Prælections vpon the sacred and holy Reuelation of S. Iohn, written in latine by William Fulke Doctor of Diuinitie, and translated into English by George Gyffard

¶ The fourtenth Chapter. (Book 14)

YT is taught in this Chapter by what meanes the Church shall stand against the ty∣rannye of Antichrist, afterwarde the fall and ruine of vngodlines whiche shoulde be by the preachinge of the gospell, is sore tolde. The faith¦full are admonished to take hede and kepe them selues from the corruptions and defilings of Antichrist, because the last iudgement of God shall shortly after follow.

Vers. 1.

And I loked and behold a lambe. &c.

WHen as he had foretolde in the former Chapter that all tri∣bes, tongues, people, and nations should acknowledge the aucthority of y^e most foule beast, when as he had pronounced that the sainctes should be ouercome of y^e most cruell monster, & also when he had fore shewed y^t all as many as wold exercise buying, and selling, & the trafficke of this life, should professe moste filthy slauery & bondage, we might very wel haue doubted, whether the whole Church of Christ, were vtterly subdued or not, after y^t the cruell beast had apprehended & obtained dominion, except in this vision, as well the preseruation of the Church, as the destruction of that tyranny, had cōsequently bene declared. Like as therefore in the 12. chap. He saw Michaell fighting w^t the dragon, so like∣wise now he seeth a lambe placed against the monstrouse beast. But it semeth to be without reason, that he opposeth and setteth a most meke lambe against a most cruell and wilde beast. But we must remēber, that Christ is shewed not such as he is to his enemies, but such as he vttereth himself to his owne. For to his enemies he is that Lion of the tribe of Iuda, but to the godlye he is the lambe slaien from the beginninge of the worlde as lo∣uinge to his owne, as he is terrible to his enemies.

¶ stoode vpon Mount Sion. &c.

MOunt Sion is an auncient fygure of the Churche whiche shoulde neuer perishe, of whiche there remaine so excel∣lent, and magnificall promises, that the Lorde will neuer for∣sake it. For oute of that place, the doctrine of the Gospell flo∣weth ouer the whole worlde, according to the prophecies of the olde Prophets, and accordinge to the cōmaundements of Christ

him selfe which he gaue to his Apostles. Act. 1. Ye shalbe wit∣nesses vnto me in Ierusalem, and in all Iudea, and Samaria, and vnto the endes of the earth. That therfore, which mount Syon was to the Iewes, the same is the whole world, to vs, if we haue respecte to place, wheresoeuer the godly professors of the Gospell are found. Which the prophete Isay witnesseth Chapter 2. Saying: and the mountayne of the house of the Lord, shalbe exalted aboue the toppe of all mountaynes and all people shalbe gathered vnto it. Foundly therefore doe they, which boast of some particuler citie or place, to which y^e Church of God may be bound and tied, as the papistes doe of Rome, vnlesse they woulde vaunte as they are verie impudente, that mount Sion is translated to that citie, which is buylded vpon seuen hilles. But it is manifest by the scriptures that the seat of God is spread out of Sion ouer the whole earth. Therefore Christ is sayd to stand vpon the mount Syon, when he perfor∣meth that which he promised other where: behold I am with ye, euen to the ende of the world: and if we aske where he an∣swereth in the 17. Chapter of saincte Luke: Wheresoeuer the dead carkas shalbe, thither will the Eagles be gathered. This place doth teach euen by this one reason, that the Church shall be perpetuall, bycause it is the seats of the lambe, whome the mount Sion shall neuer fayle, in which he may stand with his chast worshippers.

And with him a hundreth and foure and fortie thousand. &c. The whole felowship of Gods faithfull electe, gathered out of euery one of the 12. tribes of Israell, as we read in the seuenth Chapter, is ioyned to Christ there head. For wicked∣nesse neuer beareth such sway in the world, but that God hath his sufficiente number althoughe muche fewer then the repro∣bate, which he preserueth pure frō Idolatrie, filthines, & defi∣linges, likewise as in the time of Elias he kept to him selfe se∣uen thousandes which were cleane and vnspotted from the fil∣thinesse of Baall.

