B11837:376
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.
I John your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom & patience which is in Jesus Christ, was in the Isle of Patmos for the word of God, & testimony of Jes• Christ. I was in the spirit on the Sunday and heard behind me a great voice, as it ha• been of a tromp, saying: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That thou see• write in a book, and send it to the congregations which are in Asia, unto Ephesus, an• unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, & Thyatire, and unto Sardis, and unto Philade• phia, and unto Laodicea.
I Iohn your brother and companiō in tribulation, and in the kingdō & patiēce which is in Iesu Christ, was in the Ile of Pathmos for ye word of God, & testimony of Ies• Christe. I was in the spirite on the Sonday and heard behind me a great voice, as it ha• bene of a trompe, saying: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That thou see• wryte in a boke, and send it to the congregations whiche are in Asia, vnto Ephesus, an• vnto Smyrna, and vnto Pergamos, & Thyatire, and vnto Sardis, and vnto Philade• phia, and vnto Laodicia.
1The last place of the first showeth unto us a brief narrati• wherein the Apostle S. John declareth the time and place this Revelation, and by whose commandment he wrou• sent the same to the seven churches in Asia.
1The last place of the first sheweth vnto vs a brief narrati• wherin the Apostle S. Iohn declareth the tyme and place this Reuelation, and by whose commaundement he wrou• sent the same to the seuen churches in Asia.
And again now the third time is the name of John rehea• sed. He saw undoubtedly, that there would be some which to the end they might take away the use and fruit of th• book, would doubt of the author: Against whom he repet•• and reiterateth his name so oft, leest we should doubt & lac• the great commodity of so worthy a book.
And againe now ye third time is the name of Iohn rehea• sed. He sawe vndoubtedly, that there would be some which to the ende they might take away the vse and fruite of th• boke, wold doubt of the authour: Against whom he repet•• and reiterateth his name so oft, leest we should doubt & lac• the great commoditie of so worthy a boke.
1He addeth to his name certain things, which instruct• touching the state of the Apostle, and certain profitable ma• ters. First he calleth him self a brother, namely of those s•• churches, and of all ours: As where I have admonished yo• that in the seventh number are comprised all churches of […] times throughout the whole world. We are all, so many […] ⟨p. 27⟩believe, the children of one heavenly father: And therefore all spiritual brethren in Christ, coinheriters with Christ, & heirs of God. Which thing S. Paul taught after Christ.2 And seeing our dignity is so great, let us ones be ashamed of our misdeeds, least our memory be put out of this most noble and celestial family. It is a shame the brother of Christ, of S. John & all the Apostles should degenerate. &c. But why have not they so instantly urged this brotherhood, as the Monks have beaten in their forged fraternities, the Rosaries of the virgin Mary and of Saints? Because that was free, & cost nothing: But the Monks sell theirs dear. They be therefore deceivers and seducers.
1He addeth to his name certen thinges, whiche instruct• touching the state of the Apostle, and certen profitable ma• ters. First he calleth him self a brother, namely of those s•• churches, and of al ours: As where I haue admonished yo• that in the seuenth number are comprised all churches of 〈…〉 times throughout the whole worlde. We are all, so many 〈…〉 ⟨p. 27⟩beleue, the children of one heauenly father: And therfore all spiritual brethren in Christ, coinheriters with Christ, & heires of God. Which thing S. Paul taught after Christ.
After he calleth him self partaker in affliction, or oppression and persecution, as he that was even now banished by the Emperor Domitian, and lived in exile. And he joineth together and not separateth him self in the evil: That is common to all the faithful brethren.1 And verily it is one and the same persecution, that vexed the Apostles, and tormenteth us at this day. Let us therefore rejoice, that we have the Apostles and all the Martyrs of Christ fellows of our trouble and affliction, that we be broken and bruised with the heavy burden of evils. Let us therefore be patient and long suffering. For it is not enough to be afflicted, and vexed with all kind of evils (for many without any fruit or praise at all endure most grievous pains.) But it becometh us also to be patient in adversity. Therefore S. John at this present joineth with all, patience. For the Lord said in the Gospel. In your patience shall you possess your souls.
