The first New Testament printed in English

by Unknown

And I stood on the sea sand.

And I saw a beast rise out of the sea, having vij heads, and x horns, and upon his horns x. crowns, and upon his head, the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw, was like a cat of the mountain, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mowth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority: and I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered at the beast, and they worshipped the dragon, which gave power unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast saying: who is like unto the beast? who is able to war with him?

And there was a mowth given unto him that spake great things, and blasphemies, and power was given unto him, to continue xlij months. And he opened his mowth unto blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to over come them. And power was given him over all kindred, tongue, and nation: and all that dwell upon the earth worshipped him: whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb, which was killed from the beginning of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that killeth with a sword, must be killed with a sword. Here is the patience, and the faith of the saints.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as did the dragon. And he did all that the first beast could do in his presence, and he caused the earth, and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he did great wonders, so that he made fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. And deceived them that dwelt on the earth, by the means of those signs which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwelt on the earth: that they should make an image unto the beast, which had the wound of a sword, and did live.

And he had power to give a spirit unto the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak, and should cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast, should be killed. And he made all men, small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hands, {hondes} or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, other the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore and six.

The .xiiij. Chapter.

And I looked, and lo a lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him C. and xliiij. thousand having his father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sang as it were a new song, before the seat, and before the four beasts, and the seniors, and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and xliiij M. which were redeemed from the earth. These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb, and in their mouths was found no guile. For they are without spot before the throne of God.

And I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven having an everlasting gospel, to preach unto them that sit and dwell on the earth, and to all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give honour to him, for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him, that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and fountains of water. And there followed another angel, saying: Babylon is fallen is fallen that great city, for she made all nations drink of the wine of her fornication.

And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice: If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or on his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured in the cup of his wrath. And he shall be punished in fire and brimstone, before the holy Angels, and before the lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up evermore. And they have no rest day nor night, which worship the beast, and his image, and whosoever receiveth the print of his name. Here is the patience of saints. Here are they that keep the commandments and the faight of Iesu.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: write: Blessed are the dead, which hereafter die in the lord, even so saith the spirit: that they may rest from their labors, but their works shall follow them. And I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sitting like unto the son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another Angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle and reap: for the time is come to reap, for the corn of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.