A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 87
¶ Of the bright veritie of the goſpell, which by the miniſterie of the Apoſtles was ſpred abroade through out the whole world, & by a thouſande yeres. The .lxxxvij. Sermon.
AND I ſaw an Angel come downe from heauen, The .20. chapter.hauyng the keye of the bottomleſſe pitte, and a great chayne in his hande. And he toke the Dragon that olde Serpent (whiche is the deuill and Sathanas) and he bounde him a thouſande yeres: and caſte him into the bottomleſſe pitte. And he boūde him, and ſet a ſeale on him, that he ſhould deceaue the people no more, till the thouſande yeres were fulfilled. And after that muſte he belowſed for a little ſeaſon.
The greateſt force of religiō conſiſteth in ye knowledge of the laſte iudgemēt.Seyng the greateſt poinctes of religiō and true godlines, conſiſte in the true knoweledge, and vnderſtandyng of the laſte iudgement, as I ofte admoniſh: to our great commoditie S. Iohn diſcourſeth with ſo much dilligence the treatiſe of the laſte iudgement. And after his accuſtomed maner, to the intent all thinges that he propoundeth maye hauehave the more perſpicuitie, he not only declareth the matter in words, but ſetteth them forth by viſions as things preſent to be ſene with the eyes: and that to the faithful. For to the vnfaithfull, al theſe thinges, although moſte godly & diuine, ſeme ſtarke trifles and fables. But the wiſedome of God ſhall laugh at them alſo, when ſhe ſeeth her time: as ſhe threateneth in the Prouerbes of Salomon. And alſo ſoluteth certē queſtiōs, which are wonte about this matter to be moued.
What ſhal become of them, that he nother Chriſtiās, nor Antichriſtians?And he ſayde, how the beaſte with the falſe prophet and all his adherentes ſhould be caſte, at the laſte daye into hell: but where the firſte parte is nother Antichriſtiane, nor yet Chriſtian, but rather of their owne ſenſe and arbitrement, to be a rule and lawe to themſelues: ſuch as be verely the Neſtoriās, Iacobites, Georgians, &c. Or thoſe that be heythen yet or gentiles, moreouer Iewes and Turkes: ſome man might maruaile, and demaunde, what ſhal be done with them, or what ſhal come of them? S. Iohn maketh aunſwere: and the remnaunte were ſlayne with the ſworde of him that ſat on the horſe, &c. Agayne where a godly man might maruaylle, how they ſhould be condēned, which borne emongs the Turkes, heretikes, Iewes and gentiles, neuer hearde the Chriſtian veritie? S. Iohn preuenteth this imagination, and by the beginnyng of the .20. chapt. ſheweth, with what a Maieſtie, perſpicuitie, and euidence the veritie of Chriſtes goſpell was notified to the world:with what a maieſtie ye veritie of Chriſt was ſet forth to the world. howe alſo al force and power was takē awaye from the deuill, and that by the ſpace of a thouſande yeres: wherein the preachyng of the goſpel thondered continually: ſo that they be vtterly inexcuſable, ſo many as hauehave not receyued the goſpell of Chriſt. For the preachyng of the goſpell was not obſcure, but moſt clere & manifeſt, nor ſhorte and contracted, but publiſhed by the ſpace of a thouſande yeres, it was not receyued of a fewe little ones, but of al people and natiōs vnderunder the ſunne. Therfore is it a groſſe ignoraunce of the Turkes, Heretikes, Iewes and gentiles. For although in times paſte the veritie ſemed to hauehave ben notably knowen, now it is not ſo: yet certayne it is, that the maieſtie of the goſpel hath ben ſo great in the worlde, that there is nowe alſo mention with al men therof: and by their owne mallice they hide their eyes, which vnderſtande nothyng of Chriſt. Therefore is that ſayeng of the Apoſtle euen nowe of force alſo: yf our goſpell be hidde, in thoſe that periſſhe is it hidde, vntounto whome the God of this worlde hath blinded the mindes of them, which beleue not, that the light of the goſpel ſhould not ſhine vntounto them &c. 2. Corinth. the .4. They that are condē ned are iuſtely cō demned.chap. Wherupon we now gather, that none of them whiche are damned in the world, are damned with out deſeruyng. Which thing the Apoſtle alſo S. Paule hath touched in the Epiſtle to the Romanes in the .1. and .2. chapt. Here therefore is a profitable and neceſſarie place treated, of the famouſe preachyng of the goſpell through out the world, the courſe thereof induryng a thouſande yeres.
