A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 9
¶ The ſecond Epiſtle of Ieſu Chriſt by Iohn to them of Smyrna is expounded. And is an exhortati… to patience, and conſolation in afflictions. The .ix. Sermon.
ANd vntounto the Aungel of the cōgr… gation of Smyrna wryte. Theſ… thinges ſayth he that is firſt an… the laſt, whiche was dead and i… aliue. I know thy workes, and t… bulations and pouertie, but thou arte rich… And I know the blaſphemie of them which call them ſelues Iewes, and are not: but a… the congregation of Sathan. Feare none … thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer. Behol… the Deuil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſo… to tempte you, and you ſhall hauehave tribulat… ten daies. Be faithfull vntounto the death, and … will geue thee a crowne of lyfe. Let him th… hath eares, heare, what the ſpirite ſaith to congregations, he that ouercometh ſhall n… be hurt of the ſecond death.
The argument of ye ſeconde Epiſtle.Ieſus Chriſt from the right hand of the father, throu… the miniſterie of an aungell by the Apoſtle and Euange… S. Iohn, exhorteth the congregations of Smyrna, than … flicted with all kinde of euils for the worde of God, vntounto … feraunce, and comforteth the ſame ſighing nowe vnderunder … croſſe, promiſing great thinges to them that ouercome. A… verely ther can not of this maner and in this matter a be… or briefer exhortation and conſolation be found. For in … wyſe it is couched of the eternal wiſdome of the father, … vntounto all times,A generall comfort & exhortatiō to patience and to all that mourne vnderunder the croſſe it … right well agree. For like as Chriſt at the right hande of … father is the catholique or vniuerſal Byſhop: ſo verely is … doctrine generall, which he him ſelfe alſo applieth to all c… gregations in the ende of this Epiſtle, and in others. And ſ… he declareth that he loueth his churche, and is preſent in the ſame by his power and ayde.
And verely it is to be marueled,The congregatiō of Smyrna excellent. that nothing is blamed in this churche, ſince that ſome faulte is founde in maner with all others. Therfore was the churche of Smyrna right excellent, howbeit not without any ſpirite. For the Lorde of his goodnes doth not impute vntounto vsus ſmal faultes (of the which the Prophet ſpeaketh, who ſhall ſay, my heart is cleane? And from my hidde ſinnes clenſe me) ſo that there be a feruent deſyre or zeale of Godlines in vsus, & that we be voyde of great enormities.
Firſt is ſhewed, vntounto whom this heauenly letter is ſent,Thepiſtle is written to the ſhepeheard & to the flok to the Paſtour of the churche of Smyrna, and to the whole flocke. For the captayne is ſayd to hauehave ſoughten or fled, or to hauehave taken peace, when the whole armie together with him hath done this. And the ſtories beare witnes that Policarpus was that ſame meſſenger or paſtour of the church of Smyrna, ordeined of the Apoſtles thē ſelues,Policarpe. namely of S. Iohn, Byſhop there, and that he liued in the miſterie of this congregation .lxxxvi. yeares. For ſo many he accompteth hym ſelfe before the Lieftenaunt Herode, what tyme he was brought to execution. For in the fourth perſecution of the churche, Aurelius Antoninus, and Aurelius Comodus, being Emperoures, he was taken and brought to the gouernour: And at length for the open and ſincere confeſſinge of Chriſt he was burnt. He had this very muche in his mouth: That nothing ought to be receiued for true, vnleſſe it were knowen to be ſet forth by the Apoſtles. Ireneus affirmeth that when he was a childe he ſawe this olde father a man of great yeares and reuerēce, in the third boke and third chapt. againſt hereſies, where he telleth many thinges of him beſides. As alſo doth Euſebius in the .iiii. boke of theccle. hiſtory …he .xiiii. and .xv. chapters. And S. Hierom in the regiſter of …he famouſe wryters of the Churche. Euſebius in his Chro…icis, noteth that he ſuffered Martyrdome in the yeare of …ur Lorde a. C.ixx. Whereby it appeareth that he was …ade Byſhop of Smyrna in the yeare of our Lorde .lxxxiiii. …r there about. For we ſayd euen nowe, that he had bene in that miniſterie .lxxxvi. yeares. And therfore had he bene Byſhop of Smyrna many yeares before the ſetting forth of th… Apocalipſe whiche was written in the .xcvii. yeare, would… God all Paſtours would ſet before their eies this good Policarpus to be followed, of whome there remayneth a not… ble Epiſtle to the Philippians.
