66 Revelation

The Rheims New Testament (1582) — Revelation

The Apocalypse of Saint John, now usually called Revelation, as printed in the Rheims New Testament of 1582, the English Catholic translation made from the Latin Vulgate at the English College, then in exile at Rheims, chiefly by Gregory Martin. The page gives the edition's argument of the book, all 22 chapters, each with its printed summary, every verse in the original spelling, and the marginal notes (cross-references, the days on which passages are read, and other readings); the edition's annotations follow 16 of the 22 chapters, as printed.

The Argument

THE ARGVMENT OF THE APOCALYPSE OF S. IOHN.

THAT vvhich the old Teſtament foretold of Chriſt him ſelf, the Apoſtles could report the fulfilling thereof in the nevv Teſtament, by vvay of an hiſtorie, euen from his Conception to his Glorification. But of his Church, they could not doe the like: becauſe in their time it did but beginne: being to continue long after them, euen to the end of the vvorld, and then at length to be glorified, as Chriſt her Spouſe alreadie is, Herevpon God vvould haue S. Luke to report in the Actes of the Apoſtles, the ſtorie of the Churches beginning▪ and for the reſt of it to the end, (that vve might receiue this benefite alſo by the Apoſtles handes) he vvould S. Iohn to tell vs of it in this booke by vvay of a prophecie.

Of vvhich booke S. Hierome ſaith: The Apocalypſe of S. Iohn hath as many ſacrament or myſteries, as vvordes. Yea more then that, In euery vvord there are hid manifold and ſundrie ſenſes. Therfore it is very litle that can here be noted, in reſpect. Yet to giue the good Catholike (vvhoſe comfort is here) ſome litle helpe, the booke may be deuided into fiue partes. [Margin: Hier. ad Paulin.]

The firſt (after the Pro⟨illegible⟩me) conteineth ſeuen Epiſtles from Chriſt novv in glorie, to ſeuen Churches of Aſia, or (for, theſe he maketh al one) to the ſeuen Biſhops of thoſe Churches: meaning no to thoſe only, but to al his Churches & Biſhops throughout the vvorld: ſaying therefore in euery one of them, to al in general: He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches. As alſo in euery one he exhorteth vs to fight manfully (in this ſpiritual vvarfare of ours againſt ſinne) for the victorie, and in euery one accordingly promiſeth vs a revvard in heauen. But before this, in the beginning of euery one, be partly commendeth, partly reprehendeth, and exhorteth to penance. Vvhere this is much to be noted, and feared, that among ſo many, he reproueth ſomevvhat in al, ſaue only in tvvo, vvhich are the ſecond & the ſixt. In the beginning alſo of euery one, he taketh ſome peece out of the apparition going before, to frame thereof his ſlyle agreably to the matter of eche Epistle. [Margin: Ca. 1. 2. 3. · 1 part.]

After this admonition to Paſtors and their flockes: the ſecond part folovveth, vvherein the Church and vvhole courſe thereof from the beginning to the end, is expreſſed in the opening of a booke in Gods hand, and the ſeuen ſeales thereof, by Chriſt, for the vvhich, he ſeeth praiſe ſung novv in heauen and earth, not only to the Godhead, as before, but alſo (after a nevv manner) to Chriſt according to his Manhod. And here, vvhen he is come to the opening of the laſt ſeale, ſignifying Domeſday, he letteth that matter alone for a vvhile, and to ſpeake more fully yet of the ſaid courſe of the Church, he bringeth in an other pagent (as it vvere) of ſeuen Angels vvith ſeuen Trumpets. The effect of both the Seales & Trumpets, in this: That the Church beginning and proceding, there ſhould be raiſed againſt it, cruel perſecutions, and peſtilent hereſies: and at length after al hereſies, a certaine moſt blaſphemous Apoſtaſie, being the next preparatiue to the comming of Antichriſt: After al vvhich, Antichriſt him ſelf in perſon ſhal appeare in the time of the ſixt ſeale, and ſixt trumpet, perſecuting and ſeducing (for the ſhort time of his reigne) more then al before him. The Church notvvithſtanding ſhal ſtill continue, and vvade through al▪ becauſe Chriſt her Spouſe is ſtronger then al theſe aduerſaries, vvho alſo ſtraight after the ſaid ſixt time, ſhal in the ſeuenth, come in maieſtie and iudge al. [Margin: Ca. 4. to the 8. · 2. · Ca. 8. to the 12▪]

Of the vvhich iudgement, differring yet a vvhile to ſpeake at large, he doth firſt in the third part intreate more fully of the Deuils vvorking by Antichriſt and his companie againſt the Church, that the iuſtice of Chriſt aftervvard in iudging, may be more manifeſt. [Margin: 3▪ · C. 12. 13. 14.]

At length, therefore in the fourth part he commeth to the ſeuen laſt plagues, the ſeuenth of them conteining the final damnation of the vvhole multitude ſocietie or corps of the vvicked, from the beginning of the vvorld to the end. Vvhich multitude, in the Goſpel and firſt Epiſtle of this ſame S. Iohn (as alſo in the other Scriptures commonly) is often called Mundus, the vvorld, and here he calleth it partly, Meretricem, a vvhore or harlot, becauſe vvith her concupiſcence ſhe entiſeth the carnal and earthly men avvay from God: partly, Ciuitatem Babylon, the Citie of Babylon, becauſe it maketh vvarre againſt Hieruſalem the Citie of God, and laboureth to hold Gods people captiue in ſinne, as it vvas ſhadovved in Nabuchodonoſor & his Babylonias, leading and holding the Ievves vvith their Hieruſalem, in captiuitie, vntil Cyrus (in figure of Chriſt) deliuered them. But vvhether al theſe ſeuen plagues ſhould be vnderſtood (as the ſeuenth) of Domeſday it ſelf, it is hard to define. More like it is, that the firſt ſixe are to goe before Domeſday: but vvhether corporally and literally, (ſo as Moyſes plagued Egypt) or rather ſpiritually, it is more hard to define. Yet it ſeemeth more eaſie, to vnderſtand them corporally, as alſo the plagues vvherevvith Elias and his fellovv ſhal in the time of Antichriſt plague the vvicked (vvhich peraduenture ſhal be the ſame laſt plagues) vvhere of vve reade in this booke c. 11. v. 6. But not content to haue deſcribed thus the damnation of the vvhole adulterous & blouddy ſocietie, he doth alſo expreſly report of their three grād Captaines damnation, vvhich are theſe, Antichriſt, and his Falſe prophet, and the Deuil him ſelf the author of al this miſchiefe. [Margin: 4▪ · C. 15. to the 21. · 1 Io. 2, · Apoc. 17.]

Finally, on the other ſide, in the fifth part he reporteth the vnſpeakeable and euerlaſting glorie, that the Church after al this ſuffering, ſhal by Chriſt her glorious Spouſe be aſſumpted vnto. And ſo he concludeth the booke. [Margin: 5▪ · C. 21. 22.]

[Margin, at the head of the book: The Church readeth this booke at Ma⟨illegible⟩tins frō the 3 Sūday after Eaſter vnto the 4.]

Chapter 1

9. S. Iohn being baniſhed in the ile Patmos▪ is commaunded to vvrite to the ſeum Churches of Aſia (ſignified by the ſeuen candleſtickes) that vvhich he ſavv vpon a Sunday, round about the Sonne of man: 13 vvhoſe maner of appar⟨illegible⟩tion is deſcribed.

1 THE ″ Apocalypſe of IESVS Chriſt vvhich God gaue him, to make manifeſt to his ſeruants the thinges vvhich muſt be done quickly: and ſignified, ſending by his Angel to his ſeruant Iohn,

2 vvho hath giuen teſtimonie to the vvord of God, and the teſtimonie of IESVS Chriſt, vvhat things ſoeuer he hath ſeen.

3 Bleſſed is he that readeth and heareth the wordes of this prophecie: and keepeth thoſe thinges Which be vvritten in it▪ for the time is nigh.

4 Iohn ″ to the ſeuen churches vvhich are in Aſia. Grace to you and peace from * him that is, and that vvas, and that ſhal come, and ″ from the ſeuen ſpirites vvhich are in the ſight of his throne,

5 and from IESVS Chriſt vvho is the faithful vvitnes, the * firſt borne of the dead, & the prince of the kings of the earth, vvho hath loued vs, and * vvaſhed vs from our ſinnes in his bloud, ⊢

6 and hath made vs * ″ a kingdom and prieſtes to God and his father, to him be glorie and empire for euer and euer. Amen.

7 Behold he commeth vvith the cloudes, and euery eie ſhal ſee him, and * they that pricked him. And al the tribes of the earth ſhal, bevvaile them ſelues vpon him. yea, Amen.

8 * I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, ſaith our Lord God, vvhich is, and vvhich vvas, and vvhich ſhal come, the omnipotent.

9 I Iohn your brother and partaker in tribulation, and the kingdom, and patience in Chriſt IESVS, vvas in the Iland, vvhich is called Patmos, for the vvord of God and the teſtimonie of IESVS.

10 I vvas in ſpirit ″ on the Dominical day, and heard behind me a great voice as it vvere of a trompet

11 ſaying, That vvhich thou feeſt, vvrite in a booke: and ſend to the ſeuen churches vvhich are in Aſia, to Epheſus, and Smyrna, and Pergamus, and Thiatîra, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicia.

12 And I turned, to ſee the voice that ſpake vvith me. And being turned I ſavv ſeuen candleſtickes of gold:

13 & in the middes of the ſeuen candleſtickes of gold, one like to the Sonne of man, ″ veſted in a prieſtly garment to the foote, and girded about neere to the pappes vvith a girdle of gold.

14 and his head and heares vvere vvhite, as vvhite vvoole, & as ſnovv, and his eies as the flame of fire.

15 and his feete like to latten, as in a burning fornace▪ and his voice as the voice of many vvaters:

16 and he had in his right hand ſeuen ſtarres▪ and from his mouth proceded a ſharpe tvvo edged ſvvord: and his face, as the ſunne ſhineth în his vertue.

17 And vvhen I had ſeene him, I fel at his feete as dead. And he put his right hand vpon me, ſaying, Feare not, * I am the firſt and the laſt,

18 and aliue, and vvas dead, and behold I am liuing for euer and euer, and haue the keies of death and of hel.

19 Vvrite therefore the thinges vvhich thou haſt ſeene, and that are, and that muſt be done after theſe.

20 The ſacrament of the ſeuen ſtarres, vvhich thou haſt ſeene in my right hand, and the ſeuen candleſtickes of Gold. ″ the ſeuen ſtarres, are ″ the angels of the ſeuen churches▪ and the ſeuen candleſtickes, are the ſeuen churches.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

Argument The 1 part. Seuen epiſtles to the Churches.
v. 1 The Epiſtle vpon Michelmas day Septemb. 29, & on the Apparition of S. Michael Mai. 8.
v. 3 ⸬ There be many (ſpecially novv a daies) that be great readers, hearers and talkers of Scriptures▪ but that is not ynough to make them good or bleſſed before God, except they keepe the things preſcribed and taught therein▪ according to our Sauiours ſaying (Luc. 11.) Bleſſed are they that heare the vvord of God, and keep it.
v. 4 Exo. 3, 14.
v. 4 Col. 1.
v. 5 Heb. 9.
v. 5 1 Pet. 1.
v. 5 1 Pet. 2.
v. 7 Zach. 12▪
v. 7 Eſa. 44.
v. 8 Apo. 21. 22, 13.
v. 9 ⸬ Baniſhed thither for religion by Nero, or rather by Domitian, almoſt 60 yeres after Chriſtes Aſcenſiō.
v. 10 ᶜ I had a viſiō, and not with my corporal eies, but in ſpirit I beheld the ſimilitudes of the thinges folovving.
v. 12 ᵇ The I GENERAL VISION of the 7 according to S. Ambroſe.
v. 13 ⸬ It ſeemeth not to be Chriſt him ſelf, but an Angel bearing Chriſtes perſon, & vſing diuers ſpeaches proper to Chriſt.
v. 13 ᶜ podére Sap. 18, 24.
v. 17 Eſa. 41, 4. 44, 6.
v. 20 ⸬ S. Irenaeus alluding to this ſaith, The Church euery vvhere preacheth the truth, and this is the ſeuenfold candleſticke, bearing the light of Chriſt &c. Li. 5. aduerſ⟨illegible⟩haer.

Annotations to Chapter 1

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I.

1. APOCALYPSE.] Of the Apocalypſe thus vvriteth the auncient father Denys. Biſhop of Corinth▪ as Euſebius alleageth him li. 7 c. 20 hiſt. Eccl. Of this booke (ſaith he) this is my opinion, that the matter thereof is far more profound then my vvit can reache vnto, and I doubt not but almoſt in euery ſentence of it, there lieth hidden a certaine ſenſe exceding myſtical and maruelous, vvhich though I vnderſtand not, yet I conceiue that vnder the vvordes there is a deepe meaning, and I meaſure not the matter by reaſon, but attribute al to faith, taking it to be more high and diuine, then I can by cogitation compriſe: not reprouing that vvhich I vnderſtand not, but therfore I admire vvith reuerēce, becauſe my vvit can not attaine to it. Againe S. Auguſtine ſaith, that in the Apocalypſe many things are obſcurely ſpoken, to exerciſe the minde of the reader: and yet ſome fevv things left euident, that through them a man may vvith labour ſearche out the reſt, ſpecially for that the author ſo repeateth the ſame things in diuers ſortes, that ſeeming to ſpeake of ſundry, matters, in deede is found bus to vtter the ſame things diuers vvaies. li. 20 de Ciuit. Del c. 17. [Margin: An admonition to the reader concerning the difficultie of this booke.]

Vvhich vve ſet dovvne here in the beginning, to vvarne the good Chriſtian reader, to be humble and vviſe in the reading both of al other holy Scriptures, and namely of this diuine and deepe prophecie: giuing him further to vnderſtand, that vve vvil in our Annotations, according to our former trade and purpoſe, onely or cheefely note vnto the ſtudious, ſuch places as may be vſed by Catholikes, or abuſed by Heretikes, in the controuerſies of this time, and ſome other alſo that haue ſpecial matter of edification, and that as breefely as may be, for that the volume grovveth great.

4. To the 7 Churches.] That certaine numbers may be obſerued as ſignificatiue and myſtical, it is plaine by many places of holy Scripture, and by the auncient Doctors ſpecial noting of the ſame to many purpoſes. Vvhereby vve ſee the raſhnes of our Aduerſaries, in condemning generally al religious reſpect of certaine numbers in our praiers, faſtes, or actions. Namely the number of Seuen, is myſtical; and prophetical, perfect, and vvhich (as S. Auguſtine ſaith.) the Church knovveth by the Scriptures, to be ſpecially dedicated to the Holy Ghoſt: and to appertaine to ſpiritual mundation, as in the Prophets appointing of Naam in to vvaſh ſeuen times in lordan, and the ſprinkling of the bloud ſeuen times againſt the tabernacle. li. 4 qu⟨illegible⟩ſt. in numer. q. 33, See li. 5. c. 5 de Gen. ad lit. & li. 5 queſt in Deuter. q. 42. Al theſe viſions ſtand vpon Seuens. ſeuen Churches, ſeuen Angels, ſeuen ſtarres, ſeuen ſpirites, ſeuen candleſtickes, ſeuen lampes, ſeuen trumpets, ſeuen vial⟨illegible⟩, ſeuen horne⟨illegible⟩ of the Lambe, ſeuen hilles, ſeuen thunders, ſeuen heades of the Dragon, ſignifying the Di⟨illegible⟩el: ſeuen of the beaſt that is Antichriſt: ſeuen of the beaſt that the harlot rid vpon: finally the number alſo of the viſions is ſpecially marked to be ſeuen, in this booke, and euery time that this number is vſed in this prophecie, it hath a myſterie & a more large meaning, then the nature of that number is preciſely and vulgarly taken for. As vvhen he vvriteth to ſeuen Churches. it is to be vnderſtood of al the Churches in the vvorld: as the ſeuen Angels, for al the Angels or gouernours of the vvhole Catholike Church: and ſo forth in the reſt, becauſe the number of Seuen, hath the perfection of vniuerſalitie in it, as S. Auguſtine ſaith li. 5 qu⟨illegible⟩ſt. in Deuter. q. 42. [Margin: Numbers myſtical. · The number of Seuen myſtical: ſpecially in this booke.]

4. From the 7 ſpirites.] The Holy Ghoſt may be here meant, and ſo called for his ſeuen fold giftes and graces, as ſome expoſitours thinke. but it ſeemeth more probable that he ſpeaketh of the holy Augels, by comparing this to the like in the 5 Chapter folovving: vvhere he ſeemeth to call theſe, the ſeuen ſpirites ſent into al the vvorld, as S. Paul to the Hebrues (c. 1. 14) ſpeaketh of Angels. and ſo the Proteſtants take it in their cōmentaries: vvhich vve note, becauſe therevpon they muſt needes confeſſe that the Apoſtle here giueth or vviſheth grace and peace, not from God onely, but alſo from his Angels: though that benediction commeth one vvay of God, and an other vvay of his Angels or Sainctes, being but his creatures. And ſo they may learne, that the faithful often loyning in one ſpeache, God and our Lady, our Lord and any of his Saincts, to helpe vs or bleſſe vs, is not ſuperſtitious, but an Apoſtolical ſpeache. and ſo the Patriarch ſaid (Gen. 48. v. 16.) The Angel that deliuereth me from al euils, bleſſe theſe children. See the Annot. Act. 25, 28. [Margin: Grace & peace from God & the holy Angels. · God and our Ladie ſaue vs, and the like.]

6. A kingdom and Prieſts.] As al that truely ſerue God, and haue the dominion and ſuperioritie ouer their concupiſcences and vvhatſoeuer vvould induce them to ſinne, be kings: ſo al that employ their vvorkes and them ſelues to ſerue God & offer al their actions as an acceptable ſacrifice to him, be prieſts. Neuertheleſſe, as if any man vvould therevpon affirme that there ought to be no other earthly povvers or kings to gouerne in vvorldly affaires ouer Chriſtians, be vvere a ſeditious Heretike, euen ſo are they that vpon this or the like places vvhere al Chriſtians, be called prieſts in a ſpiritual ſort, vvould therfore inferre, that euery one is in proper ſignification a Prieſt, or that al be Prieſts alike, or that there ought to be none but ſuch ſpiritual prieſts. for it is the ſeditious voice of Corè, ſaying to Moyſes and Aaron, Let it ſuffi⟨illegible⟩ you, that al the multitude is of holy ones, and the Lord is in the⟨illegible⟩. Vvhy are you extolled ouer the people of the Lord! Num. 16. [Margin: Hovv al Chriſtians be both kings & Prieſts.]

10. On the Dominical day.] Many notable pointes may be marked here▪ firſt, that euen in the Apoſtles time there vvere daies deputed to the ſeruice of God, and ſo made holy and different, though not by nature, yet by vſe and benediction, from other profane or (as vve call them) vvorke-daies. [Margin: Difference of holy daies and vvorkedaies.]

Secondly, that the Apoſtles and faithful abrogated the Sabboth vvhich vvas the ſeuenth day, and made holy day for it, the next day folovving, being the eight day in count from the creation: and that vvithout al Scriptures, or cōmaundement of Chriſt that vve reade of, yea (vvhich is more) not onely othervviſe then vvas by the Lavv obſerued, but plainely othervviſe then vvas preſcribed by God him ſelf in the ſecond commaundement, yea and othervviſe then he ordained in the firſt creatiō, vvhen he ſanctified preciſely the Sabboth day, & not the day folovving. Such great povver did Chriſt leaue to his Church, and for ſuch cauſes gaue he the holy Ghoſt to be reſident in it, to guide it into al truthes, euen ſuch as in the Scriptures are not expreſſed. And if the Church had authoritie & inſpiration from God, to make Sunday (being a vvorke-day before) an euerlaſting holy day: and the Saturday, that before vvas holy day, novv a common vvorkeday: vvhy may not the ſame Church preſcribe & appoint the other holy feaſts of Eaſter, Vvhitſuntide. Chriſtmas, and the reſt? for the ſame vvarrant ſhe hath for the one▪ that ſhe hath for the other. [Margin: Sunday made holiday by the Apoſtles & the Churches authoritie. · Other feaſtes ordained by the Church. · As Saturday was in memorie of the creation, ſo Sunday of Chriſts reſurrection.]

Thirdly, it is to be noted that the cauſe of this change vvas, for that novv vve Chriſtians eſteeming more our redemption, then our firſt creation, haue the holy day vvhich vvas before for the remembrance of Gods accompliſhment of the creation of things, novv for the memorie of the accompliſhment of our redemption. Vvhich therfore is kept vpon that day on vvhich our Lord roſe from life to death, vvhich vvas the day after the Sabboth, being called by the Ievves; vna or prima Sabbathi, the firſt of or after the Sabboth. Mat 28. Act. 10. 1 Cor. 16. Fourthly, it is to be marked, that this holy day by the Apoſtles tradition alſo, vvas named Domini⟨illegible⟩ die⟨illegible⟩, our Lordes day, or, the Dominike, vvhich is alſo an old Eccleſiaſtical vvord in our language. for the name Sunday is a heatheniſh calling, as al other of the vveeke daies be in our lāguage: ſome impoſed after the names of planets, as in the Romans time: ſome by the name of certaine Idols that the Saxons did vvorſhip, & to vvhich they dedicated their daies before they vvere Chriſtians. Vvhich names the Church vſeth not, but hath appointed to call the firſt day, the Dominike, after the Apoſtle here: the other by the name of Feries, vntil the laſt of the vveeke, vvhich ſhe calleth by the old name, Sabboth, becauſe that vvas of God, and not by impoſition of the heathen. See the marginal Annotation Luc. 24, 1. [Margin: The Church vſeth not the Heatheniſh names of daies: but Dies Dominicus, feriae, Sabbatum.]

Laſtly obſerue, that God reuealeth ſuch great things to Prophets, rather vpon holy daies, and in times of contemplation, ſacrifice, and praier, then on other profaue daies. and therfore as S. Peter (Act. 10) had a reuelation at the ſix: houre of praier, and Zacharie (Luc. 1) at the houre of incenſe, and Cornelius (Act. 10) vvhen he vvas at his praiers the ninthe houre, ſo here S. Iohn noteth that he had al theſe maruelous viſions vpon a Sunday. [Margin: God giueth greater grace at holy times of praier & faſting.]

13. Veſted in a Prieſtly garment.] He appeared in a long garment or veſtment proper vnto Prieſts (for ſo the vvord, poderes, doth ſignifie, as Sap. 18, 24) and that vvas moſt agreable for him that repreſented the perſon of Chriſt the high Prieſt, and appeared to Iohn being a moſt holy Prieſt, and vvho is ſpecially noted in the Eccleſiaſtical hiſtorie for his Prieſtly garment called, pé⟨illegible⟩alon or lamina. Euſeb. li. 3 hiſt. Eccl. c. 25. & li. 5 c. 23. [Margin: Prieſtly garments.]

20. The ſeuen ſtarres.] The Biſhops are the ſtarres of the Church, as the Churches them ſelues are the golden candleſtickes of the vvorld: no doubt to ſignfie, that Chriſt preſerueth the truth onely in and by the lavvful Biſhops and Catholike Church, and that Chriſts truth is not to be ſought for, in corners or conuenticles of Heretikes, but at the Biſhops handes, and * vpon the candleſticke vvhich ſhineth to al in the houſe. [Margin: The true religiō manifeſt as the light on a candleſticke. · Mat. 5. 15▪]

20. The Angels of the Churches.] The vvhole Church of Chriſt hath S. Michael for her keeper and Protector, and therfore keepeth his holy day onely by name, among al Angels. And as earthly kingdoms haue their ſpecial Angels Protectors, as vve ſee in the 10 Chapter of Daniel: ſo much more the particular Churches of Chriſtēdom. See S. Hierom in 34 Ezech. But of thoſe Angels it is not here meant, as is manifeſt. And therfore Angels here muſt needes ſignifie the Prieſts or Biſhops ſpecially of the Churches here, and in them, al the gouernours of the vvhole & of euery particular Church of Chriſtendom. They are called Angels, for that they are Gods meſſengers to vs, interpreters of his vvil, our keepers and directors in religion, our interceſſors, the cariers and offerers of our praiers to him, and mediators vnto him vnder Chriſt, and for theſe cauſes and for their great digni⟨illegible⟩ie they are here and in * other places of Scripture called Angels. [Margin: Angels Protectors. · Biſhops & Prieſts are called Angels. · Malach. 2, 7.]

