Rheims Douai [1582], THE NEVV TESTAMENT OF IESVS CHRIST, TRANSLATED FAITHFVLLY INTO ENGLISH out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages: Vvith Argvments of bookes and chapters, Annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the Corrvptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the Controversies in religion, of these daies: In the English College of Rhemes (Printed... by Iohn Fogny, RHEMES) [word count] [B09000].
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THE APOCALYPSE OF IOHN THE APOSTLE
THE ARGVMENT OF THE APOCALYPSE OF S. IOHN.
That
vvhich the old Testament foretold of Christ him self, the
Apostles could report the fulfilling thereof in the nevv Testament,
by vvay of an historie, euen from his Conception to his Glorification.
But of his Church, they could not doe the like: because in their
time it did but beginne: being to continue long after them, euen to
the end of the vvorld, and then at length to be glorified, as Christ her Spouse alreadie
is. Herevpon God vvould haue S. Luke to report in the Actes of the Apostles,
the storie of the Churches beginning. and for the rest of it to the end, (that vve
might receiue this benefite also by the Apostles handes) he vvould S. Iohn to tell
vs of it in this booke by vvay of a prophecie.
noteOf vvhich booke S. Hierome saith: The Apocalypse of S, Iohn hath as
many sacraments or mysteries, as vvordes. Yea more then that, In euery
vvord there are hid manifold and sundrie senses. Therfore it is very litle
that can here be noted, in respect. Yet to giue the good Catholike (vvhose comfort is
here) some litle helpe, the booke may be deuided into fiue partes.
note noteThe first (after the Proœme) conteineth seuen Epistles from Christ novv in
glorie, to seuen Churches of Asia, or (for, these he maketh al one) to the seuen Bishops
of those Churches: meaning not to those only, but to al his Churches & Bishops
throughout the vvorld: saying therefore in euery one of them, to al in general:
He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches.
As also in euery one he exhorteth vs to fight manfully (in this spiritual
vvarfare of ours against sinne) for the victorie, and in euery one accordingly promiseth
vs a revvard in heauen. But before this, in the beginning of euery one, he
partly commendeth, partly reprehendeth, and exhorteth to penance. Vvhere this is
much to be noted, and feared, that among so many, he reproueth somevvhat in al,
saue only in tvvo, vvhich are the second & the sixt. In the beginning also of euery
one, he taketh some peece out of the apparition going before, to frame thereof his
style agreably to the matter of eche Epistle.
note noteAfter this admonition to Pastors and their flockes: the second part folovveth,
vvherein the Church and vvhole course thereof from the beginning to the
end, is expressed in the opening of a booke in Gods hand, and the seuen seales
thereof, by Christ. for the vvhich, he seeth praise sung novv in heauen and earth,
not only to the Godhead, as before, but also (after a nevv manner) to Christ according
to his Manhod. And here, vvhen he is come to the opening of the last seale,
signifying Domesday, he letteth that matter alone for a vvhile, and to speake more
fully yet of the said course of the Church, he bringeth in an other pagent (as it
vvere) of seuen Angels vvith seuen Trumpets. note The effect of both the Seales &
Trumpets, is this: That the Church beginning and proceding, there should be
raised against it, cruel persecutions, and pestilent heresies: and at length after al
heresies, a certaine most blasphemous Apostasie, being the next preparatiue to the
-- --
comming of Antichrist: After al vvhich, Antichrist him self in person shal appeare
in the time of the sixt seale, and sixt trumpet, persecuting and seducing (for
the short time of his reigne) more then al before him. The Church notvvithst&abar;ding
shal still continue, and vvade through al, because Christ her Spouse is stronger
then al these aduersaries. vvho also straight after the said sixt time, shal in the
seuenth, come in maiestie and iudge al.
note noteOf the vvhich iudgement, differring yet a vvhile to speake at large, he doth
first in the third part intreate more fully of the Deuils vvorking by Antichrist
and his companie against the Church, that the iustice of Christ aftervvard in iudging,
may be more manifest.
