A07405:9
A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and…
A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and of His Word written in Latin by that Reverend Father D. Philip Melanchthon, after the convention at Ratisbona, anno 1541 ; translated into English by R.R.A godly and learned assertion in defence of the true church of God, and of His Woorde written in Latine by that Reuerend Father D. Philip Melancthon, after the conuention at Ratisbona, anno 1541 ; translated into English by R.R.
London : Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vinetree by Thomas Dawson, 1580
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.
GODS holy spirit in the xii. chapter of the Revelation of S. John the Divine, (Right Honourable) describeth unto us, two notable mysteries: The one, A woman clothed with the Sun, having the Moon under her feet, upon her head, a Crown of xii. starr•s, and being with child, cried travelling in birth, and was pained ready to be delivered: The other, A great read Dragon, having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads: his tayl• drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven, and cast ⟨image 3⟩them to the earth, and he stood before the woman which was ready too be delivered, to devour her child, when she had brought it forth. &c. By the woman is prefigurate the most blessed estate of that chaste chosen Church of God environed with the light of doctrine Prophetical and Evangelical, who treading (as it were) under feet the moon of mans inconstancy, or rather mans vain and wavering imaginations and devises, is crowned with the crown of constant truth & adorned with the xii. stars of eternal blessedness: & travelling with spiritual fruits, as, True knowledge of God, Faith, Fear, Love of God, true invocation, &c. being pained with adversities & calamities in this world; crieth with the Patriarchs, Prophets, Governors, Apostles, Teachers & such like, to be delivered out of and from all worldly wretchedness, to enjoy the promised sweet joys of everlasting blessedness. But such & so extreme is & hath bin the hatred of the old enemy Satan that red Dragon (by the heads of his malignant church) that is by impiety, idolatry, & infidelity, and by the Horns that is by violency, ⟨image 3⟩injury and tyranny of Pharaoh, Abimolech, Nebuchadnezzar and such like cruel persecuting powers: with his tail of blasphemy hypocrisy and superstition, evermore envying the verity of the doctrine prophetical and evangelical in all ages) that when gods church hath been most readyest too bring forth her sincere fruits of good life and doctrine, then hath this red Dragon, with open jaws of tyrannical power, exalting his tail up to the skies, and as it is said (above all that is called God, 2. Tess. 2.)
GODS holie spirit in the xii. chapter of the Reuelation of S. Iohn the Diuine, (Right Honorable) describeth vnto vs, two notable mysteries: The one, A woman cloathed with the Sunne, hauing the Moone vnder her feete, vpon her head, a Crowne of xii. starrs, and beeing with childe, cried traueling in birth, and was payned ready to bee deliuered: The other, A greate redde Dragon, hauing seauen heades, tenne hornes, and seauen crownes vppon his heades: his tayl drue the third parte of the Starres of Heauen, and cast