Hauing his fathers name writen in there foreheades. &c. That is, whose election is not onely sealed inwardly in there

hartes by the holy ghost but also, with outward and open pro¦fession testified before men. For they witnesse by the whole cō∣uersation of there life whose seruauntes they are, so that it is ready and easie for euerie one, to read the name of god imprin∣ted in there foreheades.

Vers. 2.

And I herd a voice from heauen. &c.

IT is not an idle nor dumbe multitude whiche accompanie Christ, but which is alwaies bent with most earnest studye and indeuour in celebrating & magnifying y^e glory of god. S. Ihon therefore heareth a lowde voice frō heauen: but it maye be meruailed wherefore it is sayed from heauen, seeing that he had seene the lambe a litle before standing on mount Sion. He signifieth therefore not an earthely hill, but that heauenly hill which is aunswereable, to the heauēly Ierusalem, for the con∣uersation of the Churche beinge a straunger in earthe is in heauen.

As the sound of many waters and as the sounde of a great thunder, and I herde the voice of harpes harping with there harpes. &c. By a three folde similitude he setteth forth y^e mag∣nificence of the voice, which he herde. First that it was like to that bellowing noise, which many waters tossed with contra∣rie windes, and russhing against rockes, and the sea banckes, do make. This is a great confuse and troublesome sound, such at the first hearing, the voice of them that sing forth the praises of God in the Church semeth to be. Secondly that voice was like to the crackes of the terrible thunder. For it striketh the mindes of sinners and specially of those, whiche are priuie of there owne vnthankfulnesse, when they heare the glory of god sounded forthe, of his faithfull worshippers. Lastly when as the mindes of men are subdued and brought vnder to the obe∣dience of god, and filled with the pleasaunt sweetenes of his amiable grace, they heare with great delight a most pleasaunte harmonie, as it were of harpers singinge with there harpes. This is the true musike, whose vse is in the Churche rather then that chaunting, which creketh onely in the voice, and de∣lighteth the outwarde eares, when as neuerthelesse the minde

is voide of all sense or feling of godlinesse.

Vers. 3.

And they song as it were a new song. &c.

SO great is the ioyfull willingnesse of the godlye in setting forth Gods glorie, that when as nothing is more aunciente in the Churche then the celebration of diuine praises, yet they seme alwaies to them selues to sing a newe song. For the re∣membraunce of Gods benefites towardes them neuer waxeth old, neither dothe the praise of God euer fayle in the Churche, which alwaies indeuoureth with vnweried studie to magnify his glorie.

Before the throne, and before the foure beastes, and the elders. &c. That is, this exercise of singinge, doth alwaies flo∣rishe in the Churche, before God, the Aungels, and the whole worlde, which is both approued to God and testified to all his creatures.

And no man could learne that song, but the hundreth for∣tie and foure thousand, which were bought from the earth. &c. None of the reprobate, nor yet of the hypocrites, which fayne euen the most holinesse, coulde learne this song, but the electe onely, to whome the holy ghost is wont to speake and teache the same when as redemption is sealed in there hartes, y^t they may with ioyfull & sincere affectiō of harte, sing a psalm of thankes and praise vnto him, whome they acknowledge to be Abba and father. Where are therefore the songes & prayers not vnderstode, which please God euē for the worke wrought as the papistes do mainteyn? For such songes euery hypocrite can learne and sing, but suche are not alowed of God.

Vers. 4.

These are they which are not defiled with women, for they are virgins. &c.

