B11837:563
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.
The first part of the Epistle containeth those things which we have now recited: Nether doth he proceed herein in other order, than we have seen him to have proceeded hitherto. For first he showeth to whom it is dedicated, and sent: Namely to the Pastor of the congregation of Sardis,1 and therefore also to the whole church. Sardis is said to have ben the head city of Lydia or of Maonia, the metropolitan city of Croesus the most rich king of Lydia, whom Herodotus writeth that king Cyrus overcame, a town most famous, and pricked and painted with pride, that it was a wonder: And addict to voluptuousness. For Strabo in the .xiii. book of Geography testifieth that all the maidens thereof were harlots, who mentioneth more of the same city. Certes it seemeth to have kept his old wont, even at such time also as it had received the name of the Lord: And therefore to have been more given to fornication, and all manner of filthy lust. The which thing the Lord seemeth to have blamed in them, as S. Paul likewise persecuted the self same vise in the Corinthians. The world can hardly believe that simple fornication is sin whereupon in that great counsel of the Apostles,2 both they and the elders ⟨p. 103⟩and the whole assembly with one mind decreed, that the gē tiles should abstain from fornication. The devil at this day goeth about many times to defile the church again with fornication, to set up stews, and that by authority and openly whoredom might be practised. For so being cast out, he taketh seven worse spirits, enterprising to possess that place again out of the which he was exiled by the preaching of the Gospel. We must therefore resist him, least the Lord Jesus him self do accuse us, as he doth here accuse them of Sardis most grievously.3 Then is the Lord Jesus declared to be author of the Epistle, not without praise. For he is said to have the seven spirits of God, that is to have the seven formed spirit, whom he also poureth out upon the faithful, or else he is one only spirit, and not seven: but seven, that is to wit, his graces be many and diverse, as I declared in the first chapter, for the same hath also in his right hand seven stars, to wit, the whole multitude of all preachers and ministers, keeping and instructing them. And this beginning agreeth not amiss with this argument, which he treateth in this Epistle. For of the spirit of Christ is life: