The image of both Churches after the most wonderfull and heauenly Reuelation of sainct Iohn the Euangelist, contayning a very fruitfull exposition or paraphrase vpon the same. Wherin it is conferred vvith the other scriptures, and most auctorised histories. Compyled by Iohn Bale an exyle also in thys lyfe, for the faithfull testimony of Iesu.

The Commentary.

1 After this (saith saint Iohn) I herd in mistery y^e voyce of very much peo∣ple, or of an innumerable multitude of men.

2 And it sounded vnto me euen as it had bene the flushing noyse of manye waters.

3 And in a maner as the fearful soūd of great thunderings. For though the praise of God be all one in the faithful nacions, yet is the vtterance thereof diuers, like as the languages are also diuers. Uery straunge and confuse are the speches one to an other wher they are not knowē. Tirrible also are they, partly for that they comprehend such a magistie, as is the glory of God, and partly bycause they are for the vtter confusion of the wicked. None other was this voyce than were the voyces afore, nor to none other ende.

4 For loke in what faith the Patry∣arkes and the fathers, the prophetes

and Apostles, the holy Martyrs and preachers, lauded God for victorie ouer theyr enimies, in the same doth nowe the faythful multitude of all re∣gions commend hym, sayinge: Alle∣luya, or praise be euermore in your mouthes.

5 For our Lord God almightye is be∣come a victorious conquerour, and nowe reygneth ouer all. Not onely hath he ouercomen the diuel by the doughtye death of hys sonne, but also hys proude kingdome of hipocrysie by the power of his mighty worde.

6 Let vs be glad (saith this voyce) and highly reioyce in our harts for this he∣uenlye alteration & profitable change.

7 Let vs giue thankes to hys om∣nipotente name, that withoute our deseruinges we are brought to so ioy∣full a daye.

8 For the glorious spousage of the Lambe Iesus Christ is come. Nowe that this whore is ouerthrown, shal he be ioyned to his vndefiled church, which was afore dispersed by diuers afflictions and punishementes.

9 His wife which is his congregation

hath made hir selfe now ready to hir spouse. Not with copes and crosses, miters and reliques, torches and holy water. Not with chapels, and chaun∣tries, hallowings, and sensinges, sha∣uinges & anointinges, with such other beggerye. No, neyther with workes of supererogation, merites of masses, nor other dirtye deseruinges of our owne rightuousnes. But with a pure christian faith, & with the true rightu∣ousnes of god which she hath of christ.

10 For it foloweth in the texte, y^t to hir it was garnted by the singuler good¦nes of God y^t she should be apparyled beautifully with pure whit silke, or w^t most fine raines.

11 None other are these faire plea∣sant and godly raines after the cleare diffinition of the holy ghost héere, but the pure iustificatiōs of the holy saints which haue bene since the beginning, wherof they haue bene called rightu∣ous. Of their faith in Iesus Christ is this pure garment of innocency, cler∣nesse, and righteousnesse. Through faith was Abraham reputed for righ∣tuous, so was Abell, Enoche, & Noe,

Isaac, Iacob, and Ioseph, Moyses, Io∣sue, and Gedeon, Samuel, Dauid, and Helias, with the vniuersall number of the saints, Prophetes, and fathers. So was Zacharias, Simeon, Ioseph, & Iohn Baptist, Peter, Iames, Iohn, and Paule, Lazarus, Lucas, Agabus, and S••éeuen, with all the Apostles, martirs, and other true beléeuers. Through faith (saith S. Paule) haue the saints ouercōe kingdoms, wroght rightuousnes, obtained the promises, stopped the mouthes of Lions, quen∣ched the vyolence of fyre, wyth such like. Sence the begynning of y^e world haue the true and faithfull prepared them selues vnto this heauenlye mar∣riage, & in the resurrection of the righ∣tuous shall it be perfectly solemnised, celebrated, and magnified, such time as they shal appeare in full glory with Christ.

In this latter time wyll the true christian church, when all the worlde shall confesse his name in peace, be of hir full perfect age and apte vnto this spousage.

Now shall she in méeknes of spirit ap∣poynt hir selfe to méete hir bridgrome in the ayre, for with a glad hart doeth she now here his voyce. At that daye shal she appeare as the beautiful bride prepared to the spouse, accompanyed with the wise maydens, the vnwyse neither hauing oyle nor light for euer reiected.