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 Text.

1. And after that I looked 2. And behold the tēple of the tabernacle of testimonie 3. Was o¦pē in heauē. 4 and the vii. Angels. 5. came out of the tēple. 6. vvhich had the .7. plagues. 7. Clothed in pure and bright linnen. 8, And hauing their breasts girded with golden gir∣dles, 9. And one of the foure Beasts gaue vn∣to the seuen Angels. 10. Seauen golden vials. 11. ful of the vvrath of god, vvhich liueth for euermore 12 and the tēple was ful of smoke. 13. For the glory of God, and for his power. 14. And no man vvas able to enter into the temple. 15. Tyll the seauen plagues of the se∣uen Angels vvere fulfilled.

The Paraphrase.

1 And anone after that (saith S. Iohn) I loked yet more ad••••sedly. And sodēly as it were, y^e euerlasting tēple of y^e ta∣bernacle of witnes was opē in heauē.

2 A mistery this is very earnestlye to be marked, as a thīg of great waight. The Lord almightye is this eternall temple, he is y^e temple not made with hands, vncreated, gloryous and ful of maiesty, cōprehending in him al thīgs & he within none againe comprehen∣ded.

He is y^e Lord of all. He measureth heauen with his span, he ouer rea∣cheth all the world w^t his iii. fingers. In him we liue, we moue, and haue our beyng. The tabernacle of witnes is the lambe Iesus Christ. He is that very tabernacle of God that was here amōg men, bearing y^t faithful witnes which geueth wisdom to babes. He is the propiciatory or mercy seate, wher∣in we are hard and forgeuen. Neither was this tabernacle of this manner building, but much more perfecte and greater. This holy tabernacle is with in y^e aforesayd temple, for Christ dwel¦leth in y^e father, and the father in him.

3 Open is this temple in heauen, & the tabernacle séene, whan god is known by true preaching & christs doctrine be¦léeued. For he came into the world, & for y^t purpose was borne, to beare wit∣nesse vnto y^e truth, whō the father wil∣led only to be hard concerning faith.

4 This temple and tabernacle open, or god and his worde once knowne in this latter age, the seauen Angels cō∣meth forth. The eternall decrées of gods secret iudgemets apéereth, & are

fulfilled in their times. As Angels or messēgers of god thei haue in his eter∣nitie theyr iust plagues in their season appointed to be exhibited.

5 And therfore are they sayd to come out from the temple whiche is God. Nothing hath he purposed to y^e world, but he hath decréed it afore y^e worldes constitution. For his purpose, minde, and pleasure, is as he is, euerlasting. And as it falleth to the world by hys assignement, it becommeth a messen¦ger, going out of the temple. So many hath he sent out of such messēgers, as he hath fulfilled decréed purposes. And marueil not though they be here cal∣led angels, considering that it is the commō maner of the holy scriptures, euermore to call them Angels which vttereth the will, pleasure, and commaundement of God, as they doe here. After this sort are the priests cal¦led Angels, so is Aggeus the prophet, so is S. Iohn Baptist, so are Christes disciples, & also y^e publique preachers.

9 What the plagues are that they shall shed out of their vials, will be shewed clearly in y^e next chap. folowīg

one after an other.

7 These Angels are apparelled in pure whit linnen, bright shininge as christal and girdels about theyr brests with girded of fine golde, whiche be∣tokneth their sincere cleannes, & their gloryous perfitnesse. For what can be more pure & precious, than the eter∣nall decrées of the lord. What can be more perfit and glorious than his pre∣diffined purposes? The lawes of God are vndefiled, the testimonies are true the statuts are right, the waies are su∣er, the commaundements are cleare, y^e iudgements are godly, the words are pure and precious. Yea, the gifts that come from the father of light are euer more perfit and good.

8 The gyrding of their breasts, is the streight spearing vp of the secret mea∣ning of Gods iudgementes from our carnall vnderstanding, till such time as he openeth thē vnto vs by his spirit: for it belongeth not vnto vs to deserue such secrets as the father reserueth to his owne power.

9 And one of the foure beastes or con∣gregations (saith S. Iohn) delyuered

vnto the aforesayde .vii. Angels .vii. golden vials replenished w^t the wrath full displeasure of God which liueth for euermore. Though the congrega∣tions be in the first chapter .vii. & in y^e fourth .iiii. vnderstanded by the foure beastes, yet are they héere in this place brought all vnto one, and called one of the iiii. or els of the foure made one, for so muche as the vniuersall christi∣an church is of one consent, one faith, one baptim, one god, and pertayneth to one Christe. For so much also as it confesseth, beléeueth and teacheth one doctrine of health. One is my doue sai∣eth the holy ghost, one is my dearelye beloued darlyng. A beast is it here no∣ted, as liuing in the flesh, and not yet mortified by death.

