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.

[illustration]

The Paraphrase.

1 And sodenly I turned back (saith sainct Iohn) ernestly to behold from whence this voyce should come, or who it should be that should speake these wordes vnto me.

2 And as I had turned my selfe, a∣non I beheld .vij. goldē Candelsticks, betokening not only the sayd vij. con∣gregatiōs in Asia, but also y^e vniver∣sall Christianitie of y^e whole world. For vij. in the scripture most cōmon∣ly signifieth all or the whole of that it comprehendeth.

3 And in the midst of the saide .vij. Candelstickes, I sawe one like vn∣to Christ, which when he was con∣uersaunt here among vs, not onely called him selfe, y^e sonne of man, but also appeared in shape and apparel, as the same. And this betokeneth Christ alwayes to be present and as∣sistēt to his cōgregations, as a shepe∣hard, and aduocate, a teacher, and a redéemer, to kepe them, helpe them, informe them, and saue them.

4 I sawe him clothed with a syde linnen garmēt downe to the groūde, signifying his aboundant rightuous∣nesse wherwith all his faithfull be∣leuers are in this world largely re∣plenished.

5 Hee was gyrded also about the pappes with a golden gyrdle. Hys pappes are his most swéete wordes and promises replenishing our souls with most suffrane consolation and gladnesse. And they are speared vp togither fast vnto him with the shy∣nyng cheane of charitie or loue. Which in y^e whole, betokeneth that

he is of rightuousnesse & loue, fast & sure vnto vs in his word & promise.

6 His heade (which is his eternall Godhead) and his heares (which are his infallible verities therof procée∣ding) are both so purely whyte as snowe, in the incomprehensible my∣steries of his diuyne maiestie, and so perfectly white as wooll (which is of a meaner sorte) in the lower myste∣ryes of our redemption.

7 Hys eyes (which are hys Godlye wisdome and knowledge) were as a burning flame of fyre, most effectual, pure and quicke in working.

8 And his féete (which are hys hu∣mane affections & most swéet desires of our health) were lyke vnto brasse, most beutiful, clean & precious to be∣holde, and as though they had bene proued, tryed and depured in a whot burnyng fornace. For in them was his frayle, tender, and mortall flesh, by manifolde troubles, sore vexed, persecuted, and slayne.

9 Hys voice (which is his holy Te∣stament or Gospel) was as the sound

or noyse of many waters. For many peoples of diuers and sundrie nati∣ons, kynreds, and languages, hath confessed and still doeth confesse hym God and man by the same, though the one vnderstand not the other.

10 And he had in his right hande (which is his mightie power) seuen starres, which are not only the seuen preachers of his vij. congregations in Asia, but also all the true miny∣sters of hys word, the worlde ouer. For them hath he in his right hand. They are vnder hys gouernaunce, wil, protection, & custodie. So long as he retayneth them, they are wyse, godly, and profitable, but if hee once throw thē forth, then are they blind, wicked, and accursed, yea, and good for nothing but to be cast out, & to be troden vnder foote. Blessed are they therfore, which fal not besides y^t hād.

11 Out of his mouth (which is hys holy spirite) procéeded a sharpe two edged sweard. This is hys strong, mightie, and quicke worde, or hys sacred scrypture, so sharpe that

it pearceth through, euen to the di∣uyding a sunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the Ioynts & the mary. And is a iudger of the thoughts and intentes of the harte, whom finally nothing shall be able to resist.

12 And his face (which is the eter∣nitie of his Godheade, glorified na∣ture, and spirituall kingdome) shone euen as the cleere sonne in his most strength, whose brightnesse no crea∣ture can behold without y^e pure sight of an vncorrupt faith. For the flesh∣ly carnall man in no wise vnderstan∣deth thinges belonging to the spirit of god, but iudgeth them folishnesse.

Notes

• Iohn. 20. Zacha. 6. Ruth. 2. Iob. 28. Num. 8. Zach. 4.
• Gene. 2. Hebr. 4.
• Esai. 12. Iohel. 2. Math. 8. Phil. 2. Math. 28. Iohn. 10. 1. Iohn. 2. Act. 7.
• Sapi. 18. Dan. 7. Colos. 2. Dan. 10. Eccl. 45. Esai. 66. Psal. 102. Cant. 7. Iohn. 13. 2. Thes. 3.
• 1. Cor. 11. Cant. 1. 1. Iohn. 1. Cant. 5. Psal. 11.18. Mala. 4. Apoc. 2.
• Hebr. 4. Apoc. 19. Luc. 22. Iohn. 19.
• Hebr. 4. Prou. 27. Esai. 53.
• Act 8. Psal. 67. Ezech. 43.
• Dan. 10. Apoc. 5. Phil. 2.
• Psal. 117. Baruc. 3. Phil. 2. Hier. ••. Prou. 3. Esai. 41. Iohn. 9. Rom. 1. Math. 5.
• Apoc. 19. Ephe. 6. Hebr. 4. Iob. 19.
• Math. 10. Iere. 17. Luce. 21.
• Dan. 10. Math. 27. Hebr. 1. Iohn. 6. 2. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. 1.