Apocalypsis A brief and learned commentary upon the revelation of Saint John the apostle…Apocalypsis A briefe and learned commentarie vpon the reuelation of Saint Iohn the apostle…

Now let us come to the third argument: He is very curious (saith one) in setting down his own name, as though he should indite an obligation, and not write a book, which is not only not used of any of the Apostles, but is also unaccustomed of him self: for in his Gospel where he entreateth a great deal more modest matters, then these are, he never nameth himself, but only pointeth it out by some such marks as these, the disciple whom Jesus loved. And Paul when he is enforced to speak of his Revelations, setteth out the matter under an other mans person. And yet this man, while he describeth the secrete conference which he had with Angels, hath never done with these kind of words, I John. This reason moved Dionysius of Alexandria to think, that some other man wrote this book. But what weak, and slender conjectures are these? little did these good men consider, that it was one thing to write an history, and an other to set down a prophecy: for the trueth of an history hangeth not so much upon the credit of the writer, as upon other circumstances, but a prophecy: because it foretelleth things to come, standeth upon the authority of him that revealeth it, and his that preacheth it, so that it is of necessity to give us to understand, both from whence that forewarning came, and who revealed it, and who wrote it. Whereupon we see, that not only in the beginning of prophecies, but also almost in every vision, there is nothing so curiously set down as the Name of God who spake it, and the name of the Prophet who wrote it: Take for example, only the Prophet Jeremiah, who maketh mention of his name, at the least an hundred times. And so was it requisite for him to do, that he might not seem to seek lurking corners to hide him self in as the false prophets did. And what? do we not find from the seventh Chapter of Daniel, that almost in every verse he repeateth his own name, and saith, I Daniel? And how oft doeth Isaiah repeat these words, Isaiah the son of Amos? But John did not so in his Gospel. J grant: for he wrote an history, wherein that befell him, which befell to none other of the disciples: for he was occasioned to speak many things of himself. Nay, Paul also did not so:

Nowe let vs come to the third argument: Hee is very curious (sayth one) in setting downe his owne name, as though he should indite an obligation, and not write a booke, which is not onely not vsed of any of the Apostles, but is also vnaccustomed of him selfe: for in his Gospel where he entreateth a great deale more modest matters, then these are, he neuer nameth himselfe, but onely pointeth it out by some such markes as these, the disciple whome Jesus loued. And Paul when he is enforced to speake of his Reuelations, setteth out the matter vnder an other mans person. And yet this man, while he describeth the secrete conference which he had with Angels, hath neuer done with these kinde of wordes, I Iohn. This reason mooued Dionysius of Alexandria to thinke, that some other man wrote this booke. But what weake, and slender coniectures are these? litle did these good men consider, that it was one thing to write an historie, and an other to set downe a prophecie: for the trueth of an historie hangeth not so much vpon the credite of the writer, as vpon other circumstances, but a prophecie: because it foretelleth things to come, standeth vpon the authoritie of him that reueileth it, and his that preacheth it, so that it is of necessitte to giue vs to vnderstande, both from whence that forewarning came, and who reueiled it, and who wrote it. Whereupon we see, that not onely in the beginning of prophecies, but also almost in euery vision, there is nothing so curiously set downe as the Name of God who spake it, and the name of the Prophet who wrote it: Take for example, onely the Prophet Ieremie, who maketh mention of his name, at the least an hundred times. And so was it requisite for him to doe, that hee might not seeme to seeke lurking corners to hide him selfe in as the false prophets did. And what? doe we not finde from the seuenth Chapter of Daniel, that almost in euery verse hee repeateth his owne name, and sayth, I Daniel? And howe oft doeth Esay repeate these wordes, Esay the sonne of Amos? But Iohn did not so in his Gospell. J graunt: for he wrote an historie, wherein that befell him, which befell to none other of the disciples: for hee was occasioned to speake many things of himselfe. Nay, Paul also did not so: