[ 17 ]
refuſeth to go forth, and bathe his ſword in the blood of Antichriſt.
33. At another time, I perceived a man walking with an inkhorn by his ſide, and a pen in his hand, and when I faſtened mine eyes upon him, he ſaid, I am to ſet a mark and ſeal upon the followers of the Lamb, to diſtinguiſh them from thoſe that have the mark of the beaſt in the approaching and deſolating ſtroke.
34. At another time it was laid before me, by three ſimilies, what he would do with Antichriſt, the firſt was of a fiſher drawing his net, and every fiſh that wanted fins and ſcales, he threw into the ground of the ſea, where they were never found any more; the ſecond was of a man taking ɐ handful of ſand, and throwing it againſt the winds that it was never ſeen or heard any more; the third was a man cutting down a field of corn, who left ſome ſtalks ſtanding and ſome falling, and afterwards ſeeking for seed in theſe ſtacks, he found them all conſumed and rotten in the heart. At the ſame time a great light appeared unto me, which made me much concerned, and it was ſaid to me, I have touched thy lips for this end, that thou may accompliſh the commiſſion I have delivered into thee; declare thou to this generation, That they ſhall look to the ſouth, and ſee the Spaniſh army great and very cruel: for they ſhall do according to that ſcripture, Amos v. The city that goes out by a thouſand shall leave a hundred, and the city that goes out by a hundred shall leave ten to the houſe of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord; yet notwithſtanding I will cauſe my remnant in this land to bathe their ſwords in the blood of Antichriſt I ſaw in a viſion, that Chriſt's church must go into the furnace, and there be purged, for he will have a pure church, or no church at all, for he will have his church purged from all the defiling errors and ſuperſtitious hereſies which ſhe hath been often brought under by antichriſtian prelates for he will have his church and ſpouſe a chaſte bride unto him. Then I ſaw a man coming unto me with a crown in his hand, who ſaid, This is the crown which Chriſt's church ſhould receive in the day of her eſpouſals unto him, becauſe antichriſt hath enlarged hell with the ſouls of theſe whom be hath drawn away with his ſuperſtitious idolatry, I will take unto me my great
C
power