THe conuersation of life is agreable to there profession. For they should not be meete to celebrate y^e praises of god, vnles they could bring thē forth of a pure & vndefiled hart. But vn∣der one kinde, he cōprehendeth all other defilings of a wicked life. They are free from whoredome, and other greater & more veynouse vices. Although accordinge to the maner of the scri∣pture by whoredome we may vnderstande Idolatrie, & other

vices also whiche make a diuorcemente betwene, Christ the onelie spouse of the Churche, and men. For this is most pre∣ciouse virginitie before God, when the godlye kepe them sel∣ues cleane from adulterouse supersticions, and other defi∣linges of the worlde, like as god commendeth his seuen thou∣sande, which were not defiled with any filthines of Baal. And Paule maried the Corinthians, as a chaste virgin to Christ whiche woulde not suffer her selfe to bee drawne or led backe from Christ by wicked and counterfeyte deuises of men, as it were with harlot like enticementes. But in that the papistes by this place would confirme the single life of the popish cler∣gie, it is without all reason. For y^e holy ghost doth not speake of euerie coniunction with women, but of that onely where∣with men are polluted, but the Apostle witnesseth in the. 13. chap. to the Hebrewes that y^e mariage bed is vndefiled. Nei∣ther doth it make any thing for their purpose y^t they are called virgins. For this doth perteyne to the whole companie of the elect, & not to the ministers of the worde only, much lesse to the popish priestes, of which as there were manye y^t liued a single life, so there were very few of thē virgins, yea scarcely there is one among a 1000. of thē, but y^t he was defiled either w^t forni∣catiō, or preposterouse lust, or at the least wicked burning, so y^t if when we giue thē single life, wee may altogether deny them virginitie.

These followe the lambe whethersoeuer he goeth. &c. The true members of the Church are neuer seperated from Christ there head, & the true worshippers of God do not departe the breadthe of a nayle from the side of Christ, hee is the sheperd, they are the shepe, therefore they follow the lambe whereso∣euer he shall leade them, if wee hee carefull therefore to finde oute the Churche, let vs diligentlye seeke Christ, not at Rome or Ierusalem, but in the Churche spreade ouer the whole earthe.

These are bought from men being the first fruites vnto god & to the lambe. &c. If thou demaunde wherefore these haue

so familier accesse to Christ, the reason is reuered, because they are not of that lost lumpe of mankinde, but being redenied from men, and from the most miserable and filthy bondage of the de∣uill, they are restored into the liberty of the sonnes of God. And then he sheweth the ende of there redemption, when he sayeth y^t they are the first fruites to God, & to the lambe, we know y^t the first fruites were consecrated to God, that it was not lawfull for prophane men to touche them, the faithfull therfore are redemed from the earth and from men, that they may serue God in holi∣nes and innocency, to the praise of his glorye. We are admoni∣shed by this place how holily, and religiously innocency is to be imbraced of all the godly, when as they be certeyn, firste fruites to God and Christ, not consecrate to our owne vse, neither to the vse of the worlde, or seruitude of sathan, but to the glory of God. Moreouer what horrible sacriledge it is to take from God and Christ there fyrste fruites, and to sacrifice them to the deuill the fleshe and the worlde.

Vers. 5.

And in there mouthes was found no guile, for they are with out spot before the throne of God. &c.

HE procedeth in declaringe the purity of those whiche are ioy∣ned as companions to the lambe. For nothinge that is vn∣pure or corrupt can cleue to him. But it may seme contrary to al reason, that he semeth to make them free from all spot of sinne and iniquity, which is y^e priuiledge of Christ alone, neither doth it agree to any other of the Sonnes of Adam. The comune sorte referre it to the infants that were cruelly slaien by Herod, which they call innocentes. But that is but a fond dreame, seinge this number comprehendeth all the elect, whiche are not blamelesse before God in their owne righteousnes, but in as muche as that as liuely members they sticke to Christ there heade.

Verse. 6.

Then I saw an other Aungell flye in the middest of heauen hauinge an euerlastinge Gospell to preache vnto them that dwell on the earth, and to euery nation, and kin∣dred, toungue and people. &c.