Chapter 2

He is commaunded to vvrite diuers things to the churches of Epheſiu, S⟨illegible⟩yrna, Pergamus, and Thyatira: praiſing them that had not admitted the doctrine of the Heretikes called Nicola⟨illegible⟩ta, 22 and calling others by threates vnto penance: 26 and promiſing revvard to him that manfully ouercommeth.

1 AND to the Angel of the Church of Epheſus vvrite, Thus ſaith he vvhich ″ holdeth the ſeuen ſtarres in his right hand, vvhich vvalketh in the middes of the ſeuen candleſtickes of gold,

2 I knovv ″ thy vvorkes and labour, and thy patience: and that thou canſt not beare euil men, and haſt tried them which ſay them ſelues to be Apoſtles, and are not, and haſt found them liars:

3 and thou haſt patience, and haſt borne for my name, and haſt not fainted.

4 But I haue againſt thee a fevv thinges, bicauſe thou haſt left thy firſt charitie.

5 Be mindeful therfore from vvhence thou art fallen: and doe penance, and doe the firſt vvorkes. But if not: I come to thee, and ″ vvil moue thy candleſticke out of his place, vnleſſe thou doe penance.

6 but this thou haſt, ″ becauſe thou hateſt the factes ″ of the Nicolaïtes, vvhich I alſo hate.

7 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches, To him that ouercommeth, I vvil giue to eate of the tree of life, vvhich is in the Paradiſe of my God.

8 And to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna vvrite, Thus ſaith * the firſt and the laſt, vvho vvas dead, and liueth,

9 I knovv thy tribulation and thy pouertie, but thou art riche: and thou art blaſphemed of them that ſay them ſelues to be Ievves and are not, but are the ſynagogue of Satan.

10 Feare none of theſe thinges vvhich thou ſhalt ſuffer. Behold the Deuil vvil ſend ſome of you into priſon that you may be tried: and you ſhal haue tribulation ten daies. Be thou faithful vntil death: and I vvil giue thee the crovvne of life.

11 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches, He that ſhal ouercome, ſhal not be hurt of the ſecond death.

12 And to the Angel of the Church of Pergamus vvrite, Thus ſaith he that hath the ſharpe tvvo edged ſvvord,

13 I knovv vvhere thou dvvelleſt, vvhere the ſeate of Satan is: and thou holdeſt my name, and haſt not denied my faith. And in thoſe daies Antipas my faithful vvitneſſe, vvho vvas ſlaine among you, vvhere Satan dvvelleth.

14 But I haue againſt thee a fevv thinges: becauſe thou haſt there, them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, vvho taught Balac ″ to caſt a ſcandal before the children of Iſrael, to eate and commit fornication:

15 ſo haſt thou alſo them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaïtes.

16 In like maner doe penance. if not: I vvil come to thee quickly, and vvil fight againſt them vvith the ſvvord of my mouth.

17 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches, To him that ouercōmeth I vvil giue the hidden manna, and vvil giue him a vvhite counter: and in the counter, a nevv name Written, vvhich no man knovveth, but he that receiueth it.

18 And to the Angel of the Church of Thyatíra vvrite, Thus ſaith the Sonne of God, vvhich hath eies as a flame of fire, and his feete like to latten.

19 I knovv thy vvorkes, and faith, and thy charitie, and miniſterie, and thy patience and thy laſt vvorkes moe then the former.

20 But I haue againſt thee a fevv thinges: becauſe thou permitteſt ″ the vvoman * Iezabel, vvho calleth her ſelf a propheteſſe, to teache, and to ſeduce my ſeruantes, to fornicate, and to eate of thinges ſacrificed to idols.

21 And I gaue her a time that ſhe might do penance: and ″ ſhe vvil not repent from her fornication.

22 Behold I vvil caſt her into a bedde: and ″ they that commit aduoutrie vvith her, ſhal be in very great tribulation, vnleſſe they do penance from their vvorkes:

23 and her children I vvil kil vnto death, and al the Churches ſhal knovv * that I am he that ſearcheth the reines and hartes, and I vvil giue to euery one of you according to his vvorkes.

24 But I ſay to you the reſt vvhich are at Thyatira, vvhoſoeuer haue not this doctrine, vvhich haue not knowen the depth' of Satan, as they ſay, I vvil not caſt vpon you an other vveight.

25 Yet that vvhich you haue, hold til I come.

26 And he that ſhal ouercome and keepe my vvorkes vnto the end: ″ I vvil giue him povver ouer the nations,

27 and * he ſhal rule them vvith a rod of yron, and as the veſſel of a potter ſhal they be broken,

28 as I alſo haue receiued of my father: and I vvil giue him the morning ſtarre.

29 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

v. 1 ⸬ That vvhich before he vvilled him to vvrite to the church, he now vvilleth to be vvritten to the Angels or Biſhops of the ſame onely. [vvhere vve ſee, it is al one, to the Church, and to the head or gouernour therof.]
v. 4 ⸬ By this vve ſee is plainely refuted that vvhich ſome Heretikes hold, that a man once in grace or charitie can neuer fall from it.
v. 8 Apoc. 1, 17.
v. 9 ⸬ This Church repreſenteth the ſtate of them that are ſpoiled of their goodes, empriſoned, & manifoldly afflicted for the catholike faith.
v. 10 ⸬ The ſingular revvard of Martyrdom.
v. 11 ⸬ The death of the body is the firſt death: the death of the ſoule, the ſecōd, vvhich Martyrs are ſureſt to eſcape of al men.
v. 13 ⸬ The ſpecial reſidence of Satan is vvhere the faithful are perſecuted for Chriſtes truth▪ vvhere not to deny the Cath. faith for feare, is much here commended.
v. 14 Nu. 24, 14. 25, 2.
v. 17 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ calcul⟨illegible⟩ ̄ ▪
v. 19 ⸬ None of theſe are any thing vvorth vvithout the other.
v. 20 3 Reg. 18.
v. 23 1 Reg. 16.
v. 23 ⸬ Vvho ⟨illegible⟩ nor here that good vvorkes deſerue al utiō, as il workes damnation: and that it is not faith alone that God revvardeth but that faith vvhich vvorketh by charitie?
v. 23 Pſ. 7, 10▪
v. 24 Ier. 11, 20.
v. 24 ` depthes▪
v. 27 Pſ. 2, 9.
v. 28 ⸬ This great priuilege of Sa⟨illegible⟩cts riſeth of the povver and preeminence of Chriſt, vvhich his father gaue him according to his humanitie and therfore to deny it to Saincts, is to deny it to Chriſt him ſelf.

Annotations to Chapter 2

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II.

1. Holdeth the ſeuen.] Much to be obſerued, that Chriſt hath ſuch care ouer the Church and the Biſhops thereof, that he is ſaid here to beare them vp in his right hand, and to vvalke in the middes of them: no doubt to vphold and preſerue them and to guide them in al truth. [Margin: Chriſts care of his Church.]

2. Thy vvorkes, labour, patience &c.] Things required in a Biſhop▪ firſt, good vvorkes, and great patience in tribulation▪ next, zeale and ſharpe diſcipline tovvard offenders is here cōmended in them▪ thirdly, vviſedom & diligence in trial of falſe Apoſtles and preachers comming in ſheepeſkinnes: vvhere is ſignified the vvatchful prouidence that ought to be in them, that Heretikes enter not into their flockes. [Margin: Special vertues required in a Biſhop.]

5. Vvil moue.] Note that the cauſe vvhy God taketh the truth from certaine countries, and remoueth their Biſhops or Churches into captiuitie or deſolation, is the ſinne of the Prelates and people. And that is the cauſe (no doubt) that Chriſt hath taken avvay our golden candleſticke, that is, our Church in England. God graunt vs to remember our fall, to doe penance and the former vvorkes of charitie vvhich our firſt Biſhops and Church vvere notable and renovvmed for. [Margin: Sinne is the cauſe that God taketh the Cath. faith from coūtries.]

6. Becauſe thou hateſt.] Vve ſee here that of al things, Chriſtian people (ſpecially Biſhops) ſhould haue great zeale againſt Heretikes and hate them, that is, their vvicked doctrine and conditions, euen as God hateth them▪ for vvhich onely zeale, our Lord ſaith here that he beareth vvith ſome Churches and Prelates, and ſaueth them from periſhing. [Margin: Zeale againſt Heretikes.]

6. Of the Nicolaites.] Heretikes haue their callings of certaine perſons, as is noted at large Act. 11, 26. Theſe had their name of Nicolas, one of the 7 firſt Deacons that vvere choſen Act. 6. Vvho is thought to haue taught communitie of vvomen or vviues, and that it vvas lavvful to eate of meates offered to idols. Vvhich later point is ſuch a thing, as if one ſhould hold it lavvful to receiue the bread or vvine of the nevv Communion, vvhich is a kinde of Idolothytae, that is, idolatrous meates. for though ſuch creatures be good by creation, yet they be made execrable by profane bleſſings of Heretikes or Idolaters. And concerning the name of Nicolaites giuen here by our Lord him ſelf to thoſe Heretikes, it is a very paterne and marke vnto the faithful for euer, vvhat kinde of men they ſhould be, that ſhould be called after the like ſort, Arians, Macedonians, Neſtorians, Lutherans, Zuinglians, &c. See S. Hierom cont. Lucifer, in fine. [Margin: Nicolaites the firſt Heretikes ſo called, as a paterne of Arians, Lutherans, and the like peculiar callings. · Balaam ouercomming Gods people by perſuaſion of lecherie and bellicheere, vvas a type of Heretikes.]

14. To caſt a ſcandal.] Ioſephus vvriteth that vvhen Balaam could not curſe Gods people, nor othervviſe anoy them, he taught Balaca vvay hovv to ouerthrovv them: to vvit▪ by preſenting vnto them their Heathen vvomen very beautiful, and delicate diſhes of meate offered to Bel-phego⟨illegible⟩: that ſo being tempted they might fall to heatheniſh maners and diſpleaſe God. To vvhich craftie counſel of Balaam the Apoſtle reſembleth Heretikes fraude, vvho by offering of libertie of meate, vvomen, Church goodes, breache of vovves, and ſuch other licentious allurements, cauſe many moe to fall, then by their preaching. [Margin: li. 4. Antiq. c. 6. · 2. Pet. 2, 15. Iuda v. 11.]

20. The vvoman Iezabel.] He vvarneth Biſhops to be zelous and ſtout againſt falſe Prophets and Heretikes of vvhat ſort ſoeuer, by alluding couertly to the example of holy Elias that in zeale killed 450 falſe prophets of Iezabel, and ſpared not Achab nor Iezabel them ſelues, but told them to their faces that they troubled Iſrael, that is, the faithful people of God. And vvhether there vvere any ſuch great vvoman then, a furtherer and promotour of the Nicolaites, vvhom the Prophete ſhould here meane, it is hard to ſay. [Margin: Zeale againſt Heretikes. · 3 Reg. 18. · Achab and Iezabel.]

21. She vvil not repent.] See free vvil here moſt plainely, and that God is not the proper cauſe of obduration or impenitence, but man him ſelf onely. Our Lord giueth ſinners ſo long life, ſpecially to expect their amendment: but Iezabel (to vvhom the Apoſtle here alludeth) vvould neuer repent. [Margin: Free vvil. God is not author of euil.]

22. They that cōmit aduoutrie vvith her.] Such as communicate vvith Heretikes, ſhal be damned (alas) vvith them, for, not onely ſuch as vvere in their hartes, of Iezabels religion, or invvardly beleeued in Baal, but ſuch as externally for feare vvorſhipped him (vvhich the Scriptures call, bovving of their knees to Baal) are culpable▪ as novv many bovv their knees to the Communion, that bovv not their hartes. [Margin: They that communicate vvith Heretikes, ſhal be dāned vvith them▪ · 3 Reg. 19. v. 18. Ro. 11.]

26. I vvil giue him povver.] Obſerue that not onely Angels haue povver and regiment ouer Countries vnder God, but novv for the honour of Chriſt humane nature, and for his miniſterie in the vvorld, the Saincts deceaſed alſo, being in heauen, haue gouernement ouer men and Prouinces, and therfore haue to doe vvith our affaires in the vvorld. Vvhich is againſt the Heretikes of theſe daies, that to take avvay our praiers to Saincts, vvould ſpoile them of many ſoueraine dignities, vvherein the Scriptures make them equal vvith Angels. [Margin: Saincts alſo are Patrones, not only Angels.]

Chapter 3

He is commaunded to vvrite to the Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicia: recalling them that erre to penance by threatening, but praiſing the reſt, and promiſing revvard to him that ouercommeth: 15 deteſting alſo the cold indifferent Chriſtian. 20 He ſaith that God knocketh at the doore of mens hartes by offering his grace, for to enter in to him that vvil open vnto him by conſent of free vvil.

1 ANd to the Angel of the Church of Sardis, write, Thus ſaith he that hath the ſeuē Spirites of God, and the ſeuen ſtarres, I know thy vvorkes, that thou haſt the name that thou liueſt, and thou art dead.

2 Be vigilant, and confirme the reſt of the things vvhich vvere to die. For I finde not thy vvorkes ful before my God.

3 Haue in minde therfore in vvhat maner thou haſt receiued and heard: and keepe, and doe penance. If therfore thou vvatch not, * I vvil come to thee as a theefe, & thou ſhalt not knovv vvhat houre I vvil come to thee.

4 But thou haſt a fevv names in Sardis, vvhich haue not defiled their garments: and they ſhal vvalke vvith me in vvhites, becauſe they are vvorthy.

5 ″ He that ſhal ouercome, ſhal thus be veſted in vvhite garmentes, and I vvil not put his name out of the booke of life, and I vvil confeſſe his name before my father, and before his Angels.

6 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaieth to the Churches.

7 And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia vvrite, Thus ſaith the Holy one and the True one, he that hath the * key of Dauid: he that openeth, and no man ſhutteth: ſhutteth, and no man openeth.

8 I know thy vvorkes. Behold I haue giuen before thee a doore opened vvhich no man can ſhut: becauſe thou haſt a litle povver, and haſt kept my vvord, and haſt not denied my name.

9 Behold I vvil giue of the ſynagogue of Satan, vvhich ſay they be Ievves, and are not, but doe lie. Behold I vvil make them come and ″ adore before thy feete▪ and they ſhal knovv that I haue loued thee.

10 becauſe thou haſt kept the vvord of my patience, and I vvil keepe thee from the houre of tentation, vvhich ſhal come vpon the vvhole vvorld to tempt the inhabitants on the earth.

11 Behold I come quickely: hold that vvhich thou haſt, ″ that no man take thy crovvne.

12 He that ſhal ouercome, I vvil make him a piller in the temple of my God: and he ſhal goe out no more: and I vvil vvrite vpon him the name of my God, and the name of the citie of my God, nevv Hieruſalem vvhich deſcendeth out of heauen from my God, and my nevv name.

13 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches.

14 And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicia vvrite, Thus ſaith Amen, the faithful and true vvitneſſe, * vvhich is the beginning of the creature of God.

15 I knovv thy vvorkes, that thou art neither colde, nor hote. I vvould thou vvere colde, or hote.

16 But becauſe thou art ″ lukevvarme, and neither cold nor hote, I vvil begin to vomite thee out of my mouth.

17 Becauſe thou ſaieſt, That I am riche, and enriched, and lacke nothing: and knovveſt not that thou art a miſer, and miſerable, and poore, and blinde, and naked.

18 I counſel thee to bye of me gold fire-tried, that thou maieſt be made riche: and maieſt be clothed in vvhite garmentes, that the confuſion of thy nakednes appeare not: and vvith eie ſalue anoint thine eies, that thou maieſt ſee.

19 I, * vvhom I loue, do rebuke and chaſtiſe. Be zelous therfore and doe penance.

20 Behold I ſtand at the doore and knocke. if any man ſhal heare my voice, and open the gate, I vvil enter in to him, and vvil ſuppe vvith him, and he vvith me.

21 He that ſhal ouercome, I vvil giue vnto him to ſitte vvith me in my throne: as I alſo haue ouercome, and haue ſitten vvith my father in his throne.

22 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit ſaith to the Churches.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

v. 3 1 Theſ. 5, 2. 2 Pet. 3, 10.
v. 3 Apo. 16, 15.
v. 4 ᶜ Such as haue not cōmitted deadly ſinne after baptiſme.
v. 4 ⸬ Note that there is in mā a vvorthineſſe of the ioyes of heauen, by holy life. & this is a cōmō ſpeache in holy Scripture, that man is worthy of God, of heauē, of ſaluatiō.
v. 7 Eſa. 22, 22.
v. 14 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ Eccleſiaſtici 24, 9. 14. Col. 1, 15.
v. 19 Prou. 3, 12. Heb. 12, 6.
v. 20 ⸬ God firſt calleth vpō man and knocketh at the doore of his hart: that is to ſay, offereth his grace▪ and it lieth in man to giue cōſent by free wil holpen alſo by his grace.

Annotations to Chapter 3

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III

5. He that ſhal ouercome.] In al theſe ſpeaches to diuers Biſhops and their Churches, he continually encourageth them to conſtancie in faith and good life, by ſetting before their eies the revvard of the next life. And yet the Caluiniſts vvould haue no man do good in reſpect of ſuch revvard. [Margin: Doing vvel in reſpect of revvard.]

9. Adore before thy feete.] You ſee this vvord of adoration is in Scriptures vſed for vvorſhip of creatures alſo, and that to fall before the feete of holy men or Angels for duety and reuerence, is not idolatrie, except the proper honour due to God, be giuen vnto them. See the Annotations vpō the 19 & 22 Chapter concerning the Apoſtles proſtration before the Angel. And the Aduerſaries euaſion, ſaying that the adoration vvas of God onely: and that, before the feete of the partie, ſignifieth nothing els but, in his preſence, is falſe and againſt the phraſe of Scriptures. as 4 Reg. 4. vvhere the Sunamite adored Eliſaeus, falling dovvne before his feete▪ and 4 Reg. 2. the ſonnes of the Prophets adored him in the ſame ſort. and here this adoration can not be meant but of the Biſhop or Angel of Philadelphia, becauſe he promiſeth this honour as a revvard, and as an effecte of his loue tovvardes him, ſaying▪ And they ſhal knovv that I haue loued thee. And that vvhich he ſaith in the 22 Chapter, I fel dovvne to adore before the feete of the Angel: the very ſame he expreſſeth thus in the 19 Chapters, I fel before his feete to adore him: making it al one, to adore before his feete, and to adore him. [Margin: Adoration of creatures, called Dulia.]

11. That no man take thy crovvn⟨illegible⟩.] That is, his crovvne of euerlaſting life and glorie, if he perſeuêre not to the end in faith & good vvorkes: othervviſe an other ſhal enter into his place, as Mathias did both to the dignitie of the Apoſtleſhip, & to the heauenly crovvne due for the vvel vſing and executing of the ſame function: vvhich Iudas might and ſhould haue had, if he had perſeuêred to the end. and as the Gentiles came into the grace and place of the Ievves. Other difficulties concerning this kinde of ſpeache are reſolued in Schoolemen, and are not here to be ſtoode vpon. [Margin: Perſeuêrance in good & continuing to the end.]

16. Lukevvarms.] Zeale and feruour is commendable, ſpecially in Gods cauſe: and the Neuters that be neither hote nor cold, are to Chriſt and his Church burdenous and lothſome, as lukevvarme vvater is to a mans ſtomake, prouoking him to vomite, and therfore he threateneth to void vp ſuch Neuters out of his mouth. [Margin: Neuters of indifferents in religion.]

Chapter 4

1. A doore being open in heauen, he ſavv one ſitting in a throne, 4 and round about him foure and tvventie ſeniors ſitting, 6 and the foure beaſtes here deſcribed▪ 9 vvhich vvith the 24 ſeniors continually glorified him that ſate in the throne.

1 AFTER theſe thinges I looked, and behold a doore open in heauen, and the firſt voice which I heard, vvas as it vvere of a trompet ſpeaking vvith me, ſaying, Come vp hither, and I vvil ſhevv thee the thinges vvhich muſt be done quickly after theſe.

2 Immediatly I vvas in ſpirit: and behold there vvas a ſeate ſette in heauen, and vpon the ſeate one ſitting.

3 And he that ſate, vvas like in ſight, to the Iaſper ſtone, and the Sardine: and there vvas a raine-bovv round about the ſeate, like to the ſight of an Emeraud.

4 And round about the ſeate, foure and tvventie ſeates: and vpon the thrones, foure and twentie ſeniors ſitting, clothed about in vvhite garmentes, and on their heades crovvnes of gold.

5 And from the throne proceeded lightenings, and voices, and thunders: and ſeuen lampes burning before the throne, vvhich are the ſeuen Spirites of God.

6 And in the ſight of the ſeate, as it vvere a ſea of glaſſe like to cryſtall: and in the middes of the ſeate and round about the ſeate foure beaſtes ful of eies before and behind.

7 And the firſt beaſt, like to a lion: and the ſecond beaſt, like to a calfe: and the third beaſt, hauing the face as it vvere of a man: and the fourth beaſt, like to an egle flying.

8 And the foure beaſtes, euery one of them had ſixe vvinges round about: and vvithin they are ful of eies▪ and they had no reſt day and night, ſaying, ″ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God omnipotent, vvhich vvas, and vvhich is, and vvhich ſhal come.

9 And vvhen thoſe beaſtes gaue glorie and honour and benediction to him that ſitteth vpon the throne, that liueth for euer and euer:

10 the foure and tvventie ſeniors fel dovvne before him that ſitteth in the throne, and adored him that liueth for euer and euer, and caſt their crownes before the throne, ſaying,

11 Thou art vvorthie O Lord our God to receiue glorie and honour and povver: becauſe thou haſt created al thinges, and for thy vvil they vvere and haue been created.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

Heading The 2 part. firſt, the booke with 7 ſeales: ſecōdly, 7 Angels with trumpets.
v. 1 THE 2 VISION.
v. 1 In which is repreſented vnto vs the glorie and maieſtie of God in heauen, and the inceſſant honour & praiſes of al Angels and Saincts aſsiſting him. Vvhich is reſembled in the daily honour done to him by al orders and ſortes of holy men in the Church militant alſo.
v. 6 ⸬ Theſe foure beaſtes, and the like deſcribed Ezaech, 1, by the iudgement of the holy Doctors ſignifie the 4 Euangeliſtes, and in them al true preachers▪ the man, Mathevv. the liō, Marke: the calle, Luke: the egle, Iohn? See the cauſes hereof in the Summe of the 4 Euangeliſt. pag. 1. S. Gregoin 1. Ezech.
v. 8 Eſ. 6, 3.

Annotations to Chapter 4

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IIII.

8. Holy, holy. holy.] This vvord is thriſe repeated here, and Eſa. 6: and to the imitation therof, in the ſeruice of the holy Church, at Te Deum, and at Maſſe, ſpecially in the Preface next before the great myſteries, for the honour of the three perſons in the B. Trinitie, and that the Church militant may ioyne vvith the triumphant, and vvith al the orders of Angels, vvho alſo are preſent at the conſecration, and doe ſeruice there to our common Lord and Maiſter. as S. Chryſoſtom vvriteth li. 6 de Sacerdotie. and h⟨illegible⟩. 1. de verb. Eſa. to. 1. The Greekes call it, the hymne Triſagies, that is, Thriſe holy. [Margin: The Sanctus thriſe repeated.]

Chapter 5

4. S. Iohn vveeping, becauſe no man could open the booke ſealed vvith ſeuen ſeales: ⟨illegible⟩ the Lambe that vvas ſlaine, opened it: vvhich being done, 8 the foure beaſtes and foure and tvventie ſeniors, vvith an innumerable multitude of Angels & al creatures, did glorifie him excedingly.

1 AND I ſavv in the right hand of him that ſate vpon the throne, a booke vvritten vvithin and vvithout, ſealed vvith ſeuen ſeales.

2 And I ſavv a ſtrong Angel, preaching vvith a loude voice, Vvho is vvorthie to opē the booke, & to looſe the ſeales thereof?

3 And no man vvas able neither in heauen nor in earth, nor vnder the earth, to open the booke, nor looke on it.

4 And I vvept much becauſe no man vvas found vvorthie to open the booke, nor to ſee it.

5 And one of the ſeniors ſaid to me, Vveepe not: behold the * lion of the tribe of Iuda, the roote of Dauid, hath vvonne, to open the booke, and to looſe the ſeuen ſeales thereof.