After againe is the authour of the EpiſtleThauthor of the epiſtle. declared, whic… is ſet forth with two titles, taken out of the fourmer viſi… of Iohn and deſcriptiō of Chriſt. Thus ſaith the firſt and … laſt. &c. Wherby is ſignified the eternall diuinitie of Chriſt… which wanteth beginning and ending. And of him ſelfe is … uerlaſting. There is added, that he was dead, & liueth again… that is to witte, hath ryſen from the dead. And this begi… ning accordeth right well to the matter. For they perceiu… that whoſoeuer are afflicted for Chriſt & his Goſpell of m… mightie kinges and princes, hauehave a Lorde and patrone m… mightie and more faithfull, whiche in no wyſe can be ou… comen. Who can alſo in death kepe his, lyke as he reyſed … Chriſt from the dead, to the intent we myght hauehave an op… teſtimony, that we ſhal liue with Chriſt, euen in death it ſe…
Chriſt knoweth the workes of his.And now cometh he to the matter it ſelfe, and the whic… thing he repeteth in al Epiſtles, he ſayth here alſo: I kno… thy workes, to witte both good and euill. Thinke not that … neither know nor care for thy matters. Thou art verely ro… ten out in my handes, I know, ſee and care for thee and … thine. And theſe thinges boeth prouoke vsus maruelouſly vertue, when we knowe that we hauehave God a loker on, … hath a care of vsus: And alſo comforte vsus greatly, which vnd… ſtande, how he that loueth vsus, and in no matter neglecte… hath vsus alwayes as it were before his eyes.
And here particularly he declareth what he knewe: A… firſt in dede the afflictions,Afflictions which verely they ſuffered in t… preſent perſecution of the Emperour Domitian. And aff… tion is as it were a generall worde, to the foure kindes fo… wyng. For he rehearſeth, touching their ſubſtaunce the ſ… ling of their goodes, and their pouertie: In their name … eſtimation, cōtumelies, reproches, or blaſphemies: In bo… impriſonment, and bondes, yea and death alſo. For … theſe afflictions Godly men are exerciſed, for the truth ſa… of the wicked. And in theſe may be cōpryſed al other kindes of tribulation. The whiche the Epiſtle of Ieſus Chriſt reciteth in a Godly order. There is nothinge therfore of theſe matters whiche the Lord Chriſt knoweth not.
Pouertie hath the firſt place.The pouertie of the faithfull. Neither ought we to take it here ſpiritually for the modeſtie and humblenes of mynde: although it be certaine, that the churche of Smyrna wanted not the ſame vertue: But there was pouertie and lacke of all things by reaſon of the ſpoiling of their goodes. For in time of perſecution, by vertue of kings proclamatiōs, the goodes of the faithful profeſſours of Chriſt ar cōfiſcated to the kings vſe, or permitted to ye ſoldiours, nobles, or promoters to take at their pleaſure: The faithful thruſt out of their houſes, ar either driuen into exile, or go a begging: would God we wanted examples therof at this day. Let vsus herof learne to beare & ſuffer paciently the like chaunces alſo, being perſwaded that God knoweth our neceſſitie. And becauſe it is an hard thing …or an honeſt man to honger and want with his familie, for a …omfort and conſolation he addeth, but thou art riche.
This to the world ſemeth a paradoxe, or incredible.Spiritual ryches. What wyll they ſay, is he ryche that hath nothyng, and is brought …o the ſtate of beggars? There be doubtles goodes and ry…hes of the mynde muche better than corporall ſubſtaunce.
For this may be had, without the true felicitie, of ryche men …f this worlde, that liue a moſte miſerable lyfe. Agayne you …hall ſee a poore man, concerning worldly goodes, but fur…iſhed with the rycheſſe of the mynde, for this cauſe only to …e happy and moſte bleſſed. He coueteth nothyng, he is con…ent with his vocation: Neither would he chaunge his ſtate with moſte welthie and ryche kynges. Contrariwyſe you …hall ſee ryche men but of an euyll conſcience, and therfore …houghtfull and burthened with cares, and neuer mery. You …hall ſee poore men, but with mery hartes to leade a ioyfull …fe. Why than ſhoulde it ſeme maruell, yf he that is ſpoy…ed of his worldly goodes for Chriſte, and inriched with the …iftes of the minde, is glad and reioyſeth in God, and taketh a good parte al chaunces, and for the ſame cauſe is iudged …o be verely ryche? Doubtles the wyſe men of this worlde …we alſo, that the only wyſe man is trewly ryche. Which is gallauntly diſcourſed of Cicero. Aretas ſayth, in ſpiritual matters hauing a treaſure hidde in the fielde of thy harte, which is Chriſt, by reaſon of whō thou art ryche alſo: Sinn… thou haſt him thy protectour, who alſo when he was ryche, for vsus became poore. &c.