HEtherto he hath expounded the figure of the church preserued out of the middest of the waues and starres of Antichristian

persecutiō. Now he tourneth him to set forth the ruine and de∣struction of Antichrist. He seeth an Aungell therefore: flyinge through the middest of heauen openly and publikely bringing an euerlasting gospell, which is to be preached to the worlde. By which figure is signified that the light of the trueth of the gospell, which semed long time obscured through the persecu∣tions and darckenes of Antichrist, by the singuler benefite of god, shold be restored againe to y^e world, which excepte we see to be fulfilled in this our age, we are verie stones, & not men. For now, the Aungell which is the minister of god flieth, not in secreat places and darcke corners, but throughe the middest of heauen, and he spreadeth that euerlasting gospell (which ne∣uerthelesse the enemies crie out to be newe, and latelye sprong vp) ouer the whole world, in spite of Sathan, Antichrist & his adherentes, that it may now be truely sayd, which S. Paule taught to be agreable to his time, there soūd is gone forth into all the earth, & there woordes into the endes of the world.

Vers. 7.

Saying with a lowde voice, feare God and geue glorie to him. &c.

THe Aungell soundeth forthe with a clear and lowde voice. That not Antichrist or his tyrannie, but that god aboue is to be feared. And that honour is to be geuen not to Idols see vp by the subtiltie of the deuill, but to god onelye. For many vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist departe awaye from the true worshippe of God, vnto deuilishe superstitiōs, these the voice of the gospell doth admonishe to yelde and offer to god alone due feare and obedience.

For the hower of his Iudgemente is come: and worshippe him that made heauen and earth, the sea and all the foun∣teynes of waters. &c. Bycause the darckenesse is driuē away, and the light restored and all vngodlinesse is condemned, and the time will shortelye come, in whiche God will as••ite all mankinde before the tribunall seate of Christ, that euerie one may receyue according to that they haue done in there bodies. Therefore it is nowe no time, or place to dissemble, but the

verie aproching nere of Gods iudgement doth admonishe vs that all glorie and honour is due to him alone, whiche created all thinges by his will and hath appointed, and ordeyned his creatures for our vse, not onely the sea and the earth, in which his wonderfull power is shewed, but also the founteynes of swete waters in whiche his singuler goodnes doth shine. We are taught here, which is the voice of the true and euerlastinge Gospell, that we may distinguishe the same from feyned, and counterfayt gospels, verely euen that which teacheth that god alone is to be feared, to him all glorie is to be giuen, him I saye is to bee worshipped whiche is the onelye creator of all thinges.

Vers. 8.

And there followed an other Aungell saying it is fallen it is fallen: Babylon that great Citie. &c.

WHen the Gospell is preached through the whole worlde, & the Church of Christ established in the faithe of the same, then foloweth the fall and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Ba∣bylon. For the Babilonicall empire can not stand, when Christ once standethe vp the defendour of his Churche, whiche will bringe his Israelites out of most miserable bondage into fre∣dome, and will call them out of banishemente into there coun∣trie the heauenly Ierusalem. By the fall therefore of Babylon, we vnderstande by the consente almost of all as well the olde as newe writers, the ruine and decaye of the Romayne ty∣rannie. For that which Babylon in the East was to the Ie∣wes, the same is Rome, whiche is, Babylon, the West to the Christians. And as God compassed aboute and measured the crueltie of that olde Babylon within certeyne limites, so also the Lorde hath before appointed the ende of the Romane tyrannie, althoughe the papistes boast that it shalbe eternall. And the holy ghost in these woordes alludeth to those thinges which are found in Isay, & Ieremie concerning the destruc∣tiō of Babylō. The dubling of these words, it is fallē, it is fal∣len, sheweth y^e certeyntie of her fall, for although she boast ne∣uer so much y^t she is buylded vpon a rocke, yet w^tout all doubt

she shall fall, and although it be counted a great and famouse ci∣tye, yet neuerthelesse it shall bee broughte into a deserte wilder∣nesse.