note noteAt length therefore in the fourth part he commeth to the seuen last plagues, the
seuenth of them conteining the final damnation of the vvhole multitude, societie
or corps of the vvicked, from the beginning of the vvorld to the end. Vvhich multitude,
in the Gospel and first Epistle of this same S. Iohn (as also in the other
Scriptures commonly) is often called Mundus, the vvorld. and here he calleth
it partly, Meretricem, a vvhore or harlot, because vvith her concupiscence
she entiseth the carnal and earthly men avvay from God: partly, Ciuitatem Babylon,
the Citie of Babylon, because it maketh vvarre against Hierusalem
the Citie of God, and laboureth to hold Gods people captiue in sinne, as it vvas
shadovved in Nabuchodonosor & his Babyloni&abar;s, leading and holding the Ievves
vvith their Hierusalem, in captiuitie, vntil Cyrus (in figure of Christ) deliuered
them. note But vvhether al these seuen plagues should be vnderstood (as the seuenth)
of Domesday it self, it is hard to define. More like it is, that the first sixe are to
goe before Domesday: but vvhether corporally and literally, (so as Moyses plagued
Egypt) or rather spiritually, it is more hard to define. Yet it seemeth more
easie, to vnderstand them corporally, as also the plagues vvherevvith Elias and
his felovv shal in the time of Antichrist plague the vvicked (vvhich peraduenture
shal be the same last plagues) vvhereof vve reade in this booke c. 11. v.
6. But not content to haue described thus the damnation of the vvhole adulterous
& blouddy societie, he doth also expresly report of their three gr&abar;d Captaines damnation,
vvhich are these, Antichrist, and his Falseprophet, and the Deuil him self
the author of al this mischiefe.
note noteFinally, on the other side, in the fifth part he reporteth the vnspeakeable and
euerlasting glorie, that the Church after al this suffering, shal by Christ her glorious
Spouse be assumpted vnto. And so he concludeth the booke.
-- --
THE APOCALYPSE OF IOHN THE APOSTLE. note
Chap. I.
note9. S. Iohn being banished in the ile Patmos, is commaunded to vvrite to the seuen
Churches of Asia (signified by the seuen candlestickes) that vvhich he savv
vpon a Sunday, round about the Sonne of man: 13 vvhose maner of apparition is described.
1 noteThe09Q1501 Apocalypse of Iesvs Christ
vvhich God gaue him, to make manifest
to his seruants the thinges vvhich
must be done quickly: and signified,
sending by his Angel to his seruant
Iohn,
2 vvho hath giuen testimonie to
the vvord of God, and the testimonie
of Iesvs Christ, vvhat things soeuer
he hath seen.
3 Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the
wordes of this prophecie: and note keepeth those thinges Which
be vvritten in it. for the time is nigh.
4 Iohn09Q1502 to the seuen churches vvhich are in Asia. Grace to
you and peace from note him that is, and that vvas, and that
shal come, and09Q1503 from the seuen spirites vvhich are in the sight
of his throne,
5 and from Iesvs Christ vvho is the faithful
vvitnes, the note first-borne of the dead, & the prince of the kings
of the earth, vvho hath loued vs, and note vvashed vs from our
sinnes in his bloud, &cross4;
6 and hath made vs note09Q1504 a kingdom and
priestes to God and his father, to him be glorie and empire
for euer and euer. Amen.
7 Behold he commeth vvith the
cloudes, and euery eie shal see him, and note they that pricked
him. And al the tribes of the earth shal, bevvaile them selues
vpon him. yea, Amen.
8 noteI am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and end, saith our Lord God, vvhich is, and vvhich
vvas, and vvhich shal come, the omnipotent.
-- --
9 I Iohn your brother and partaker in tribulation, and
the kingdom, and patience in Christ Iesvs, vvas in note the
Iland, vvhich is called Patmos, for the vvord of God and the
testimonie of Iesvs.
10 I vvas note in spirit09Q1505 on the Dominical
day, and heard behind me a great voice as it vvere of a
trompet
11 saying, That vvhich thou seest, vvrite in a booke:
and send to the seuen churches vvhich are in Asia, to Ephesus,
and Smyrna, and Pergamus, and Thiatîra, and Sardis, and
Philadelphia, and Laodicia.
12 noteAnd I turned, to see the voice
that spake vvith me. And being turned I savv seuen candlestickes
of gold:
13 & in the middes of the seuen candlestickes
of gold, one note like to the Sonne of man,09Q1506 vested in a note priestly
garment to the foote, and girded about neere to the pappes
vvith a girdle of gold.
14 and his head and heares vvere
vvhite, as vvhite vvool, & as snovv, and his eies as the flame
of fire.
15 and his feete like to latten, as in a burning fornace.
and his voice as the voice of many vvaters:
16 and he had
in his right hand seuen starres. and from his mouth proceded
a sharpe tvvo edged svvord: and his face, as the sunne
shineth in his vertue.
17 And vvhen I had seene him, I fel at
his feete as dead. And he put his right hand vpon me, saying,
Feare not. noteI am the first and the last,
18 and aliue, and vvas
dead, and behold I am liuing for euer and euer, and haue the
keies of death and of hel.
19 Vvrite therefore the thinges
vvhich thou hast seene, and that are, and that must be done
after these.
20 The sacrament of the seuen starres, vvhich
thou hast seene in my right hand, and the seuen candlestickes
of Gold.09Q1507 the seuen starres, are09Q1508the angels of the seuen
churches. and note the seuen candlestickes, are the seuen churches.
note -- --
note
note
note
note -- --
note
note
note
Chap. II.
He is commaunded to vvrite diuers things to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamus, and Thyatira: praising them that had not admitted the doctrine
of the Heretikes called Nicolaitæ, 22 and calling others by threates vnto
penance: 26 and promising revvard to him that manfully ouercommeth.
1 And note to the Angel of the Church of
Ephesus vvrite, Thus saith he vvhich09Q1509 holdeth
the seuen starres in his right hand,
vvhich vvalketh in the middes of the seuen
candlestickes of gold,
2 I knovv09Q1510 thy
vvorkes and labour, and thy patience: and
that thou canst not beare euil men, and hast tried them which
say them selues to be Apostles, and are not, and hast found
them liars:
3 and thou hast patience, and hast borne for my
-- --
name, and hast not fainted.
4 But I haue against thee a fevv
thinges, bicause note thou hast left thy first charitie.
5 Be mindeful
therfore from vvhence thou art fallen: and doe penance,
and doe the first vvorkes. But if not: I come to thee,
and09Q1511 vvil moue thy candlesticke out of his place, vnlesse
thou doe penance.
6 but this thou hast,09Q1512 because thou hatest
the factes09Q1513 of the Nicolaïtes, vvhich I also hate.
7 He that
hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the
Churches, To him that ouercommeth, I vvil giue to eate of
the tree of life, vvhich is in the Paradise of my God.
8 And to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna vvrite,
Thus saith note the first and the last, vvho vvas dead, and liueth,
9 I knovv thy tribulation and thy note pouertie, but thou art
riche: and thou art blasphemed of them that say them selues
to be Ievves and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Feare none of these thinges vvhich thou shalt suffer.
Behold the Deuil vvil send some of you into prison that you
may be tried: and you shal haue tribulation ten daies. Be thou
faithful vntil death: and I vvil giue thee note the crovvne of life.
11 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith
to the Churches, He that shal ouercome, shal not be hurt of
the note second death.
12 And to the Angel of the Church of Pergamus vvrite,
Thus saith he that hath the sharpe tvvo edged svvord,
13 I
knovv vvhere thou dvvellest, vvhere the seate of Satan is:
and thou holdest my name, and hast not denied my faith.
And in those daies Antipas my faithful vvitnesse, vvho vvas
slaine among you, note vvhere Satan dvvelleth.
14 But I haue
against thee a fevv thinges: because thou hast there, them
that hold the doctrine of Balaam, vvho taught Balac09Q1514 to
cast a scandal before the children of Israel, to eate and commit
fornication: note
15 so hast thou also them that hold the
doctrine of the Nicolaïtes.
16 In like maner doe penance. if
not: I vvil come to thee quickly, and vvil fight against them
vvith the svvord of my mouth.
17 He that hath an eare, let
him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches, To him
that ouerc&obar;meth I vvil giue the hidden manna, and vvil giue
him a vvhite note counter: and in the counter, a nevv name Written,
vvhich no man knovveth, but he that receiueth it.
18 And to the Angel of the Church of Thyatíra vvrite,
Thus saith the Sonne of God, vvhich hath eies as a flame of
-- --
fire, and his feete like to latten.
19 I knovv thy note vvorkes,
and faith, and thy charitie, and ministerie, and thy patience
and thy last vvorkes moe then the former.
20 But I haue
against thee a fevv thinges: because thou permittest09Q1515 the
vvoman note Iezabel, vvho calleth her self a prophetesse, to
teache, and to seduce my seruantes, to fornicate, and to eate
of thinges sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gaue her a time that
she might do penance: and09Q1516 she vvil not repent from her
fornication.
22 Behold I vvil cast her into a bedde: and09Q1517 they
that commit aduoutrie vvith her, shal be in very great tribulation,
vnlesse they do penance from their vvorkes:
23 and
her children I vvil kil vnto death, and al the Churches shal
knovv note that I am he that searcheth the reines and hartes,
and I vvil giue to euery one of you note according to his
vvorkes.
24 But I say to you the rest vvhich are at Thyatira,
vvhosoeuer haue not this doctrine, vvhich haue not knowen
the note depth of Satan, as they say, I vvil not cast vpon you an
other vveight.