Blaſphemie agaīſt the faithfulIn the ſecond place is recited blaſphemie, by the which… we vnderſtande all maner of raylinges and ſclaūders, whe… by the name and eſtimation of the faithfull is hurte. Of th… whiche ſorte are theſe: They be heretickes and Schiſmatic… ſo many as be fauourers of this religion: They be wicke… people, diſpiſers of God and his ſaintes, the ennemies of … Gods ſeruice, and therfore the plages of the commō wealt… which if they be ſuffered, the common wealth muſt nedes … diſtroyed. And theſe thinges in dede many times vexe go… men more greuouſly, than the loſſe of their goodes. For w… wyll not ſet more by a good name, than by great ryche… Therfore the Lorde in Goſpell of S. Math. the .10. Chapt… With many wordes healeth this diſeaſe: And exhorteth … that for the auoyding of that infamie, they ſhould cōmit… thing vnworthy the name of chriſtians.
What their perſecuters be.In the meane tyme he declareth alſo, what moued the … thours of this miſchief, whome he blameth alſo exceadyn… to thintent that ye godly ſhuld vnderſtād, how greatly th… ennemies of all Godlines are of God miſliked: And the… might alſo care the leſſe for their hatred and perſecutiō. T… ſaye in dede, that they be Iewes, where they be nothing … Thus alſo S. Paul handled the Iewes in the .ii. to the … mains. The Iewes are called confeſſours, honorers, and faithful ſeruaūts of God. But theſe blaſpheme Gods na… they impugne the true faith, and oppreſſe them that prof… and worſhyppe God. Therfore be they not Iewes. W… than? The Synagoge, congregation or aſſemblee of Sa… Thus the very ſonne of God plucketh of the viſerne fr… theſe varlettes, to the comforte of all thoſe that ſuffer pe… cution, of them that ſet forth them ſelues with ſtoute titles the ende it ſhuld neuer greue them, that they are condem… of ſuche harlottes, the children of the Deuill. Chriſt att… teth to them the true title, and calleth them not the o… holy, and catholicke Churche of God, but the conſpir… and ſchole of Sathan, as in whome, not the ſpirite of God, but of Sathan, inſpireth lyes, iuggelinges, diſceiptes, blaſphemies, fyres and deathes. Therfore let it not greue thee at this daye, …n caſe it be thy fortune to be condemned for the Goſpell, of thoſe that call them ſelues moſte holy, moſte ſhining, moſte reuerent, and moſt irreprehenſible Prelates and Patrones of the olde churche, religion, and catholique faith, whiche hauehave on their ſyde, counſelles, fathers, ſo many ſucceſſions of Biſhoppes, the preſcript of ſo long time, and conſent of ſo many Realmes. They be nothynge leſſe than that they deſyre to be called: But rather the champions of Antichriſte, and the profeſſed ennemies, and treaders vnderunder feete of all chriſten pietie. For whome is prepared euerlaſting deſtruction.
After this he putteth an exhortation and a conſolation moſte euident, before the whiche ſetting alſo the ſonne,Feare not. he ſayth, feare nothyng of all that thou ſhalt ſuffer. The ſonne of God hym ſelfe feared the croſſe and death, and it is a naturall thyng to feare euilles, and death. Therfore we are not commaunded, that we ſhoulde non be men, and that lyke …toickes we ſhoulde ſaye howe the ſame thynges greue vsus not, whiche neuertheleſſe tourment vsus exceadingly: but …he faithfull are incouraged, that they ſhould ſtande ſtrong …n the fayth, neyther that they ſhould doe any thyng vnwor…hy the ſame for feare of puniſhement. We be therfore com…aunded boldly and cherely to contemne or ſuppreſſe feare, …nd to craue ſtrength by the ſpirite of God, and to exerciſe it … temptations.
