poetes as Horace, Iuuenall, and others wrote ſore agaynſt the ſinnes and vices of old Rome. There remayne alſo at this daye many ſharpe writinges agaynſt Rome, and the Cardinalles and Prelates of the Romiſh churche, and Paſquillis innumerable (Paſquille at this daye is a Satyrical writer one in ſtead of many) that as well at this daye as in times paſte the ſinnes of Rome crie vp vntounto heauen it ſelfe.
Rewarde her, as ſhe hath rewarded you.He procedeth after this to raccompte agayne the plagues, and moſt certayne deſtruction of Rome, whiche is the thirde place of this chapt. where alſo is excedingly well deſcribed the moſt horrible and cruell maner of deſtructiō and ſubuerſion thereof. For God is brought in callyng on and exhorting the ſoldiours, and the cōmiſſaries and executours of his iudgement vntounto vengeaunce: and that they ſhould punniſhe her moſte extremely, and ſpare her not, but rewarde her moſte aboundantly, and mete vntounto her by the ſame meaſure, wherwith Rome hath meaſured to others. For here taketh place that ſame of the Lorde, and cōmon ſaying with all nations: with the ſame meaſure wherewith you mete, others ſhall mete vntounto you agayne, and there ſhall be geuen good meaſure, preſſed, ſhaken, and runnyng ouer. Therfore ſeyng that Rome hath robbed the whole worlde, and ſeduced the whole worlde, rightly and by the iuſte wrath of God was ſhe ſpoiled, and vtterly ſubuerted. The which things did the Gotthes with great faith and dilligence: ſo that we can not doubte alſo, but that newe Rome, and that See Apoſtaticall, muſte of her enemies, whom the Lord hath prepared, and of the Aungelles gatheryng the tares, be plucked all to peces. And what ſhal become of her in an other world, we maye gather hereof, that he beateth in ſo ofte, that her euilles ſhal be doubled without mercy, her payne alſo, mourning, and greuouſe tormentes. Theſe thinges doubtles are greuouſe and horrible. Would God they might be perceyued of faythfull mindes. And agayne this place is written out as it were worde for worde of the .50. chap. of Ieremie: where you reade to this effecte: be auenged on Babilon, and as ſhe did, do ye vntounto her. Spoile and deſtroye ſayeth the Lord, and accōpliſh all that I hauehave cōmaunded thee. Deſtroye her, that nothing remaine. Intrench rounde aboute, that no man eſcape. Rewarde her after her worke: & according to al thinges that ſhe hath done, do ye vntounto her. For ſhe hath ben prowde agaynſt the Lord, and agaynſt the holy one of Iſrael. Thus ſayed the lord in Ieremie. Thou ſeeſt therefore where the lord hath borrowed his owne at this preſent. Thou ſeeſt what eueryevery citie, or cōmon welth, or man maye promiſe himſelfe, yf beyng inriched by the loſſe of others, he liue voluptuouſely & proudly in this world. For God is the ſame alwayes, and his iudgementes are egall agaynſt al vngodly.
And he hath meddled withal the cauſes of ſubuerſion,The vaine glory pride & ſecuritie of Rome. crueltie, couetouſenes, extorſions, ſlaughters, burninges, wherwith Rome hath made deſolate the whole world. But he procedeth more expreſſely to recite other cauſes: to witte pride, glorying ond boaſtyng, ſecuritie, riot, pleaſures and voluptuouſenes. For it followeth: as muche as ſhe hath glorified her ſelfe, and liued wantonly, &c. And agayne: for in her hart ſhe ſayeth, I ſitte a Queene, &c. He hath borrowed theſe thinges alſo out of the .47. of Eſaye. Where Babylon glorieth thus alſo and with ſo many wordes. Rome in times paſt gloried, her ſelfe to be Lady of the worlde, and that ſhe ſhuld be euerlaſtynge. For they ſtāped in Siluer coynes, of Rome eternall. They had thought that the kingedomes ſhould neuer hauehave ben plucked from her. She thought therefore that ſhe ſhould neuer hauehave ben a widdowe. And I doubte not but the Germanes borrowed of the Romanes that Germane worde Romen, by the whiche they meane to boaſte or bragge ſtoutely: whiche ſemeth to hauehave ben peculiar and proper to the Romanes. She was careles or inſecuritie. She had not thought to hauehave bē ſubuerted. She ſaied, I ſhal ſee no mournyng, I will hauehave no mournyng chere, I wil alwayes ſinge, Gaudeamus. The Romaniſtes at this daye alſo full brauely make their boaſte, that no Emperours, no Kinges, no people, no heretikes and Schiſmatikes (for ſo they terme the enemies of the Romiſſhe wickednes, men godly and learned) hauehave yet luckely aſſayled Rome. That the enemies of the churche of Rome hauehave alwayes ben oppreſſed, that ſhe hath alwayes triumphed ouer her enemies, theſe ſeuen or eyght hondreth yeres and more. That the ſhippe of S. Peter maye be ſore tourmoyled, toſſed, and ouerwhelmed with Waues and billowes, but can not be drowned: and therefore that the See of Rome ſhal be perpetual quene and lady of al realmes and churches. &c.
Rome ſhal periſh vpō a ſodayne.But heare nowe the iudgement of God: for as muche as ſhe is prowde, vayne gloriouſe, careleſſe and wicked, in one daye ſhal come her plagues. Aretas noteth, that by one daye is ſignified a ſodayne deſtruction: and that ſhe ſhoulde than periſh, when ſhe would hauehave thought leſte. And her plagues he reciteth in order, death, mournyng, famine and fire. And ſtories teſtifie, that theſe thinges were by the Gotthes fulfilled accordingly in olde Rome: whereof I hauehave ſpoken before. Therfore we doubte nothyng at al, but that newe Rome alſo ſhall by menne, and by Gods Aungelles be torne a ſonder and pluckte vp by the rotes. And leeſt any manne ſhould thinke this vnpoſſible (for greate is the power and maieſtie of eyther Rome, in ſo muche that he that ſhould hauehave ſayed in S. Iohn his time, Rome ſhall falle, ſhould hauehave ſemed to hauehave ſpoken a thynge as much impoſſible, as if he had ſayde, the ſkye ſhall falle) he annexeth incontinently: for ſtronge is the Lorde God that ſhall iudge her. Therefore lette vsus not doubte of the falle of Papiſtrie. For the Lorde is trewe, iuſte, and almightie. To whome be glorye for euer and euer. Amen.