10 The vials of Gods wrath are the vngodly reprobates, fit onely for de∣struction. Golden are thei here named, because they appeare gloryous in the worldly iudgementes of men. Uerye paynted tombs are the dissembling hi∣pocrits, within full of stinking bones. A shining name of life haue thei & yet are they inwardly dead. For all that

they do is to be séene of men.

11 Full of wrath are they, wherby is ment a sinfull vnderstanding, w^t dam∣nable doctrins. For very swift ar thei to al vngodlynesse. The .vi. properties haue they which the Lord hateth, and y^e seuenth which he vtterly abhoreth. A proud looke, a dissembling tongue, bloudy hands, a wicked hart, féet redy vnto mischife, wayes to practise lyes, & sowings of dissenciō amōg brethren. These are geuen of the true christen congregation to the vii▪ Angels, or de∣créed purposes of God to be iudged as thei haue eternally diffined. For none other is their continuall prayer, but y^t his wyll be fulfilled, and that his pre∣difined intentes againste the peruerse multitude be finished at theyr con∣uenient times. None other is it to put into the Angels handes, the vials of gods displeasure, than thus to commit them by faithful prayer to his purpo∣sed decrées or fore set ordinaunces.

12 B••t because that commonly whan gods iudgements begin to wax know∣en all thinges are commoned & troub∣led,

therfore is it said here conseqently that the temple was full of smoke, by reason of the maiestie of God, and of his gloryous power. This smoke are certayne misteries, representing vnto vs the hidden maiestie of gods eter∣nall presence. Whose brightnesse can no frayle vnderstanding abide. Not al the world could not sustaine it if all thinges were opē & playne cōcerninge it. In no wise could Moyses presently sée y^e face of God, only might he be suf∣fered to sée his backe partes, for no mā can se God & liue. Only is he sene here in this life as in a glasse, or vn∣der a dark speking. He appereth vnto vs here in a mistical smoke, like as he dyd to the patriarck Iacob in sléepe, to Moises in y^e flaming bush, to Helias in y^e horle winde, to the Apostles in fyery tōgs, & vnto Ananias in a secret visiō.

13 Under y^e shadow of figurate locuciō is his glory for the elect persons, and faithful beléeuers knowne. The vn∣faithful reprobats beholdeth y^e smoke, but neither perceiue thei in it the glo∣ry of god, nor y^e maiestie of his presēce. They neither con••eiue his wonder∣full

workes, nor yet his Godly iudge∣ments. Their folish harts are so dark∣ned, that though they know God, yet glorifye they him not.

They sée y^e smoke & perceyue y^e world troubled (as it is alwaies when y^e ve∣rity appeareth) but neuer y^e more faith nor godly knowlege haue they. But y^e whiche is vnto the faithfull a rayse is vnto thē a ruine. That is vnto y^e other y^e power of God vnto health, is vnto them slander and folishnesse. And that is vnto y^e other a sauoure of life vnto life, is vnto them a sauour of death vn∣to death. They remember not y^t the Lord came down in fyre vnto Moises vpon Mount Synay when it smoked altogyther like a burnyng furnace, & therfore beare they away no glorified faces, or conciences depured by a true perfecte fayth.

14 And no man was able (saith y^e text) to enter into the temple, til y^e vii. dead∣ly plages of y^e .vii. Angels were wholy fulfilled. For though y^e true beléeuers perceiue in y^e misteries of y^e scriptures, the present maiestie & mightie power of GOD, yet enter they not into full

knowledge of him, being as yet subiect vnto vanitie. For héere is there know∣ledge vnperfect, and their prophecying also. And therfore acknowledging their imbesilitie, and also wayting for y^e re∣uelation of the children of God, they say with Saincte Paule. O the won∣derfull déepenesse of the wisdome and knowledge of God. How incomprehē∣sible are his iudgements, and how vn∣searcheable his wayes.

15 And at this point shal they stil be tyl the last iudgement day finish all. For the ful entring into the temple is none other then a whole perfect or consum∣mate knowledge of God and hys my∣steries. Which can not fully be had, till that which is vnperfect be done away, the creature deliuered from bondage of corruption. And til death be swalowed vp, y^e vessell of corruption becommyng incorruptible, & the mortall body becō∣ming spiritual. The rightuous shal thā shine as doeth y^e sunne in y^e kingdom of their father, & glister as doth the bright stars world without end. What y^e vij. plagues are, & what is their fulfilling, wil in this Chapter folowing appeare.