After he calleth him selfe partaker in affliction, or oppression and persecution, as he that was euen now bannished by the Emperour Domitian, and liued in exile. And he ioyneth together and not separateth him selfe in the euill: That is cō mon to all the faithfull brethren.1 And verely it is one and the same persecution, that vexed the Apostles, and tourmenteth vs at this day. Let vs therfore reioyce, that we haue the Apostles and all the Martyrs of Christ fellowes of our trouble and affliction, that we be broken and bruised with the heauy burthen of euils. Let vs therfore be paciēt and long suffring. For it is not enough to be afflicted, and vexed with all kinde of euils (for many without any fruicte or prayse at all indure moste greuous paines.) But it becometh vs also to be patiēt in aduersitie. Therfore S. Iohn at this present ioyneth with all, patince. For the Lorde sayd in the Gospell. In your patience shall you possesse your soules.
After he addeth unto tribulation & patience a kingdom, & that an heavenly not a terrestrial kingdom.1 And he bringeth in the kingdom for the comfort of the patient people. For also the Apostle S. Paul said, a certain and sure saying. For if we die with Christ, we shall live also with him: If we suffer, we shall reign with him. &c. Let us always here with comfort our selves in adversity. For we are thrust down, that we might ones be exalted again .ii. Corinthians .iiii. And all these things are concluded in Christ Jesus, by whom we be both the children & brethren of God, and suffer many things patiently, and are made partakers of his kingdom. ⟨p. 28⟩For even for these things must we thank him, and his m• rites, and not our own desert.
After he addeth vnto tribulation & patience a kingdom, & that an heauenly not a terrestrial kingdom.1 And he bringeth in the kingdom for the comfort of the patient people. For also the Apostle S. Paul said, a certen and sure saying. For if we die with Christ, we shall lyue also with hym: If we suffer, we shall reygne with hym. &c. Let vs alwayes here with comfort our selues in aduersitie. For we are thruste downe, that we might ones be exalted againe .ii. Corinthians .iiii. And all these thinges are concluded in Christ Iesus, by whō we be both the children & brethren of God, and suffer many thinges patiently, and are made partakers of his kingdom. ⟨p. 28⟩For euen for these thinges must we thanke him, and his m• rites, and not our own deserte.
1Let us here note also, what and how great hath been the humility of the greatest and worthy Apostle of God, wh• was his state: Not pleasant, but hard, yet in the patience […] Christ joyful. But where be they now, that glory in th• name of Apostles: Who in the mean time swelling wit• pride, are addict to filthy pleasures? Which I warn, th• we flee from them, as from Apostates.
1Let vs here note also, what and howe great hath bene the humilitie of the greatest and worthie Apostle of God, wh• was his state: Not plesaunt, but harde, yet in the pacience 〈…〉 Christ ioyfull. But where be they nowe, that glory in th• name of Apostles: Who in the meane time swellyng wit• pride, are addicte to filthie pleasures? Whiche I warne, th• we flee from them, as from Apostataes.
1And now he showeth the place, where this divine revelation was made him, where also he was commanded of Go• to write the same. The place was the Isle of Patmos. Th• same is accounted amongst the Islands called Sporad• of Pliny in the fourth book and .xii. cha. It lay over again Asia, and the city of Ephesus, and was in the sight both […] Europe and Africa, so that it seemed to be as it were a mi• dle seat, or holy chair, out of the which Christ preached […] John from heaven to the whole world. And in deed the co• sells of God are wonderful, and his goodness is unspeakable, which revealeth so great mysteries, as it were in th• Romish prison or Babilonicall captivity, to his faithful.
1And now he sheweth the place, where this diuine reuelation was made him, where also he was cōmaunded of Go• to wryte the same. The place was the Ile of Patmos. Th• same is accompted amonges the Ilondes called Sporad• of Plinie in the fourth boke and .xii. cha. It lay ouer again• Asia, and the citie of Ephesus, and was in thu sight boeth 〈…〉 Europe and Affricke, so that it semed to be as it were a mi• dle seate, or holy chaire, out of the which Christ preached 〈…〉 Iohn from heauen to the whole worlde. And in dede the co• selles of God are wonderfull, and his goodnes is vnspekeable, which reuealeth so great misteries, as it were in th• Romish pryson or Babilonicall captiuitie, to his faithfull.