6 And I ſavv, and behold in the middes of the throne and of the foure beaſtes and in the middes of the ſeniors, a Lambe ſtanding as it were ſlaine, hauing ſeuen hornes & ſeuen eies: vvhich are the ſeuen ſpirites of God, ſent into al the earth.

7 And he came, and receiued the booke out of the right hand of him that ſate in the throne.

8 And vvhen he had opened the booke, the foure beaſtes and the foure and tvventie ſeniors fel before the Lambe, hauing euery one harpes, and golden vials ful of odours, which are ″ the praiers of ſainctes:

9 and they ſang a nevv canticle, ſaying, Thou art vvorthie o Lord to take the booke, and to open the ſeales thereof: becauſe thou vvaſt ſlaine, and haſt redeemed vs to God in thy bloud out of euery tribe and tonge and people and nation,

10 and * haſt made vs to our God ″ a kingdom' and prieſtes, and vve ſhal reigne vpon the earth.

11 And I looked, and heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne, and of the beaſtes & of the ſeniors: and the number of them vvas * thouſandes of thouſandes,

12 ſaying vvith a loud voice, The Lambe that vvas ſlaine, is vvorthie to receiue povver, and diuinitie', and vviſedom, & ſtrength, and honour, and glorie, and benediction. ⊢

13 And ″ euery creature that is in heauen, and vpon the earth, and vnder the earth, and that are in the ſea, and that are therein: al did I heare ſaying, * To him that ſitteth in the throne, & to the Lambe, benediction and honour and glorie and povver for euer and euer.

14 And the foure beaſtes ſaid, Amen. And the foure and tvventie ſeniors fel on their faces: and adored him that liueth for euer and euer. ⊢

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

v. 1 THE 3 VISION.
v. 1 ⸬ S. Gregorie taketh it to be the booke of holy Scripture. li. 4. Dialog. c. 42.
v. 3 ⸬ He ſpeaketh not of the damned in Hel, of vvhom there could be no queſtion: but of the faithful in Abrahams boſome, & in Purgatorie.
v. 5 ᶜ So did Iacob (Gen. 49.) call Chriſt▪ for his kingly fortitude in ſubduing the vvorld vnto him.
v. 5 Gen. 49, 9.
v. 6 ᵇ The Epiſtle vpon al-Hallovves eue.
v. 6 ⸬ So Chriſt is called for that he is the immaculate hoſt or ſacrifice for our ſinnes.
v. 9 ⸬ This maketh againſt the Caluiniſtes vvho are not cōtent to ſay that vve merite not, but that Chriſt merited not for him ſelf. Calu. Philip. 2. v. 9.
v. 9 1 Pet. 2.
v. 10 ` kinges▪
v. 11 The Epiſtle in a votiue Maſſe of the holy Angels.
v. 11 Dan. 7. 10.
v. 12 ` riches▪
v. 13 ⸬ Al the ſaid creatures are bound to giue honour, not onely to God, but to Chriſt as man, and our redeemer: & ſo they here doe.
v. 13 Apoc. 4, 11.

Annotations to Chapter 5

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. V.

8. The praiers of Saincts.] Hereby it is plaine that the Saincts in heauen offer vp the praiers of faithful and holy perſons in earth (called here ſaincts, and in Scripture often) vnto Chriſt. And among ſo many diuine & vnſearcheable myſteries ſet dovvne vvithout expoſition, it pleaſed God yet, that the Apoſtle him ſelf ſhould open this one point vnto vs, that theſe odours be the laudes and praiers of the faithful, aſcending and offered vp to God as incenſe, by the Saincts in heauen, that ſo the Proteſtants may haue no excuſe of their errour. That the Saincts haue no knovvledge of our affaires or deſires. [Margin: The Saincts in heauen offer our praiers to God.]

10. A kingdom and prieſts.] To ſerue God and ſubdue vices and ſinnes, is to reigne or to be a king ſpiritually, likevviſe to offer vnto him the ſacrifices of good vvorkes, is to be a prieſt after a ſort: though neither the one nor the other in proper ſpeache. See the Annotation before Chap. 1. v. 6. [Margin: Spiritual kings and Prieſts.]

13. Euery creature.] He meaneth the creatures in heauen, as Angels and Saincts. the holy perſons in earth, and thoſe that vvere in Limbo, or be in Purgatorie (for of the damned in hel he can not ſpeake in this caſe:) laſtly, of the peoples in Ilands (here called the ſea) vvhich the Prophets vſe often to name ſeuerally, vvhen they foretel the ſpreading of Chriſts glorie through the vvorld. as Eſa. c. 49. Heare ye ⟨illegible⟩andes and you people a far of▪ &c. [Margin: Limbus Patrum and Purgatorie.]

Chapter 6

1 Foure ſeales of the ſeuen being opened, there folovv diuerſe effectes againſt the earth. 9 vvhen the fifth ſeale vvas opened, the ſoules of martyrs deſire that the iudgement may be haſtened: 12 and at the opening of the ſixt, there are ſignes ſhovved of the iudgement to come.

1 AND I ſavv that the Lambe had opened one of the ſeuen ſeales, and I heard one of the foure beaſtes, ſaying, as it vvere the voice of thunder, Come, and ſee.

2 And I ſavv: And behold a vvhite horſe, and he that ſate vpon him had a bovv, and there vvas a crovvne giuen him, and he vvent forth conquering that he might conquer.

3 And vvhen he had opened the ſecond ſeale, I heard the ſecond beaſt, ſaying, Come, & ſee.

4 And there vvent forth an other horſe, redde: and he that ſate thereon, to him it vvas giuen that he ſhould take peace from the earth, and that they ſhould kil one an other, and a great ſvvord vvas giuen to him.

5 And vvhen he had opened the third ſeale, I heard the third beaſt, ſaying, Come, and ſee. And behold a blacke horſe, and he that ſate vpon him, had a balance in his hand.

6 And I heard as it vvere a voice in the middes of the foure beaſtes ſaying: Tvvo poundes of vvheate for a penie, and thriſe tvvo poundes of barley for a penie, and vvine and oile hurt thou not.

7 And vvhen he had opened the fourth ſeale, I heard a voice of the fourth beaſt, ſaying, Come, & ſee.

8 And behold a pale horſe: and he that ſate vpon him, his name vvas death, and hel folovved him. and povver vvas giuen to him ouer the foure partes of the earth, to kil vvith ſvvord, vvith famine, and vvith death, and vvith beaſtes of the earth.

9 And vvhen he had opened the fifth ſeale: I ſavv ″ vnder the altar the ſoules of them that vvere ſlaine for the vvord of God, and for the teſtimonie vvhich they had.

10 ″ and they cried vvith a loude voice, ſaying, Hovv long Lord, holy & true, iudgeſt thou not and ″ reuengeſt thou not our bloud of them that dvvel on the earth?

11 And vvhite ſtoles vvere giuen, to euery one of them one: and it vvas ſaid to them, that they ſhould reſt yet a litle time, ″ til their fellovv-ſeruātes be complete, and their brethren, that are to be ſlaine euen as they.

12 And I ſavv, vvhen he had opened the ſixt ſeale, and behold there vvas made a great earth-quake, and the ſunne became blacke as it vvere ſacke cloth of heare: and the vvhole moone became as bloud:

13 and the ſtarres from heauen fel vpō the earth, as the figge tree caſteth her greene figges when it is ſhaken of a great vvinde:

14 and heauen departed as a booke folded together: and euery hil, and ilandes vvere moued out of their places.

15 And the kinges of the earth, & princes, and, tribunes, and the riche, and the ſtrong, and euery bond-man, and free-man * hid them ſelues in the dennes and the rockes of mountaines.

16 And they ſay to the mountaines and the rockes: * Fall vpon vs, and hide vs from the face of him that ſitteth vpon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe:

17 becauſe the great day of their wrath is come, and vvho ſhal be able to ſtand?

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

v. 11 ⸬ This one ſtole ſignifieth the glorie or bliſſe of the ſoule onely. but at the day of iudgement they ſhal haue it doubled by adding the glorie of their body alſo.
v. 12 ᶜ The tribulation that ſhal fall in the time of Antichriſt.
v. 16 Oſ⟨illegible⟩e. 10.
v. 16 Lu. 23, 50.

Annotations to Chapter 6

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. VI.

9. Vnder the altar.] Chriſt as man (no doubt) is this altar, vnder vvhich the ſoules of al Martyrs liue in heauen, expecting their bodies, as Chriſt their head hath his body there already. And for correſpondence to their place of ſtate in heauen, the Church ſaieth commonly their bodies alſo or relikes neere or vnder the altars, vvhere our Sauiour: body is offered in the holy Maſſe: and hath a ſpecial prouiſo that no altars be erected or conſecrated vvithout ſome part of a Saincts body or relikes. Con⟨illegible⟩. Aſrican, can. 50. Carthag. 5. can. 14. See S. Hierom cont. vigilant c. 3. S. Auguſtine de ciuit. li. 8. c. 27. S. Gregorie li. 5. ep. 50. li. 1. ep. 52. li. 2 ep. 58. Vvher vnto the Prophet ſeemeth here to allude, making their ſoules alſo to haue their being in heauen, as it vvere vnder the altar. But for this purpoſe note vvel the vvordes of S. Auguſtine (or vvhat other auncient writer ſoeuer vvas the author thereof) Ser. 11 de Sanctis. Vnder the altar (ſaith he) of God I ſavv the ſoules of the ſlaine. What is more reuerent or honorable, then to reſt vnder that altar on vvhich ſacrifice is done to God, and in vvhich our Lord is the Prieſt: as it is vvritten, Thou art a Prieſt according to the order of Melchiſedec? Rightly do the ſoules of the iuſt reſt vnder the altar, becauſe vpon the altar our Lordes body is offered. neither vvithout cauſe do the iuſt there call for reuenge of their bloud, vvhere alſo the bloud of Chriſt is ſhed for ſinners. and many other goodly vvordes to that purpoſe. [Margin: Conſecration of altars vvith Sainct⟨illegible⟩ relikes.]

This place alſo the vvicked heretike Vigilantius (as S. Hierom vvriting againſt him vvitneſſeth c. 2) abuſed to proue, that the ſoules of Martyrs and other Saincts vvere included in ſome certaine place, that they could not be preſent at their bodies and monuments (vvhere Chriſtian people vſed in the primitiue Church to pray vnto them, as Catholike men doe yet) nor be vvhere they liſt, or vvhere men pray vnto them. To vvhich the holy doctor anſvvereth at large, that they be vvhereſoeuer Chriſt is according to his humanitie: for vnder that altar they be. Part of his vvordes be theſe, that you may ſee hovv this bleſſed father refuted in that Heretike the Caluiniſtes ſo long before they vvere borne. Dcſt thou (ſaith he) preſ⟨illegible⟩ribe ſavves to God? Doeſt thou fe⟨illegible⟩ter the Apoſtles, that they may be kept in priſon til the day of iudgement, and be kept from their Lord, of vvhom it is vvritten, They folovv the Lambe vvhither ſoeuer he goeth. If the Lambe be in euery place, then they that he vvith the Lambe, muſt be euery vvhere. And if the diuel and vvicked ſpirites gadding abrode in the vvorld vvith paſsing celeritie, be preſent euery vvhere: ſhal holy Martyrs after the ſheading of their bloud, be kept cloſe vnder an altar, that they can not ſturre out from thence? So anſvvereth this learned doctor. [Margin: Saincts be preſent at their tombes and relikes. · The Caluiniſtes hereſie concerning the Saincts conſuted by S. Hierom long agoe. · Apoc. 14.]

Vvhich miſliketh our Caluiniſtes ſo much, that they charge him of great errour, in that he ſaith, Chriſt according to his humanitie is euery vvhere, as though he vvere an Vbiquetarie Proteſtant. Vvhere, if they had any iudgement, they might perceiue that he meaneth not, that Chriſt or his Saincts ſhould be perſonally preſent at once in euery place alike, as God is: but that their motion, ſpeede, and agilitie to be vvhere they liſt, is incomparable, and that their povver and operation is accordingly. vvhich they may learne to be the holy doctors meaning, by the vvordes that folovv of the Diuel and his miniſters: vvhō he affirmeth to be euery vvhere no othervviſe but by their exceding celeritie of being and vvorking miſcheefe novv in one place, novv in an other, and that in a moment. For though they be ſpirites, yet are they not euery vvhere at once according to their eſſence. And for our nevv Diuines it vvere a hard thing to determine, hovv long Satan (that told our Lord he had circuited the earth) vvas in his iourney, and in the particular conſideration and tentation of Iob: and hovv many men he aſſaulted in that his one circuite. No, no. ſuch curious companions knovv nothing, nor beleeue nothing, but that they ſee vvith corporal eies, and teach nothing but the vvay to infidelitie. [Margin: They vnlearnedly accuſe S. Hierom a⟨illegible⟩ an Vbiquiſte. · Hovv S. Hierō ſaith, Chriſt & his Saincts are euery vvhere. · Iob. 1.]

10. And they cried.] S. Hierom alſo againſt the ſaid Vigilantius reporteth, that he vſed an argument againſt the praiers of Saincts out of this place, for that theſe Martyrs cried for reuenge, and could not obtaine. But vve vvil report his vvordes, that you may ſee how like one heretike is to an other, theſe of our daies to thoſe of old. Thou ſaieſt in thy booke (ſaith S. Hierom c. 3.) that vvhiles vve be aliue, one of vs may pray for an other: but after vve be dead, no mans praier ſhal be heard for an other: ſpecially ſeing the Martyrs aſking reuenge of their bloud, could not obtaine. So ſaid the Heretike. Againſt vvhich the holy Doctor maketh a long refu⟨illegible⟩ation, prouing that they pray much more after they be in heauen, then they did here in earth: and that they ſhal be much ſooner heard of God, then vvhen they vvere in the vvorld. [Margin: That Saincts pray for vs, S. Hierom proueth againſt the Heretike Vigilantius.]

But for the Heretikes argument framed out of theſe vvordes of the Apocalypſe thus, Theſe Martyrs did not obtaine, ⟨illegible⟩ Saincts do not pray for vs: it vvas ſo friuolous, and the antecedent ſo manifeſtly falſe, that he vouchſaued not to ſtand about it. For it is plaine that the Martyrs here vvere heard, and that their petition ſhould be fulfilled in time appointed by God (vvherevnto they did and do alvvaies conforme them ſelues:) for it vvas ſaid vnto them, That they ſhould reſt yet a litle time, til &c. And that Martyrs praiers be heard in this caſe, our Sauiour teſtifieth Luc 18 ſaying, And vvil not God reuenge his elect that crie to him day and night? I ſay to you, he vvil quickly reuenge them. And if God do not heare the Saincts ſometime nor graunt their requeſtes, is it therfore conſequent that they do not or may not pray? Then Chriſt him ſelf ſhould not haue praied his father to remoue the bitter cuppe of death from him, becauſe that petition vvas not graunted.

10. Reuengeſt thou not?] They do not deſire reuenge vpon their enemies for hatred, but of charitie and zeale of Gods honour, praying that his enemies and the perſecutors of his Church and Saincts, that vvil not repent, may be confounded: and that our Lord would accelerate his general iudgement, that ſo they might attaine the perfect crowne of glorie promiſed vnto them, both in body and ſoule: vvhich is to deſire the reſurrection of their bodies, vvhich then ſhal triumph perfectly and fully ouer the perſecutors that ſo cruelly handled the bodies of the elect, vvhich ſhal then appeare glorious to the enemies cōfuſion. [Margin: Hovv Martyrs crie for reuenge.]

11. Til their fellovv ſeruantes be complete.] There is a certaine number that God hath ordained to die for the teſtimonie of truth and the Catholike faith, for conformitie of the members to the head CHRIST our cheefe Martyr, and til that number be accompliſhed, the general condemnation of the vvicked perſecutors ſhal not come, nor the general reward of the elect.

Chapter 7

The earth being to be puniſhed, 3 they are commaunded to ſaue them that are ſigned in their foreheads: 4 vvhich are deſcribed and numbered both of the Ievves and Gentiles, bleſsing God. 13 Of them that vvere clothed in vvhite ſtoles or long robes.

1 AFTER theſe things I ſavv foure Angels ſtāding vpon the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure vvindes of the earth that they ſhould not blovv vpon the land, nor vpon the ſea, nor on any tree.

2 And I ſavv an other Angel aſcending from the riſing of the ſunne, hauing the ſigne of the liuing God: & he cried vvith a loud voice to the foure Angels, to vvhom it vvas giuen to hurt the earth and the ſea,

3 ſaying, Hurt not the earth and the ſea, nor the trees, til vve ſigne the ſeruants of our God in their foreheades.

4 And I heard the number of them that vvere ſigned, an hundred fourtie foure thouſand vvere ſigned, of euery tribe of the children of Iſraël.

5 Of the tribe of Iuda, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Ruben, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of God, tvvelue thouſand ſigned.

6 Of the tribe of Aſer, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Nephthali, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Manaſſes, tvvelue thouſand ſigned.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Leui, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Iſſachar, tvvelue thouſand ſigned.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Ioſeph, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Beniamin, tvvelue thouſand ſigned.

9 After theſe things I ſavv a great multitude vvhich no man could number, of al nations, and tribes, and peoples, & tonges: ſtanding before the throne, and in the ſight of the Lambe, clothed in vvhite robes, and palmes in their hands:

10 And they cried vvith a lovvd voice, ſaying, Saluation to our God vvhich ſitteth vpon the throne, and to the Lambe.

11 and al the Angels ſtoode in the circuite of the throne and of the ſeniors and of the foure beaſtes: and they fal in the ſight of the throne vpon their faces, and adored God,

12 ſaying, Amen. Benediction, and glorie, and vviſedom, & thākesgiuing, honour and povver, and ſtrength to our God for euer and euer. Amen. ⊢

13 And one of the ſeniors anſvvered, & ſaid to me, Theſe that are clothed in the vvhite robes, vvho be they? & whence came they?

14 And I ſaid to him, My Lord thou knovveſt. And he ſaid to me, Theſe are they vvhich are come out of great tribulation, and haue vvaſhed their robes, and made them vvhite in the bloud of the Lambe.

15 therfore they are before the throne of God, and they ſerue him day and night in his temple: and he that ſitteth in the throne, ſhal dvvel ouer them.

16 * they ſhal no more hunger nor thirſt, neither ſhal the ſunne fall vpon them, nor any heate.

17 becauſe the Lambe vvhich is in the middes of the throne, ſhal rule them, and ſhal conduct them to the liuing fountaines of vvaters, and * God vvil vvipe avvay al teares from their eies. ⊢

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

v. 2 ᵇ The Epiſtle vpon Al hallovves day.
v. 3 ⸬ It is an alluſion to the ſigne of the Croſſe vvhich the faithful beare in their foreheads, to ſhevv they be not aſhamed of Chriſt. S. Auguſt. tract. 43. in Io.
v. 4 ᶜ Of al the tribes put together, ſo many, 144000.
v. 5 He ſignifieth by theſe thouſands and the multitude folowing al the elect: but the elect of the Ievves, to be in a certaine number: the elect of the Gentiles to be innumerable.
v. 9 ᶜ The elect of the Gentiles.
v. 9 ⸬ Boughes of the palme tree be tokens of triumph and victorie.
v. 13 The Epiſtle for many Martyrs.
v. 14 The glorie of Martyrs.
v. 15 Eſa. 49, 10.
v. 17 Eſ. 25, 8.
v. 17 Apo. 21, 4.

Chapter 8

1 The ſeuenth ſeale being opened, there appeare Angels vvith trempets: 5 and vvhen an other Angel povvred out fire taken from the altar, vpon the earth, there folovv diuers tempeſtes. 7 In like maner, vvhiles foure Angels of the ſeuen ſound their trempets, there fall ſundrie plagues.

1 AND vvhen he had opened the ſeuenth ſeale, there vvas made ſilence in heauen, as it vvere halfe an houre.

2 And I ſavv ſeuen Angels ſtanding in the ſight of God: and there vvere giuen to them ſeuen trompets.

3 And an other Angel came, and ſtoode before the altar, hauing a golden cenſar: and there vvere giuen to him many incenſes, that he ſhould giue of the praiers of al ſainctes vpon the altar of gold, vvhich is before the throne of God.

4 And the ſmoke of the incēſes of the praiers of the ſainctes aſcended from the hand of the Angel before God.

5 And the Angel tooke the cenſar, and filled it, of the fire of the altar, and caſt it on the earth, and there vvere made thunders & voices and lightenings, and a great earthquake.

6 And the ſeuē Angels vvhich had the ſeuen trompets, prepared them ſelues to ſound vvith the trompet.

7 And the firſt Angel ſounded vvith the trompet, and there vvas made haile and fire, mingled in bloud, and it vvas caſt on the earth, & the third part of the earth was burnt, & the third part of trees vvas burnt, and al greene graſſe vvas burnt.

8 And the ſecond Angel ſounded vvith the trompet: and as it vvere a great mountaine burning vvith fire, vvas caſt into the ſea, and the third part of the ſea vvas made bloud:

9 and the third part of thoſe creatures died, vvhich had liues in the ſea, and the third part of the ſhippes periſhed.

10 And the third Angel ſounded vvith the trompet, and a great ſtarre fel from heauen, burning as it vvere a torche, and it fel on the third part of the floudes, and on the fountaines of vvaters:

11 and the name of the ſtarre is called vvormevvod. and the third part of the vvaters was made into worme wod: and many men died of the vvaters, becauſe they vvere made bitter.

12 And the fourth Angel ſounded vvith the trompet, and the third part of the ſunne vvas ſmitten, and the third part of the moone, and the third part of the ſtarres, ſo that the third part of them vvas darkened, and of the day there ſhined not the third part, and of the night in like maner.

13 And I looked, and heard the voice of one egle flying through the middes of heauen, ſaying vvith a loud voice, Vvo, vvo, vvo to the inhabiters on the earth: becauſe of the reſt of the voices of the three Angels vvhich vvere to ſound vvith the trompet.

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

v. 1 THE 4 VISION.
v. 3 ⸬ The Prieſt ſtanding at the altar praying & offering for the people in the time of the high myſteries, Chriſt him ſelf alſo being preſent vpon the altar, is a figure of this thing, & therevnto he alludeth.
v. 4 ᶜ If this be S. Michael or any Angel, and not Chriſt him ſelf, as ſome take it, Angels offer vp the praiers of the faithful, as the 24 Elders did chap. 5. for this vvvord, Saincts, is taken here for the holy perſons on earth, as often in the Scripture: though it be not againſt the Scriptures, that the inferior Sainct or Angel in heauē ſhould offer their praiers to God by their ſuperiors there. But hereby vve cōclude againſt the Proteſtants, that it derogateth not from Chriſt, that Angels or Saincts offer our praiers to God▪ as alſo it is plaine of Raphael Tob. 12, 12.

Chapter 9

The fifth Angel ſounding the tr⟨illegible⟩mpet, a ſtarre falleth. 3 The iſſuing forth of locuſtes from the ſmoke of the deepe pitte to vex⟨illegible⟩ men, 7 and the deſcription of them. 13 The ſixt Angel ſounding, foure Angels are let looſe, 18 vvhich vvith a great troupe of horſemen do murder the third part of men.

1 AND the fifth Angel ſounded vvith the trompet, and I ſavv a ſtarre to haue fallen from heauen vpon the earth, and there vvas giuen to him the key of the pitte of bottomles depth.

2 And he opened the pitte of the bottomles depth: and the ſmoke of the pitte aſcended, as the ſmoke of a great fornace: and the ſunne vvas darkened & the aier vvith the ſmoke of the pitte.

3 And from the ſmoke of the pitte there iſſued forth locuſtes into the earth▪ and povver vvas giuen to them, as the ſcorpions of the earth haue povver:

4 and it vvas commaunded them that they ſhould not hurt the graſſe of the earth ⟨illegible⟩ not any greene thing, nor any tree: but onely men vvhich haue not the ſigne of God in their foreheads.

5 and it vvas giuen vnto them that they ſhould not kil them: but that they ſhould be tormented fiue monethes: and their tormentes as the tormentes of a ſcorpion vvhen he ſtriketh a man.

6 And * in thoſe daies men ſhal ſeeke for death, and ſhal not finde it: and they ſhal deſire to die, & death ſhal flee from them.

