¶ Thou hast a few names in Sardis, whiche haue not defyled theyr garmentes, and they shall walke with me in whyte: for they are worthye. He that ouercometh shalbe thus clo∣thed in whyte araye, and I wyll not put out his name out of the booke of lyfe, and I wyl confesse his name before my father and before his angels. Let him that hathe eares heare, what the spirite sayth vnto the congregacions.
There is but a small nomber amonge you, whiche doe lyue innocently and godlye, studyeng dyligently to lyue after my wyll and pleasure. But this small nombre is worthye of great honour, wherwith I shal also indewe them, as with blessed immortalitie, & eternall saluacion, of my mere grace & mercye, aboue al desertes of theirs, whiche are all vnperfyte, yf they shoulde be tryed and exami∣ned* 1.1 by the iust iudgement of god, althoughe thorowe grace, they shalbe taken for acceptable and worthye. The whyte araye, dothe sygnifye an innocent lyfe without all maner of blemyshe: whiche neyther can be obteyned in this lyfe, nor yet is it in the vertue or power of any man. But the innocencye and purenes of Christ, whiche hath the ouerhande in them that be his, thorowe gods spirite, shalbe dystrybuted vnto the faithfull, in suche wyse as they shalbe partakers therof.