A16102:26
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…
Apocalypsis A brief and learned commentary upon the revelation of Saint John the apostle and evangelist, applied unto the history of the Catholic and Christian Church. Written in Latin by M. Francis Junius Doctor of Divinity, and professor in the University of Heidelberg: And translated into English for the benefit of those that understand not the Latin.Apocalypsis A briefe and learned commentarie vpon the reuelation of Saint Iohn the apostle and euangelist, applyed vnto the history of the Catholicke and Christian Church. Written in Latine by M. Francis Iunius Doctor of Diuinitie, and professor in the Vniuersitie of Heidelberge: And translated into English for the benefit of those that vnderstand not the Latine.
London: printed by Richard Field for Robert Dexter, 1592
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.
Now for the unlikeness of his stile, and speech, which that Dionysius of Alexandria proveth by three reasons as Nicephorus recordeth, Eccle. lib. 6. cap. 23. first by the whole course and nature of his words, secondly, that whereas the Gospel and Catholic Epistle of John, agree in very many points, this book hath not one work like. Lastly, because John had an excellent gift of speech, but this man is very clownish, barbarous, and tripped oft in his language. To the first I answer, that in so divers a matter, it is no marvel, to see so divers a kind of stile: for in the history of the Gospel, and in the Epistles, though he spake as he was moved by the holy Ghost, yet he spake what his mind led him: and here he is but the writer of such things as he heard and were delivered him: In the other he somewhat maketh report of the history, and sometime teacheth, but in this he speaketh of things to come, and in such order of words as he is appointed: And shall we marvel then that he useth not one self same kind of sentences? Nay, what writer was there ever that was tied so short? are not many things delivered to him in the very words of the old Prophets, even in the same that Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Isaiah, and other spake withal, by the direction of the self same Spirit, which spake the self same in them in old time? And therefore it is no marvel that he useth not so refined a kind of speech, as haply they would desire, seeing he swerveth neither in speech, nor in characters, from the Prophets which wrote in the Hebrew tongue: and therefore there is less cause of suspicion that it should be any counterfeit work slyly crept into the Church.
Nowe for the vnlikenes of his stile, and speach, which that Dionysius of Alexandria prooueth by three reasons as Nicephorus recordeth, Eccle. lib. 6. cap. 23. first by the whole course and nature of his wordes, secondly, that whereas the Gospell and Catholike Epistle of Iohn, agree in very many pointes, this booke hath not one worke like. Lastly, because Iohn had an excellent gift of speach, but this man is very clownish, barbarous, and tripped oft in his language. To the first I answere, that in so diuers a matter, it is no maruaile, to see so diuers a kinde of stile: for in the historie of the Gospell, and in the Epistles, though he spake as he was mooued by the holy Ghost, yet he spake what his minde led him: and here he is but the writer of such things as hee heard and were deliuered him: In the other he somewhat maketh report of the historie, and sometime teacheth, but in this he speaketh of things to come, and in such order of wordes as he is appointed: And shall we maruaile then that hee vseth not one selfe same kinde of sentences? Nay, what writer was there euer that was tied so short? are not many things deliuered to him in the very wordes of the olde Prophets, euen in the same that Ezechiel, Daniel, Zacharie, Esai, and other spake withall, by the direction of the selfe same Spirit, which spake the selfe same in them in olde time? And therefore it is no maruaile that he vseth not so refined a kinde of speach, as happely they would desire, seeing he swarueth neither in speache, nor in characters, from the Prophets which wrote in the Hebrewe tongue: and therefore there is lesse cause of suspicion that it shoulde be any counterfeite worke slily crept into the Church.