7 And the ſimilitudes of the locuſtes, like to horſes ″ prepared into battel: and vpō their heades as it vvere crovvnes like to gold: & their faces as the faces of men.

8 And they had heare as the heare of vvomen: & their teeth vvere as of lions.

9 And they had habbergions as habbergions of yron, and the voice of their vvinges as the voice of the chariotes of many horſes running into battel.

10 and they had tailes like to ſcorpions, and ſtinges vvere in their tailes: and their povver vvas to hurt men fiue monethes.

11 and they had ouer them a king, the Angel of the bottomles depth, vvhoſe name in Hebrevv is Abaddon, and in Greeke Apollyon: in Latin hauing the name Exterminans.

12 One vvoe is gone, & behold two vvoes come yet after theſe.

13 And the ſixt Angel ſounded vvith the trompet: and I heard one voice from the foure hornes of the golden altar, vvhich is before the eies of God,

14 ſaying to the ſixt Angel which had the trōpet, Looſe the foure Angels which are boūd in the great riuer Euphrates.

15 And the foure Angels vvere looſed, vvho vvere prepared for an houre, and a day and a moneth and a yere: that they might kil the third part of men.

16 And the number of the armie of horſemen vvas tvventie thouſand times ten thouſand. And I heard the nūber of them.

17 And ſo I ſavv the horſes in the viſion: & they that ſate vpō them, had habbergiōs of fire and of hyacinth and brimſtone▪ & the heades of the horſes were as it were the heads of lions: & from their mouth procedeth fire, & ſmoke, and brimſtone.

18 And by theſe three plagues vvas ſlaine the third part of men, of the fire and of the ſmoke and of the brimſtone, vvhich proceded from their mouth.

19 For the povver of the horſes is in their mouth, and in their tailes▪ for, their tailes be like to ſerpents, hauing heads: and in theſe they hurt.

20 And the reſt of men vvhich vvere not ſlaine vvith theſe plagues, neither haue done penance from the vvorkes of their hands, not to adore Deuils and ″ Idols of gold and ſiluer and braſſe and ſtone and vvood, vvhich neither can ſee, not heare, nor vvalke,

21 & haue not done penāce from their murders, nor from their ſorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their theftes.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

v. 1 Moſt vnderſtand al this of Heretikes.
v. 1 ⸬ The fall of an Arch heretike, as Arius, Luther, Caluin, out of the Church of God. Which haue the key of Hel to open & bring forth al the old condemned hereſies buried before in the depth.
v. 3 ᶜ Innumerable pe⟨illegible⟩y heretikes folowing their Maiſters after the opening & the ſmoke of the bottomleſſe pit.
v. 6 Apoc. 6, 16.
v. 10 The cheefe Maiſter of heretikes.
v. 11 ⟨non-Latin script⟩, In Engliſh, Deſtroier.
v. 20 ᶜ Pagans, Infidels, and ſinful impenitent Catholikes muſt be condemned alſo.
v. 20 ⸬ This phraſe being the like both in greeke and latin, ſignifieth ſuch ſorowful & penal repentance as cauſeth a man to forſake his former ſinnes and depart from them. ⟨non-Latin script⟩. See the ſame phraſe. c. 2, 21, 22. & Act. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 22.

Annotations to Chapter 9

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. IX.

4. Nor any greene thing.] The Heretikes neuer hurt or ſeduce the greene tree, that is, ſuch as haue a liuing faith vvorking by charitie, but commonly they corrupt him in faith vvho ſhould othervviſe haue periſhed for il life, and him that is reprobate, that hath neither the ſigne of the Croſſe (vvhich is Gods marke) in the forehead of his body, nor the note of election in his ſoule. [Margin: Vvho are ſeduced by Heretikes.]

7. Prepared into battel.] Heretikes being euer ready to contend, do pretend victorie, and counterfeit gold: in ſhape as men, as ſmothe and delicate as vvomen, their tongues and pennes ful of gall and venim: their hartes obdurate: ful of noiſe and ſhuffling: their doctrine as peſtiſerous and ful of poiſon, as the taile and ſting of a ſcorpion, but they endure for a litle ſeaſon. [Margin: The manifold hypocriſie of Heretikes.]

20. Idols of gold.] Here againe the nevv Tranſlatours abuſe the people, for idols ſaying images: the place being plainely againſt the pourtiates of the Heathen Gods, vvhich are here and in the Pſalme 95 called, damenia, Diuels. [Margin: Her⟨illegible⟩t. tranſlation.]

Chapter 10

An other ſtrong Angel crying out, 3 ſeuen thunders do ſpeake. 6 The Angel ſweareth that there ſhal be time no more, but at the voice of the ſeuenth Angel the myſterie ſhal be fully accompliſhed, 9 He giueth Iohn a booke to deuoure.

1 AND I ſavv an other Angel, ſtrong, deſcending from heauen, clothed vvith a cloude, and a raine-bovv on his head, and his face vvas as the ſunne, and his feete as a piller' of fire.

2 and he had in his hand a litle booke opened: and he put his right foote vpon the ſea, and his left vpon the land.

3 and he cried vvith a loude voice, as vvhen a lion roareth. And vvhen he had cried, the ſeuen thunders ſpake their voices.

4 And vvhen the ſeuen thunders had ſpoken their voices, I vvas about to vvrite: and I heard a voice from heauen ſaying to me: Signe the things vvhich the ſeuen thunders haue ſpoken: and vvrite them not.

5 And * the Angel vvhich I ſavv ſtanding vpon the ſea and vpon the land, lifted vp his hand to heauen,

6 and he ſvvare by him that liueth for euer and euer, that created heauen and thoſe things vvhich are in it: and the earth, and thoſe things vvhich are in it: and the ſea, and thoſe things vvhich are in it: That there ſhal be time no more:

7 but in the daies of the voice of the ſeuenth Angel, vvhen the trompet ſhal beginne to ſound, the myſterie of God ſhal be conſummate, as he hath euangelized by his ſeruantes the Prophetes.

8 And I heard a voice from heauen againe ſpeaking with me, and ſaying: Goe, and take the booke that is opened, of the hand of the Angel ſtanding vpon the ſea and vpon the land.

9 And I vvent to the Angel, ſaying vnto him, that he ſhould giue me the booke. And he ſaid to me, * Take the booke, and deuoure it: and it ſhal make thy belly to be bitter, but in thy mouth it ſhal be ſvveete as it vvere honie.

10 And I tooke the booke of the hand of the Angel, and denoured it: & it vvas in my mouth as it vvere honie, ſvveete▪ and vvhen I had deuoured it, my bellie vvas made bitter,

11 and he ſaid to me, Thou muſt againe prophecie to Nations, and peoples, and tonges, and many kinges.

Marginal notes to Chapter 10

v. 1 CHRIST the valiant Angel is here deſcribed.
v. 1 ` pillers
v. 4 ⸬ Many great myſteries and truthes are to be preſerued in the Church, vvhich for cauſes knovven to Gods prouidence are not to be vvritten in the booke of holy Scripture.
v. 5 Dan. 12, 7.
v. 5 ᶜ This vvas the maner of taking an othe by the true God. as ⟨illegible⟩ 32.
v. 9 Ezec. 3, 1
v. 9 ᶜ By earneſt ſtudie and meditation.
v. 9 ⸬ Svveete in the reading, but in fulfilling, ſomevvhat bitter, becauſe it cōmaūdeth workes of penance and ſuffering of tribulatiōs.

Chapter 11

S. Iohn meaſuring the Temple, 3 heareth of tvvo vvitneſſes that ſhal preache: 7 vvhom the beaſt cōming vp from the ſea ſhal kil, 12 but they riſing againe aſcend into heauen, 13 and ſeuen thouſand perſons are ſlaine vvith an earthquake: 15 and as the ſound of the ſeuenth Angel, the ſoure and tvventie ſeniors giue praiſe, and thankes to God.

1 AND there vvas giuen me a reede like vnto a rodde: and it vvas ſaid to me, Ariſe, and meaſure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that adore in it.

2 but the court vvhich is vvithout the temple, caſt forth, & meaſure not that: becauſe it is giuen to the Gentiles, & they ſhal treade vnder foote the holy citie two and fourtie monethes:

3 and I vvil giue to ″ my tvvo vvitneſſes, and they ſhal prophecie a thouſand tvvo hundred ſixtie daies, clothed vvith facke-clothes.

4 Theſe are the two oliue trees and the tvvo candleſtickes that ſtand in the ſight of the Lord of the earth.

5 And if any man vvil hurt them, fire ſhal come forth out of their mouthes, and ſhal deuoure their enemies. and if any man vvil hurt them: ſo muſt he be ſlaine.

6 Theſe haue power to ſhut heauen, that it raine not in the daies of their prophecie: and they haue povver ouer the vvaters to turne them into bloud, and to ſtrike the earth vvith al plague as often as they vvil.

7 And vvhen they ſhal haue finiſhed their teſtimonie: the beaſt vvhich aſcended from the depth, ſhal make vvarre againſt them, and ſhal ouercome them, and kil them.

8 And their bodies ſhal lie in the ſtreates of the great citie, vvhich is called ſpiritually Sodom and Aegypt, vvhere their Lord alſo vvas crucified.

9 And there ſhal of tribes, and peoples, and tonges, and Gentiles, ſee their bodies for three daies and a halfe: and they ſhal not ſuffer their bodies to be laid in monuments.

10 and the inhabitants of the earth ſhal be glad vpon them, and make merie: and ſhal ſend giftes one to an other, becauſe theſe tvvo prophets tormented them that dvvelt vpon the earth.

11 And after three daies and a halfe, the ſpirit of life from God entred into them. And they ſtoode vpon their ſeete, and great feare fel vpon them that ſavv them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heauen ſaying to them, Come vp hither. And they vvent vp into heauen in a cloude: and their enemies ſavv them.

13 And in that houre there vvas made a great earthquake: and the tenth part of the citie fel: and there vvere ſlaine in the earthquake names of men ſeuen thouſand: and the reſt vvere caſt into a feare, and gaue glorie to the God of heauen.

14 The ſecond vvoe is gone: and behold the third vvoe vvil come quickly.

15 And the ſeuenth Angel ſounded with a trompet: and there vvere made loude voices in heauen ſaying, The kingdom of this vvorld is made our Lords & his Chriſts, and he ſhal reigne for euer and euer. Amen.

16 And the foure and tvventie ſeniours vvhich ſitte on their ſeates in the ſight of God, fel on their faces, and adored God,

17 ſaying: Vve thanke thee Lord God omnipotent, vvhich art, and vvhich vvaſt, and vvhich ſhalt come: becauſe thou haſt receiued thy great povver, and haſt reigned.

18 And the Gentiles vvere angrie, and thy vvrath is come, and the time of the dead, to be iudged, and to tender revvard to thy ſeruants the prophets and ſainctes, and to them that feare thy name, ″ litle and great, and to deſtroy them that haue corrupted the earth.

19 And the temple of God vvas opened in heauen: and the arke of his teſtament vvas ſeen in his temple, and there vvere made lightenings, and voices, and an earthquake and greate haile.

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

v. 2 ⸬ Three yeres and a halfe▪ vvhich is the time of Antichriſts reigne and perſecution.
v. 7 ⸬ The great Antichriſt.
v. 8 ᶜ He meaneth Hieruſalem, named Sodom and Aegypt for the imitatiō of thē in wickednes. So that we ſee his cheefe reigne ſhal be there, though his tyrannie may extend to al places of the vvorld.
v. 10 ⸬ The wicked reioyce, vvhen holy men are executed by the tyrants of the vvorld, becauſe their life and doctrine are hurdenous vnto them.
v. 15 ⸬ The kingdō of this world vſurped before by Satan & Antichriſt, ſhal aftervvard be Chriſtes for euer.
v. 18 ⸬ To repay the hire or wages (for ſo both the Greeke vvord and the latin ſignifie) due to holy men, proueth againſt the proteſtāts, that they did truely merite the ſame in this life.

Annotations to Chapter 11

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XI.

3. My tvvo vvitneſſes.] Enoch and Elias, as it is commonly expounded▪ for, that Elias ſhal come againe before the later day, it is a moſt notorious knovven thing (to vſe S. Auguſtines vvordes) in the mouthes and hartes of faithful men. See li. 20 de Ciuit. Dei c. 29. Tract. 4 in Ioan. and both of Enoch and Elias, Lib. 1 de pec. merit. c. 3. So the reſt of the Latin Doctors. as, S. Hierom ad Pāmach ep. 61 c. 11. & in Pſal. 20. S. Ambroſe in Pſal. 45. S. Hilarie 20 can. in Mat. Proſpet li. vltim⟨illegible⟩ de Promiſsionibus c. 13. S Gregorie li. 14. Moral. c. 11. & he. 12 in Ezech. Beda in 9 Marci. The Greeke fathers alſo, as S. Chryſoſtom he. 58 in Mat. & ho. 4 in 2 Theſſal. & ho. 21 in Geneſ. & ho. 22 in ep. ad Hebr. Theophylacte and Occumenius in 17 Matthai. S. Damaſcene li. 4 de Orthodoxa fide c. 27. [Margin: Enoch & Elias yet aliue, ſhal preach in the time of Antichriſt.]

Furthermore, that they liue alſo in Paradiſe, it is partly gathered out of the Scripture Ecclici 44. 16. vvhere it is plainely ſaid of Enoch, that he is tranſlated into Paradiſe, as al our Latin exemplars do reade: and of Elias, that he vvas taken vp aliue, it is euident 4 Reg. 2. And S. Irenaeus ſaith, it is the tradition of the Apoſtles, that they be both there. li. 5 in initio. Dicunt Presbyteri (ſaith he) qui ſunt Apoſtolorum Diſcipuli. So ſay the Prieſts or Auncients that are the ſcholers of the Apoſtles. See S. Iuſtine q. 85 ad orthodoxos. Finally, that they ſhal returne into the companie of men in the end of the vvorld, to preache againſt Antichriſt, and to inutie both Ievves and Gentiles to penance, and ſo be martyred, as this place of the Apocalypſe ſeemeth plaine, ſo vve haue in part other teſtimonies hereof. Malac. 4. Ecclci 44, 16. 48, 10. Mat. 17, 11. See alſo Hyppolytus booke of Antichriſt and the end of the vvorld. Al vvhich being vvel conſidered, the Heretikes are to contentious and incredulous, to diſcredite the ſame, as they commonly doe.

Chapter 12

4 The great dragen (the Diuel) vvatching the vvoman that brought forth a man childe, to deuoure it, God tooke avvay the childe to him ſelf, and fed the vvoman in the deſert. 7 Michael fighting vvith the dragon ouercōmeth him. 13 vvho being throvven dovvne to the earth, perſen⟨illegible⟩teth the vvomā & her ſeede.

1 AND a great ſigne appeared in heauen: a vvoman clothed vvith the ſunne, and the moone vnder her feete, & on her head a crovvne of tvvelue ſtarres:

2 & being with childe, ſhe cried alſo traueling, and is in anguiſh to be deliuered.

3 And there vvas ſeen an other ſigne in heauen, and behold a great red dragon hauing ſeuē heades; & ten hornes: and on his heades ſeuen diademes,

4 & his taile drevv the third part of the ſtarres of heauen, and caſt them to the earth, and the dragon ſtoode before the vvoman vvhich vvas ready to be deliuered: that vvhen ſhe ſhould be deliuered, he might deuoure her ſonne.

5 And ſhe brought forth a man childe, vvho vvas * to gouerne al nations in an yron rodde: & her ſonne vvas taken vp to God and to his throne,

6 & ″ the vvoman fled into the vvilderneſſe where ſhe had a place prepared of God, that there they might feede her a thouſand tvvo hundred ſixtie daies.

7 And there vvas made ″ a great battel in heauen, Michael and his Angels fought vvith the dragon, and the dragon fought and his Angels:

8 and they preuailed not, neither vvas their place found any more in heauen.

9 And that great dragon vvas caſt forth, the old ſerpent, vvhich is called the Deuil and Satan, vvhich ſeduceth the vvhole vvorld: and he vvas caſt into the earth, & his Angels vvere throvven downe vvith him.

10 And I heard a great voice in heauen ſaying: Novv is there made ſaluation and force, and the kingdom of our God, and the povver of his Chriſt: becauſe the accuſer of our brethren is caſt forth, vvho accuſed them before the ſight of our God day and night.

11 And they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe, and by the vvord of their teſtimonie, and they loued not their liues euen vnto death.

12 Therfore reioyce ô heauens, and you that dvvel therein. Vvo to the earth and to the ſea, becauſe the Diuel is deſcēded to you, hauing great vvrath, knovving that he hath a litle time.

13 And after the dragon ſavv that he vvas throvven into the earth, he perſecuted the vvomā vvhich brought forth the man-childe:

14 and there vvere giuen to the vvoman tvvo vvinges of a great egle, that ſhee might flie into the deſert vnto her place, vvhere ſhe is nouriſhed for a time & times, & halfe a time, from the face of the ſerpent.

15 And the ſerpent caſt out of his mouth after the vvoman, vvater as it vvere a floud: that he might make her ″ to be caried avvay vvith the floud.

16 And the earth holpe the vvoman, and the earth opened her mouth, and ſvvallovved vp the floud vvhich the dragon caſt out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon vvas angrie againſt the vvoman: and vvent to make battel vvith the reſt of her ſeede, vvhich keepe the, commaundements of God, and haue the teſtimonie of IESVS Chriſt.

18 And he ſtood vpon the ſand of the ſea.

Marginal notes to Chapter 12

v. 1 THE 3 PART.
v. 1 ⸬ This is properly & principally ſpoken of the Church: and by alluſion, of our B. Lady alſo.
v. 1 The Dragons incredulous & perſecuting multitude, and Antichriſt the cheefe head thereof.
v. 3 ᶜ The great Diuel Lucifer.
v. 4 ⸬ The ſpirites that fall from their firſt ſtate into Apoſtaſie vvith him and by his meanes.
v. 4 ᶜ The Diuels endeuour agaīſt the Churches children, and ſpecially our B. Ladies onely ſonne the head of the reſt.
v. 5 Pſ 2, 9.
v. 5 Apoc. 2, 27.
v. 11 ⸬ Vvhen the Angels or vve haue the victorie, vve muſt knovv it is by the bloud of Chriſt, and ſo al is referred alvvaies to him.
v. 14 ⸬ This often inſinuatiō that Antichriſts reigne ſhal be but three yeres & a halfe (Dan. 7, 25. Apoc. 12, 2. 3. & in this chap. v. 6. c. 13, 5.) proueth that the heretikes be excedingly blinded vvith malice, that hold the Pope to be Antichriſt, who hath ruled ſo many ages.

Annotations to Chapter 12

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII.

6. The vvoman fled.] This great perſecution that the Church ſhal flee from, is in the time of Antichriſt, and ſhal endure but three yeres and a halfe, as is noted v. 14 in the margent. In vvhich time for al that, ſhe ſhal not vvant our Lordes protection, nor true Paſtors, nor be ſo ſecrete, but al faithful men ſhal knovv and folovv her: much leſſe ſhal ſhe decay, erre in faith, or degenerate and folovv Antichriſt, as Heretikes do vvickedly feine. As the Church Catholike novv in England in this time of perſecution, becauſe it hath no publike ſtate of regiment nor open free exerciſe of holy functions, may be ſaid to be fled into the deſert, yet it is neither vnknovven to the faithful that folovv it. nor the enemies that perſecute it: as the hidde company that the proteſtants talke of, vvas for ſome vvorldes together, neither knovven to their frendes nor foes, becauſe there vvas in deede none ſuch for many ages together. And this is true, if vve take this flight for a very corporal retiring into vvildernes. Vvhere in deede it may be, and is of moſt expounded, to be a ſpiritual flight, by forſaking the ioyes and ſolaces of the vvorld, and giuing her ſelf to contemplation and penance, during the time of perſecution vnder Antichriſt. And by enlarging the ſenſe, it may alſo very vvel ſignifie the deſolation and affliction that the Church ſuffereth and hath ſuffered from time to time in this vvildernes of the vvorld, by al the forerunners and miniſters of Antichriſt, Tyrants and Heretikes. [Margin: The Church ſhal flee as to a deſert in Antichriſts time, but not decay or be vnknowen, no not for ſo ſhort a time.]

7. A great battel.] In the Church there is a perpetual combat betvvixt S. Michael (protector of the Church militant as he vvas ſometime of the Ievves Synagogue Dan. 10, 21) and his Angels, and the Deuil and his miniſters the perfect victorie ouer vvhom, ſhal be at the iudgement. Marke here alſo the cauſe vvhy S. Michael is commonly painted fighting vvith a dragon. [Margin: S. Michael fighting vvith the dragon.]

15. To be caried avvay.] By great perſecution he vvould dravv her, that is, her children from the true faith: but euery one of the faithful elect, gladly bearing their part thereof, ouercome his tyranoie At vvhoſe conſtancie he being the more offended, vvorketh malicious attempts in aſſaulting the frailer ſort, vvho are here ſignified by the reſt of her ſeede that keepe the commaundemants, but are not ſo perfect as the former. [Margin: Antichriſts attēpts to draw from the true faith.]

Chapter 13

1 A beaſt riſing vp out of the ſea, hauing ſeuen heades and ten hornes & ten diademes, 5 blaſphemeth God. 7 and vvarreth againſt the Saincts & deſtroieth them. 11 And an other beaſt riſing out of the earth vvith tvvo hornes, vvas altogether for the foreſaid beaſt, conſtraining men to make and adore the image thereof, and to haue the character of his name.

1 AND I ſavv ″ a beaſt comming vp from the ſea, hauing ſeuen heades, and ten hornes, & vpon his hornes ten diademes, and vpon his heades names of blaſphemie.

2 And the beaſt vvhich I ſavv, vvas like to a libarde, and his feete as of a beare, and his mouth, as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gaue him his ovvne force and great povver.

3 And I ſavv one of his heades as it vvere ſlaine to death: and the vvound of his death vvas cured. And al the earth vvas in admiration after the beaſt.

4 And they adored the dragon vvhich gaue povver to the beaſt: and they adored the beaſt, ſaying, Vvho is like to the beaſt? and vvho ſhal be able to fight vvith it?

5 And there was giuen to it a mouth ſpeaking great things and blaſphemies: and povver vvas giuen to it to vvorke tvvo and fourtie monethes.

6 And he opened his mouth vnto blaſphemies tovvard God, to blaſpheme his name, and his tabernacle, and thoſe that dvvel in heauen.

7 And it vvas giuē vnto him ″ to make battail vvith the ſainctes, & to ouercome them. And povver vvas giuen him vpon euery tribe and people, and tongue, and nation,

8 and al that inhabite the earth, adored it, * vvhoſe names be not written in the booke of life of the Lambe, vvhich vvas ſlaine from the beginning of the vvorld.

9 If any man haue an eare, let him heare.

10 He that ſhal leade into captiuitie, goeth into captiuitie: * he that ſhal kil in the ſvvord, he muſt be killed vvith the ſvvord. here is the patience and the faith of ſainctes.

11 And I ſavv an other beaſt cōming vp from the earth: and he had tvvo hornes, like to a lambe, & he ſpake as a dragon.

12 And al the povver of the former beaſt he did in his ſight: and he made the earth and the inhabitants therein, to adore the firſt beaſt, vvhoſe vvound of death vvas cured.

13 And he did many ſignes, ſo that he made alſo fire to come dovvne from heauen vnto the earth in the ſight of men.

14 And he ſeduceth the inhabitants on the earth through the ſignes vvhich vvere giuē him to doe in the ſight of the beaſt, ſaying to them that dwel on the earth, that they ſhould make ″ the image of the beaſt vvhich hath the ſtroke of the ſword, and liued.

15 And it vvas giuen him to giue ſpirit to the image of the beaſt, and that the image of the beaſt ſhould ſpeake: and ſhould make, that vvhoſoeuer ſhal not adore the image of the beaſt, be ſlaine.

16 And he ſhal make al, litle & great, and rich, and poore, and free-men, and bond-men, to haue a character in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

17 and that no man may bie or ſel, but he that hath ″ the character, or the name of the beaſt, or the number of his name.

18 Here is vviſdom. He that hath vnderſtanding, ″ let him count the number of the beaſt. For ″ it is the number of a man: & ″ the number of him is ſixe hundred ſixtie ſixe.

