The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages; vvith arguments of bookes and chapters, annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the corruptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the controversies in religion, of these daies: in the English College of Rhemes

CHAP. II.

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

[verse 1] AND∷ 1.1 to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus vvrite, Thus saith he vvhich ″ hol∣deth the seuen starres in his right hand, vvhich vvalketh in the middes of the seuen candlestickes of gold, ✝ [leftJustify 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: ✝ [leftJustify 3] and thou hast patience, and hast borne for my

name, and hast not fainted. ✝ [rightJustify 4] But I haue against thee a fevv thinges, bicause∷ 1.2 thou hast left thy first charitie. ✝ [rightJustify 5] Be minde∣ful therfore from vvhence thou art fallen: and doe pe∣nance, 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. ✝ [rightJustify 6] but this thou hast, ″ because thou ha∣test the factes ″ of the Nicolaïtes, vvhich I also hate. ✝ [rightJustify 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.

✝ [rightJustify 8] And to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna vvrite, Thus saith * the first and the last,* 1.3 vvho vvas dead, and liueth, ✝ [rightJustify 9] I knovv thy tribulation and thy∷ 1.4 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. ✝ [rightJustify 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∷ 1.5 the crovvne of life. ✝ [rightJustify 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∷ 1.6 second death.

✝ [rightJustify 12] And to the Angel of the Church of Pergamus vvrite, Thus saith he that hath the sharpe tvvo edged svvord, ✝ [rightJustify 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,∷ 1.7 vvhere Satan dvvelleth. ✝ [rightJustify 14] But I haue against thee a fevv thinges: because thou hast there, them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,* 1.8 vvho taught Balac ″ to cast a scandal before the children of Israel, to eate and com∣mit fornication: ✝ [rightJustify 15] so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaïtes. ✝ [rightJustify 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. ✝ [rightJustify 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 vvhitec 1.9 counter: and in the counter, a nevv name Writ∣ten, vvhich no man knovveth, but he that receiueth it.

✝ [rightJustify 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. ✝ [leftJustify 19] I knovv thy∷ 1.10 vvorkes, and faith, and thy charitie, and ministerie, and thy patience and thy last vvorkes moe then the former. ✝ [leftJustify 20] But I haue against thee a fevv thinges: because thou permittest ″ the vvoman * Iezabel,* 1.11 vvho calleth her self a prophetesse, to teache, and to seduce my seruantes, to fornicate, and to eate of thinges sacrificed to idols. ✝ [leftJustify 21] And I gaue her a time that she might do penance: and ″ she vvil not repent from her fornication. ✝ [leftJustify 22] Behold I vvil cast her into a bedde: and ″ they that commit aduoutrie vvith her, shal be in very great tri∣bulation, vnlesse they do penance from their vvorkes: ✝ [leftJustify 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,* 1.12 and I vvil giue to euery one of you∷ 1.13 according to his vvorkes.* 1.14 ✝ [leftJustify 24] But I say to you the rest vvhich are at Thyatira, vvhosoeuer haue not this doctrine,* 1.15 vvhich haue not knowen the` 1.16 depth' of Satan, as they say, I vvil not cast vpon you an other vveight. ✝ [leftJustify 25] Yet that vvhich you haue, hold til I come. ✝ [leftJustify 26] And he that shal ouercome and keepe my vvorkes vnto the end: ″ I vvil giue him povver ouer the nations, ✝ [leftJustify 27] and * he shal rule them vvith a rod of yron,* 1.17 and as the vessel of a potter shal they be broken, ✝ [leftJustify 28] ∷ 1.18 as I also haue receiued of my father: and I vvil giue him the morning starre. ✝ [leftJustify 29] He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. II.

1. Holdeth the seuen.]* 1.19 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.

2. Thy vvorkes, labour, patience &c.] Things required in a Bishop▪ first, good vvorkes, and great patience in tribulation▪* 1.20 next, zeale and sharpe discipline tovvard offenders is here cōmended in them▪ thirdly, vvisedom & diligence in trial of false Apostles and preachers comming in sheepe∣skinnes: vvhere is signified the vvatchful prouidence that ought to be in them, that Heretikes enter not into their flockes.

5. Vvil moue.]* 1.21 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 for∣mer vvorkes of charitie vvhich our first Bishops and Church vvere notable and renovvmed for.

6. Because thou hatest.]* 1.22 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 con∣ditions, 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.

