And. S. John beginneth this wholesome matter of Christ himself,1 Lord, king and high Bishop, whose wonderful and most goodly description, after the Apostolic manner, he placeth in the very beginning, as the foundation of the whole work. The same description doeth so ••ately set forth the Lord, that all the church may easily know,2 dispersed throughout the whole world, in Christ our Lord all things to be accomplished, what so ever he had said before should be fulfilled in him, namely that he should be exalted, one to the right hand of his father, into all celestial glory, power and majesty & there to be king of kings, of all other most mighty, and the true and only high Bishop. Saviour governor, Lord and general defender of the Catholic church. For blessed. S. John not only saw him such him self, but also exhibiteth him such, to be seen of us all in this his writing so godly, by a most bright and goodly vision. And moreover to the intent it might be known to us all, in what sort our Lord Jesus Christ, king and priest sitting or working in Heaven on the right hand of his Father, is nevertheless in the midst of the catholic church, whereof he hath a faithful care, how lovingly and fully he preserveth it, & in best order governeth it. S. John showeth in this his vision, that Christ walketh among the seven golden candlesticks, & holdeth in his right hand, seven stars. And straightway declareth what thing he understandeth by the candlesticks and stars, calling the candlesticks churches, and the stars, Angels of the churches. That is to wit,3 Messengers, ministers and pastors. For the Lord chose unto him self seven famous churches in Asia, with whom he treateth now generally and compendiously, using S. John for his ⟨image 7⟩interpreter: which he doth perpetually in all churches throughout the world, and will never cease to do till the worlds end. For the seventh number, which is most used in this book,4 and is the number of fullness, comprehendeth in it all churches. Wherefore S. John doeth so propound, moderate, and temper all things that he treateth with these seven churches, that they may be applied unto all the Churches that shall be in the world, until the worlds end, for their learning and edifying. And for the same cause, these seven churches may be exam ples of all other churches.
And. S. Iohn beginneth this holsome matter of Chryste hymselfe,1 Lorde, king and high Bishop, whose wonderful and most goodly description, after the Apostolicke maner, he placeth in the very begynnyng, as the foundation of the whole worke. The same descriptiō dooeth so ••ately setfoorthe the Lorde, that all the churche may easely know,2 dispersed throughout the whole worlde, in Chryst oure Lorde all thinges to be accomplished, what so euer he had sayd before shulde be fulfilled in him, namely that he shulde be exalted, one to the ryghthand of his father, into all celestiall glory, power and maiestie & there to be kinge of kinges, of all other most mightye, and the true and only hygh Byshop. Sauiour gouernour, Lorde and generall defendour of the Catholycke churche. For blessed. S. Iohn not only saw him such him selfe, but also exhibiteth him such, to be sene of vs all in thys hys wryting so godly, by a most bryght and goodly vision. And moreouer to thintent it myght be knowne to vs all, in what sorte our Lord Iesus Chryst, king and priest sitting or working in Heauen on the right hande of his Father, is neuerthelesse in the middes of the catholycke church, wherof he hath a faithfull care, how louingly and fully he preserueth it, & in best order gouerneth it. S. Iohn sheweth in this his vision, that Christ walketh amonge the seuen golden candlestickes, & holdeth in his right hande, seuen starres. And streyghtway declareth what thing he vnderstandeth by the candelstickes and starres, calling the candelstickes churches, and the starres, Aungels of the churches. That is to witte,3 Messagers, ministers and pastours. For the Lord chose vnto him selfe seuen famouse churches in Asia, with whom he treateth nowe generally and compendiously, vsing S. Iohn for hys ⟨image 7⟩interpretour: which he doth perpetually in all churches throughoute the world, and will neuer cease to do tyll the worldes ende. For the seuenth number, whiche is most vsed in this boke,4 and is the numbre of fulnes, comprehendeth in it all churches. Wherfore S. Iohn doeth so propounde, moderate, and temper all thynges that he treateth with these seuen churches, that they may be applied vnto all the Churches that shalbe in the worlde, vntyl the worldes ende, for theyr learnynge and edifiyng. And for the same cause, these seuē churches may be exā ples of all other churches.
- 1The first Chapter of the Apocalypse.The fyrste Chapter of the Apocalips.
- 2What things are treated in this book, & in what order.What thinges are treated in this boke, & in what order.
- 3Seven churches.Seuen churches.
- 4Chap. 2, and .3