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

v. 3 ⸬ They that now folow the ſimpleſt & groſſeſt heretikes that euer were without ſeeing miracles, vvould then much more folow this great ſeducer working miracles.
v. 6 ⸬ No heretikes euer liker Antichriſt, thē theſe in our daies, ſpecially in blaſphemies againſt Gods Church, Sacraments, Saincts, miniſters, and al ſacred thinges.
v. 8 Apoc. 3. 5
v. 10 Gen. 9, 6
v. 10 Mt. 26, 52.
v. 11 ⸬ An other falſe prophet inferior to Antichriſt, ſhal vvorke vvonders alſo, but al referred to the honour of his maiſter Antichriſt. So doth Caluin & other Arch-heretikes peruert the world to the honour of Antichriſt, and ſo do their ſcholers alſo for the honour of them.

Annotations to Chapter 13

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIII.

8. A beaſt comming vp.] This beaſt is the vniuerſal companie of the vvicked, vvhoſe head is Antichriſt: & the ſame is called (Apoc. 17) the vvhoore of Babylon. The 7 heades be expounded (Apoc. 17) ſeuen kings: fiue before Chriſt, one preſent, and one to come. The 10 hornes be alſo there expounded to be to kings that ſhal reigne a ſhort vvhile after Antichriſt. This dragon is the Diuel, by vvhoſe povver the vvhoore or beaſt or Antichriſt vvorketh▪ for in the vvordes folovving (v. 3 & 4) Antichriſt is called the beaſt, to vvhom the dragon, that is, the Deuil giueth that povver of feined miracles▪ and as vve adore God for giuing povver to Chriſt and his folovvers, ſo they ſhal adore the Deuil for aſſiſting Antichriſt and giuing him povver. [Margin: Many myſteries expounded.]

7. To make battel vvith the ſaincts.] He ſhal kil the ſaincts then liuing, Elias and Enoch, and infinite moe that profeſſe Chriſt, vvhereby vve muſt learne, not to maruel vvhen vve ſee the vvicked perſecute and preuaile againſt the iuſt, in this life. Then ſhal his great perſecution and crueltie trie the ſaincts patience, as his vvonderful meanes to ſeduce ſhal trie the ſtedfaſtnes of their faith, vvhich is ſignified by theſe vvordes folovving, Here is the patience and the faith of ſaincts. And vvhen it is ſaid, They adored the beaſt, vvhoſe names are not vvritten in the booke of life of the Lambe, it giueth great ſolace and hope to al them that ſhal not yeld to ſuch perſecutions, that they are of Gods elect, and their names vvritten in the booke of life. [Margin: Great perſecution by Antichriſt and his miniſters. · Their bleſſednes that continue cōſtant.]

14. The image of the beaſt.] They that novv refuſe to vvorſhip Chriſts image, vvould then vvorſhip Antichriſts. And vve may note here, that as the making or honouring of this image vvas not againſt the honour of Antichriſt, but vvholy for it, as alſo the image erected of Nabuchodo noſor, and the vvorſhip thereof vvas altogether for the honour of him, ſo is the vvorſhip of Chriſts image, the honour of Chriſt him ſelf, and not againſt him, as Proteſtants madly imagin. [Margin: The honour of Chriſts image is for the honour of Chriſt.]

17. The character or the name.] As belike for the peruerſe imitation of Chriſt, vvhoſe image (ſpecially as on the Roode or crucifixe) he ſeeth honoured and exalted in euery Church, he vvil haue his image adored (for that is Antichriſt, in emulation of like honour, aduerſarie to Chriſt) ſo for that he ſeeth al true Chriſtian men to beare the badge of his Croſſe in their foreheads, he likevviſe vvil force al his to haue an other marke, to aboliſh the ſigne of Chriſt. By the like emulation alſo and vvicked oppoſition he vvil haue his name and the letters thereof to be ſacred, and to be vvorne in mens cappes, or vvritten in ſolemne places, and to be vvorſhipped, as the name of IESVS is and ought to be among Chriſtian men. And as the ineffable name of God vvas among the Ievves expreſſed by a certaine number of 4 characters (therfore called Tetragrāmmaton) ſo it ſeemeth the Apoſtle alludeth here to the number of Antichriſts name. [Margin: Antichriſts triple honour againſt the honour of Chriſt. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩ · The Proteſtāts by aboliſhing of Chriſtes image, & croſſe and irreuerēce to the name IESVS, make a ready vvay to the honour of Antichriſt.]

And here it is much to be noted, that the Proteſtants plucking dovvne the image of Chriſt out of al Churches, & his ſigne of the croſſe from mens foreheads, and taking avvay the honour and reuerence of the name IESVS, doe make roome for Antichriſts image, & marke, and name. And vvhen Chriſts images and enſignes or armes ſhal be aboliſhed, and the Idol of Antichriſt ſet vp in ſteede thereof, as it is already begonne: then is the abomination of deſolation vvhich vvas foretold by Daniel and our Sauiour.

18. Let him count.] Though God vvould not haue it manifeſt before hand to the vvorld, vvho in particular this Antichriſt ſhould be: yet it pleaſed him to giue ſuch tokens of him, that vvhen he commeth, the faithful may eaſily take notice of him, according as it is vvritten of the euent of other prophecies concerning our Sauiour. That vvhen it is come to paſſe, you may beleeue. In the meane time vve muſt take heede that vve iudge not ouer raſhly of Gods ſecretes, the holy vvrite, here ſignifying, that it is a point of high vnderſtanding▪ illuminated extraordinarily by Gods ſpirit, to recken right and diſcipher truely before hand, Antichriſts name and perſon. [Margin: Io. 14, 29. · Antichriſts name ſecrete.]

18. It is the number of a man.] A man he muſt be, and not a Diuel or ſpirit, as here it is cleere, and by S. Paul 2 Theſſal. 2. vvhere he is called, the man of ſinne. Againe, he muſt be one particular perſon, & not a nūber, a ſucceſſion, or vvhole order of any degree of men: becauſe his proper name▪ and the particular number, and the characters thereof be (though obſcurely) inſinuated. Vvhich reproueth the vvicked vanitie of Heretikes, that vvould haue Chriſts ovvne Vicars, the ſucceſſors of his cheeſe Apoſtle, yea the vvhole order of them for many ages together, to be this Antichriſt. Vvho by his deſcription here and in the ſaid Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians, muſt be one ſpecial man, and of a particular proper name, as our Lord IESVS is. And vvhoſoeuer he be, theſe Proteſtants vndoubtedly are his precurſors for as they make his vvay by ridding avvay Chriſts images, croſſe, and name, ſo they excedingly promote the matter by taking avvay Chriſts cheefe miniſter, that al may be plaine for Antichriſt. [Margin: Antichriſt ſhal be one ſpecial man, and of a peculiar name.]

If the Pope had been Antichriſt, and had been reuealed novv a good many yeres ſithence, as theſe fellovves ſay he is to them, then the number of this name vvould agree to him, and the prophecie being novv fulfilled, it vvould euidently appeare that he bare the name and number here noted▪ for (no doubt) vvhen lie commeth, this count of the letters or number of his name vvhich before is ſo hard to knovv, wil be eaſie▪ for he will ſet vp his name in euery place, euē as we faithful men do novv aduance IESVS. And vvhat name proper or appellatiue of al or any of the Popes do they finde to agree vvith this number, notvvithſtanding they boaſt that they haue found the vvhole order and euery of them theſe thouſand yeres to be Antichriſt, and the reſt before euen from S. Peter, forevvorkers tovvard his kingdom? [Margin: The Pope can not be Antichriſt.]

1⟨illegible⟩. The number 666.] Foraſmuch as the auncient expoſitors and other do thinke (for certaine knowledge thereof no mortal mā can haue vvithout an expreſſe reuelatiō) that his name cōſiſteth of ſo many, & ſuch letters in Greeke, as according to their maner of numbering by the Alphabete make 666, and foraſmuch as the letters making that number, may be found in diuers names both proper & common: (as S. Irenaeus findeth them in Latinos and Teitan, Hippolytus in ⟨non-Latin script⟩, Aretas in Lampetis, & ſome of this age in Ludérus, vvhich vvas Luthers name in the Alman tōgue:) therfore vve ſee there can be no certaintie, and euery one frameth and applieth the letters to his ovvne purpoſe▪ and moſt abſurd folly it is of the Heretikes, to applie the vvord, Latinos, to the Pope: neither the vvhole order in common, nor euer any particular Pope being ſo called▪ and S. Irenaeus the firſt that obſerued it in that vvord, applied it to the Empire and ſtate of the Romane Emperour, vvhich then vvas Heathen, and not to the Pope of his daies or after him: and yet preferred the vvord, Teitan, as more agreable, vvith this admonition, that it vvere a very perilous and preſumptuous thing to define any certaintie before hand, of that number and name. And truely vvhatſoeuer the Proteſtants preſume herein of the Pope, vve may boldly diſcharge Luther of that dignitie. He is vndoubtedly one of Antichriſts precurſors, but not Antichriſt him ſelf. [Margin: Al ſcaming of letters to expreſſe Antichriſts name, is vncertaine. · Irem. li. 5 in fine.]

Chapter 14

2 Virgins follovv the Lambe vvhitherſoeuer, ſinging a nevv canticle. 6. One Angel Euangelizeth the Goſpel: 8 an other Angel telleth the fall of Babylon: 9 the third declareth their tormants that haue adored the beaſt, Moreouer tvvo hauing ſickles, 15 one of them is commaunded to reape dovvne the corne, 18 the other to gather the grapes as in vintage, vvhich are troden in the lake of Gods vvrath.

1 AND I looked, & behold a Lābe ſtoode vpon mount Sion, and vvith him an hundred fourtie foure thouſand hauing his name, and the name of his Father vvritten in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heauen, as the voice of many vvaters, and as the voice of great thunder: and the voice vvhich I heard, as of harpers harping on their harpes.

3 And they ſang as it vvere a nevv ſong before the ſeate and before the foure beaſtes, and the ſeniors, and no man could ſay' the ſong, but thoſe hundred fourtie foure thouſand, that vvere bought from the earth.

4 Theſe are they vvhich were not defiled vvith vvomen. For they are virgins. Theſe folovv the Lambe vvhitherſoeuer he ſhal goe. Theſe vvere bought from among men, the firſt fruites to God and the Lambe:

5 and in their mouth there vvas found no lie. for they are vvithout ſpot before the throne of God. ⊢

6 And I ſavv an other Angel flying through the middes of heauen, hauing the eternal Goſpel, to euāgelize vnto them that ſit vpon the earth, and vpon euery nation, and tribe, & tōge, & people:

7 ſaying vvith a loud voice, Feare our Lord, and giue him honour, becauſe the houre of his iudgement is come: and adore ye him * that made heauen and earth, the ſea and al things that are in them, and the fountaines of vvaters.

8 And an other Angel folovved, ſaying, * Fallen fallen is that great Babylon, vvhich of the vvine of the vvrath of her fornication made al nations to drinke.

9 And the third Angel folovved them, ſaying vvith a loud voice, If any man adore the beaſt and his image, and receiue the character in his forehead, or in his hand:

10 he alſo ſhal drinke of the vvine of the vvrath of God, vvhich is mingled vvith pure vvine in the cuppe of his vvrath, and ſhal be tormented vvith fire & brimſtone in the ſight of the holy Angels and before the ſight of the Lambe.

11 and the ſmoke of their tormentes ſhal aſcend for euer & euer: neither haue they reſt day and night, vvhich haue adored the beaſt, and his image, and if any man take the character of his name.

12 Here is the patience of ſainctes, vvhich keepe the commaundements of God and the faith of IESVS.

13 And I heard a voice from heauen, ſaying to me, Vvrite, Bleſſed are the dead which die in our Lord. ″ from hence forth novv, ſaith the Spirit, that they reſt from their labours▪ for their vvorkes folow them.

14 And I ſavv, and behold a vvhite cloude: and vpon the cloude one ſitting like to the Sonne of man, hauing on his head a crovvne of gold, and in his hand a ſharpe ſickle.

15 And an other Angel came forth from the temple, crying vvith a loud voice to him that ſate vpon the cloude, * Thruſt in thy ſickle, and reape, becauſe the houre is come to reape, for the harueſt of the earth is drie.

16 And he that ſate vpon the cloude, thruſt his ſickle into the earth, and the earth vvas reaped.

17 And an other Angel came forth from the temple vvhich is in heauē, him ſelf alſo hauing a ſharpe ſickle.

18 And an other Angel came forth from the altar, vvhich had povver ouer the fite: and he cried vvith a loud voice to him that had the ſharpe ſickle, ſaying, Thruſt in thy ſharpe ſickle, and gather the cluſters of the vineyard of the earth: becauſe the grapes thereof be ripe.

19 And the Angel thruſt his ſharpe ſickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, & caſt it into the great preſſe of the vvrath of God:

20 and the preſſe vvas troden vvithout the citie, and bloud came forth out of the preſſe, vp to the horſe bridles, for a thouſand ſixe hundred furlongs.

Marginal notes to Chapter 14

v. 1 The Epiſtle vpō S. Innocents day in Chriſtmas.
v. 1 ⸬ Chriſt, and the ſame number of elect that were ſigned chap. 7.
v. 3 ` learne ⟨illegible⟩ ▪
v. 4 ⸬ One ſtate of life more excellēt then an other and virgins for their puritie paſſing the reſt, & alwaies accompanying Chriſt according to the Churches hymne out of this place, Quecunque pergis, virgines ſequuntur &c.
v. 4 ᶜ This the Church applieth to the holy Innocents that died firſt for Chriſt.
v. 7 Pſ. 145.
v. 7 Act. 14.
v. 8 Eſa. 21.
v. 8 ⸬ The citie of the diuel, which is the vniuerſal ſocietie of the wicked miſbeleuers & il liuers in the vvorld.
v. 8 Ier. 51.
v. 8 Apo. 18.
v. 10 ⸬ The great damnatiō that ſhal folovv them that forſake Chriſt & the Church, & worſhip Antichriſt or his image.
v. 12 ⸬ Faith is not ynough to ſaluatiō, without fulfilling of Gods cōmaūdements.
v. 13 ᵇ The Epiſtle in a daily Maſſe for the dead.
v. 15 Ioel 3.
v. 15 Mat. 13.
v. 19 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ lacū. fat, trough, lake.

Annotations to Chapter 14

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIIII.

13. From hence forth novv.] This being ſpecially ſpoken of Martyrs (as not onely S. Auguſtine ſeemeth to take it, but the Caluiniſts them ſelues, tranſlating, in domino, for our Lords cauſe) the Proteſtants haue no reaſon to vſe the place againſt Purgatorie or praier for the departed, ſeeing the Catholike Church and al her children confeſſe, that al Martyrs are ſtraight after their death, in bliſſe, and neede no praiers. Vvhereof this is S. Auguſtines knovven ſentence, He doeth iniurie to the Martyr, that praieth for the Martyr. Ser. 17 de verb. Apoſt. c. 1. and againe to this purpoſe he vvriteth thus moſt excellently tract. 84 in Ioan. We keepe not a memorie of Martyrs at our Lords table, as vve doe of other that reſt in peace, that is, for the intent to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for vs &c. [Margin: Beza. · Praying for the dead, and vnto Saincts, at the altar.]

But if vve take the vvordes generally for al deceaſed in ſtate of grace, as it may be alſo, then vve ſay that euen ſuch, though they be in Purgatorie and Gods chaſtiſement in the next life, and neede our praiers, yet (according to the foreſaid vvordes of S. Auguſtine) do reſt in peace. being diſcharged from the labours, afflictions, and perſecutions of this vvorld, and (vvhich is more) from the daily dangers of ſinne and damnation, and put into infallible ſecuritie of eternal ioy vvith vnſpeakable comfort of conſcience. and ſuch in deede are more happie and bleſſed then any liuing, vvho yet are vſually in the Scriptures called bleſſed, euen in the middes of the tribulations of this life. Vvhereby vve ſee that theſe vvordes, from hence forth they ſhal reſt from their labours, may truely agree to them alſo that are in Purgatorie, and ſo here is nothing proued againſt Purgatorie. Laſtly, this aduerbe, á modo, in Latin, as in the Greeke ⟨non-Latin script⟩, doth not properly ſignifie, from this preſent time forvvard, as though the Apoſtle had ſaid, that after their death and ſo forvvard they are happie: but it noteth and ioyneth the time paſt together vvith the time preſent, in this ſenſe, that ſuch as haue died ſince Chriſts Aſcenſion, vvhen he firſt entring into heauen opened it for others, goe not to Limbus Patrum, as they vvere vvont before Chriſts time, but are in caſe to goe ſtraight to bliſſe, except the impediment be in them ſelues. Therfore they are here called bleſſed, that die novv in this ſtate of grace & of the nevv Teſtament, in compariſon of the old faithful and good perſons. [Margin: The place abuſed againſt Purgatorie, anſvvered. · ` á modo · ` ⟨non-Latin script⟩ · Photius in Lexico.]

Chapter 15

2 They that had novv ouercome the beaſt and his image and the number of his name, do glorifie God. 6 To ſeuen Angels hauing the ſeuen laſt plagues, are giuen ſeuen cuppes full of the vvrath of God.

1 AND I ſavv an other ſigne in heauen great and maruelous: ſeuen Angels hauing the ſeuen laſt plagues. Becauſe in them the wrath of God is conſummate.

2 And I ſavv as it vvere a ſea of glaſſe mingled vvith fire, and them that ouercame the beaſt and his image and the number of his name, ſtanding vpon the ſea of glaſſe, hauing the harpes of God:

3 and ſinging the ſong of Moyſes the ſeruant of God, and the ſong of the Lambe, ſaying, Great and maruelous are thy vvorkes Lord God omnipotent: iuſt and true are thy vvaies King of the vvorldes'.

4 Vvho ſhal not feare thee o Lord, and magnifie thy name? becauſe thou only art holy, becauſe al nations ſhal come, & adore in thy ſight, becauſe thy iudgements be manifeſt.

5 And after theſe things I looked, and behold the temple of the tabernacle of teſtimonie was opened in heauen:

6 and there iſſued forth the ſeuen Angels, hauing the ſeuen plagues, from the temple: reueſted vvith cleane and vvhite ſtone', & girded about the breaſtes vvith girdles of gold.

7 And one of the foure beaſtes, gaue to the ſeuen Angels ſeuen vials of gold ful of the vvrath of the God that liueth for euer and euer.

8 And the temple vvas filled vvith ſmoke at the maieſtie of God, and at his povver: and no man could enter into the temple, til the ſeuen plagues of the ſeuen Angels vvere conſummate.

Marginal notes to Chapter 15

Heading THE 4 PART
Argument Of the 7 laſt plagues & final damnatiō of the vvicked.
v. 1 The tribulations about the day of iudgement.
v. 2 ᶜ Baptiſme.
v. 3 ⸬ The ſong of Moyſes and Chriſt, is the new Teſtamēt and the old.
v. 3 ` Saincts
v. 5 THE EIETH VISION.
v. 6 linen
v. 6 ⟨non-Latin script⟩
v. 7 ⟨non-Latin script⟩.

Chapter 16

Vpon the pouring out of the ſeuen cuppes of Gods vvrath, on the land, the ſea, the fountaines, the ſeat of the beaſt, Euphrâtes and the aire: there ariſe ſundrie plagues in the vvorld.

1 AND I heard a great voice out of the temple, ſaying to the ſeuen Angels: Goe, and poure out the ſeuen vials of the vvrath of God vpon the earth.

2 And the firſt vvent, and poured out his vial vpon the earth, and there vvas made a cruel and very ſore vvound vpon men that had the character of the beaſt: and vpon them that adored the image thereof.

3 And the ſecond Angel poured out his vial vpon the ſea, and there vvas made bloud as it vvere of one dead: and euery liuing ſoul died in the ſea.

4 And the third poured out his vial vpon the riuers & the fountaines of vvaters: and there vvas made bloud.

5 And I heard the Angel of the vvaters, ſaying: Thou art iuſt ô Lord, vvhich art, and vvhich vvaſt, the holy one, becauſe thou haſt iudged theſe things:

6 becauſe they haue ſhed the bloud of the Sainctes and Prophets, & thou haſt giuen them bloud to drinke, for they are vvorthie.

7 And I heard an other ſaying: Yea Lord God omnipotent, true and iuſt are thy iudgements.

8 And the fourth Angel poured out his vial vpon the ſunne, and it vvas giuen vnto him to afflict men vvith heate and fire:

9 and men boiled vvith great heate, and blaſphemed the name of God hauing povver ouer theſe plagues, neither did they penance to giue him glorie.

10 And the fift Angel poured out his vial vpon the ſeate of the beaſt: and his kingdom vvas made darke, and they together did eate their tonges for paine:

11 & they blaſphemed the God of heauen becauſe of their paines and vvoundes, & did not penance from their vvorkes.

12 And the ſixt Angel poured out his vial vpon that great riuer Euphr⟨illegible⟩tes: and dried vp the vvater thereof that a vvay might be prepared to the kings from the riſing of the ſunne.

13 And I ſavv from the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the beaſt, and from the mouth of the falſe-prophet three' vncleane ſpirites in maner of frogges.

14 For they are the ſpirites of Deuils vvorking ſignes, and they goe forth to the kings of the vvhole earth to gather them into battel at the great day of the omnipotent God.

15 Behold * I come as a theefe: Bleſſed is he that vvatcheth, & keepeth his garments, that he * vvalke not naked, and they ſee his turpitude.

16 And he ſhal gather them into a place vvhich in Hebrevv is called Armagedon.

17 And the ſeuenth Angel poured out his vial vpon the aire, and there came forth a loud voice out of the temple from the throne, ſaying: It is done.

18 And there vvere made lighteninges, and voices, and thunders, and a great earthquake vvas made, ſuch an one as neuer hath been ſince men vvere vpon the earth, ſuch an earthquake, ſo great.

19 And the great citie vvas made into three partes: and the cities of the Gentiles fel. And Babylon the great came into memorie before God, * to giue her the cuppe of vvine of the indignation of his vvrath.

20 And euery Iland fled, and mountaines vvere not found.

21 And great haile like a talent came downe from heauen vpon men: and men blaſphemed God for the plague of the haile: becauſe it vvas made exceding great.

Marginal notes to Chapter 16

v. 6 ⸬ The great reuenge that God vvil doe at the later day vpon the perſecutors of his Saincts.
v. 9 ⸬ The deſperate and damned perſons ſhal blaſpheme God perpetually▪ vvhich ſhal be ſuch onely as do not repent in this life.
v. 11 ᶜ See chap. 9. v. 20 in the margent.
v. 13 ⸬ The dragon, is the Diuel: the beaſt, Antichriſt, or the ſocietie wherof he is head: the falſe-prophet, either Antichriſt him ſelf, or the companie of Heretikes and ſeducers that folovv him.
v. 13 ` iſſue forth three
v. 15 Apoc. 3.
v. 15 2 Cor. 5, 3.
v. 16 ᶜ The hil of theaues, by S. Hieroms interpretation.
v. 19 ⸬ The citie or cōmonvvealth of the vvicked deuided into three partes: into infidels, Heretikes, and euil Catholikes. This citie is here called Babylō, vvhereof ſee the Annorat. vpon the next chapter v. 5.
v. 19 Ier. 25, 15.

Chapter 17

The harlot Babylon clothed vvith diuers ornaments, 6 and drunken of the blood of Martyrs, ſitteth vpon a beaſt that hath ſeuen heades and ten hornes: 7 al which things the Angel expoundeth.

1 AND there came one of the ſeuen Angels vvhich had the ſeuen vials, & ſpake vvith me, ſaying, Come, I vvil ſhevv thee the damnation of the great harlot, vvhich ſitteth vpon many vvaters,

2 vvith vvhom the kings of the earth haue fornicated, and they vvhich inhabite the earth haue been drunke of the vvine of her vvhoredom.

3 And he tooke me avvay in ſpirit in to the deſert. And I ſavv a womā ſitting vpon a ſcarlet coloured beaſt, ful of names of blaſphemie, hauing ſeuen heades, and ten hornes.

4 And the vvoman vvas clothed round about vvith purple and ſcarlet, and gilted vvith gold, and pretious ſtone, and pearles, hauing a golden cup in her hand, ful of the abomination & filthines of her fornication.

5 And in her forehead a name vvritten, ″ Myſterie: ″ Babylon the great, mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.

6 And I ſavv the vvoman ″ drunken of the bloud of the Sainctes, and of the bloud of the martyrs of IESVS. And I marueled vvhen I had ſeen her, vvith great admiration.

7 I And the Angel ſaid to me, Vvhy doeſt thou maruel? I vvil tel thee the myſterie of the woman, and of the beaſt that carieth her, which hath the ſeuen heades and the ten hornes.