1Neither hideth he the cause of his coming into the sam• Island, I was there, sayeth he, for the word of God, and th• testimony of Jesus Christ. The word of God is the very so• of God, called of John by a singular propriety of speech the word or sermon of God, as appeareth the first of John and the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Gospel if self, which Jesus testified, and the which his disciples have testified o• Jesus. Therefore for the confession and preaching of Jes•• Christ, and of his wholesome Gospel (for so he expoundeth also how he is made partaker of the affliction) John was appr• hended in Asia, & by soldiers led to Rome, that he might plea• his cause before the emperor Domitian, who of his cruel nature condemned the innocent. And he was put into a cauldron o• hot boiling oil. Out of the which when he escaped without harm, he was carried into Patmos. He answered no other matter before the emperor, than Paul did .27. years past, before Nero. This was done in yt .xiiii. or .xv. year of Domitian And the .xxiiii. year after the destruction of the city Jerusalem ⟨p. 29⟩and after the birth of our Lord .lxvi. Domitian who would seem and be called a God, being slain of his own men, after many murders & cruel acts, died himself a shameful death, the .xv. year of his reign. The authors hereof are, Suetonius in the life of Domitian, Tertullian in the heretic. prescript. Eusebius in his chronicles, and in the third book of the ecclesiastical history, in the .xvii. and .xviii. chapter. And hereto is added the common consent of all writers.
1Neyther hideth he the cause of his comming into the sam• Iland, I was there, saieth he, for the worde of God, and th• testimony of Iesu Christ. The word of God is the very so• of God, called of Iohn by a singular proprietie of speache the worde or sermon of God, as appeareth the first of Iohn and the testimony of Iesu Christ is the Gospell if self, whic Iesus testified, and the whiche his disciples haue testified o Iesu. Therfore for the confession and preaching of Ies Christ, and of his holsome Gospell (for so he expoundet also how he is made partaker of thafflictiō) Iohn was appr hended in Asia, & by soldiours led to Rome, yt he might plea his cause before themperour Domitian, who of his cruel nature condēned the inuocēt. And he was put into a cawdrō o hote boiling oyl. Out of ye whiche when he escaped withou harme, he was caried into Patmos. He aunswered no other matter before themperour, than Paul did .27. yeres past, before Nero. This was done in yt .xiiii. or .xv. yere of Domitiā And the .xxiiii. yeare after ye destructiō of the citie Hierusalē
Moreover he noteth the time also,1 in the which these mysteries began to be revealed to him, [Greek or Hebrew], in that solemn day of the Lord, namely the sunday. For so have the ancient fathers called one of the sabbaths, that is to say the first day in the week, wherein Christ rose again from the dead. Math. xxviii. and Mark .xvi. And this day have the churches chosen to them selves in stead of the Sabbath day, as holy in the remembrance of the Lords resurrection, wherein they might keep their sacred and solemn assemblies. For that this day was solemnised and consecrated for assemblies in the congregation of Corinth, appeareth manifestly in the xvi. Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, where the Apostle commandeth to lay a part their collections in one of the sabbaths: The same day also the faithful did celebrate their service with S. Paul, in the .xx. of the Acts. Where Sozomenus reporteth in the .viii. chapt. of the first book of the story tripartite, that great Constantine made certain holy days, and even the Lords day for one, which is called of the Heathen the sunday, it is to be understand that he renewed rather the custom of the Apostles & catholic church, than to have newly instituted the same. And freely of their own accord have the churches received that day: for we read not that it was any where commanded. And the congregations saw how it was altogether necessary that there should be a certain time, in the which the saints should mete and come together. They chose therefore the day of the resurrection, nether did they maliciously contend among themselves for these things, as the histories testify was done in the church afterward. And at this day verily, the superstitious holy days being abrogated, it is better to observe certain and moderate days, and to keep peace and quietness in the church.
Moreouer he noteth the tyme also,1 in the whiche these misteries began to be reuealed to him, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in that solemne day of the Lord, namely the sonday. For so haue the auncient fathers called one of the sabbothes, that is to say the first day in the weke, wherin Christ rose again frō the dead.
But where this Apostle knew, that the faithful on the so• day served God in all assemblies, where he could not be p• sent in body,1 in spirit and contemplation he was with the• And as he was thus in the spirit and contemplation of m• ters divine, and in holy prayers, he heard a voice, whereof […] will speak hereafter. But here we are presently taught what is the religion of the sunday, and how it is mete to o• serve it. Finally worldly men are reproved, which pollute break it with profane works and affairs. David w• time he suffered persecution of Saul, lamenteth chiefly, t• he might not come to the Lords tabernacle. Our men a• compt it a great felicity, never to enter into the fellowship Saints. And to abuse the sunday, in gaming, drinking dancing, and worldly business.