For shee gaue to all Nations to drincke the wine of the wrathe of hir Fornication. &c. The cause is added, bycause her wicked abominations are come to the full, because with her wicked and blasphemouse doctrine she hathe seduced all nations to idolatrye, and he calleth it the wine of wrath, eyther because it prouoketh the wrath of God, or els because it driueth into fury and madnes the wicked beinge made druncken there with, so that they dote in folly vpon idols that is moste filthy strumpets, euen as though they were stricken with madnes. For god by his iust iudgement hathe sent vppon them the efficacy and strength of errore. And we know how gredely the world hath anassed vp and stuffed it selfe withe the doctrine of Antichrist, whiche is nothinge els but y^e furiouse wine of spirituall fornication, which is the worshippinge of idols.

Verse. 9.

And the thirde Aungell followed them sayinge with a loude voyce. &c.

AT length when wickednes is made manifest, and Antichrist reueled, the faithfull are to be feared from his wicked opini∣ons, that they may not suffer them selues to be drawen into bon∣dage of him whose horrible fall and ruine, the holy ghost foretold shoulde shortly after follow. Therefore the Aungell crieth with a loude voice, because many men geuinge them selues to the de∣lightes and pleasures of Babylon, are so deafe to heare the voice of the Gospell that they are scarsely raised vp in the ende withe loude cryinge to repent and tourne from the filthynes of Anti∣christ. The Angell therfore which betokeneth the faithfull prea∣chers of y^e Gospell, denounceth horrible & eternall punnishments to all those which by any manner of meanes would professe ser∣uitude and bondage to Antichrist.

If any man worship the beast or his Image, and receiue his marke on his fore head or on his hand. &c. Least any by hy∣pocrisy might fly and eschew the iudgment of God, as though he worshipped not Antichrist from the heart, but from the teeth for∣warde

and in outwarde ceremonie he numbereth all the kin∣des of that deuilish worship which is bestowed vpō the beast: Therfore whether any man do acknowledge antichrist himself or his aucthoritie, or else professe him selfe by some outwarde badge or signe to be subiecte vnto him, he affirmethe that the same persone shalbe cursed and condemned to the eternall tor∣mentes of hell.

Vers. 10.

The same shall drincke of the wine of the wrath of God, yea the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath. &c.

IT is to be noted with what vehement figures he expresseth the horrible vengeaunce of God. For firste hee callethe it the wine of Gods wrath, which if it, seme to litle, he addeth, that it is pure, bycause it is not mitigated w^t any clemencie or gentle∣nesse, lastlye hee saiethe that it is powred into the cup of Gods wrath, so that by all meanes, he heapeth vp and increaseth the qualitie and quantity of Gods vengeaunce, against Idolaters and the boundslaues of Antichrist.

And he shall be punished in fire and brymestone before the holy Aungels and before the lambe. &c. The effect of Gods wrath is expressed, that it tormenteth them most grieuouselye whome it shall burne for euer with fire and brimestone before the holy Aungels and before the lambe, that they maye be pu∣nished in the presence or beholding of them whose fellowship, and whole some admonitions they despised whiles they liued. Which parte of tormentes is not the lightest, that they are set as a gasing stocke for whome they mocked and derided whiles they flowed in there wanton pleasures and delightes.

Vers. 11.

And the smoke of their tormentes shall ascende vp euermore. &c.

HE goeth foreward in amplifying the vnhappie estate of the reprobate for least they should flatter them selues that their torments should come to an end by any length of time, he she∣weth that the smoke which riseth vp of there burning soules, and bodies, shall ascend for euer, whereby all hope of deliue∣raunce is taken quite away.