8 The beaſt vvhich thou ſavveſt, vvas, and is not, and ſhal come vp out of the bottomeles depth, and goe into deſtruction: and the inhabitants on the earth (vvhoſe names are not vvritten in the booke of life from the making of the vvorld) ſhal maruel, ſeeing the beaſt that vvas, and is not.

9 And here is vnderſtanding, that hath vviſedom. The ſeuen heades: are ″ ſeuen hilles, vpon vvhich the vvoman ſitteth, and they are ſeuen kings.

10 Fiue are fallen, one is, and an other is not yet come: & vvhen he ſhal come, he muſt tarie a ſhort time.

11 And the beaſt vvhich vvas, & is not: ″ the ſame alſo is the eight, and is of the ſeuen, & goeth into deſtruction.

12 And the ten hornes vvhich thou ſaweſt: are ten kings, vvhich haue not yet receiued kingdom, but ſhal' receiue povver as kings one houre after the beaſt.

13 Theſe haue one counſel and force: and their povver they ſhal deliuer to the beaſt.

14 Theſe ſhal fight vvith the Lambe, and the Lambe ſhal ouercome them, becauſe * he is Lord of lordes, and King of kinges, & they that are vvith him, called, and elect, and faithful.

15 And he ſaid to me, The vvaters vvhich thou ſavveſt vvhere the harlot ſitteth: are peoples, and nations, and tonges.

16 And the ten hornes vvhich thou ſavveſt in the beaſt: theſe ſhal hate the harlot, and ſhal make her deſolate and naked, and ſhal eare her fleſh, and her they ſhal burne vvith fire.

17 for God hath giuen into their hartes, to doe that vvhich pleaſeth him: that they giue their kingdom to the beaſt, til the vvordes of God be cōſummate.

18 And the vvoman vvhich thou ſavveſt: is ″ the great citie, vvhich hath kingdom ouer the kinges of the earth.

Marginal notes to Chapter 17

v. 1 ⸬ The final damnation of the vvhole companie of the reprobate, called here the great vvhoore.
v. 1 ᶜ Theſe many vvaters are many peoples. v. 15.
v. 8 ⸬ It ſignifieth the ſhort reigne of Antichriſt, vvho is the cheefe horne or head of the beaſt.
v. 12 ⸬ Some expound it of ten ſmal kingdoms, into which the Romane Empire ſhal be deuided, vvhich ſhal al ſerue Antichriſt both in his life and a litle after.
v. 12 ` doe
v. 14 1 Tim. 6, 15. Apo. 19, 16.
v. 17 ⸬ Not forcing or mouing any to folow Antichriſt, but by his iuſt iudgement, & for puniſhment of their ſinnes, permitting thē to beleeue and cōſent to him.

Annotations to Chapter 17

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XVII.

5. Babylon.] In the end of S. Peters firſt Epiſtle, vvhere the Apoſtle dateth it at Babylon, vvhich the auncient vvriters (as vve there noted) affirme to be meant of Rome: the Proteſtants vvil not in any vviſe haue it ſo, becauſe they vvould not be driuen to confeſſe that Peter euer vvas at Rome, but here for that they thinke it maketh for their opinion, that the Pope is Antichriſt, and Rome the ſeate and citie of Antichriſt, they vvil needes haue Rome to be this Babylon, this great vvhore, and this purple harlot. for ſuch fellovves, in the expoſition of holy Scripture, be ledde onely by their preiudicate opinions and hereſies, to vvhich they dravv al things vvithout al indifferencie and ſinceritie. [Margin: The Proteſtāts here vvil needs haue Babylō to be Rome, but not in S. Peters epiſtle.]

But S. Auguſtine, Aretas, and other vvriters, moſt commonly expound it, neither of Babylon itſelf a citie of Chaldaea or Aegypt, not of Rome, or any one citie, vvhich may be ſo called ſpiritually, as Hieruſalem before chap. 11 is named ſpiritual Sodom and Aegypt: but of the general ſocitie of the impious, & of thoſe that preferre the terrene kingdō and cōmoditie of the vvorld, before God & eternal felicitie. The author of the Commentaries vpon the Apocalypſe ſet forth in S. Ambroſe name, vvriteth thus: This great vvhoore ſometime ſignifieth Rome, ſpecially vvhich at that time vvhen the Apoſtle vvrote this, did perſecute the Church of God, but othervviſe it ſignifieth the vvhole citie of the Diu⟨illegible⟩l, that is, the vniuerſal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian alſo taketh it for Rome, thus, Babylon (ſaith he) in S. Iohn is a figure of the citie of Rome, being ſo great, ſo proud of the Empire, and the deſtroier of the ſaincts. Vvhich is plainely ſpoken of that citie, vvhen it vvas heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the vvorld, the perſecutor of the Apoſtles and their ſucceſſors, the ſeate of Nero, Bomitian, and the like, Chriſts ſpecial enemies, the ſinke of idolatrie, ſinne, and falſe vvorſhip of the Pagan gods. Then vvas it Babylon, vvhen S. Iohn vvrote this, and then vvas Nero and the reſt figures of Antichriſt, and that citie the reſemblance of the principal place (vvhereſoeuer it be) that Antichriſt ſhal reigne in, about the later end of the vvorld. [Margin: By Babylon (according to al the fathers) is ſignified, partly the whole ſocietie of the wicked, partly the citie of Rome, only in reſpect of the terrene & heatheniſh ſtate of them that perſecuted the Church · li. aduerſ. Iudan.]

Novv to apply that to the Romane Church and Apoſtolike See, either novv or then, vvhich vvas ſpoken onely of the terrene ſtate of that citie, as it vvas the ſeate of Peter, vvhen it did ſlea aboue 30 Popes Chriſts Vicars, one after an other, & endeuoured to deſtroy the vvhole Church: that is moſt blaſphemous and fooliſh.

The Church in Rome vvas one thing, & Babylon in Rome an other thing. Peter ſate in Rome, and Nero ſate in Rome, but Peter, as in the Church of Rome: Nero, as in the Babylon of Rome. Vvhich diſtinction the Heretikes might haue learned by S. Peter him ſelf ep. 1. chap. 5. vvriting thus, The Church ſaluteth you, that is in Babylon, coëlect, So that the Church and the very choſen Church vvas in Rome, vvhen Rome vvas Babylon, vvhereby it is plaine that, vvhether Babylon or the great vvhoore do here ſignifie Rome or no, yet it can not ſignifie the Church of Rome: vvhich is novv, and euer vvas, differing from the terrene Empire of the ſame. And if, as in the beginning of the Church, Nero and the reſt of the perſecuting Emperours (vvhich vvere figures of Antichriſt) did principally ſit in Rome, ſo alſo the great Antichriſt ſhal haue his ſeate there, as it may vvel be (though others thinke that Hieruſalem rather ſhal be his principal citie:) yet euen then ſhal neither the Church of Rome, nor the Pope of Rome be Antichriſt, but ſhal be perſecuted by Antichriſt, and driuen out of Rome, if it be poſſible. for, to Chriſts Vicar and the Romane Church he vvil beare as much good vvil as the Proteſtants novv doe, and he ſhal haue more povver to perſecute him and the Church, then they haue. [Margin: The Church of Rome is neuer called Babylon.]

S. Hierom epiſt. 17. c. 7. to Marcella, to dravv her out of the citie of Rome to the holy land, vvarning her of the manifold allurements to ſinne and il life, that be in ſo great and populous a citie, alludeth at length to theſe vvordes of the Apocalypſe, and maketh it to be Babylon, and the purple vvhoore, but ſtraight vvay, leſt ſome naughtie perſon might thinke he meant that of the Church of Rome, vvhich he ſpake of the ſocietie of the vvicked only, he addeth: There is there in deeds the holy Church, there are the triumphans monuments of the Apoſtles, and Martyrs, there is the true confeſsion of Chriſt, there is the faith praiſed, * of the Apoſtle, and Gentilitie troden vnder foote, the name of Chriſtian daily aduancing it ſelf on high. Vvhereby you ſee that vvhatſoeuer may be ſpoken or interpreted of Rome, out of this vvord Babylō, it is not meant of the Church of Rome, but of the terrene ſtate, in ſo much that the ſaid holy Doctor (li. 2. aduerſ. Iouinian. c. 19.) ſignifieth, that the holines of the Church there, hath vviped avvay the blaſphemie vvritten in the forehead of her former iniquitie. But of the difference of the old ſtate and dominion of the Heathen there, for vvhich it is reſembled to Antichriſt, and the Prieſtly ſtate vvhich novv it hath, reade a notable place in S. Leo ſerm. 1 in natali Petri & Pauli. [Margin: Ro. 1.]

5. Myſterie.] S. Paul calleth this ſecrete and cloſe vvorking of abomination, the myſterie of iniquitie. 2. Theſſal. 2. and it is called a litle after in this chapter verſ. 7. the Sacrament (or myſterie) of the vvoman, and it is alſo the marke of reprobation and damnation. [Margin: Myſterie.]

6. Drunken of the bloud.] It is plaine that this vvoman ſignifieth the vvhole corps of al the perſecutors that haue and ſhal ſhede ſo much bloud of the iuſt: of the Prophets, Apoſtles, and other Martyrs from the beginning of the vvorld to the end. The Proteſtants foliſhly expound it of Rome, for that there they put Heretikes to death, and allovv of their puniſhment in other countries: but their bloud is not called the bloud of ſaincts, no more then the bloud of theeues, mankillers, and other malefactors: for the ſheding of vvhich by order of iuſtice, no Commonvvealth ſhal anſvver. [Margin: This woman ſignifieth al perſecutors of ſaincts. · Putting heretikes to death, is not to ſhede the bloud of ſaincts.]

9. Seuen hilles.] The Angel him ſelf here expoundeth theſe 7 hilles to be al one vvith the 7 heads and the 7 kings: & yet the Heretikes blinded excedingly vvith malice againſt the Church of Rome, are ſo madde to take them for the ſeuen hilles literally, vpon vvhich in old time Rome did ſtand: that ſo they might make the vnlearned beleeue that Rome is the ſeate of Antichriſt, But if they had any conſideration, they might marke that the Prophets viſions here are moſt of them by Seuens, vvhether he talke of heads, hornes, candleſtickes, Churches, kings, hilles, or other thinges: and that he alluded not to the hilles, becauſe they vvere iuſt ſeuen, but that Seuen is a myſtical number, as ſometimes Ten is, ſignifying vniuerſally al of that ſort whereof he ſpeaketh, as, that the ſeuen heads, hilles, or kingdoms (which are here al one) ſhould be al the kingdoms of the world that perſecute the Chriſtians: being heads and mountaines for their height in dignitie aboue others. And ſome take it, that there were ſeuen ſpecial Empires, kingdoms, or States, that vvere or ſhal be the greateſt perſecutors of Gods people, as of Aegypt, (hanaan, Babylon, the Perſians, and Greekes, which be fiue-ſixtly of the Romane Empire which once perſecuted moſt of al other, and which (as the Apoſtle here ſaith) yet is, or ſtandeth. but the ſeuenth, then vvhen S. Iohn vvrote this, vvas not come, neither is yet come in our daies: vvhich is Antichriſts ſtate, vvhich ſhal not come ſo long as the Empire of Rome ſtandeth, as S. Paul did Prophecie. 2 Theſſa⟨illegible⟩. 2. [Margin: The Proteſtants madnes in expounding the 7 hilles, of Rome: the Angel himſelf expounding it otherwiſe.]

13. The ſame is the eight.] The beaſt it ſelf being the congregation of al theſe vvicked perſecutors, though it conſiſt of the foreſaid ſeuen, yet for that the malice of al is complete in it, may be called the eight. Or, Antichriſt him ſelf, though he be one of the ſeuen, yet for his extraordinarie vvickednes ſhal be counted the odde perſecutor, or the accompliſhment of al other, & therfore is named the eight. Some take this beaſt called the eight, to be the Diuel. [Margin: Vvhat is the eight beaſt.]

18. The great citie.] If it be meant of any one citie, and not of the vniuerſal ſocietie of the reprobate (vvhich is the citie of the Diuel, as the Church & the vniuerſal fellovvſhip of the faithful is called the citie of God) it is moſt like to be old Rome, as ſome of the Greekes expound it, from the time of the firſt Emperours, til Conſtantines daies, vvho made an end of the perſecution▪ for by the authoritie of the old Romane Empire, Chriſt vvas put to death firſt, and aftervvard the tvvo cheefe Apoſtles, & the Popes their ſucceſſors, and infinite Catholike men through out the vvorld, by leſſer kings vvhich then vvere ſubiect to Rome. Al vvhich Antichriſtian perſecution⟨illegible⟩ ceaſed, vvhen Conſtantine reigned, and yelded vp the citie to the Pope, vvho holdeth not the kingdom or Empire ouet the vvorld, as the Heathen did, but the fatherhod and ſpiritual rule of the Church. Hovvbeit the more probable ſenſe is the other, of the citie of the Diuel, as the auth⟨illegible⟩r of the homi⟨illegible⟩ies vpon the Apocalypſe in S. Auguſtine, declareth. [Margin: The double interpretation of Babylon.]

Chapter 18

The fall of Babylon, her iudgement, plagues and reuenges: for the vvhich, 9 the kings, 16 and marchants of the earth that ſometime did cleaue vnto her▪ ſhal mourns bitterly: 20 but heauen, and the Apoſtles and Prophets ſhal reioyce.

1 AND after theſe things I ſavv an other Angel cōming dovvne from heauen, hauing great povver: & the earth vvas illuminated of his glorie.

2 And he cried out in force, ſaying, * Fallen fallen is Babylon the great: and it is become the habitation of Deuils, and the cuſtodie of euery vncleane ſpirit, and the cuſtodie of euery vncleane and hateful bird:

3 becauſe al nations haue drunke of the vvine of the vvrath of her fornication: and the kings of the earth haue fornicated vvith her: and the marchantes of the earth vvere made riche by the vertue of her delicacies.

4 And I heard an other voice from heauen, ſaying, Goe out from her my people: that you be not partakers of her ſinnes, and receiue not of her plagues.

5 Becauſe her ſinnes are come euen to heauen, and God hath remembred her iniquities.

6 Render to her as ſhe alſo hath rendred to you: & double ye double according to her vvorkes: In the cuppe vvherin ſhe hath mingled, mingle ye double vnto her.

7 As much as ſhe hath glorified her ſelf, & hath been in delicacies, ſo much giue her torment and mourning: becauſe ſhe ſaith in her hart, * I ſit a queene, & Widow I am not, and mourning I ſhal not ſee.

8 Therfore in one day ſhal her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine, and vvith fire ſhe ſhal be burnt: becauſe God is ſtrong that ſhal iudge her.

9 And the kings of the earth, vvhich haue fornicated vvith her, & haue liued in delicacies, ſhal vveepe, & bevvaile them ſelues vpon her, vvhen they ſhal ſee the ſmoke of her burning:

10 ſtanding farre of for the feare of her tormentes, ſaying, Vvo, vvo, that great citie Babylon, that ſtrong citie: becauſe in one houre is thy iudgement come.

11 And the marchātes of the earth ſhall vveepe, & mourne vpon her: becauſe no man ſhal bye their merchandiſe any more,

12 merchandiſe of gold and ſiluer and precious ſtone, and of pearle, and fine linnen, and purple, and ſilke, & ſcarlet, and al Thyne vvood, and al veſſels of yuorie, and al veſſels of precious ſtone and of braſſe and yron and marble,

13 and cynamon, and of odours, and ointement, and frankeincenſe, and vvine, and oile, and floure, & vvheate, and beaſtes, & ſheepe, and horſes, and chariotes, & ſlaues, and ſoules of men.

14 And the apples of the deſire of thy ſoul are departed from thee, & al fat and goodly thinges are periſhed from thee, and they ſhal no more finde them.

15 The marchantes of theſe things vvhich are made riche, ſhal ſtand farre from her for feare of her tormētes, vveeping and mourning,

16 & ſaying, Vvo, wo, that great citie, vvhich vvas clothed vvith ſilke, and purple, and ſcarlet, and vvas gilted vvith gold, and pretious ſtone, & pearles:

17 becauſe in one houre are ſo great riches made deſolate: and euery gouernour, and euery one that ſaileth into the lake, and the ſhipmen, and they that vvorke in the ſea, ſtoode a farre of,

18 and cried ſeeing the place of her burning, ſaying, Vvhat other is like to this great citie?

19 And they threvv duſt vpon their heades, and cried vveeping and mourning, ſaying: Vvo, vvo, that great citie, in the vvhich al vvere made riche that had ſhippes in the ſea, of her prices: becauſe in one houre ſhe is deſolate.

20 Reioyce ouer her, heauen, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophetes: becauſe God hath iudged your iudgement of her.

21 And one ſtrong Angel tooke vp as it vvere a great milſtone, and threvv it into the ſea, ſaying, * Vvith this violence ſhal Babylon that great citie be throwen, and ſhal novv be found no more.

22 And the voice of harpers, & of Muſicians, and of them that ſing on ſhalme and trompet, ſhal no more be heard in thee, & euery artificer of euery art ſhal be found no more in thee, and the noiſe of the mill ſhal no more be heard in thee,

23 and the light of the lampe ſhal no more ſhine in thee, and the voice of the bridegrome and the bride ſhal no more be heard in thee: becauſe thy marchantes were the princes of the earth, becauſe al nations haue erred in thine inchauntments.

24 And in her is found the bloud of the Prophets and Sainctes, and of al that vvere ſlaine in the earth.

Marginal notes to Chapter 18

v. 2 Apo. 14, 8.
v. 2 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
v. 7 ⸬ The meaſure of paines & damnation, according to the wicked pleaſures or vnlawful delites of this life▪ which is a fore ſentence for ſuch people as turne their whole life to ⟨illegible⟩ſt and riot.
v. 7 Eſ 47, 8▪
v. 9 ⸬ Kings and Marchants are moſt encombered, dangered and drovvned in the pleaſures of this vvorld: vvhoſe vvhole life & traficke is (if they be not exceding vertuous) to finde varietie of earthly pleaſures. Vvho ſeing once the extreme end of their ioyes and of al that made their heauen here, to be turned into paines & damnation eternal, then ſhal houle & vveepe to late.
v. 20 ᶜ The Angels and al Saincts ſhal reioyce and laude ⟨illegible⟩od to ſee the wicked confounded, and Gods iuſtice executed vpon their oppreſſors & perſecutors▪ and this is that vvhich the Martyrs praied for, chap. 6.
v. 21 Ier. 51. 63.
v. 21 ⸬ By this it ſeemeth cleere that the Apoſtle meaneth not any one citie, but the vniuerſal companie of the reprobate, vvhich▪ ſhal periſh in the day of iudgement: the old prophets alſo naming the vvhole nūber of Gods enemies myſtically, Babylon▪ as Ierem. ⟨illegible⟩. 52.

Chapter 19

⟨illegible⟩ The Saincts glorifying God for the iudgement pronounced vpon the harl⟨illegible⟩t, 7 the mariage of the Lambe is prepared. 10 The Angel refuſeth to be adored of S. Iohn. 1⟨illegible⟩ There appeareth one (vvho is the word of God, and the King of kings and Lord of lords) ſitting on a horſe, vvith a great armie, and fighting againſt the beaſt and the kings of the earth and their armies▪ 17 the ⟨illegible⟩irdes of the aire being in the meane time called to deuoure their fleſh.

1 AFTER theſes things I heard as it vvere the voice of many multitudes in heauen ſaying, Allelu-ia▪ Praiſe, and glorie, and povver is to our God:

2 becauſe true & iuſt are his iudgementes which hath iudged of the great harlot, that hath corrupted the earth in her vvhoredom, and hath reuenged the bloud of his ſeruants, of her handes.

3 And againe they ſaid, Allelu-ia. And her ſmoke aſcendeth for euer and euer.

4 And the foure and tvventie ſeniors fel downe, and the foure beaſtes, & adored God ſitting vpon the throne, ſaying: ⟨illegible⟩ ″ Amen, Allelu-ia.

5 And a voice came out from the throne, ſaying: Say praiſe to our God al ye his ſeruantes: and you that feare him, litle and great.

6 And I heard as it vvere the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many vvaters, & as the voice of great thunders, ſaying Allelu-ia: becauſe our Lord God the omnipotent hath reigned.

7 Let vs be glad and reioyce, and giue glorie to him: becauſe the mariage of the Lambe is come, and his vvife hath prepared her ſelf.

8 And it vvas giuen to her that ſhe clothe her ſelf vvith ſilke glittering and vvhite. For the ſilke are ⟨illegible⟩ the iuſtifications of Sainctes.

9 And he ſaid to me, Vvrite, * Bleſſed be they that are called to the ſupper of the mariage of the Lambe. ⊢ And he ſaid to me, Theſe vvordes of God, be true.

10 ⟨illegible⟩ And * I fel before his feete, to adore him. And he ſaith to me, See thou doe not: I am thy fellovv-ſeruant, and of thy brethren that haue the teſtimonie of IESVS. Adore God. For the teſtimonie of IESVS, is the ſpirit of prophecie.

11 And I ſavv heauen opened, and behold a vvhite horſe: and he that ſate vpon him, vvas called Faithful and True, and vvith iuſtice he iudgeth & fighteth.

12 And his eies as a flame of fire, and on his head many diademes. hauing a name written, vvhich no man knovveth but him ſelf.

13 * And he vvas clothed vvith a garment ſprinkled vvith bloud: & his name is called, THE VVORD OF GOD.

14 And the hoſtes that are in heauen folovved him on vvhite horſes clothed in vvhite and pure ſilke.

15 And out of his mouth procedeth a ſharpe ſvvord: that in it he may ſtrike the Gentiles. And * he ſhal rule them in a rod of yron: and he treadeth the vvine preſſe of the furie of the vvrath of God omnipotent.

16 And he hath in his garment and in his thigh vvritten, * KING OF KINGES AND LORD OF LORDES.

17 And I ſavv one Angel ſtanding in the ſunne, & he cried vvith a loud voice ſaying to al the birdes that did flie by the middes of heauen, Come and aſſemble together to the great ſupper of God:

18 that you may eate the fleſh of kings, and the fleſh of tribunes, and the fleſh of valiants, and the fleſh of horſes & of them that ſit on them, & the fleſh of al freemen and bondmen, and of litle and great.

19 And I ſavv the beaſt and the kings of the earth, & their armies gathered to make vvarre vvith him that ſate vpon the horſe and vvith his armie.

20 And the beaſt vvas apprehēded, and vvith him the falſe ⟨illegible⟩prophet: vvhich vvrought ſignes before him, vvherevvith he ſeduced them that tooke the character of the beaſt, and that adored his image. Theſe tvvo were caſt aliue into the poole of fire burning alſo with brimſtone.

21 And the reſt vvere ſlaine by the ſvvord of him that ſitteth vpon the horſe, vvhich procedeth out of his mouth: and al the birdes vvere filled vvith their fleſh.

Marginal notes to Chapter 19

v. 1 The Epiſtle for many martyrs.
v. 1 ALLELVIA▪
v. 3 ⸬ This often repeating of Allelu-ia. in times of reioycing, the Church doth folow in her Seruice.
v. 7 ⸬ At this day ſhal the whole Church of the elect be finally & perfectly for euer ioyned vnto Chriſt in mariage inſeparable.
v. 9 Mat. 22▪ Lu. 14,
v. 9 ⸬ That is the feaſt of eternal life prepared for his ſpouſe the Church.
v. 9 Apoc. 22. 9.
v. 13 Eſ. 63, 1.
v. 13 ᶜ The ſecond perſon in Trinitie, the Sonne of the Vvord of God, vvhich vvas made fleſh. Io. 1.
v. 15 Apoc. 2, 27.
v. 16 Apo. 17, 14.
v. 16 ⸬ Euen according to his humanitie alſo.

Annotations to Chapter 19

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XIX.

4. Amen, Alleluia.] Theſe tvvo Hebr⟨illegible⟩e vvordes (as other els vvhere) both in the Greeke & Latin text are kept religiouſly, & not tranſlated, vnles it be once or tvviſe in the Pſalmes. Yea and the Proteſtants them ſelues keepe them in the text of their Engliſh Teſtaments in many places. and maruel it. is vvhy they vſe them not in al places, but ſometimes turne, Amen, into, verely, vvhere of ſee the Annotation Ioan. 8. v. 34. and in their Seruice booke they tranſlate, Alleluia, into, Praiſe ye the Lord▪ as though Alleluia had not as good a grace in the acte of ſeruing God, (vvhere it is in deede properly vſed) as it hath in the text of the Scripture. [Margin: ⟨non-Latin script⟩ · Amen▪ Alleluia, not tranſlated.]

The Church Catholike doth often and ſpecially vſe this ſacred vvord, to ioyne vvith the Church triumphant, conſiſting of Angels and Saincts, vvho here are ſaid to laude and praiſe God vvith treat reioycing, by this vvord Alleluia, and by often repetition thereof: as the Catholike Church alſo vſeth, namely in Eaſter time euen til Vvhi⟨illegible⟩-ſontide, for the ioy of Chriſts reſurrection, vvhich (as S. Auguſtine declareth ep. ad Ianuarium) vvas the general vſe of the Primitiue Church, making a greater myſterie and matter of it, then our Proteſtants novv do. At other times of the yere alſo he ſaith it vvas ſung in ſome Churches, but not in al, and S. Hierom numbereth it among the hereſies of Vigilantius, That Alleluia could not be ſung but at Eaſter. Aduerſ. Vigilant. c. 1. [Margin: Alleluia often vſed in the Church, ſpecially in Eaſter time. · Epiſt. ad Ian. c. 17. &c. 15.]

The truth is, by the vſe of the Scriptures it hath more in it then, Praiſe ye the Lord, ſignifying vvith laude, glorifying, and praiſing of God, a great reioycing vvithal, mirth, and exultation of hart in the ſingers thereof, and that is the cauſe vvhy the holy Church ſaith, Laus tibi Domine, Praiſe be to thee ô Lord, in Lent and times of penance and mourning, but not Alleluia▪ vvhich (as S. Auguſtine alſo declareth) is a terme of ſignification and myſterie, ioyned vvith that time, and then vſed ſpecially in the Church of God, vvhen ſhe repreſenteth to vs in her Seruice, the ioyes and beatitude of the next life: vvhich is done ſpecially at Eaſter, by the ioyful celebrating of Chriſts glorious Reſurrection and Aſcenſion, after the penal time of Lent vvhich repreſenteth the miſerie of this life. See S. Auguſtine Ser. 1. & 5. c. 9▪ & 6. c. 9 de Diuerſis to. 10. and his ena⟨illegible⟩tation vpon the 148 Pſalme. for in the titles and endes of diuerſe holy Pſalmes this Alleluia is ful of myſterie & ſacred ſignification. Vvhere vve muſt aſke the Proteſtants, vvhy they haue left it out altogether, being in the Hebrue, ſaying neither Alleluia, nor, Praiſe the Lord, in the Bible 1577: & that nine times in the ſixe laſt Pſalmes. [Margin: It ſignifieth more then (as the Proteſtants trāſlate it) praiſe ye the lord. · ⟨illegible⟩Palſe tranſlation.]

Moreouer the ſaid holy Doctor li. 2 de doct, Chriſt▪ c. 11) affirmeth that Amen & Alleluia be not tranſlated into any other language, propter ſanctiorem authoritatem, for the more ſacred authoritie of the vvordes ſo remaining▪ and ep. 178. he ſaith that it is not lavvful to tranſlate them. Nam ſciendum eſt &c. for it is to be knovven (ſaith he) that al nations do ſing Amen and Alleluia in the Hebrue vvordes, vvhich neither the Latine man not the Barbarous may tranſlate into his ovvne language. See S. Hierom alſo epiſt. 137. And namely for our Nation, S. Gregorie vvil beare vs vvitnes that our countrie receiued, the vvord Alleluia vvith their Chriſtianitie, ſaying thus li. 27 Moral. c. 6. Lingua Britannia qua nihil aliud nouerat quim barbarum frendere, iamdudum in Diuinis laudibus Hebraeum ⟨illegible⟩pit reſenare Alleluia. that is, The Britan tongue, vvhich knevv nothing els but to mutter barbarouſly, hath begone of late in Gods diuine laudes and praiſes to ſound the Hebrue Alleluia. And for Iurie, S. Hierom ep. 17. c. 7 vvriteth, that the huſbandmen at the plough ſang Alleluia, vvhich vvas not then their vulgar ſpeache. Yea he ſaith that in Monaſteries the ſinging of Alleluia vvas in ſt⟨illegible⟩ede of a bel to call them together ad Collectam. in Epitaph. Paul⟨illegible⟩e. c. 10. [Margin: Amen and Alleluia ſhould not be tranſlated into vulgar tongues. · Al nations in the primitiue Church ſang Amen and Alleluia.]

This vvord is a ſacred, Chriſtian, myſtical, and Angelical ſong. and yet in the nevv ſeruice booke it is turned into, Praiſe ye the Lord, and Alleluia is quite gone, becauſe they liſt neither to agree vvith the Church of God, not vvith the vſe of holy Scriptures, no not vvith their ovvne tranſlations, but no maruel, that they can not ſing the ſong of our Lord and of Angels in a ſtrange countrie, that is, out of the Catholike Church, in the captiuitie of ſchiſme & hereſie, Laſtly, vve might aſke them vvhether it be al one to ſay Mat. 21, Hoſanna, &, Saue vs vve beſeeche thees vvhereas Hoſanna is vvithal a⟨illegible⟩vvord of exceding congratulation and ioy vvhich they expreſſed tovvard out Sauiour, euen ſo Alleluia hath an other maner of ſenſe and ſignification in it, then can expreſſed by, Praiſe ye the Lord. [Margin: The Proteſtāts profane this vvord by tranſlating it, and diminiſh the ſignification thereof. · Pſal. 136.]

8. Iuſtifications of Saincts. Here the Heretikes in their tranſlations▪ could not alter the vvord iuſtifications into ordinances, or conſtitutions, as they did falſely in the firſt of S. Luke, vvhereof ſee the Annotatiō there verſ. 6. but they are forced to ſay in Latin, iuſtificationes, as Beza: and in Engliſh, righteouſnes, (for iuſtifications they vvil not ſay in any caſe for fea⟨illegible⟩e of inconuenience▪) yea and they can not deny but theſe iuſtifications be the good vvorkes of ſaincts. but vvhere * they make this gloſe, that they be ſo called, becauſe are the fruites of effect of faith and of the iuſtice vvhich vve haue by onely faith, it is moſt euidently falſe, & againſt the very text, and nature of▪ the word. for there is no cauſe vvhy any thing ſhould be called a mans iuſtification▪ but for that it maketh him iuſt, ſo that, iuſtifications, be the vertues of faith, hope, charitie, and good deedes, iuſtifying or making a man iuſt, and not effectes of iuſtification, neither faith onely, but they al together be the very ornaments and invvard garments, beauty, and iuſtice of the ſoule, as here it is euident. [Margin: Iuſtificatiōs are good vvorkes, not as the effectes of ſaith iuſtifying, but becauſe them ſelues alſo with faith iuſtifie a man. · Beza.]

10. And I fel.] The Proteſtants abuſe this place, and the example of the Angels forbidding Iohn to adore him being but his fellow ſeruant, and appointing him to adore God, againſt al honour, reuerence, and adoration of Angels, Saincts, or other ſanctified creatures, teaching that no religious vvorſhip ought to be done vvto them. But in truth it maketh for no ſuch purpoſe, but only vvarneth vs that Diuine honour and the adoration due to God alone, may not be giuen to any Angel or other creature. S. Auguſt. de vera relig. cap. vltimo. And vvhen the Aduerſaries replie that ſo great an Apoſtle, as Iohn vvas▪ could not be ignorant of that point, not vvould haue giuen diuine honour vnto an Angel (for ſo he had been an Idolater) and therfore that he vvas not reprehended for that, but for doing any religious reuerence or other honour vvhatſoeuer to his fellovv-ſeruant ⟨illegible⟩ ve anſvver that by the like reaſon, S. Iohn being ſo great an Apoſtle, if this later kinde of reuerence had been vnlavvful and to be reprehended, as the Proteſtants hold it is no leſſe then the other, could not haue been ignorant thereof, not vvould haue done it. [Margin: S. Iohns adoring of the Angel, explicated againſt the proteſtāts abuſing the ſame. · The Proteſtāts are re⟨illegible⟩elled by their ovvne reaſon.]

Therfore they might much better haue learned of S. Auguſtine (q. 61 in Geneſ.) hovv this facte of S. Iohn vvas corrected by the Angel, and vvherein he errour vvas. In effect it is thus, That the Angel being ſo glorious and ful of maieſtie, preſenting Chriſts perſon, and in his name vſing diuers vvordes proper to God▪ as, I am the firſt and the laſt, and aliue and vvas dead, and ſuch like, might vvel be taken of S. Iohn, by errour of his perſon, to be Chriſt him ſelf, and that the Apoſtle preſuming him to be ſo in deede, adored him vvith Diuine honour: vvhich the Angel correcting, told him he vvas not God, but one of his fellovves, and therfore that he ſhould not ſo adore him, but God. Thus then vve ſee, Iohn vvas neither ſo ignorant, to thinke that any vndue honour might be giuen to any creature: not ſo il, to commit idolatrie by doing vndue vvorſhip to any Angel in heauen: and therfore vvas not culpable at al in his facte, but onely erred materially (as the Scholemen call it) that is, by miſtaking one for an other, thinking that vvhich vvas an Angel, to haue been our Lord: becauſe he knevve that our Lord him ſelf is alſo * called an Angel, and hath often appeared in the viſions of the faithful. [Margin: S. Iohn erred only in the perſon, miſtaking the Angel to be Chriſt him ſelf, and ſo adoring him as God. · Apoc. c. 1. · Eſa. 9 in Graco. · Malac. 3.]

And the like is to be thought of the Angel appearing in the 22 of the Apocalypſe, vvhether it vvere the ſame or an other▪ for that alſo did ſo appeare, that Iohn not tell vvhether it vvere Chriſt him ſelf or no, til the Angel told him. Once this is certaine, that Iohn did not formally (as they ſay) commit idolatrie, not ſinne at al herein, knovving al dueties of a Chriſtian man, no leſſe then an Angel of heauen, being alſo in as great honour vvith God, yea and in more then many Angels. Vvhich perhaps may be the cauſe (and conſequently an other explication of this place) that the Angel knovving his great greaces and merites before God, vvould not accept any vvorſhip or ſubmiſſion at his handes, though Iohn againe of like humilitie did it, as alſo immediatly aftervvard chap. 22. vvhich belike he vvould not haue done, if he had been preciſely aduiſed by the Angel but a moment before, of errour & vnduetifulnes in the facte. Hovvſoeuer that be, this is euident, that this the Angels refuſing of adoration, taketh not avvay the due reuerence and reſpect vve ought to haue to Angels or other ſanctified perſons and creatures, and ſo theſe vvordes, See thou doe it not, ſignifie rather an earneſt refuſal, then any ſignification of crime to be committed thereby. [Margin: S. Iohn ſinned not in this adoration. · An other explication of this place. · The Proteſtāts by conference of Scriptures might finde ⟨illegible⟩eligious adoratiō of creatures.]

And maruel it is that the Proteſtants making them ſelues ſo ſure of the true ſenſe of euery doubtful place by conference of other Scriptures, folow not here the conference and comparing of Scriptures that them ſelues ſo much of onely require. Vve vvil giue them occaſion and a methode ſo to doe, thus. He that doubteth of this place, findeth out three things of queſtion, vvhich muſt be tried by other Scriptures. The firſt, vvhether there ought to be or may be any religious reuerence or honour done to any creatures▪ taking the vvord religion or religious vvorſhip not for that ſpecial honour vvhich is properly and onely due to God, as S. Auguſtine ſometimes vſeth it, but for reuerence due to any thing that is holy by ſanctification or application to the ſeruice of God. The ſecond thing is, vvhether by vſe of Scriptures, that honour be called adoration in latin, or by a vvord equiualent in other, languages, Hebrue, Greeke, or Engliſh. Laſtly, vvhether vve may by the Scriptures fall downe proſtrate before the things, or at the feete of the perſons that vve ſo adore. ⟨illegible⟩or of ciuil duetie done to our Superiors by capping, kneeling, or other courteſie, I thinke the Proteſtants vvil not ſtand vvith vs: though in deede, their arguments make as much againſt the one as the other. [Margin: Aug. de vera relig. c. 55. · Three points herein examined and proued by Scriptures. · ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ▪ · ⟨non-Latin script⟩.]

But for religious vvorſhip of creatures (vvhich vve ſpeake of) let them ſee in the Scriptures both old and nevv: firſt, vvhether the Temple, the tabernacle, the Arke, the propitiatorie, the Cherubins, the altar, the bread of propoſition, the Sabboth, and al their holies, vvere not reuerenced by al ſignes of deuotion and religion: vvhether the Sacraments of Chriſt, the Prieſts of our Lord, the Prophets of God, the Goſpel, Scriptures, the name of IESVS, ſuch like (vvhich be by vſe, ſignification, or ſanctification made holy) are not ⟨illegible⟩ovv to be reuerenced: and they ſhal finde al theſe things to haue been reuerenced of al the faithful, vvithout any diſhonour of God, and much to his honour. Secondly, that this reuerence is named adoration in the Seriptures, theſe ſpeaches do proue Pſ. 93. Adore ye his footeſtoole, becauſe it is holy. and Hebr. 11. He adored the toppe of his rod. Thirdly, that the Scriptures alſo vvarrant vs (as the nature of the vvord adoratiō giueth in al three tonges▪) to bowe downe our bodies, to fall flat on the ground at the preſence of ſuch thinges, and at the feete of holy perſons, ſpecially Angels, as Iohn doth here, theſe examples proue. Abraham adored the Angels that appeared to him, Moyſes alſo the Angel that ſhewed him ſelf out of the buſh, vvho vvere creatures, though they repreſented Gods perſon, as this Angel here did, that ſpeake to S. Iohn Balaam adored, the Angel that ſtoode before him vvith a ſvvord drawen. Num. 22. Ioſuè adored falling flat downe before the feete of the Angel, calling him his Lord, knowing by the Angels owne teſtimonie, that it vvas but an Angel. Vvho refuſed it not, but required yet more reuerence, commaunding him to plucke of his ſhoes, becauſe the ground vvas holy, no doubt ſo made by the preſence onely of the Angel. [Margin: Pſ. 5. 137. · 1 Religious vvorſhip of creatures. · Dan. 6. · 3 Reg. 8. · Ioſ. 7. Pſ. 98. 131. · 2 The ſame is called adoration. · 3 Falling proſtrat before the perſons or things adored. · Gen. 18. · Exod. 3. · Ioſue 5. · Adoring of Angels.]

Yea not onely to Angels, but euen to great Prophets this deuotion vvas done, as to Daniel by Nabuchodonoſor, vvho fell flat vpon his face before him, and did other great offices of religion, vvhich the Prophet refuſed not, becauſe they vvere done to God rather then to him, as S. Hierom defendeth the ſame againſt Porphyrie, vvho charged Daniel vvith intolerable pride therein, and the ſaid holy doctor alleageth the fact of Alexander the great, that did the like to Ioiadas the high prieſt of the ⟨illegible⟩evves. Hovvſoeuer that be (for of the ſacrifice there mentioned there may be ſome doubt, vvhich the Church doth alvvaies immediatly to God, and to no creature) the fact of the prophets (4 Reg. 2) to Elizeus, is plaine: vvhere they perceiuing that the double grace and ſpirit of Elias vvas giuen to him, fel flat dovvne at his feete and adored. So did * the Sunamite. to omit that Achior adored Iudith, falling at her feete, as a vvoman bleſſed of God, and infinite other places. [Margin: Adoring of Prophets and holy perſons. · Dan. 2. · * or, Iaddus. · 4 Reg. 4. Iudith. 13.]

Al vvhich thinges, by comparing the Scriptures, our Aduerſaries ſhould haue found to be lavvfully done to men, and Angels, and ſoueraine holy creatures. Vvhereby they might conuince them ſelues, & perceiue, that that thing could not be forbidden S. Iohn to doe to the Angel, which they pretend: though the Angel for cauſes might refuſe euen that vvhich S. Iohn did lawfully vnto him, as S. Peter did refuſe the honour giuen him by Cornelius, according to S. Chryſoſtoms opinion. he. 23 in c 10 Act. yea euen in the third chapter of this booke (if our Aduerſaries vvould looke no further) they might ſee where this Augel prophecieth & promiſeth that the Ievves ſhould fall dovvne before the feete of the Angel of Philadelphia and adore, See the Annot▪ there.

Chapter 20

An Angel caſteth the dragon (or diuel) bound, into the depth for a thouſand yeres, in vvhich the ſoules of martyes in the firſt reſurrection ſhal reigne vvith Chriſt, 7 After vvhich yeres, Satan being let looſe, ſhal raiſe Gog and Magog, an innumerable armie, againſt the beloued citie: 9 but a fire from heauen ſhal deſtroy them. 12 Then bookes are opened, and he that ſitteth vpon the throne, iudgeth al the dead according to their vvorkes.

1 AND I ſavv an Angel deſcending from heauen, hauing the key of the bottomles depth, and a great chaine in his hand.

2 And he apprehended the dragon the old ſerpent, vvhich is the Deuil and Satan, and ⟨illegible⟩ bound him for a thouſand yeres.

3 and he threvv him into the depth, and ſhut him vp, and ſealed ouer him, that he ſeduce no more the nations, til the thouſand yeres be conſummate. and after theſe thinges he muſt be looſed a litle time.

4 And ⟨illegible⟩ I ſavv ſeates: and they ſate vpon them, & iudgement vvas giuen them, ⟨illegible⟩ and the ſoules of the beheaded for the teſtimonie of IESVS, and for the vvord of God, and that adored not the beaſt, not his image, nor receiued his character in their foreheads or in their handes, and haue liued, and reigned vvith Chriſt a thouſand yeres.

5 ⟨illegible⟩ The reſt of the dead liued not, til the thouſand yeres be conſummate. ″ This is the firſt reſurrection.

6 Bleſſed and holy is he that hath part in the firſt reſurrection. in theſe the ſecond death hath not povver: but ⟨illegible⟩ they ſhal be prieſtes of God and of Chriſt: and ſhal reigne vvith him a thouſand yeres.

7 And vvhen the thouſand yeres ſhal be conſummate, ⟨illegible⟩ Satan ſhal be looſed out of his priſon, and ſhal goe forth, and ſeduce the nations that are vpon the foure corners of the earth, * Gog, and Magog, and ſhal gather them into battel, the number of vvhom is as the ſand of the ſea.

8 And they aſcended vpon the bredth of the earth, and compaſſed ⟨illegible⟩ the campe of the Sainctes, and the beloued citie.

9 And ⟨illegible⟩ there came dovvne fire from God out of heauen, and deuoured them:

10 and the Deuil vvhich ſeduced them, vvas caſt into the poole of fire and brimſtone, vvhere both the beaſt and the falſe-prophet ſhal be tormented day and night for euer and euer.

11 And I ſavv a great vvhite throne, and one ſitting vpon it, from vvhoſe ſight earth and heauen fled, and there vvas no place found for them.

12 And I ſavv the dead, great and litle, ſtanding in the ſight of the throne, and bookes vvere opened: and * ⟨illegible⟩ an other booke vvas opened, vvhich is of life: and the dead vvere iudged of thoſe thinges vvhich were vvritten in the bookes according to their vvorkes.

13 and the ſea gaue the dead that vvere in it, and death and hel gaue their dead that vvere in them, and it vvas iudged of euery one according to their vvorkes.

14 And hel and death vvere caſt into the poole of fire. This is the ſecond death.

15 And he that vvas not found vvritten in the booke of life, vvas caſt into the poole of fire.

Marginal notes to Chapter 20

v. 1 See in S. Auguſtine (li. 20. de Ciuit. c. 7. 8. & ſeq.) the expoſition of this chapter.
v. 4 ⸬ Quid in millenari⟨illegible⟩ numero niſi ad proferandam nouam ſobolem perfecta vniuerſitas praeſ⟨illegible⟩ita generationis exprim⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩ hinc per ⟨illegible⟩ dicitur, It regnabunt cū ⟨illegible⟩ ⟨illegible⟩ill⟨illegible⟩ a⟨illegible⟩nis, ⟨illegible⟩ regnum ſancta Eccleſia, vniuerſitatis perf⟨illegible⟩c⟨illegible⟩ione ſo⟨illegible⟩iidatur. D. Gregor. li. 9. Moral. c. 1.
v. 7 ⸬ S. Auguſtine thinketh that theſe do not ſignifie any certaine natiōs but al that ſhal then be ioyned vvith the Diuel and Antichriſt againſt the Church. li. 20. de Ciuit. c. 11. See S. Hierom in Exech. li. 11.
v. 7 Ezec. 38, 14. 39, 2.
v. 10 See S. Hierom in Exech. li. 11.
v. 10 THE 6 VISION.
v. 11 ⸬ They ſhal then be new, not the ſubſtāce, but the ſhape chāged. 2 Pet. 3. See S. Auguſtine. li. 20. de Ciuit. c. 14.
v. 12 ᶜ The bookes of mens conſciēces, where it ſhal plainely be read vvhat euery mans life hath been.
v. 12 Apoc. 3, 5. 21, 27.
v. 15 ⸬ Such as doe no good workes, if they haue age and time to doe them, are not found in the booke of life.

Annotations to Chapter 20

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XX.

2. Bound him;] Chriſt by his Paſſion hath abridged the povver of the Deuil for a thouſand yeres, that is, the vvhole time of the nevv Teſtament, vntil Antichriſts time, vvhen he ſhal be looſed againe, that is, be permitted to deceiue the vvorld, but for a ſhort time only, to vvit, three yeres and a halfe.

4▪ I ſavv ſeates.] S. Auguſtine (li. 20 de Ciuit. Dei c. 9) taketh this to be ſpoken, not of the laſt iudgement, but of the Sees or Conſiſtories of Biſhops and Prelates, and of the Prelates them ſelues, by vvhom the Church is novv gouerned. As the iudgement here giuen, can be taken no othervviſe better, then of that vvhich vvas ſaid by our Sauior Mat. 18. Whatſoeuer you binde in earth, ſhal be bound in heauen▪ and therfore the Apoſtle ſaith, What haue I to doe to iudge of them that are vvith out? [Margin: Biſhops conſiſtories & iudicial power. · 1. Cor. 5.]

4. And the ſoules.] He meaneth (ſaith S. Auguſtine in the place alleaged) the ſoules of Martyrs, that they ſhal in the meane time, during thoſe thouſand yeres; vvhich is the time of the Church militant, be in heauen vvithout their bodies, and reigne vvith Chriſt. for, the ſoules (ſaith he) of the godly departed, are not ſeparated from the Church, vvhich is euen novv the kingdom of Chriſt. for els there ſhould be kept no memorie of them as the altar of God in the communicating of the body of Chriſt: neither ſhould it auaile to haſten to Baptiſme in the perils of death, for feare of ending our life vvithout it: nor to haſten to be reconciled, if vve fortune for penence or of il conſcience to be ſeparated from the ſame body. And vvhy are al theſe things done, but for that the faithful departed alſo be members of the Church? And though for an example the Martyrs be onely named here, yet it is mean⟨illegible⟩ of others alſo that die in the ſtate of grace. [Margin: During a thouſand yeres (that is the time ofthis militant Church) ſaints reigne vvith Chriſt in ſoule only.]

5. The reſt liued not.] The reſt vvhich are not of the happie number aforeſaid, but liued and died in ſinne, reigne not vvith Chriſt in their ſoules during this time of the nevv Teſtament, but are dead in ſoule ſpiritually, and in body naturally, til the day of iudgement. S. Auguſt. ibidem. [Margin: The reſt are dead and damned in ſoule, during the ſame time.]

3. This is the firſt reſurrection.] As there be tvvo regenerations, one by faith, vvhich is novv in Baptiſme: and an other according to the fleſh, vvhen at the later day the body ſhal be made immortal and incorruptible: ſo there are tvvo reſurrections, the one novv of the ſoules to ſaluation vvhen they die in grace, vvhich is called the firſt, the other of the bodies at the later day. S. Auguſt. li⟨illegible⟩. 20 de Ciui⟨illegible⟩. c. 6. [Margin: The firſt reſurrection, of the ſoule only.]