And this treatiſe procedeth in this order. Firſt is thangell deſcribed, after his worke or effecte is declared. And laſte is the ſealyng of the time. Touchyng the deſcription of the Angell, firſt in dede he is named an Angel,The angel ſignifieth ye order or ſtate apoſtolicall. and commeth forth abroade: howebeit the whole ſtate Apoſtolicall is hereby vnderſtande, in the which ſhineth excedingly S. Paule the doctour of gentiles nother is it maruaile, that the order of Apoſtles is ſignified by an Angell. For an Angel ſignifieth a meſſager, ambaſſadour, or an Apoſtle. And therefore the prophet Malachie called Iohn Baptiſt the vauntcurrour of our lord, an Angel: beholde I ſende my Angel before thee, &c. And miniſters of the church are oftener thā ones in this boke called Angelles. But in caſe the worthines & nobilitie of the name pleaſe the miniſters, let the Angelicall puretie, and excellent faith pleaſe them alſo. An ambaſſadour doeth and ſayeth nothing, ſaue that which he hath receyued in cōmiſſion, of him that ſent him: ſo alſo let the miniſters ſet forth nothing, ſaue that which he hath receyued of the Lord, in the Scriptures.
¶ The angell came downe frō heauen.Secondly this excellent Aungell is ſayde to come downe from heauen, not that the bodies of Apoſtles came from heauen, but for as much as their vocation and office was geuen them frō heauen. For the ſonne of God, which came downe from heauen, choſe the Apoſtles, and ſent them forth into the worlde. Which thing is declared in the .10. of Matth. and .20. of Iohn. Marke .16. and Luke .24. And S. Paule ſayeth to the Galathians, that he was called, and ordeyned an Apoſtle nother by men, nor of men: but of God through Chriſt. Wherupon it appereth, howe greate is the authoritie of Apoſtles. For they be not they which ſpeake, but the ſpirite of Chriſt and of the father, which ſpeaketh in them. Therefore he that diſpiſeth their doctrine, deſpiſeth God the father & the ſonne. They lie moreouer, that ſaye, how the goſpell is a newe doctrine forged of wittie men. Reade the .1. chapter of the fourmer and later epiſtle of S. Peter.
Thangell holdeth in his hande the keye & chayne.After this the Aungell is ſayde to holde in his hande thoſe two excellent inſtrumentes, the keye and chayne. Let vsus ſee, what is mente by the ſame. Doubtles by theſe two inſtrumentes S. Iohn vnderſtādeth nothing els, but the free, trewe, holy, & liuely preaching of the goſpel: by the which it came to paſſe, that both hell was locked from the faithfull, & the deuil was holden and kept faſte boūden in chaines, that he coulde not hurte the godly ſo much as he would, and ſeduce whom he liſte. For ſo hereafter S. Iohn will expounde him ſelf.
And the keyesKeyes. of bindyng & lowſing the apoſtles receiued of the Lord, in the .16. of Matth. and .20. chapt. of Iohn. They open by the preaching of the goſpel the botomleſſe pitte, and helle it ſelf to the vngodly, when they ſhewe vntounto them their damnation in hell, for their vngodlines. They ſhutte vp helle from the godly, whileſt by the preachyng of the goſpell they open heauen, and bring the faythfull to the ioyes celeſtiall. I hauehave ſpoken of the keyes at large in an other place. A chayne is the ſigne of captiuitie.Chayne. By the preachyng of Gods worde the Deuill is taken and bounde. Whereof it cōmeth to paſſe, that the common painters hauehave painted the Deuil bounden with chaynes to certen notable preachers.