And they shall haue no rest day and nighte which worship

the beast and his Image, & whosoeuer receyueth the printe of his name. &c. The calamities of manie, some litle consola∣tion being intermedled, do graūt as it were a breathing time, but the miseries of these shall neither by day, nor by night feele any release or ease at all. So heauy is the wrath of god against those, which either make them selues subiecte to Antichrist, or else professe his seruitude by some externall and outwarde si∣gne. It is meruaile that the false Nichodemites, and other which remayne among the papistes, are not altogether striken with horrour & feare, if at the least they weygh & consider, but euen with indifferēt mindes y^e grieuousenes of this iudgmēt.

Vers. 12.

Here is the patience of the sainctes here are they which ke••e the commaundements of God and the faith of Iesus. &c.

THis seemeth ouer harde to the fleshe that they whiche for a time through feare of crueltie yelded them selues to Anti∣tichrist, are to be committed to euerlasting tormentes. But the Aungell aunswereth, that here is a place for the patience of the sainctes, whiche oughte to bee proued by afflictions as goulde is tried in the fire. That here the true worshippers of God are distinguished from hypocrites, for then is the obedience of the godly seene and perceyued, when as they can not neither by threateninges or promisses be moued or drawne awaye frō the obedience of God. Moreouer that here is place for faithe, when as the faithfull being bent and fixed vpon one God, do not only flye & eschew all the delightes & pleasures of y^e world as it were inticing meremaydes, but also will suffer stronglye, the most exquisite and grieuouse tormentes which tyrants lay vpon them, rather then that they will slide from the true & sin∣cere worshippe of God, to the prophane superstitions of Ido∣latrie.

Vers. 13.

And I herde a voice from heauen saying vnto me, write bles¦sed are the dead, which dye in the Lorde, euen so saieth the spirite, that they rest from there laboures, and there workes followe them. &c.

LYke as the Aungell threatned horrible punishmēt to Anti∣christ and to those that worshippe him, so. It behoueth the mindes of the faithefull to be lifted vp by some consola∣tion,

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that they may with the more indifferēt mindes be able to sustaine and indure the persecutions moued againste them by Antichrist. S. Ihon therefore herde the voice of the holy ghost from heauen sounding alowde, and promising eternall blessed∣nesse to all as many as shall suffer deathe for the Lordes cause. And the circumstaunces of this place are worth consideration, This voice is herde from heauen, that the testimonie might be more notable and manifest and that we ought to geue more di∣ligent heede to the same, bycause it bringeth a rare and vnwō∣ted matter of comfort and consolation. Moreouer hee is com∣maunded to write as it were some certeyne oracle farre excel∣ling the rest, for he was commaūded in the beginning to write whatsoeuer he should heare or see, whiche commaundement beinge here repeated, declareth that this is an excellent voice, which neuer ought to slippe out of our mindes. And he is not content to promise happinesse to the soules departed, excepte also he confirme the same with an othe, and vehemente affir∣mation, and he sheweth who it is which promiseth this happi∣nesse vnto them verely euen the spirite of trueth which decey∣ueth no man, and lastly he addeth the reasons or causes where¦fore he pronounceth them to be blessed. First bycause they are drawne out and deliuered from the laboures and miseries, to which this life is subiect. And secondlye that they receyue the most ample rewarde, which is ordeyned and appointed by the free mercie of God, for there good workes. There is no cause therefore that we should sorow for there deathe, whiche as it bringeth an ende of present euils, so likewise it is the begin∣ning of eternall felicitie. And though he chiefely speaketh here of martires, which are slayne for the testimonie of Christ, yet it is not to be doubted, but that those thinges are to be referred to the ende of all the godly, which the holy ghost here preaceth of y^e happines after their death. Therefore away with y^e popes sire of purgatorie, in whiche the soules doe not rest from the••e laboures, but are tormented with the paines of hell, if we may beleue the papistes: as those, whome not there owne workes do accompanie, but the merites of others do a long time after

them. Which is playnely a doctrine of deuils, which was deui∣sed to set vp and maintayne a verie bucherlie torment of con∣science, and is not a doctrine of the holy ghost set forthe to the comforte and consolation of the sainctes.

Vers. 14.

And I loked and beholde a white clowde, and vpon the clowde one sitting like vnto the sonne of man, hauing on his head a golden crowne, & in his hand a sharpe sickle. &c.

AFter that he had described the state of the Churche, of what sorte it should be, euen vnto the ende of the world, nowe he foresheweth that the vtter destructiō of the wicked shall come at length, by the last iudgement of God. And that is shewed by two figures, the one of haruest the other of gathering grapes. Either of them is repeated in y^e same sense among the prophe∣tes, but chiefely of Isay, in the 17.63. Sainct Ihon therefore seeth a white clowde and a certayne Aungell sittinge vpon the clowde in the shape & likenes of a man. The clowde is a fore∣teller of the iudgement because the Lorde will come in y^e clow∣des of heauen. This Angell clothed with the shape of man re∣presenteth Christ, or at the least wise is a minister of his iudge∣ment. He hath a golden crowne vpon his head that wee maye vnderstand that kingly aucthoritie is cōmitted to him of god. The sharpe sickle which he carieth in his hande, expresseth the seueritie and sharpenes of his iudgement, whiche none of the wicked can eschew, which all the attemptes of the reprobate cā no more resist, then the ripe corne can the sickle of the reaper.

Vers. 15.

And an other Aungell came out of the temple crying with a lowde voice to him that sat on the cloude, thrust in thy sickle and reape▪ for the time is come to reape, for the corne of the earthe is ripe. &c.

THe former figure of the Aungell sittinge vppon the white cloud shewed that the iudgement of Christ is prepared, but this figure of the other Aungell comminge oute of the tem∣ple teachethe that the time is at hande, in which God will take vengeaunce vpon the reprobate. Hee goeth ••orthe of the tem∣ple, that is, from the presence of God himselfe, opening his se∣create counsell: for as kinges doe dwell in palaces, so God is sayed metaphorically, to dwell in a temple, hee admonisheth

the Aungell therfore which bare the sickle, whiche wayted dayly for the will and pleasure of God, that now at length that daye is come, in whiche all wickednes beinge ouerthrowen, the glory of God may perfectly shine, and they may be punnished, whiche he∣therto haue disdained to magnify and set forth the same glory. Yf any thinke it an absurdetye, that Christ is admonished by the aungell, he must know that these hid mysteries are shewed and reuealed by fygures, so farre as oure vnderstandinge coulde com¦prehend them, when as Christ also him selfe, in as muche as hee was man, confesseth that the day of iudgment was hid from him. Here also not Christ himselfe, but an Aungell representinge the iudgement of Christ is brought in.

Vers. 16.

And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sicle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. &c.

THere is no delaye, so soone as he vnderstandeth that the ripe & full time to exercise the seuerity of god is come, his sharpe sickle being thrust into the earth, he reapeth all the harueste of the earth, soner then one worde can be spoken.

Vers. 17.

Then another angell came out of the temple which is in heauen hauinge a sharpe sicle. &c.

IT may be demaunded what neede there shoulde be to vse two figures, seeinge that former of the corne reaped might suffice. We may aunswere to this that in the former fygure is e••pressed that generall chaunge of all as well of the godly, as of the repro∣bate, which shall be in the last day, and that in the latter figure the destruction onely of the reprobate is described: for Christ him selfe compareth the ende of the world to an haruest, the aungels to reapers, but because in the haruest there are not onely tares, but also wheat, whiche when it is purged from the tares, is to be laied vp in the barne, and in this place, the purpose of the holye ghost is chiefly to comprehend the ruine of vngodlines, therefore omittinge the haruest, by the figure of gatheringe the grapes he propoundeth and setteth forth for vs to behold the horrible destru¦ction or ende of y^e wicked. Therefore there goeth forth of the hea∣uenly temple, an other angell then y^e former, which sitting vpon the cloude did exercise the generall iudgement of all men, and he also bearing a sharpe sickle, in which he is ready to streache

forthe the vengeaunce of god against the reprobate when it se∣meth good to y^t lord him self. And he goeth out of y^e tēple which is in heauē, as he which hath receyued frō y^e mouth of god him selfe the commaundement which he was prepared to execute.

Vers. 18.

And an other Angell came out from the altar, whiche had power ouer fire and cried with a lowde voice to him that had the sharpe sickle & ••aied thrust in thy sharpe sickle & gather y^e clu∣sters of the vineyarde of y^e earth, for her grapes are ripe.

WHiles that former Aungell armed with the vengeance of god going forth of the temple, onely waited for the will & pleasure of the lord, what time he ought to execute y^e office cō∣mitted vnto him, beholde there goeth forth an other Angell frō the heauenly altare, bringinge the cōmaundement of God, that the time to gather grapes was come for nowe the clusters of the vine of the vngodlinesse are ripe, which the lord hath com∣maunded straitway to be cut downe. Hither to these thinges are cleare and manifest enough. But wherefore is he said to go forth from the altare? verely in my Iudgement he alludeth to the forme of the olde temple in whose innermost rowme was the golden altar aboue, which was the arcke of the couenant, aboue the arcke were the Cherubines betwene which the Lord dwelled sacramently & vnder a figure. He signifieth therefore, y^t from the secreat counsell of god, which at length shalbe made manifest, this commaūdemēt came forth cōcerning the taking away of the reprobate, they shall take away sayed Christ out of the kingdome of God all thinges y^t offend, & them that worke iniquitie Mat. 13. But it is much more darcke y^t he saieth, that this Aungell hath power ouer fire. Some do therefore inter∣prete him to be Christ, which came to send fire into the earthe. Others do expound it a fierie affection wherewith y^e Aungels burne, to destroy the vngodly. But seeing s. Paule, to y^e. Eph. 1. chap. And likewise Collos. 1. calleth certen angels powers, I do simplie vnderstand y^t here is ment y^e angell which by the dispensatiō of god hath rule ouer y^e element of fire. Like as al∣so we here afterward in the 16. chap. The Angell of y^e waters. For god hath disposed to Aungels the preseruation of the crea∣tures of the worlde, whiche we finde often times witnessed

in the scriptures here therefore the Aungell whiche hathe po∣wer ouer fire is sent, that it might be signified with what kind of destruction the Lord hath decreed to chaunge the forme of the worlde, whereof no man is ignorant. But we may learne by this place, that the due & as it were ripe time to take ven∣geaunce vpō the reprobate, is not to be discerued, at our will but by the most secreat iudgement of God: bycause it becom∣meth not vs to prefixe the time but patiently to wayt for the same.

Vers. 19.

And the Aungell thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earthe, and cut downe the grapes of the vineyarde of the earth, and cast them into the great wine fat of the wrath of god.

NOw there followeth the execution of Gods decree vpon the reprobate, in which this is to be obserued, that firste the braunches or clusters are cut downe, that is, the vngodly are spoiled and bereft of all there ornamentes and strength, in which they were proude, and after being naked, as it were rotten grapes they are cast in to the great wine fat of Gods wrath to be troden downe.

Vers. 20.

And the wine fat was troden without the citie, and bloud came out of the wine fat, euen vnto the horse bridles, by the spa∣ce of a thousand and sixe hundreth furlonges. &c.

HOw sharpe so euer the wrath of God be vpon the wicked reprobate, the punishments shall not come nighe the elect for without the holie citie, and heauenly Ierusalē, is the wine fat troden, in which the wicked are tormented, whose bloude issueth and floweth out of the fat, euen vnto the horse bridles. and that by a verie great space of ground, Shewinge what a horrible & wonderfull slaughter the lord will make of y^t wic∣ked, whē the due time of punishment shall come. Concerning the number of the forlonges, they make two hundred miles, which was almost the greatest length of the land of Canaan, which represented the whole world, besyde Ierusalem that is the Churche.