6. They ſhal be Prieſts.] It is not ſpoken (ſaith S. Auguſtine li. 20 de Ciuit. c. 10) of Biſhops and Prieſt⟨illegible⟩ onely, vvhich are properly novv in the Church called Prieſts: but as vve call al, Chriſtians, for the myſtical Chriſme or ointment, ſo al, Prieſts, becauſe they are the members of one Prieſt▪ of vvhom the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, A holy people, a kingly Prieſthod. Vvhich vvordes be notable for their learning that thinke there be none properly called Prieſts novv in the nevv Teſtament, no othervviſe then al Chriſtian men and vvomen, and a confuſion to them that therfore haue turned the name Prieſts into Miniſters. [Margin: Prieſts, ſome proprely ſo called, ſome vnproprely. · 1. Pet. ⟨illegible⟩.]

7. Satan ſhal be looſed.] In the vvhole 8 chapter of the ſaid 20 booke de Ciuitate Dei in S. Auguſtine, is a notable commentarie of theſe vvordes. Vvhere firſt he declareth, that neither this binding nor looſing of Satan is in reſpect of ſeducing or not ſeducing the Church of God: prouing that vvhether he be bound or looſe, he can neuer ſeduce the ſame. The ſame, ſaith he, ſhal be the ſtate of the Church at that time vvhen the Diuel is to be looſed, euen as ſince it vvas inſtituted. the ſame hath it been & ſhal be at al time in her children that ſuccede eche other by birth & death. And a litle after. This I thought vvas therfore to be mentioned, left any man ſhould thinke, that during the litle time wherein the Diuel ſhal be looſed, the Church ſhal not be vpon the earth, he either not finding it here vvhen he ſhal be le⟨illegible⟩ looſe, or conſuming it vvhen be ſhal by al meanes perſecute the ſame. Secondly he declareth, that the Diuel to be bound, is nothing els but not to be permitted by God to exerciſe al his force or fraude in tentations: as to be looſed, is to be ſuffered by God for a ſmall time, that is, for three yeres and a halfe, to practiſe and proue al his povver and artes of tentations againſt the Church and her children, and yet not to preuaile againſt them. Thirdly this Doctor ſhevveth by vvhat great mercie our Lord hath tied Satan and abridged his povver during the vvhole millenarie or thouſand yeres, vvhich is al the time of the nevv Teſtament vntil then: & vvith vvhat vviſedom he permitteth him to breake looſe that litle time of three yeres and ſixe moneths, tovvard the later day, vvhich ſhal be the reigne of Antichriſt. Laſtly he ſhevveth vvhat kinde of men ſhal be moſt ſubiect to the Diuels ſeductiō, (euen ſuch as novv by tentation of Heretikes goe out of the Church) and vvho ſhal auoid it. [Margin: The binding and looſing of Satan, explicated by S. Auguſtine. · The ſhort reigne of Antichriſt.]

By al vvhich vve may confute diuers falſe expoſitiōs of old & late Heretikes▪ firſt, the aūcient ſect of the Millenaries, that grounded vpon theſe thouſand yeres named by the Prophet, this hereſie, that there ſhould be ſo many yeres after the reſurrectiō of our bodies, in vvhich vve ſhould reigne vvith Chriſt in this vvorld, in our bodies, in al delites and pleaſures corporal, of meates, drinkes, and ſuch like, vvhich they called the firſt reſurrection. of vvhich hereſie Cerinthus vvas the author. Epiph. haer. 77. in fine. Hiero. C⟨illegible⟩mment. in c. 19 Mat. Auguſt. har. 8 ad Quodvul⟨illegible⟩ Deum. Euſ⟨illegible⟩bius alſo (li. 3 hiſtoria c. 33) ſhevveth that ſome principal men vvere in part (though after a more honeſt maner cōcerning thoſe corporal delicacies) of the ſame opinion by miſconſtruction of theſe vvordes of S. Iohn. Vvhereby vve learne and al the vvorld may perceiue, the holy Scriptures to be hard, vvhen ſo great clerkes did erre, and that there is no ſecuritie but in that ſenſe vvhich the Church allovveth of. [Margin: Millenarij or Chiliaſt⟨illegible⟩ · The Scriptures hard.]

The late Heretikes alſo by the ſaid S. Auguſtines vvordes are fully refuted, affirming not only that the Church may be ſeduced in that great perſecution of the Diuels looſing, but that it hath been ſeduced euen a great peece of this time vvhen the Diuel is bound: holding that the very true Church may erre or fall from truth to errour and idolatrie, yea (vvhich is more blaſphemie) that the cheefe gouernour of the Church is Antichriſt him ſelf, and the very Church vnder him, the vvhoo⟨illegible⟩e of Babylon: and that this Antichriſt, (vvhich the Scriptures in ſo many places, and here plainely by S. Auguſtines expoſition, teſtifie, ſhal reigne but a ſmall time, and that tovvard the laſt iudgement,) hath been reuealed long ſithence, to be the Pope him ſelf, Chriſts ovvne Vicar, and that he hath perſecuted the Saincts of their ſecte for theſe thouſand yeres at the leaſt. Vvhich is no more but to make the Diuel to be looſe, and Antichriſt to reigne the vvhole thouſand yeres, or the moſt part thereof, that is, almoſt the vvhole time of the Churches ſtate in the new Teſtamēt: (vvhich is againſt this and other Scriptures euidently, appointing that, to be the time of the Diuels binding:) Yea it is to make Antichriſt and the Diuel vveaker tovvard the day of iudgement then before, and the truth better to be knovven, and the faith more common▪ the neerer vve come to the ſame iudgement: vvhich is expreſly * againſt the Goſpel▪ and this prophecie of S. Iohn. [Margin: By S. Auguſtines foreſaid explication, is eurdently dedu⟨illegible⟩ed againſt the Proteſtāts, that the Churche can not erre, and that the Pope can not poſſibly be Antichriſt. · An inuincible demōſtration.]

Vve ſee that the ſectes of Luther, Caluin, and other, be more ſpred through the vvorld then they vvere euer before, and conſequently the Pope and his religion leſſened, and his povver of puniſhing (or, as they call it) perſecuting the ſaid Sectaries, through the multitude of his aduerſaries, diminiſhed. How then is the Pope Antichriſt, Whoſe force ſhal be greater at the later end of the vvorld, then before? or how can it be othervviſe, but theſe Sect⟨illegible⟩Maiſters ſhould be Antichriſts neere precurſors, that make Chriſts cheefe Miniſters & the Churches cheefe gouelnours that haue been theſe thouſand yeres and more, to be Antichriſtes: ⟨illegible⟩ and them ſelues and their ſectes to be true, that come ſo neere the time of the Diuels looſing and ſeduction & of the perſonal reigne of Antichriſt? [Margin: Mat. 24. · Lu. 18, 8.]

8. The campe of the Saincts.] S. Auguſtine in the ſaid 20 booke de Clui⟨illegible⟩. Dei cap. 11. It is not, ſaith he, to be taken that the perſecutors ſhal gather to any place, as though the campe of the ſaincts or the beloued citie ſhould be but in one place, vvhich in deede are no other thing but the Church of Chriſt ſpred through the vvhole vvorld. And therfore vvhereſoeuer the Church ſhal then be (vvhich ſhal be in al Nations euen them, for ſo much is inſinuated by this latitude of the earth here ſpecified) there ſhal the tents of ſaincts be, and the beloued citie of God, and there ſhal ſhe be beſieged by al her enemies, vvhich ſhal be in euery countrie vvhere ſhe is, in moſt cruel and forcible ſort. So vvriteth this profound holy Doctor. Vvhereby vve ſee, that, as novv the particular Churches of England, Scotland, Flanders, and ſuch like, be perſecuted by their enemies in thoſe countries, ſo in the time of Antichriſt, the Churches of al Nations. as of Italie, Spaine, France, and al other vvhich novv be quiet, ſhal be aſſaulted as novv the foreſaid are, and much more, for that the general perſecution of the vvhole, ſhal be greater▪ then the particular perſecution of any Churches in the vvorld. [Margin: The camp⟨illegible⟩ of Saincts is the Catho. Church through the vvorld. · As novv Heretikes in particular countries, ſo Antichriſt ſhal perſecute the Churches of al nations▪]

9. There came dovvne a fire.] It is not meant of the fire of Hel (ſaith S. Auguſtine ib. c. 12) into which the vvicked ſhal be caſt after the reſurrection of their bodies, but of an extraordinarie helpe that God vvil ſend from heauen, to giue ſuccourſe to the Saincts of the Church that then ſhal fight againſt the vvicked: or, the very feruent and burning zeale of religion and Gods honour, vvhich God vvil kindle in the hartes of the faithful, to be conſtant againſt al the forces of that great perſecution. [Margin: Vvhat is mean⟨illegible⟩ by fire from heauen.]

12. An other booke.] This is the booke of Gods knovvledge or predeſtination, vvherein that vvhich before vvas hid to the vvorld, ſhal be opened, and vvherein the true record of euery mans vvorkes ſhal be conteined, and they haue their iudgemēt diuerſly according to their vvorkes, and not according to faith only, or lacke of faith only. for, al infidels (as Turkes, obſtinate ⟨illegible⟩evves, and Heretikes) ſhal neuer come to that examination, being othervviſe condemned. [Margin: The booke of euery mans workes, opened in the day of iudgement.]

Chapter 21

Heauen and earth being made nevv, S. Iohn ſeeth the nevv citie Hieruſalem prepared and adorned for the ſpouſe of the Lambe. 6 The iuſt are glorified, 7 and the vvicked thruſt into the poole of fire. 12 The vvall and gates and foundations of the citie are deſcribed and meaſured: 18 al vvhich are gold and cryſtal, pretious ſtones and pearles.

1 AND I ſavv a nevv heauen and a nevv earth. for * the firſt heauen, and the firſt earth vvas gone, & the ſea novv is not.

2 And I Iohn ſavv the holy citie Hieruſalem nevv deſcending from heauen, prepared of God, as a bride adorned for her huſband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne ſaying: Behold the tabernacle of God vvith men, and the vvil dvvel vvith them. And they ſhal be his people: and he God vvith them ſhal be their God.

4 and * God ſhal vvipe avvay al teares from their eies: and death ſhal be no more. not mourning, nor crying, neither ſhal there be ſorovv any more, vvhich' firſt thinges are gone.

5 And he that ſate in the throne, ſaid: * Behold I make al thinges nevv. ⊢ And he ſaid to me: Vvrite, becauſe theſe vvordes be moſt faithful and true.

6 And he ſaid to me: It is done, * I am Alpha and Omega: the beginning and the end. To him that thirſteth I vvil giue of the fountaine of the water of life, gratis.

7 He that ſhal ouercome, ſhal poſſeſſe theſe thinges, and I vvil be his God: and he ſhal be my ſonne.

8 But to the feareful, and incredulous, and execrable, and murderers, and fornicators, and ſorcerers, and Idolaters, and al liers, their part ſhal be in the poole burning vvith fire and brimſtone, vvhich is the ſecond death.

9 And there came one of the ſeuen Angels that had the vials ful of the ſeuen laſt plagues, and ſpake vvith me, ſaying: Come, & I vvil ſhevv thee the bride, the vvife of the Lambe.

10 And he tooke me vp in ſpirit vnto a mountaine great and high: and he ſhevved me the holy citie Hieruſalem deſcending out of heauen from God,

11 hauing the glorie of God. and the light thereof like to a prerious ſtone, as it vvere to the iaſpetr ſtone, euen as cryſtal.

12 And it had a vvall great and high, hauing tvvelue gates, and in the gates tvvelue Angels, & names written thereon, vvhich are the names of the tvvelue tribes of the children of Iſraël.

13 On the Eaſt, three gates: and on the North, three gates: and on the South, three gates: and on the Vveſt, three gates.

14 And the vvall of the citie hauing tvvelue foundations: and in them, tvvelue names, of the tvvelue Apoſtles of the Lambe.

15 And he that ſpake vvith me, had a meaſure of a reede, of gold, to meaſure the citie and the gates thereof, and the vvall.

16 And the citie is ſituated quadrangle-vviſe, and the length thereof is as great as alſo the bredth: and he meaſured the citie vvith the reede for tvvelue thouſand furlonges, & the length and height and bredth thereof be equal.

17 And he meaſured the vvall thereof of an hundred fourtie foure cubites, the meaſure of a man vvhich is of an Angel.

18 And the building of the vvall therof vvas of iaſper ſtone: but the citie it ſelf ⟨illegible⟩ pure gold, like to pure glaſſe.

19 And the foundations of the vvall of the citie, vvere adorned vvith al pretious ſtone. The firſt foundation, the iaſper: the ſecond, the ſaphire: the third, the calcedonius: the fourth, the emerauld:

20 the fifth, the ſardonix: the ſixt, the ſardius: the ſeuenth, the chryſolithus: the eight, the beryllus: the ninthe, the topazius: the tenth, the chryſopraſus: the eleuenth, the hyacinthe: the tvvelfth, the amethyſ⟨illegible⟩e.

21 And the twelue gates: there are twelue pearles, one to euery one: & euery gate vvas of one ſeueral pearle. & the ſtreate of the citie pure gold, as it vvere trāſpárent glaſſe.

22 And temple I ſavv not therein. for our Lord the God omnipotent is the temple thereof, and the Lambe.

23 And * the citie needeth not ſunne nor moone, to ſhine in it. for the glorie of God hath illuminated it, and the Lambe is the lampe thereof.

24 And * the Gentiles ſhal vvalke in the light of it: and the kinges of the earth ſhal bring their glorie and honour into it.

25 And * the gates thereof ſhal not be ſhut by day: for there ſhal be no night there.

26 And they ſhal bring the glorie and honour of nations into it.

27 There ſhal not enter into it any polluted thing, nor that doeth abomination and maketh lie, but * they that are vvritten in the booke of life of the Lambe.

Marginal notes to Chapter 21

Argument THE 5 PART.
Argument The final glorificatiō of the Church.
v. 1 Eſa. 63, 17. 66, 21.
v. 1 The Epiſtle vpon the dedication of a Church.
v. 1 2 Pet. 3, 13.
v. 2 ᶜ The Church triumphant.
v. 3 ⸬ This tabernacle is Chriſt according to his humanitie.
v. 3 Eſ. 25. 8.
v. 3 Apoc. 7, 17.
v. 4 ᶜ This happie day ſhal make an end of al the miſeries of this mortalitie.
v. 4 ` becauſe the
v. 5 Eſa. 43, 19.
v. 6 Apoc. 1, 8. 22, 13.
v. 7 ⸬ He that hath the victorie againſt ſinne in the Church militant, ſhal haue his revvard in the triumphant.
v. 8 ᶜ Al that commit mortal ſinnes and repent not, ſhal be damned.
v. 9 THE 7 AND LAST VISION.
v. 11 ⸬ The glorie of the Church triumphant.
v. 12 ᶜ The names of the Patriarches and Apoſtles honorable and glorious in the triumphant Church.
v. 16 ⸬ See S. Hierom ep. 17. touching this deſcription of the heauenly Hieruſalem, vvhich is the Church triūphāt, teaching that theſe things muſt be taken ſpiritually, not car⟨illegible⟩ally.
v. 22 ⸬ Al external ſacrifice which now is neceſſarie⟨illegible⟩dutie of the faithful, ſhal then ceaſe and therfore there ſhal neede no material temple.
v. 22 Eſa. 60, 19,
v. 23 Eſ. 60, 3.
v. 24 Eſa. 60, 11.
v. 27 ⸬ None not perfectly cleāſed of their ſu⟨illegible⟩nes, can enter into this heauenly Hieruſelem.
v. 27 Apo. 20, 12.

Annotations to Chapter 21

ANNOTATION CHAP. XXI.

18. Pure gold.] S. Gregorie (li. 18. Moral. 6, 28) ſaith, the heauenly ſtate is reſembled to gold, pretious ſtone, cryſtal, glaſſe, and the like, for the puritie, claritie, glittering of the glorious bodies: vvhere one mans body, conſcience, and cogitations are repreſented to an other, as corporal things in this life are ſeen through cryſtal or glaſſe. [Margin: The ſtate of glorified bodies.⟨illegible⟩]

Chapter 22

The tree of life being vvatered vvith liuing vvater, yeldeth fruictes euery moneth. 3 There is neither curſe nor night in the citie. 6 The Angel that ſhevved Iohn al theſe things, refuſeth to be adored of him. 14 He telleth him that the iuſt ſhal enter into the citie, but the reſt ſhal be caſt forth. 18 Laſtly, ⟨illegible⟩e proteſteth and threateneth againſt them that ſhal preſume to adde to this prophecie, or take avvay from the ſame.

1 AND he ſhevved me a riuer of ⟨illegible⟩ liuing water', cleere as cryſtal, proceding from the ſeate of God and of the Lambe.

2 In the middes of the ſtreate thereof, and on both ſides of the riuer, the tree of life, yelding tvvelue fruites, rendring his fruite euery moneth, and the leaues of the tree for the curing of the Gentiles.

3 And no curſe ſhal be any more: and the ſeate of God and of the Lambe ſhal be in it, and his ſeruantes ſhal ſerue him.

4 And they ſhal ſee his face: and his name in their foreheads.

5 And * night ſhal be no mo⟨illegible⟩e: and they ſhal not neede the light of lampe, nor the light of the ſunne, becauſe our Lord God doth illuminate them, and they ſhal reigne for euer and euer.

6 And he ſaid to me, Theſe vvordes are moſt faithful and true. And our Lord the God of the ſpirites of the prophetes, ſent his Angel to ſhevv his ſeruantes thoſe thinges vvhich muſt be done quickly.

7 And behold I come quickly. Bleſſed is he that keepeth the vvordes of the prophecie of this booke.

8 And I Iohn vvhich haue heard, and ſeen theſe thinges. And * after I had heard and ſeen, I fel dovvne to adore before the feete of the Angel vvhich ſhevved me theſe thinges:

9 and he ſaid to me, See thou doe not, for I am thy fellow-ſeruant, and of thy brethren, the prophetes, and of them that keepe the vvordes of this booke. Adore God.

10 And he ſaith to me, Seale not the vvordes of the prophecie of this booke. for the time is neere.

11 He that hur⟨illegible⟩eth, let him hurt yet: and he that is in filth, let him be filthie yet: and he that is iuſt, let him be iuſtified yet: and let the holy be ſanctified yet.

12 Behold I come quickly▪ and my revvard is vvith me, * to render to euery man according to his vvorkes,

13 I am * Alpha and Omega, the firſt and the laſt, the beginning and the end.

14 Bleſſed are they that vvaſh their ſtoles: that their povver may be in the tree of life, and they may enter by the gates into the citie.

15 Vvithout are dogges and ſorcerers, and the vnchaſt, and murderers, and ſeruers of Idols, & euery one that loueth and maketh a lie.

16 I IESVS haue ſent mine Angel, to teſtifie to you theſe thinges in the Churches. I am the roote and ſtocke of Dauid, the bright and morning ſtarre.

17 And the Spirit & the bride ſay, Come. And he that heareth, let him ſay, Come. And * he that thirſteth, let him come: and he that vvil, let him take the vvater of life gratis.

18 For I teſtifie to euery one hearing the vvordes of the prophecie of this booke, ⟨illegible⟩ If any mā ſhal adde to theſe things, God ſhal adde vpon him the plagues vvritten in this booke.

19 And if any man ſhal diminiſh of the wordes of the booke of this prophecie: God ſhal take avvay his part out of the booke of life, and out of the holy citie, and of theſe thinges that be vvritten in this booke.

20 ſaith he that giueth teſtimonie of theſe things. Yea I come quickely: Amen. ⟨illegible⟩ Come Lord IESVS.

21 The grace of our Lord IESVS Chriſt be vvith you al. Amen.

Marginal notes to Chapter 22

v. 1 ′ vvater of life,
v. 2 ⸬ Chriſt is our tree of life: in the Church, by the B. Sacramé: & in heauen, by his viſible preſence and influence of life euer laſting both to our bodies and ſoules: of vv⟨illegible⟩ō Salomon ſaith, The tree of life to al that appr⟨illegible⟩he⟨illegible⟩d him. Prou. 3.
v. 4 Apo. 21. Eſa. 60
v. 6 THE CONCLVSION.
v. 8 Apo. 19, 10.
v. 8 ⸬ You ſee it is al one to adore before the feete of the angel, & to adore the Angel: though, to adore him, ⟨illegible⟩e not expreſſed as in the 19 chap. See the an̄otatiō there v. 10.
v. 11 ᶜ Man by Gods grace & doing good workes, doth increaſe his iuſtice.
v. 12 ⸬ Heauen is the reward, hire, & repaiment for good workes, in al the Scriptures. yet the aduerſaries wil not ſee it.
v. 12 Ro. 2, 6.
v. 13 Apo. 21, 6. 1, 8.
v. 17 Eſ. 55, 1.

Annotations to Chapter 22

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXII.

11. He that hurteth.] It is not an exhortation, but a commination or threatening, that hovv far ſoeuer the vvicked increaſe in naughtines▪ God hath prouided anſvverable puniſhment for them.

18. If any man ſhal adde.] The author of the commentaries vpon this booke, bearing the name of S. Ambroſe, ſaith thus of this point. He maketh not this proteſtation againſt the expoſitours of his prophecie, but againſt Heretikes, for the expoſitour doth add⟨illegible⟩ or diminiſh nothing, but openeth: the obſcuritie of the narration, or ſhevveth the moral or ſpiritual ſenſe. He curſeth therfore Heretikes, that vſed to adde ſomevvhat of their ovvne that vvas falſe, and to take avvay other things that vvere contrarie to their hereſies. So ſaith this auncient vvriter. And this vvas the propertie of them in al ages, and ſo is it of ours novv, as vve haue noted through the vvhole Bible, and as vve haue in ſundrie places ſet forth to the ſight of al indifferent readers, in the nevv Teſtament, that al the vvorld may ſee that the Apoſtles curſe is fallen vpon them, and may bevvare of them. [Margin: The curſe agaīſt adding or diminiſhing, is againſt Heretikes, not Catholike expoſitours.]

20. Come Lord Ieſus.] And novv ô Lord Chriſt, moſt iuſt and merciful, vve they poore creatures that are ſo afflicted for confeſſion and defenſe of the holy, Catholike, and Apoſtolike truth, conteined in this thy ſacred booke, and in the infallible doctrine of thy deere ſpouſe our mother the Church, vve crie alſo vnto thy Maieſtie vvith tenderneſſe of our hartes vnſpeakable, COME LORD IESVS QUICKLY, and iudge betvvixt vs and our Aduerſaries, and in the meane time giue patience, comfort, and conſtancie to al that ſuffer for thy name, and truſt in thee. ô Lord God our onely helper and protector, tarie not long. AMEN. [Margin: A breefe petitiō vnto IESVS Chriſt, to come quickly, as S. Iohn here ſpeaketh, and to iudge the cauſe of Catholikes & Proteſtants.]

Colophon

Printed edition: The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin … in the English College of Rhemes (Rhemes: Iohn Fogny, 1582; STC 2884, ESTC S102491), the Catholic New Testament translated from the Latin Vulgate chiefly by Gregory Martin. Copy transcribed: the Eton College Library copy, as filmed for Early English Books Online (image set 2646).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A16049 (keyed 2005–06, proofread and released 2006), placed in the public domain under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal. Converted for the Good Works Library in October 2026.

What was done: the spelling, punctuation and capitals of the transcription are kept exactly, including u/v, i/j, "vv" for w, long s (ſ), the abbreviation stroke (as in "vpō") and the edition's own marks (″ for an annotated word, ⸬ and * for marginal references, ⊢ for the end of a liturgical Gospel or Epistle; ▪ is the transcribers' sign for a punctuation mark they could not identify). Removed as apparatus: the TEI markup, page breaks, line-end hyphenation, and the small cross ✝ that the edition sets at the beginning of each verse beside the verse number in the margin; the number is given here instead. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter, keyed to their verse; the annotations follow as the edition prints them. Words the transcribers could not read are shown as ⟨illegible⟩; words printed in Greek or other non-Latin letters, which the transcription did not key, are shown as ⟨non-Latin script⟩. No gap has been filled or guessed.

The book's heading in the edition reads: "THE APOCALYPSE OF IOHN THE APOSTLE." The page title gives it in ordinary capitals and lower case, without other change.

Notes on this transcription: Revelation 4: the chapter summary is encoded in the transcription as a second heading; it is shown here as the summary.

On this page 133 places are marked ⟨illegible⟩ and 15 words or phrases in Greek or other non-Latin letters are marked ⟨non-Latin script⟩.

This is an archival transcription of a historic English Bible. It is not a Good Works Translation.

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