By thinges that followe this keye,He taketh the dragō. and ſignificatiō of the chayne is better declared, whileſt the effecte of the Apoſtolicall preachyng is expounded. For he addeth: and he toke the Dragon, &c. And he repeteth the names of our enemie out of the .12. chapt. where eueryevery thing is expounded. Where you maye alſo loke for the ſame. And the Aungell did binde Sathan, whiche is the ende and vſe of the chayne, verely that he ſhould not be ſtirre him, and inuade and diſtroye the faythfull. Moreouer there followeth an other thinge yet more vehement: and he ſente him into the bottomleſſe pitte: to witte he caſte him headlonge into the botome of hel, that he ſhould not murder the faythful. There followeth an other thing yet more greuouſe: and he ſhutte him vp, that he ſhuld not come out agayne. This is the ende and vſe of the keye. Furthermore he ſet a ſeale vponupon him. But letters, priſones, graues are wonte to be ſealed, and that for truſte and credit, leeſt any manne ſhoulde vndoe them, but that they mighte remayne ſhutte, ſealed and ſafe. And all theſe thinges ſignifie a full and moſt perfit victory, which we hauehave obteined through Chriſt, by the worde of the goſpell preached vntounto vsus, and cōmunicated through fayth. For euē for vsus he ouercame, ouerthrewe, bounde, locked vp, and ſealed the enemie, that we might be ſafe and ſure from him. Finally it followeth, which may declare al and ſingular partes hereof:That he ſhoulde no more diſceaue the people. to the ende he ſhould deceaue the people no more, to witte by ſuch meanes as he dyd ſeduce them before the victory of Chriſte, & before the goſpell preached through out the worlde. For they were all thinges full of vngodlines and errours. Tēples of Gods or Idolles were eueryevery where, Idolles were worſhipped, the ſame gaue oracles, Aultars ſmoked with the bloud of men & beaſtes. All wickednes raigned. Arte magicke, witchcrafte, parricidies, whoredomes, were practiſed without punniſſhemente. No man can eaſely expreſſe, not in a longe oration, how ſhamefully Sathan had diſceaued the worlde, howe aſſuredly be raigned, and with what intricatenes he hath boundē vntounto him mankinde like a bondeſlaue. Let him loke, who ſo liſte, vponupon Grece. Italy, and Aſia: & in the ſame, Corinthe of Grece, Rome of Italy, and Epheſus the head citie of Aſia. He ſhal finde abominations abominable, and will ſaye, that the deuil hath raygned in them wholy, and had dayly with newe giles bewitched the ſely wretches. But after that Paule alone (I will ſpeake nothing now of the other Apoſtles) came to Corinth, Epheſus and Rome, and there had preached Chriſte: who can not ſee, howe truely S. Iohn here ſawe the Deuill bounden and faſte ſhutte vp? I am the briefer in this matter moſt plentifull, for that I thinke I hauehave done enough, yf I ſhewe only ſome foteſteppes, wherein goyng ye maye come to a muche more ample conſideration of theſe thinges. Hereunto appertayne thoſe diuine wordes of S. Paule, which are red in the 26. of the Actes, ſpoken before king Agrippa, and the princes of Syria and Feſtus proconſull there. For this intente hauehave I appered vntounto thee (ſayeth the lord to S. Paule) that I mighte ordeyne thee a miniſter and a witneſſe both of ſuche thinges as thou haſt ſene, and alſo of ſuch wherin I ſhall appere vntounto thee after this, deliuering thee from the people and nations, whereunto I nowe ſende thee, that thou mayeſt open their eyes, that they maye tourne from darkenes to light, and frō the power of Sathan vntounto God, that they maye receiue forgeuenes of ſinnes: &c. In the .1. chapt. of the Epiſtle to the Coloſsians, as alſo in diuerſe other places, S. Paule ſheweth, that Chriſt