6. Of the Nicolaites.]* 1.23 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, idola∣trous 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,* 1.24 that should be called after the like sort, Arians, Macedonians, Ne∣storians, Lutherans, Zuinglians, &c. See S. Hierom cont. Lucifer, in fine.

14. To cast a scandal.]* 1.25 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••: that so being tempted they might fall to heathenish maners and displease God.* 1.26 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.

20. The vvoman Iezabel.] He vvarneth Bishops to be zelous and stout against false Prophets and Heretikes of vvhat sort soeuer,* 1.27 by alluding couertly to the example of holy Elias that in zeale killed 450 false prophets of Iezabel,* 1.28 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,* 1.29 a furtherer and promotour of the Nicolaites, vvhom the Prophete should here meane, it is hard to say.

21. She vvil not repent.] See free vvil here most plainely, and that God is not the proper cause of obduration or impenitence,* 1.30 but man him self onely. Our Lord giueth sinners so long life, speci∣ally to expect their amendment: but Iezabel (to vvhom the Apostle here alludeth) vvould neuer repent.

22. They that cōmit aduoutrie vvith her.]* 1.31 Such as communicate vvith Heretikes, shal be dam∣ned (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▪* 1.32 as novv many bovv their knees to the Communion, that bovv not their hartes.

26. I vvil giue him povver.] Obserue that not onely Angels haue povver and regiment ouer Countries vnder God,* 1.33 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 Pro∣uinces, 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 dig∣nities, vvherein the Scriptures make them equal vvith Angels.

Notes

• ∷ 1.1

  That vvhich before he vvil∣led him to vvrite to the church, he now vvilleth to be vvritten to the Angels or Bis∣hops of the same onely.
• * 1.1.1

  vvhere vve see, it is al one, to the Church, and to the head or gouernour therof.
• ∷ 1.2

  By this vve see is plainely refuted that vvhich some Heretikes hold, that a man once in grace or cha∣ritie can neuer fall from it.
• * 1.3

  Apoc. 1, 17.
• ∷ 1.4

  This Church representeth the state of them that are spoiled of their goodes, emprisoned, & manifoldly af∣flicted for the catholike faith.
• ∷ 1.5

  The singular revvard of Mar∣tyrdom.
• ∷ 1.6

  The death of the body is the first death: the death of the soule, the secōd, vvhich Martyrs are surest to es∣cape of al men.
• ∷ 1.7

  The special residence of Sa∣tan is vvhere the faithful are persecuted for Christes truth▪ vvhere not to deny the Cath. faith for feare, is much here commended.
• * 1.8

  Nu. 24, 14. 25, 2.
• c 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 calcul••̄▪
• ∷ 1.10

  None of these are any thing vvorth vvithout the other.
• * 1.11

  3 Reg. 18.
• * 1.12

  1 Reg. 16.
• ∷ 1.13

  Vvho 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor here that good vvorkes deserue al u∣tiō, as il workes damnation: and that it is not faith alone that God revvardeth but that faith vvhich vvor∣keth by chari∣tie?
• * 1.14

  Ps. 7, 10▪
• * 1.15

  Ier. 11, 20.
• ` 1.16

  depthes▪
• * 1.17

  Ps. 2, 9.
• ∷ 1.18

  This great pri∣uilege of Sa••cts riseth of the povver and pre∣eminence of Christ, vvhich his father gaue him according to his humani∣tie and therfore to deny it to Saincts, is to deny it to Christ him self.
• * 1.19

  Christs care of his Church.
• * 1.20

  Special vertues required in a Bishop.
• * 1.21

  Sinne is the cau∣se that God ta∣keth the Cath. faith from coū∣tries.
• * 1.22

  Zeale against Heretikes.
• * 1.23

  Nicolaites the first Heretikes so called, as a paterne of Ari∣ans, Lutherans, and the like pe∣culiar callings.
• * 1.24

  Balaam ouer∣comming Gods people by per∣suasion of le∣cherie and bel∣licheere, vvas a type of Here∣tikes.
• * 1.25

  li. 4. An∣tiq. c. 6.
• * 1.26

  2. Pet. 2, 15. Iuda v. 11.
• * 1.27

  Zeale against Heretikes.
• * 1.28

  3 Reg. 18.
• * 1.29

  Achab and Ie∣zabel.
• * 1.30

  Free vvil. God is not au∣thor of euil.
• * 1.31

  They that com∣municate vvith Heretikes, shal be dāned vvith them▪
• * 1.32

  3 Reg. 19. v. 18. Ro. 11.
• * 1.33

  Saincts also are Patrones, not only Angels.