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…

¹Now leest any man here should chatter, that we may be Christians, & abundantly instructed in heavenly wisdom, although we do hear or speak nothing of the pope and popish matters, that those disputations are unprofitable, yea odious, and to appertain to the stirring up of troubles, and therefore to be hurtful and foolish: that same our Lord preventeth, and sayeth expressly, here is wisdom in the knowledge and right judgement of these things consisteth the true, heavenly and godly wisdom. Unless we be wise in this thing, we shall be fools, and not wise. The Lord therefore exciteth the hearers to the study of inquiring after Antichrist, and to beware of him when he is found. For in the 14. chapt. we shall hear, that they shall drink of the Wine of Gods wrath, as many as have received the mark of the beast, and worshipped his Image. Wherefore they shall drink at the same table with Christ of the cup of life and of the grace of God, so many as have despised Popery. And who shall deny it to be the true wisdom, by the which we may come from the wrath of God, to the grace fellowship and participation of the same: Moreover the lord adjoineth, that men endued with understanding, not witless, and full of hurtful folly, should reckon the name of the beast: that is to say, should be diligently occupied in this matter, that those things should be diligently searched for, which worldly men affirm to be curiously sought and inquired after,² not only without any profit, but with loss also, Moreover the Lord commandeth to account the number of the name of the beast. He addeth that the same is not hard to do. For this number to be the number of a man, to wit which a diligent man may easily by faith & industry attain to. For so doeth Aretas expound it also, saying, that number is common and known to men. Let them leave than to trouble our godly studies, which blame our sermons made against the Pope, and laugh at our diligence such as it is in expounding popish abominations, finally which suppose we spend our time in vain in the account of times. They do hear here, except they will hear nothing, that we have received commandment of the lord, so to do: moreover that the lord testifieth, that wisdom is herein.

¹Nowe leest any man here should chatter, that we maye be Christians, & aboundantly instructed in heauenly wisedom, although we do heare or speake nothing of the pope and popishe matters, that those disputations are vnprofitable, yea odiouse, and to apperteyne to the stiring vp of troubles, and therfore to be hurteful and foolishe: that same our Lorde preuenteth, and sayeth expressely, here is wisedom in the knowledge and righte iudgemente of these thinges consisteth the trewe, heauenly and godly wisedome. Vnlesse we be wise in this thing, we shal be fooles, and not wise. The Lord therfore exciteth the hearers to the study of inquyringe after Antichriste, and to beware of him when he is founde. For in the 14. chapt. we shall heare, that they shall drinke of the Wine of Gods wrath, as many as haue receyued the marke of the beaste, and worshipped his Image. Wherefore they shall drinke at the same table with Christe of the cuppe of lyfe and of the grace of God, so many as haue dispised Poperie. And who shall denye it to be the trewe wisedome, by the whiche we maye come from the wrath of God, to the grace felloweshippe and participation of the same: Moreouer the lord adioyneth, that men indewed with vnderstandyng, not witles, and ful of hurtful follye, should recken the name of the beast: that is to saye, should be dilligently occupied in this matter, that those thinges should be dilligently searched for, whiche worldely menne affirme to be curiousely sought and inquired after,