hath ouercome Sathan, and that the ſame Chriſt hath redemed vsus, & brought vsus out of the kingdome of darknes into the kingdome and light of the ſonne of God.Chriſt hath bounden Sathan. Therfore where the Apoſtles and miniſters are here ſaide to binde and ſhute vp Sathan, it is by the waye of their miniſterie to be vnderſtande. EueryEvery man alſo maye iudge of the thinges that hauehave ben treated hitherto, whether he hauehave profited in the doctrine of the goſpel, which he hath a longe time hearde in the temple. For in caſe thou thy ſelf be as yet bounden ſtil with the chayne of the Deuill, thou haſte not yet hearde the goſpell, as apperteyneth: but if thou feleſt that the Deuill is bounde with the chayne, and that thou ruleſt the Deuil, and the Deuill not thee, the matter goeth well. Crie vntounto God: Lorde confirme this, and increaſe, that thou haſte wrought in vsus, &c.
And cōcerning the time of this moſt ſhining trewth of the goſpel,A thouſād yeres. it is ſayde how it ſhal indure in the world a thouſand yeres. For he ſaieth expreſſely: he boūde him for a thouſande yeres. And againe: that he ſhuld no more deceaue the people, til the thouſande yeres were fulfilled. I know that the opinions of thexpoſitours, touchyng theſe thouſande yeres, be diuerſe. I know, how the hereſie of the Chiliaſtes or Millenaries by Papias Authour hereof, as Euſebius reciteth in the .3. boke of the Eccleſi. hiſtorie, was taken hereof. I will not here ſtāde aboute to confute the opinion of others, which alſo would be ouerlong and tediouſe, and not of ſo great profit. I wil only vtter my owne to be wayed of the godly readers, than will I leaue it free for eueryevery man to followe that thinge, which he ſhall thinke moſte agreable to the treweth, and profitable for the godly. And I vnderſtande playnely and ſimplely, that S. Iohn ſpeaketh of a thouſande yeres, whiche ranne on by continuall courſe from the time of Chriſt, vntill the laſte corrupting of the Euangelical preachyng and church of Chriſt.
Nother am I very ſcrupulouſe in ſearchyng out the terme of the ſupputation of theſe thouſande yeres.The beginning of the accōpte of a thouſāde yeres. Simplely I appoyncte the beginnyng of the rekening in the open preachyng of the Goſpell, and what time the worde beganne now to be receyued, and was nowe receyued of the Gentiles. I ſuppoſe therefore that there maye be three termes or times appoyncted, whiche neuertheleſſe ſhall come all to one rekenyng, differyng little or nothinge emonges themſelues or hauynge ſmalle diuerſitie, not paſſynge halfe a yere more or leſſe. Ye maye therefore, yf ye pleaſe, beginne the ſupputation of the thouſande yeres from the .xxxiiii. yere of Chriſtes birth, wherein Chriſte alſo aſcended into heauen, and Paule beyng called to the miniſterie, and drawing the gentiles into the felloweſhippe of Gods people by the preachyng of God his worde, began to reſtrayne Sathan. And thou ſhalt come to the yere of our Lord .1034. and to the Biſhoprycke of pope Benedicte the .9. whiche after he clome by vnlaweful meanes into the chayre of Saincte Peter, as they calle it, practyſed arte magicke, & was ioyned in leage with the deuil: of whom he was caried away alſo, what time he had ſolde his biſſhoprike before the Pope Gregory the .6. Reade the ſtorie of Cardinal Benon, whereof is mentioned before in the .13. chap. and let reade other ſtories. Certayne it is, that the Deuill at thoſe daies did occupie the Apoſtolical ſeate, as thei terme it. Reade the ſtories from Sylueſter the .2. and ſo forth. Thou wilt ſaye than, that aboute that time the Deuill brake lowſe agayne, and ſeduced the people, eſpecially by Popes. Or beginne the ſupputation of the thouſande yeres