B11837:921
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.
And doubtless the Popes clergy is most rightly compared to grasshoppers or caterpillars.1 For both they are innumerable, and they occupy and consume all things. In times past the ministers of the churches might be numbered. For the number was but small: neither were unprofitable or unnecessary persons nourished of the church goods. There remaineth a constitution of the emperor Justinian, where amongst other things: we ordain that there be not at any time in the sacred great church above .lx. Priests, men Deacons an .C. Subdeacons .lxxxx. and readers an hundred and ten, nor above .xxv. singers: that the whole number of the clergy of the greater church may consist in .ccccxxv. persons, and besides an .C. door keepers, as they term them. Therefore in the most holy great church of this our noble City of Constantinople, and in those three churches to the same united (to wit in the church of our Lady, S. Theodore, and S. Irenes, let there be so great a multitude of the clergy. This some of the ministers of this imperial city and most large church established five hundred and twenty and five persons. But how many at this day may you find at Rome, or in an other great City Priests, Monks, Friars and Nuns? They exceed this number four times and more. And to leave out many things that might here be brought in, Pope Pius Sabellicus showeth in the .9. book of Aeneidos. the .7. Chapter. That the sect of grey friars was so greatly multiplied through out the world, that than they held and possessed .xl. provinces, and under every one diverse Cloisters and convents (wardens they call the rulers) and ⟨p. 256⟩exceeded the number of three score thousand men: in so much that the master of the whole order, whom they call general, hath ben heard many times, to offer the pope preparing an Army against the Turks thirty thousand fighting men of the order of S. Francis, which should be well able to serve in the wars, and yet be no hinderance or let to their religion or service. And now who is it that knoweth not how many orders there be of Monks & Friars: you may therefore account other orders after the rate of the order of S. Francis, and though you attribute to every one but the one half of that number, to what a some will it amount?
And doubtles the Popes clergie is moste rightly cōpared to grassehoppers or catarpillers.1