¶ The louers of the worlde are sory for the fall of Babylon, but they that be of God haue cause to re∣ioyce for her destruction.
CAPI. XVIII.
ANd after that, I sawe an other aun∣gell [ A] come from heuen, hauynge greate power, and the earthe, was lyghtned with his bryghtnes. And he tryed myghtily with a stronge voyce, sayinge: * Great Ba∣bylon is fallen, is fallen: and is become the habitation of deuyls, and the hold of al foule spirites, and a cage of all vnclene and hate∣full byrdes, for all nacions haue dronken of the wyne of the wrathe of her fornicacyon. And the kynges of the earthe haue commyt∣ted fornicacion with her, and her merchaun∣tes are wexed ryche, of the abundaunce of her pleasures.
And I herde an other voyce frome heuen, [ B] saye: come awaye from her (my people) that ye be not partakers in her synnes, that ye re∣ceyue not of her plages. For her synnes are gone vp to heuen, and God hath not remem∣bred her wyckednes. Rewarde her euen as she rewarded you, and gyue her double accor∣dynge to her workes. And poure in double to her in the same cuppe whiche she fylled vnto you. And as moche as the glorifyed her selfe, and lyued wantonly, so moche poure ye in for her of punysshement and sorowe, for she sayde in her selfe: I sytte beynge a quene, and am no wydowe, and shall se no sorowe. Therfore shall her plages come at one daye, [ C] deth, and sorowe, and honger, and she shall be brent with fyre: for stronge is the Lorde God whiche iudgeth her.
And the kynges of the earthe shall be wepe her and wayle ouer her, whiche haue com∣mytted fornicacion with her, and haue lyued wantonly with her, when they shall se the smoke of her burnyng, and shall stande afarre of for feare of her punysshement, sayinge: Alas, Alas that greate citye Babylon, that myghty citye: for at one houre is her iudge∣ment come. And the merchauntes of the erth shall wepe and wayle in them selues, for no man wyll bye theyr ware any more, the ware of golde and syluer, and precious stones, nei∣ther of pearle, and raynes, and purple, and scarlet, and all thynne wodde, and all maner vesselles of yuerye, and all maner vesselles of moost precyous wodde, and of brasse, and yron, and synamon, and odours, and oyntmen∣tes and frankensenee, and wyne, and oyle and fyne floure, ond whete, beestes, and shepe, and horses, and charettes, and bodyes and soules of men.
And the apples that thy soule lusted after are departed from the. And all thynges which were deyntie, and hadde in pryce are depar∣red frome the, and thou shalte fynde them no more. The marchauntes of these thynged whiche were wexed ryche, shall stande afarre of frome her, for feare of the punysshement of her, wepynge and waylynge, and sayinge: Alas, alas, that greate citye, that was clo∣thed in raynes and purple, and scarlet, and decked with golde, and precious stones, and [ E] pearles: for at one houre so greate tythes is come to nought.
And euery shyppe gouernour, and all they that occupyed shyppes, and shypmen whiche worke in the see, stode afarre of, & cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge, saying•• what citye is lyke vnto this great citye? And they caste dust on theyr heedes, and cryed we∣pynge, and waylynge, and sayde: Alas, a∣las, that great citye, wherin were made ryche [ F] all that had shyppes in the see, by the reason of her costlynes, for at one houre is she made desolate.
Reioyce ouer her thou heuen, and ye holy Apostles and prophetes: for God hath giuen your iudgement on her. And a mighty aungel toke vp a stone like a great mylstone, and cast it in to the see, sayinge: with suche vyolence