from that time, wherein Paule beyng bounde for the Goſpell at Rome, teſtified that the goſpell was preached through out the worlde. That was aboute the yere of our Lorde .60. from thence accomptyng a thouſande yeres, thou ſhalte come to the yere of our Lorde 1060. when Nicholas the ſeconde was Pope, vnderunder whom it is written that the veritie was diuerſely tempted and corrupted, and that Gregory the ſeuenth dyd than alſo by his craftes and enterpriſes trouble the whole world. Or beginne the ſupputation from the deſtruction of Hieruſalem, what time the Iewes caſt of, the Gentiles in great nombre entred and were receyued into the place of the Iewes reiected, whiche was the yere of our Lorde .73. and thou ſhalt atteyne to the yere of our Lorde .1073. euen to Pope Gregory the ſeuenth: in the whiche time not a fewe Hiſtoriographers wryte that the Deuill him ſelfe raygned. Doubtles neuer manne hurte godlines, or more ſtoutely auaunced impietie, than dyd this Gregory, otherwyſe called Hildebrande. Of him I hauehave ſpoken before in the .13. chapt. Where alſo I admoniſſhed you, that Cardinall Benon dyd accompte thoſe thouſande yeres from the birth of the Lorde, and concluded in Sylueſter the ſecond. It is euident therfore, that the goſpel hath had a notable place in the world, nother hath ben quenched for the ſpace of a thouſande yeres: that is to ſaye, from the time of thapoſtles, vntil the yere of our lord was rekened 1073. or there aboute. What was done at that time & after, we ſhal heare when we ſhal come to that ſayeng. And when the thouſande yeres ſhal be fulfilled, &c.
Some man wil ſay, I cannot ſee that the preaching of the Goſpell hath continued in the worlde ſo long tyme, to witte a thouſande yeares, For it appeareth by Hiſtories, that the doctrine of merites, ſatiſfactions, and iuſtification of works, ded incōtinently after the Apoſtles time, lay their firſt ſoundations. We knowe that the interceſſions of Sainctes, and the worſhipping of relicques, were defended of Saincte Hierome, which departed out of this world the yeare of our Lordes incarnation .422. We knowe that the Biſhop of Rome ded immediately after the death of Gregory the firſte, take vponupon him to be head and catholique Paſtor of the church vniuerſall. We knowe that aboute the ſame time, to wit aboute the yeare of our Lordes incarnation .630. Mahomet ſeduced a great parte of the world. We knowe that ſhortely after, arroſe that deteſtable contention about the hauing of Images in the churches of Chriſtians. We hauehave heard that S. Ihon hath aſſigned to Antichriſte yeares .666. Fynally, it is manifeſte that the Deuyll hath by murther, parricidie, and all kynd of miſchief raigned in the children of miſbelefe. Wherfore thou ſayeſte, I ſee not howe the Deuyll hath ben bounden a thouſande yeares: and locked in chaynes.Howe the deuyl hath ben boūden a thouſand yeares. I aunſwere that the things which are alledged hitherto, are true: yet neuertheleſſe to be true, and ſo to remayne alwayes, which S. Ihon by the reuelation of Ieſu Chriſte hath affirmed, that the Deuyll ſhoulde be ſhutte vp for a thouſande yeares, and remayne bounden, tyll a thouſande yeares were at an ende. And the ſame we declare on this wyſe. The Lorde ſayde in the Goſpel. Nowe is the iudgement of the world, nowe ſhall the Prince of this world be caſte out. And where as it is not lawfull to doubt of the veritie of Chriſtes wordes, yet neuertheleſſe is he not red to be ſo caſte oute, but that he hath ben of greate force in the worlde, and hath bene called of the Apoſtles themſelues, the Prince of this worlde. Howe than is he ſayde to be caſt oute, and to tempte the godlie, to raigne, and to be caſte oute of his Kyngdome?
