For it behoveth chiefly the saints, to have known these things, that in the very perils and afflictions, they may remember this godly admonition, and bear in mind, that the Lord hath told before,1 of the things that they now suffer, who ruleth & governeth all things, finally who can and will deliver them from all these evils, when, how, and as much as he of his good will shall see it good. First therefore he propoundeth again, generally the parts of this conflict or strife, a woman clothed with the sun, crowned, travelling, which is a figure of the faithful church: he setteth against her a most fierce and cruel enemy, I say the great dragon, Red, with seven heads, &c. A figure doubtless of that old serpent, the Devil. After are set forth their attempts, nature, force and conflicts or fight.2 And here again for a con forte it is expressed the victory of Christ the head, and of the church, and members of the same. Afterward the Lord by John, rehearseth, severally in the vision, the special instruments or members of the dragon, by the which he assaulteth, and most cruelly vexeth,3 and wearieth the church. And these instruments are, the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and the beast with two horns, that is, the empire and false prophet, and the image of the empire.4 These things he painteth out after the Imitation of Daniel so lively, and (as it is said) with their own colours, in the .xiii. and .xvii. Chap, that no man can choose but feel, and much more perceive, of whom he speaketh: verily of the old Roman Empire, and of Papistry. He calleth beasts after the imitation of Daniel, cruel kingdoms or empires. And the thing it self declareth, that our very Lord Jesus Christ, the head and king of all Saints, suffered and was crucified under Ponce Pilate, governor of Jewry, but sent thither from Rome, and governing allthings in the name of The emperor Tiberius. Again, every man knoweth that the first persecution against the Christians, was stirred up by Nero Emperor of Rome. The second by Flavius Domitian Emperor of Rome, which entrapped also the Author of this work. And after this we read of eight other persecutions or mo stirred up by the residue of Roman Emperors, against the faithful spouse of Christ by the which she was cruelly rent in peaces and trodden under foot.
For it behoueth chieflye the sainctes, to haue knowne these thynges, that in the veri perilles and afflictions, they may remember this godly admonition, and beare in minde, that the Lorde hathe tolde before,1 of the things that they now suffer, who ruleth & gouerneth al things, finally who can and wil delyuer them from al these euyls, when, how, and asmuche as he of his good wyll shall see it good. Firste therfore he propoundeth agayne, generally the partes of this conflicte or strife, a woman clothed with the sunne, crowned, traueling, which is a figure of the faithfull churche: he setteth against her a most fierse and cruel enemie, I say the great dragon, Red, with seuen heades, &c. A figure doubtles of that olde serpente, the Deuill. After are setforth theyr attempts, nature, force and conflictes or fyght.2 And here again for a cō forte it is expressed the victory of Chryst the head, and of the churche, and members of the same. Afterward the Lord by Iohn, rehearseth, seuerally in the vision, the special instruments or members of the dragon, by the which he assaulteth, and moste cruelly vexeth,3 and werieth the church. And these instrumentes are, the beaste with seuen heades and ten hornes, and the beast with two hornes, that is, thempire and false prophet, and the image of thempire.4 These thynges he painteth out after the Imutation of Daniell so liuely, and (as it is sayd) with theyr owne colors, in the .xiii. and .xvii. Chap, that no man can chouse but fele, and muche more perceyue, of whom he speaketh: verely of the olde Romane Empire, and of Papistrie. He calleth beastes after the imitation of Daniell, cruell kyngdomes or empires. And the thyng it selfe declareth, that our very Lorde Iesus Chryst, the head and king of all Sainctes, suffered and was crucified vnder Ponce Pilate, gouernour of Iuri, but sent thither frō Rome, and gouerning althinges in the name of Themperour Tiberius. Agayne, euery man knoweth that the first persecutiō against the Christians, was styred vp by Nero Emperour of Rome. The seconde by Flauius Domitian Emperour of Rome, which intrapped also the Authour of this worke. And after this we reade of eyght other persecutions or mo styred vp by the residew of Romane Emperours, against the faithful spouse of Christ by the whiche she was cruelly rent in peaces and troden vnder foote.
- 1Chap. xii.
- 2Seven heads of the DragonSeuen heads of the Dragon
- 3Chap. xiii.
- 4Seven heads of the beast.Seuen heads of the beast.
