A01279:161
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherein are compared to gather Christs acts and our holy father the Popes.A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherin are compared to geder Christes actes and oure holye father the Popes.
At Malborow in the land of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of July, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529At Malborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of Iulye, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶He calleth this prosperity / the abundance of all things. For after that the word / the faith and the scripture are trodden under his feet. And all mens possessions subdued unto him / truly he must needs abound with all things. For who hath such abundance of riches / such pleasures / such honours as the pope and his sect or adherents? Are not all the chief and best things in the world theirs? And do they not possess them most quietly? Do they not use them most ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩at their pleasure in to all pomp / wantonness / pride? and what shall I say? If the hole world be compared to the popes empery / it should seam but vile / and truly should not appear to be the world. For what should he do else (sith he is neither subject to the word nor yet regardeth the scripture) but command and expound all things / after his own pleasure and opinion? Who they are / that this prosperity doth corrupt & destroy / I had lever commit it to other mens judgement / then to define it my self. For the Cardinals / bishops / monks / and hole multitude of priests / what are they else / but the people of the pope which are destroyed / with idleness / riches / banquets / wantonness / lust / and uncarefulnes. Corrupting this bodily life / with out end / with out the word / with out scripture / with out labour / and with out any care? These truly doth this noble king of faces nourish and increase in his orders / making them by his deceits and lies / of spiritual and faithful seven times carnal and worldly / which walk under the cloak of godliness and religion.