When I did first read this your blasphemous railing, I did wonder to what purpose, ye would rehearse the advertisements, admonitions, and exhortations given to the seven Churches in Asia, & unto all other churches in their names and conditions, seeing that nothing in ⟨p. 253⟩the same can serve your purpose, yea altogether the holy Ghost through that hole work, doth manifestly fight against your pestilent errors. and therefore I say at the first sight, I did wonder, to what purpose ye would travail, where ye were assured to lose your labour. But when I came to your conclusion, which ye make in manner of exhortation to us, I did perceive, that easy it is to find a staff (as the proverb saith) to beat the dog, which man would have killed.1 But to the matter. Ye boldly affirm (how so ever ye be able to prove) that the Apostle useth no such manner of doctrine, as we teach, &c. If ye understand, that because he teacheth not in those seven epistles, or letters, in express and plain words, that from the beginning some be elected to life everlasting, & others be reprobate, that therefore he teacheth it in no place,2 ye are not ignorant of the answer, and therefore I omit it. But I ask, if you do not think that the Apostle doth dedicate this his hole work to those seven congregations, so doeth him self witness (as in the first chapter is evident) then what so ever is contained in this hole vision, appertaineth to the instruction, exhortation, admonition, comfort, and before advertisement of those congregations, no less then that, which is contained in these words by you rehearsed.3 Then let us hear what is written and spoken by him in this matter, I saw (saith he) four Angels standing upon the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth that the winds should not blow upon the earth &c. And I saw an other angel ascending from the uprising of the sun. &c. And he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom power was given to hurt the earth & the sea (saying), hurt not the earth nether the sea, nether yet the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. I pray you, why were these, who were to be marked in the foreheads, more called the servants of God, by the voice of the Angel. then others? I know you will answer, because ⟨p. 254⟩of their good works, and godly intentions.
When I did first read this your blasphemous rayling, I did wonder to what purpose, ye wolde rehearse the aduertisementes, admonitions, and exhortations giuen to the seuen Churches in Asia, & vnto all other churches in their names and conditions, seing that nothing in ⟨p. 253⟩the same can serue your purpose, yea altogether the holie Gost through yt hole worke, doth manifestly fight against your pestilent errors. and therefore I say at the first sight, I did wonder, to what purpose ye wolde trauail, where ye were assured tolose your labor. But when I came to your cōclusion, which ye make in maner of exhortation to vs, I did perceaue, that easie it is to fynd a staf (as the prouerbe saith) to beat the dogge, which mā wolde haue killed.1 But to the matter. Ye boldely affirme (how so euer ye be able to proue) that the Apostle vseth no such maner of doctrine, as we teach, &c. If ye vnderstand, that because he teacheth not in those seuen epistles, or letters, in expresse and plaine wordes, that from the beginning som be elected to life euerlasting, & others be reprobate, that therefore he teacheth it in no place,2 ye are not ignorāt of ye answer, and therefore I omitt it. But I aske, if you do not think that the Apostle doth dedicat this his hole worke to those seuen congregations, so doeth him self witnes (as in the first chapter is euident) then what so euer is conteined in this hole vision, apperteineth to the instruction, exhortation, admonition, comfort, and before aduertisement of those cōgregations, no les then that, which is conteined in these words by you rehearsed.3 Then let vs heare what is writen and spoken by him in this mater, I sawe (saith he) foure Angelles standing vpon the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes of the earth that the windes shoulde not blow vpon the earth &c. And I saw an other angell ascending from the vprising of the sonne. &c. And he cryed with a loude voice to the foure Angelles, to whom power was giuen to hurt the earth & the sea (saying), hurt not the earth nether the sea, nether yet the trees, vntil we haue sealled the seruantes of our God in their foreheades. I pray you, why were these, who were to be marked in the foreheades, more called the seruantes of God, by the voice of the Angell. then others? I knowe you will answer, because ⟨p. 254⟩of their good workes, and godlie intentions.
- 1To the 1.
- 2quid v• let locus ex parte negans.
- 3Apoc. 7.
