Yet Michael the archangel (when he strove against the devil, and disputed the body of Moses) durst not give railing sentence, but said: The lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not. In those things which they know naturally (as beasts which are without reason) they corrupt themselves. Woe be unto them, for they have followed the way of Cain, and are spilt in the error of Balaam for lucre's sake, and are cast away in the treason of Core.
These are spots which of your kindness feast together, without fear, feeding themselves. Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds: Trees rotten in autumn, unfruitfull, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots. They are raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. They are wandering stars, to whom is reserved the mist of darkness for ever.
Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied before of such saying. Behold, the lord shall come with thousands of saints, to give judgement against all men, and to rebuke all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their cruel speakings, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, whose mouths speak proud things. They have men in great reverence because of advantage. But ye beloved remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our lord Iesus Christ, how that they told you that there should be beguilers in the last time, which should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are makers of sects, naturall, {or fleshy, other carnal,} having no spirit.
But ye derly beloved, edify yourselves in your most wholy faith, praying in the wholy ghost, and keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our lord Iesus Christ, unto eternal life. And have compassion on some, separating them: and other save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate the filthy vesture of the flesh.
Unto him that is able to keep you, that ye faule not, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy, that is to say, to God our saviour which only is wise, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, now and for ever Amen.
The revelation of sanct Ihon the devine.
The first Chapter.
The revelation of Iesus Christe, which God gave unto him, for to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and shewed by his angel unto his servant Ihon, which bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Iesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Happy is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. For the time is at hand.
Ihon to the vij. congregations in Asia. Grace be with you and peace, from him which is and which was, and which is to come: and from the vij. spirits which are present before his throne, and from Iesus Christ which is a faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead: and lord over the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God his father, be glory, and dominion for evermore amen. Behold he cometh with clouds, and all eyes shall see him: and they also which pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail. Even so amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the lord almighty, which is and which was and which is to come.