He is caſt out of the church, and of the faithful,Howe Sathan is caſt oute, & yet vexeth the faythfull. not that he cometh not againe, and tempteth, for alwayes he returneth, and ſeketh to plucke backe the redemed (but for that he poſſeſſeth no more the ful empire. For Chriſt now liueth, & raineth in the church and Sainctes. Theſe, as S. Auſten ſaieth, he aſſayleth from without) he is caſt oute of his auncient poſſeſſion, but he laboureth to recouer his olde habitatiō. And thus was Sathan bounde, and ſhutte vp for a thouſand yeares, as he that poſſeſſed not the faythfull of Chriſte through out the worlde, nor ruled them at his pleaſure, and after his mallice, although he hath tempted and vexed them. So was the holy ghoſt denied to be geuen, not that he was not in the world and in the Prophets: but becauſe he was neuer ſo plentifully powred oute vponupon all fleſhe, as after the glorifienge of our Lorde Chriſte. In the ſame ſenſe we ſay, that death and ſinne are taken away from the faythfull, and troden vnderunder fote. As S. Paule therfore, which in the firſt chapt. to the Colloſs. ſaide, that we are tranſlated oute of the kyngdome of darkenes, in to the kyngdome of light: ſayeth neuertheleſſe to the Corinthians, that the God of this world, hath blynded the myndes of the vnfaythfull: ſo S. Ihon at this preſente ſayeth, howe the Deuyll is bounde and ſealed, by the ſpace of a thouſande yeares, and the very ſame ſayeth afterwarde, the reſte of the dead reuiued not, til the thouſand yeares ſhould be fulfilled: that is to ſay, in al thoſe thouſand yeares beleued not, which ſet more by the beaſt, than they ded by Chriſte. And they verely through their owne faulte, and inſtigation of the Deuill beleued not, and periſhed. Therfore ded Sathan exerciſe his force in them. Which to the faithful in dede is bounden, and tyed faſte, but to the vnfaithfull free and ouer familier. Lykewyſe Hell is ſhut to the godly, to the wicked open. Wherefore alſo we confeſſe in the crede, lyfe euerlaſting, and not death or damnation euerlaſting. For the faithfull hauehave no Hel, or there is no Hell prepared for them: but for the vngodlye. For Chriſte hath broken Hell, but for his faithfull: to the vnfaythfull all thinges of hell are yet moſte ſtronge, and theſe hauehave Hell.
¶ The power of the Deuyll by Chriſt broken.Agayne the Deuyll is ſayed to be bounden, ſhutte vp, and ſealed: for ſince the redemptiō of Chriſt, his power hath not bene ſo great in the worlde, as it was before. Wherefore S. Ihon expoūdeth himſelfe, and ſayeth: that he ſhuld deceaue the people no more. What is this more? but that he ſhal not ſo ſeduce them from hence foorth, as he hath done hitherto. Therefore al be it in the meane whyle he ſhall deceaue ſome, yet in thoſe thouſand yeares he hath not raigned ſo fully, ſafely & at large, as he ded before, and as it is permitted him after thoſe thouſand yeares to rage. Therfore theſe things ar ſpoken by a cōpariſon, and not abſolutely. And the thing it ſelfe, or experiēce teacheth, that they are not to be vnderſtand abſolutely, and after the bare lettre. Although therfore that Sathan hath in theſe thouſand yeares alſo, blowen his poyſon vpō many, and hath troubled the world, yet this is nothing, in compariſon of thoſe thinges, that hauehave followed after the thouſand yeares euen vntill this day, and ſhall followe hereafter vntounto the worlds end. In oulde time alſo he raigned fully emongs the Gentiles through Idolatry. But a thouſand yeares fell downe their temples and Idolles, with all other inſtrumentes of vngodlyneſſe.
