B11837:1050
A hundred sermons upo[n] the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ revealed in deed by the angel…A hundred sermons vpo[n] the Apocalips of Iesu Christe reueiled in dede by thangell…
A hundred sermons upo[n] the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ revealed in deed by the angel of the Lord: but seen or received and written by the apostle and Eva[n]gelist. S. John: compiled by the famous and godly learned man, Henry Bullinger, chief pastor of the congregation of Zuryk. Newly set forth and allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties, iniuntions. The argument, worthiness, commodity, and use of this work, thou shalt find in the preface: after which thou hast a most exact table to lead thee into all the principal matters contained therein.A hundred sermons vpo[n] the Apocalips of Iesu Christe reueiled in dede by thangell of the Lorde: but seen or receyued and written by thapostle and Eua[n]gelist. S. Iohn: compiled by the famous and godly learned man, Henry Bullinger, chief pastor of the congregation of Zuryk. Newly set forth and allowed, according to the order appoynted in the Quenes maiesties, iniuntions. Thargument, wurthines, commoditie, and vse of this worke, thou shalt fynd in the preface: after which thou hast a most exact table to leade thee into all the princypall matters conteyned therin.
printed by John Day, 1561printed by Iohn Day, 1561
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.
1And first in deed, he admonisheth plainly what time persecution must be moved: not before the testimony of the prophets shall be finished. I showed you before, that the testimony is the sincere preaching of the gospel. Aretas sayeth: what testimony? That he which shall be present, is not Christ, but a deceiver, and a pestilent seducer, &c. And so great is the goodness of God, loving his church, that he will not suffer the preachers to be taken away, till they have finished their preaching. For the gospel must be openly preached to all men for salvation, and deliverance from anguish, crafts and deceits, and from the seducers of Antichrist. And they shall finish their ministry with sundry writings, and continual preachings. They shall finish I say, when it shall please God. For some preach and abide safe and sound many years, being safe and sure from persecutions: And others are immediately apprehended, cast in prison and slain. Thus are these things done, as seemeth to god good: which must ever be credited, what mean so ever he useth, & to advance his glory, & further the health of his church. Here cometh to pass also, as we read oft times in the gospel, that the lord was not taken, forasmuch as his hour was not come. Therefore shall a certain hour also be appointed of God to the preachers. Before this hour they be safe & sure, though the devil be never so mad, tyrants rage, & bloodsuckers and the enemies of faith lay in wait. We marvel sometimes, how the preachers of the gospel could preach in so great a company of wolves so long time, & that directly against wolves. Why they were not by and by torn in pieces?2 The lord God almighty hath kept, which would first have them throughly to finish the testimony of the verity. He letted therefore their enemies, and gave strength to his servants to preach. To him shall we render thanks, that many good preachers in times paste, & of late days D. Luther, and D. Zwinglius, & other faithful witnesses of God, could in so wicked a world, and in so great power of Antichrist, execute their ministry, so many years, in despite of Hell gates. Notwithstanding that the Princes and Magistrates deserve also to be praised, for the lawful defence showed them: yet should this have ben none at all, unless the power of God would have had it so.
1And first in dede, he admonisheth playnely what time persecution must be moued: not before the testimony of the prophetes shal be finished. I shewed you before, that the testimonie is the sincere preaching of the gospel. Aretas saieth: what testimonie? That he which shall be present, is not Christ, but a deceauer, and a pestilent seducer, &c. And so great is the goodnes of God, louing his church, that he wil not suffer the preachers to be taken away, till they haue finished their preachinge. For the gospell must be openly preached to all men for saluation, and deliueraunce from anguish, craftes and disceiptes, and from the seducers of Antichriste. And they shall finish their ministery with sondry wrytinges, and continual preachinges. Thei shal finish I say, when it shal please God. For some preach and abide safe and sound many yeares, beynge safe and sure from persecutions: And others are immediatly apprehended, cast in prison and slaine. Thus are these things done, as semeth to god good: which must euer be credited, what meane so euer he vseth, & to auaunce his glory, & further the helth of his church. Here cōmeth to passe also, as we reade oft times in the gospel, that the lord was not takē, for asmuch as his houre was not comen. Therfore shal a certaine houre also be appoincted of God to the preachers. Before this houre they be safe & sure, though the deuill be neuer so madde, tirauntes rage, & bloudsuckours and thenemies of faith laye in waite. We maruel sometimes, how ye preachers of the gospel coulde preach in so great a cōpany of wolues so long time, & that directly agaynst wolues. Whie they were not by and by torne in peces?