25 Yet that vvhich you haue, hold til I come.
26 And he that shal ouercome and keepe my vvorkes vnto
the end:09Q1518 I vvil giue him povver ouer the nations,
27 and
note he shal rule them vvith a rod of yron, and as the vessel of a
potter shal they be broken,
28 noteas I also haue receiued of
my father: and I vvil giue him the morning starre.
29 He that
hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the
Churches.
note
note
note
note
-- --
note
note
note
note
note
note
Chap. III.
He is commaunded to vvrite to the Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, and
Laodicia: recalling them that erre to penance by threatening, but praising the
rest, and promising revvard to him that ouercommeth: 15. detesting also the cold
indifferent Christian. 20. He saith that God knocketh at the doore of mens hartes
by offering his grace, for to enter in to him that vvil open vnto him by consent of
free vvil.
1 And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis,
write, Thus saith he that hath the seu&ebar; Spirites
of God, and the seuen starres, I know
thy vvorkes, that thou hast the name that
thou liuest, and thou art dead.
2 Be vigilant,
and confirme the rest of the things
vvhich vvere to die. For I finde not thy
vvorkes ful before my God.
3 Haue in
minde therfore in vvhat maner thou hast receiued and heard:
-- --
and keepe, and doe penance. If therfore thou vvatch not, note I
vvil come to thee as a theefe, & thou shalt not knovv vvhat
houre I vvil come to thee.
4 But thou hast a fevv names in
Sardis, note vvhich haue not defiled their garments: and they
shal vvalke vvith me in vvhites, because they note are vvorthy.
5 09Q1519He that shal ouercome, shal thus be vested in vvhite garmentes,
and I vvil not put his name out of the booke of life,
and I vvil confesse his name before my father, and before his
Angels.
6 He that hath an eare, let him heare vvhat the Spirit
saieth to the Churches.
7 And to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia
vvrite, Thus saith the Holy one and the True one, he that
hath the note key of Dauid: he that openeth, and no man shutteth:
shutteth, and no man openeth.
8 I know thy vvorkes.
Behold I haue giuen before thee a doore opened vvhich no
man can shut: because thou hast a litle povver, and hast kept
my vvord, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold I vvil
giue of the synagogue of Satan, vvhich say they be Ievves,
and are not, but doe lie. Behold I vvil make them come and
09Q1520 adore before thy feete. and they shal knovv that I haue
loued thee.
10 because thou hast kept the vvord of my patience,
and I vvil keepe thee from the houre of tentation,
vvhich shal come vpon the vvhole vvorld to tempt the inhabitants
on the earth.
11 Behold I come quickely: hold that
vvhich thou hast,09Q1521 that no man take thy crovvne.
12 He
that shal ouercome, I vvil make him a piller in the temple of
my God: and he shal goe out no more: and I vvil vvrite
vpon him the name of my God, and the name of the citie of
my God, nevv Hierusalem vvhich descendeth out of heauen
from my God, and my nevv name.
13 He that hath an eare,
let him heare vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches.
14 And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicia vvrite,
Thus saith note Amen, the faithful and true vvitnesse, note vvhich is
the beginning of the creature of God.
15 I knovv thy
vvorkes, that thou art neither colde, nor hote. I vvould thou
vvere colde, or hote.
16 But because thou art09Q1522 lukevvarme,
and neither cold nor hote, I vvil begin to vomite thee out
of my mouth.
17 Because thou saiest, That I am riche, and enriched,
and lacke nothing: and knovvest not that thou art a
miser, and miserable, and poore, and blinde, and naked.
18 I counsel thee to bye of me gold fire-tried, that thou maiest
-- --
be made riche: and maiest be clothed in vvhite garmentes,
that the confusion of thy nakednes appeare not: and vvith
eie-salue anoint thine eies, that thou maiest see.
19 I, note vvhom
I loue, do rebuke and chastise. Be zelous therfore and doe
penance.
20 Behold I stand at the doore and note knocke. if
any man shal heare my voice, and open the gate, I vvil enter
in to him, and vvil suppe vvith him, and he vvith me.
21 He
that shal ouercome, I vvil giue vnto him to sitte vvith me
in my throne: as I also haue ouercome, and haue sitten vvith
my father in his throne.
22 He that hath an eare, let him heare
vvhat the Spirit saith to the Churches.
note
note
note
note
Chap. IIII.
note1. A doore being open in heauen, he savv one sitting in a throne, 4 and round about
him foure and tvventie seniors sitting, 6 and the foure beastes here described,
9 vvhich vvith the 24 seniors continually glorified him that sate
in the throne.
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