We reade truely,Certen articles of religiō aſſayled. howe there were in the Apoſtles time that affirmed, that men are iuſtified by the lawe and workes. Whereupon ſprange vp the doctryne of ſatiſfaction and merites. But the ſame doctryne was confuted by the Apoſtle Saincte Paule, aboue other Apoſtles. Saincte Auſten alſo, and after him Bede, moſte conſtantlie hauehave defended the doctrine of grace, and redemption by Chriſt. The ſame continued ſafe by the ſpace of a thouſande whoale yeares. But afterwarde, Freres getting the vpper hande, the doctryne of ſatiſfaction and mannes merites ded preuayle: whereupon was vtterly obſcured the doctrine of Ieſu Chriſte, conſerning the free remiſſiō of ſinnes, & imputing of righteouſnes. Ther grewe vp an opinion with certen of Sainctes, makyng interceſſion or prayeng in heauen for their worſhyppers. The relicques began to be worſhipped ouer ſoone. Neuertheleſſe ſuch as wer illumined claue faſt to the onelyonly interceſſour Chriſt, and honored not relicques. But after thoſe thouſande fatal yeares, many attributed more to Saincts, than to the very holy one of Sainctes. We ſee what is done at this day. The writings of Monkes and Freres teſtifie, how much the worſhipping of creatures hath increaſed within theſe .iiii. hondreth yeres, or there aboutes. Who wyl deny that exceding many hauehave ben deceaued of Heretikes? But who can gather thereby that the Goſpell hath bene vtterlie loſte, & that Sathan hath raigned fullye?
The Byſhoppe of Rome hath aſcended in to the toppe of Mounte Zion, and will be called the head and Paſtour generall of the whole catholique church. Howbeit the Eaſte moſt conſtantlie reſiſted, and ſo ded other partes of the world alſo. At the lengthe after a thouſande yeares, he made his boaſte moſt impudently, that the fulneſſe of power was geuen him, which he got by hoke and croke, and after vſurped the ſame. Mahomet ſeduced many, yet neuertheleſſe the Patriarchall churches perſiſted, and the Eaſte honoured Chriſt, lykewiſe South and North, ſo that the thouſande yeares agayne had their lighte, nother hath Sathan in theſe raged ſo much, as he hath ſince thoſe yeares were complete. Doubteleſſe ſince the Turkes begāne to rule and raigne, al matters of religion grewe eueryevery daye worſe and worſe. And the warre into the Holy land ded very much hurte to religion, and gaue greate courage to the Saracenes and vngodlye: whereof I ſhall ſpeake afterwardes. And Images beganne to be ſette vp in temples, and to be defended. But the Hiſtories teſtifie that the ſame was done with greate difficultie, and hardlie could the vſe of them be obtayned, all good men moſte conſtantlie reſiſting. And what time they were now admitted, yet were not the Idolaters ſo ſtarke mad, as we ſe they are nowe, and hauehave ben certen yeares paſte. Wherefore it is rightly ſayed, howe after a thouſand yeares, Sathan ſhulde be looſed from his chaynes, which before alſo moued the vnbeleuers, yet fynally rageth more furiouſly.
S. Ihon aſſigned to Antichriſt a certen numbre of yeares, to wit .666. Whereof we myghte vnderſtande the name of Antichriſte. But therefore it foloweth not, that the Deuyll was than quyte lowſed, or the lyght of the Goſpell vtterly extinguiſſhed. For the Apoſtle in his time, ſpeakyng of him: The miſterie, ſayeth he, of iniquitie nowe worketh. Antichriſte therefore hath his ſeedes, he hath his beginnyng, he hath his ryſing vp, his growyng and increaces. But after a thouſand yeares, he went to worke moſte impudently and moſt boldly, which before alſo had vttered his maliciouſnes: but nowe moſte venemouſly of al he ſpeweth oute his poyſon, oppreſſing Kynges, and all that ſpeake neuer ſo little againſte him. We knowe moreouer that in theſe thouſande yeares paſte, the Deuill hath raygned in many by murder, periurie and innumerable and vnſpeakeable euilles. But if ye conſider what hath ben done ſins thoſe thouſande yeres, and what is done at this daye: you will ſaye thoſe ages of the thouſande yeres to hauehave ben Golden and Siluer worldes: and oures nowe for theſe fiue hondreth yeres to be of braſſe, Iron, leed,The corruption of ye laſt age. and claye. Lactantius in the ſeuenth booke of Inſtit. the .15. chapter towardes the laſte ende of the worlde, ſayeth he, the ſtate of worldly matters muſte nedes be altered, and iniquitie preuayling, to incline to the worſe: ſo that theſe our times, in the which iniquitie and miſchiefe is growen to the higheſt degree, yet in compariſon of that vncurable euil, maye be accompted fortunate and in maner Golden ages. For iuſtice ſhall than ware ſo thinne, vngodlines, couetouſenes, wilfulnes and luſte ſhall be ſo common, that if there ſhal be than happly any good menne, they ſhal be a praye to the wicked, and eueryevery where vexed of the vnrightuouſe. And euil menne only ſhall be welthie, and the good tourmoyled in all vexation and miſerie. All righte ſhall be confounded, and lawes ſhall periſſhe. Than ſhall no man hauehave any thinge, ſaue that whiche is eyther euil gotten, or euill kepte. Goldenes and violence ſhal hauehave all. There ſhal be no faith in men, no peaxe, no humanitie, no ſhamefaſtnes, no trewth. And the remnaūt which are red there. By all the whiche our dayes nowe ſeme to be paincted liuely.
But what is that, whiche is annexed,He muſte be louſed a little ſeaſon. that the Deuill muſt belowſed for a little ſeaſon? ſemeth this a little ſeaſon, whiche continueth nowe fiue hondreth yeres? And this place we expoūde ſo, as that ſame in the goſpel: vnleſſe thoſe dayes were ſhortened, no fleſhe ſhould be ſaued. For it is euidently by ſtories, that nother the Deuil, nor Antichriſte, hath inioyed that his kingedome longe quiet. For euermore, and in all ages hauehave ſprong vp ſome holy and learned menne, which beyng illumined and comforted or God, like Enoch and Helie, hauehave reſiſted the vngodly and vngodlines, and hauehave maineteyned the true religion. Wherby conſciences afflicted of Antichriſt hauehave receyued comforte, God of his mercy ſo temperyng matters, that the choſen ſhuld not deſpeyre into great temptations, errours and darkenes.
Therefore both Sathan and the Pope could inioye theſe matters but a ſmall ſeaſon. For immediately after the thouſande yeres ſprange vp the Waldois, whiche conſtantly impugned the Pope, and his vngodlines. The lord hath reyſed vp certen kinges, emōges whom be the Friderickes Germane Emperours, Lewis of the houſe of Bauier, & many others. The Popes alſo hauehave ben at diſſention emōges themſelues, whileſt many hauehave ben choſen, and eueryevery one of them wil be the vicar of Chriſt, and ſo teare al that eccleſiaſticall body of theirs with Schiſmes. There riſe vp agaynſt theſe preachers erneſte & vehement, Wycliffe, Huſſe, Hierome of Prage, and diuerſe others. What is done at this day, & hath ben now theſe 30. yeres and more, agaynſt ſuperſtitions, and idolatrie, agaynſt the Pope, and al his clergie, the Papiſtes themſelues crie out and al partes of the world can teſtifie. Therfore is the Deuill lowſed a little ſeaſon. The Lord Ieſus treade him vnderunder our fete ſhortely.