There hath now been a long time sithence1 God hath not ceased to teach & give advertisements after diverse sorts & fashions, to draw men from their impieties & detestable conversations, & yet nevertheless the ingratitude of the world is so great, that nothing followeth but a hardening of heart more then obstinate. The Lord threateneth, & his threatenings are rejected as if they were but fables. He setteth forth monstrous and fearful figures,2 which were enough to make the Devils themselves afraid: And men do see them and let them pass, as if they touched them nothing at all. Furthermore, he declareth effectually that he threateneth not in vain. He declareth by terrible judgements, that he cannot suffer the contempt of his advertisements: Howbeit, men have their senses altogether dull in regard of that: And of a thousand, scantly there are twain which will open their eyes to consider and behold the wonders of the Lord, and to amend their lives thereby. Behold two monstrous figures which are set before us: And the two most excellent men, to wit, Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther, who have interpreted them, are of sufficient authority to make men to understand, that those monsters are not forged and invented fantasies. The first is a general witness of the horrible vengeance of God over every3 kingdom that exalteth it self by cruelty & tyranny above the spiritual jurisdiction of the son of God. And because that this tyranny is more lively set forth by the domination of the Pope, than by any other, even so this threatening is referred chiefly unto that Romish ⟨image 4⟩Antichrist whom we do see at this day, yea, in his latter age far out of modesty, that he setteth all4 the world together by the ears. Who after that he hath showed his scales upon his back, and feared them with his claws, feet, nails and talons, cannot choose but cause that his Asses nose may be seen, & uncover his whorish breast and belly, without all shame. The ingratitude of men have well deserved to fall into that brutishness: They see the belly of a whore naked, & yet nevertheless this is their own God, whom they fear and worship, and unto whom they do homage, with their kings, Lords, and Emperors.
THere hath now bene a long time sithēce1 God hath not ceased to teach & giue aduertismēts after diuerse sorts & fashions, to draw men frō their impieties & detestable conuersations, & yet neuerthelesse the ingratitude of the worlde is so great, that nothing followeth but a hardning of heart more then obstinate. The Lord threatneth, & his threatnings are reiected as if they wer but fables. He setteth foorth monstrous and feareful figures,2 which were inough to make the Diuels themselues afraide: And men doe see them and let them passe, as if they touched them nothing at all. Furthermore, he declareth effectually that he threatneth not in vaine. He declareth by terrible iudgements, that he cannot suffer the contempt of his aduertisments: Howbeit, men haue their sences altogether dull in regard of that: And of a thousand, scātly ther are twaine which will open their eyes to consider and beholde the wonders of the Lord, and to amende their lyues therby. Beholde two monstrous figures which are set before vs: And the two most excelent men, to wit, Philip Melancthon and Martin Luther, who haue interpreted them, are of sufficient authoritie to make men to vnderstand, that those monsters are not forged and inuented fantasies. The first is a general witnesse of the horrible vengeaunce of God ouer euery3 kingdome that exalteth it self by cruelty & tyranny aboue the spirituall iurisdiction of the son of God. And bicause that this tyranny is more liuely set forth by the dominatiō of the Pope, thē by any other, euen so this threatning is referred chiefely vnto that Romish ⟨image 4⟩Antechrist whom we doe see at this day, yea, in his latter age farre out of modestie, that he setteth all4 the world together by the eares. Who after that hee hath shewed his scales vppon his backe, and feared them with his clawes, feete, nailes and talons, cannot choose but cause that his Asses nose may be seene, & vncouer his whoorish brest and belly, without all shame. The ingratitude of men haue well deserued to fall into that brutishnesse: They see the belly of a whoore naked, & yet neuerthelesse this is their owne God, whom they feare and worship, and vnto whom they doe homage, with their kings, Lords, and Emperours.
- 1God doth advertise men of their impieties diversly.God doth aduertise men of their impieties diuersly.
- 2The ungratfull men despise the marvels of God.The vngratfull men despise the meruailes of God.
- 3The signification of the first Monster.The significatiō of the first Monster.
- 4The Pope that •now.