But where this Apostle knewe, that the faithfull on the so• day serued God in all assemblees, where he could not be p• sent in body,1 in spirit and contemplation he was with the• And as he was thus in the spirite and contemplation of m• ters diuine, and in holy prayers, he heard a voice, whereof 〈…〉 wyll speake hereafter. But here we are presently taugh• what is the religion of the sonday, and how it is mete to o• serue it. Finally wordly men are reproued, whiche pollut• breake it with prophane workes and affaires. Dauid w• time he suffered persecution of Saul, lamenteth chiefly, t• he might not come to the Lordes tabernacle. Our men a compt it a great felicitie, neuer to enter into the felloship Sainctes. And to abuse the sonday, in gamenyng, drinkin dauncing, and worldly businesse.
1These things on this wise declared, he cometh at len•• to the revelation: setting forth before the express commau• dement of God, whereby he was commanded both to w• the things revealed, & also to send them to the seven church• of Asia. To the manner and majesty of the revelation that sa• chiefly appertaineth, that he heard a voice, and that notab• as the sound of a trumpet. For so we read it was done the law giving at the mount Sinai. Now is declared who voice it was, and who was the author of the revelation Verily the eternal God, which calleth him self Alpha • Omega, that is the beginning and the end: Or as it is sa• in Isaiah, first and last. Whereof else where.
1These thinges on this wyse declared, he cometh at len•• to the reuelation: setting forth before the expresse commau• dement of God, wherby he was commaunded both to w• the thinges •euealed, & also to send thē to the seuen church• of Asia. To the maner and maiestie of the reuelatiō that sa• chiefly apperteineth, that he heard a voice, and that notab• as the sound of a trompet. For so we reade it was done the law geuing at the mount Sinay. Now is declared who voyce it was, and who was the authour of the reuelation Verely the eternall God, which calleth hym selfe Alpha • Omega, that is the beginning and the ende: Or as it is sa• in Esay, first and last. Wherof els where.
Now followeth the commandment which hath • parts. For first the Lord commandeth S. John to w•• And to write such things as he saw, that is to wit, […] Apocalypse. And that he should write neither in the san• nor on the wall, but in a book: Verily for the edifying profit of the church present, and of all posterity. After he• also commanded to send those writings to seven cong•• gations, and verily to all the churches of the whole world• all times & ages. Therefore all these things belong to the pro• of congregations, and that of all that be, have been or shal•
Now followeth the commaundement whiche hath • partes. For first the Lord commaundeth S. Iohn to w•• And to wryte suche thinges as he sawe, that is to witte, 〈…〉 Apocalipse. And that he should wryte nother in the san• nor on the walle, but in a boke: Verely for the edifiyng• profit of the churche present, and of all posteritie. After he• also commaunded to sende those writinges to seuen cong•• gations, and verely to all the churches of the whole world• al times & ages. Therfore al these thinges belong to ye pro• of congregations, and that of al that be, haue bene or shal•
1Here of we learn, how great is the authority of the s•• turs. It was not written nor compiled in books, but by Go• commandment. There be notable testimonies of the bok• ⟨p. 31⟩of Moses, in the .xxxiiii. of Exod. and .xxxi. of Deuter. And to say nothing of the residue of the Prophets, is not Jeremiah commanded to write his Sermons again, which king Joachim had cut in pieces and burnt?2 Doubts S. Peter beareth manifest witness, that the Prophets received the mysteries of God to none other end, than they should reveal them to us: Which in deed might only be done by the scriptures. Now is John most apertly commanded to write. What will we say, that he is also commanded to send his writings to the congregations? Whereof again we gather that God willeth right well to the congregations, and even to every one of us. Let us beware and take heed, that we put not from us unworthily so great benefits of God, to whom be praise and glory.
1Here of we learne, how great is the authoritie of the s•• turs. It was not written nor cōpiled in bokes, but by Go• cōmaundment. There be notable testimonies of the bok• ⟨p. 31⟩of Moyses, in the .xxxiiii. of Exod. and .xxxi. of Deuter. And to say nothing of the residue of the Propetes, is not Ieremy commaunded to wryte his Sermons againe, whiche kyng Ioachim had cut in pieces and burnt?2 Doubtes S. Peter beareth manifest witnes, that the Prophetes receiued the misteries of God to none other ende, than thei shuld reueale them to vs: Which in dede might only be done by the scriptures. Now is Iohn moste apertly commaunded to wryte. What wyl we say, that he is also commaunded to sende his wrytinges to the congregations? Wherof againe we gather that God willeth right well to the congregations, and euen to euery one of vs. Let vs beware and take hede, that we put not from vs vnworthely so great benefites of God, to whō be prayse and glory.