There followe reaſons,He prophecieth the euilles to come. wherby he may obteine that he …ath perſwaded, may confirme, comforte and exhorte them … pacience and conſtancie. He prophecieth therfore to the Godly, what thing they ſhall ſuffer: And toucheth alſo the …hird kynde of affliction, impriſonment and bondes, vnderunder …hiche we vnderſtande all puniſhementes wherby our bo…ies are tourmented. But to be warned before of the euill, is great benefite. We are more eaſely ouercome of vnproui…ed perilles. And therfore the Lorde in the Goſpell after S. …ath. the .x. Chapt. and after Iohn in the xv. and .xvi. Chapters …lleth his diſciples of many euilles that ſhould come vntounto them, and addeth therto: Theſe thinges hauehave I ſpoken to you, that when the tyme ſhall come, ye myght remembr… them, that I hauehave tolde you before. So nowe alſo faithfully warneth the faithfull in this Epiſtle.
The deuil afflicted ye faithfull.And he toucheth the authour of theſe euilles, ſaying: Th… Deuill wyll caſt ſome of you into pryſon. Therfore we perceiue that thoſe euillies ariſe of the commō ennemy of mankynde, and of the ſaluation of the faythfull: Wherof we may coniecture, that he goeth about to intercept our ſaluation, and that we ought therfore to ſtande more earſtly agaynſt hym. The ſouldiours when they heare that their olde ennemy is at hande, waxe not ſluggyſhe, but cherefull. But the Deuyll inſpireth euill men, corrupteth Princes and Mag… ſtrates, whiche attempte perſecution againſt the churche. S… we reade that Sathan afflicted Iob, that is to hauehave prou… ked the Chaldeis and Sabeis to kill his ſeruaūtes and dri… away his cattell. Here therfore they may ſee, with what ſ… rite they are incouraged, whiche at this daye perſecute t… churche of Chriſt, for the profeſſion of the veritie. The Go… ly hauehave that whiche may comfort them: For they heare th… the ſame filthie beaſt is ſet againſt them, whiche ſo oft be… vanquyſhed of Chriſt the Prince of the faithfull, and of t… faithfull through Chriſtes ayde, may without any difficul… be ouercome. And verely the Lorde permitteth to the De… and deuelyſhemen power ouer his ſeruauntes. If thou m… uell why,Chende of afflictions. heare: That you may be tempted. God permitte… not his to Sathan, that they ſhould peryſhe, but that t… ſhould be tempted and tried. Therfore to a good ende are … deliuered to the fyre, that we might be pourged from our thines, that the vertu of our faith mought ſhine, and G… might be glorified, and we made the purer. Who therf… wyll hereafter be impatient, when we heare that we for t… great good are put to euill? We reade in the .iii. of Wiſdo… As golde is tried in the fire, ſo are the faythfull proued. T… parable hath S. Peter expounded at large in the .iiii. Cha… of the firſt Epiſtle.The tyme of ye afflictions of ye …aithfull. Where he that wyll may hauehave it mor… boundauntly.
Moreouer the tyme alſo of tribulation is aſſigned … that for ten dayes. The tenth nombre ſignifieth a multitu… For Iacob ſayeth to his father in Lawe: Ten tymes haſte thou chaunged my wages. Geneſis .xxxi. and Numeri .xiiii. He ſayth he was tempted ten tymes, that is often, and many tymes. Iob alſo affirmeth hym ſelfe in the .xxix. chapter. To hauehave bene iniuried ten tymes. The Lorde therfore ſayth at this preſent. You ſhalbe diuerſly and muche moleſted with euilles. Notwithſtanding foraſmuche as he putteth not monethes, yeares, nor ages, but dayes, he prophecieth that the euilles ſhall not be continuall, but that there ſhall always be ſpaces be twirte to breathe in, verely for the ſhortnes of perſecution, firſte Eſay the .26. Chapter. Secondly S. Peter in the firſt. Petri. 1. Do comforte the faithfull. It is the parte of the faithfull not to preſcribe God: But whether we be put to payne a long tyme or ſhorte, to take it patiētly. Let vsus thinke rather, that in the long continuaunce of euilles, there is ſome ende alſo forſene of the Lorde: And that in the ſame tyme of breathing, we muſte repare the euylles, and retourne vntounto battell.
Laſte,Promeſſe of lyfe. are the Godly incouraged by a moſte ample and large promyſe, in the whiche is alſo included the fourth and moſte greuouſe kind of affliction, alſo the bitter death it ſelfe, through fyre, halter, ſword, water. &c. But in caſe thou be not affraide of death, but vanquiſhing it alſo, ſhall offer vp thy ſelfe vntounto God, than wil I geue thee, ſaith the Lord, a crown of life. Hereunto is annexed the ſtate of the Epiſtle, and ſome of all. Therfore be thou faithfull, cherefull, conſtant, euen to the very death, For the Lorde ſaith alſo in the Goſpel: Who ſo perſeuereth to the end, he ſhalbe ſaued. And we reade that the Apoſtel hath ſayd, if we die with Chriſt, we ſhal liue with hym. And truely the crowne of lyfe is none other thynge, than eternall lyfe, and that euerlaſting, celeſtiall and vnſpeakeable ioye. And the Lorde alluded to conflictes, after the whiche luckely finiſhed, the victours are crowned. Bleſſed is the man, ſayth the Apoſtle S. Iames, that ſuffereth temptation: becauſe that when he ſhall be tried, he ſhall receyue a crowne of lyfe, whiche the Lorde hath promyſed to thoſe of whome he is loued. Lyke thynges hath the Apoſtle S. Paul wrytten alſo in the firſt to the Corinthians the .ix. and in the ſeconde to Timothee the .iiii. Chapter. Therfore let it be harde hereafter for no man to loſe this temporal life. Wher… as the ſame being loſt for Chriſt, we ſhall receiue eternall life and otherwyſe will we nyll we muſt die. Let vsus therfore b… content rather to die bleſſedly, than to lyue miſerably, ſo th… we ſee we may ſo pleaſe God.
Finally lyke as in the ende of the firſt Epiſtle, he comm… nicated and applied the ſame wholy to all tymes and chu… ches,All theſe thinges apperteine to al churches leaſt any ſhould ſuppoſe that theſe thinges concerne… him nothing: So in the end of this Epiſtle alſo, he both pre… cheth the ſpirite to be authour of al theſe thinges, and exho… teth all men to heare and obey dilligently, and affirmeth thi… to be wrytten vntounto all congregations in the world for edifying. Moreouer the promeſſe of lyfe he communicateth to … ſaying: He that ouercometh ſhall not be hurte of the ſecond death. This is ſpoken to all men & women, if thou ouercom… Therfore muſt we ouercome the world, the Deuil, the fleſh… and all temptation. And we muſt ouercome by him, which faith, by his ſpirite, dwelling in vsus: And that we ſhold wal… that way, wherin he hath commaūded vsus to walke. If tho… ouercome,The firſt & ſecōd death thou ſhalt not be hurt in the ſecond death. Th… mas of Aquine ſaith. That the firſt death is of ſinne, the ſecō … of paine. We vnderſtand plainly by the firſt death the na… rall ſeparation of the ſoule from the body, whiche alſo co… meth to vsus for ſinne, as appeareth in the .iii. of Geneſis. Th… ſame is comen to good and euyl. For we be all earth, and … to earth we ſhall retourne. And by and by followeth the … cond death and the ſecond lyfe: They that beleue in Chriſt, ouercome, fele nothyng of the ſecond death, but lyue, as t… Lorde hym ſelfe aſſureth vsus in the .iii. and .v. Chapter of Ioh… He ſhall not come into iudgement, but hath paſſed frō dea… to lyfe. But the wicked or vnbeleuers are conueyed ſtre… wayes from the corporall death to death euerlaſting: N… that their ſoules can die, yt is ceaſe to be, or that their bod… ryſe not agayne: But that being depriued of that celeſt… and diuine life of Chriſt, they fele euerlaſting tourment… whiche ſtate verely is ryghtly called death. Theſe thyng are vnknowen to worldly men, which know no other life death but this temporal: But Gods veritie teacheth vsus, th… ther is both an other life and death after this, to witte the … celeſtiall, and death infernall, or full of perpetuall ſorrowes. That ſame doubtles is full of conſolation, that we heare how the faithfull after the debt of this temporall lyfe payed once, they ſhall no more fele any tourmentes. What than doe the Monkes and freres prate of purgatory? bables. &c. Let vsus prayſe our ſauiour Chriſte, whiche hath deliuered vsus from death, and geuen vsus the hope of lyfe euerlaſting, to whome be glory, prayſe. &c.