An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…

First,¹ in regard of his just displeasure against the backsliding apostasies of the Church in such times: When the Lord sees the spirits of men are bent to apostasy and backsliding, so as that they reject the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ, and if they might have it they will not; now it is a righteous thing with God to plague them with the arrogance & tyranny of Antichrist: If I come in my Fathers name, you will not receive me; if another come in his own name, him you will receive; Now it is a just judgement of God, if Christ come and offer himself in the simplicity of his Ordinances, and they think this is too mean, and doth not reach the state of an Imperial City, but they must have such and such orders in all Churches, ⟨p. 43⟩and Churches must be distinguished by such Patrons, and it is fit that one be Lord Paramount over them all, and none is so fit as the Bishop of Rome; If people dote upon such (some goodly shape, but drawn by the inventions of men) well you shall have such Bishops: This head that sometimes hath been thus wounded, that some have had cause of solemn praise for his wounding, and God hath by this means given the Churches liberty to take some better way of worship, but they would not, well you shall have enough of him. It is one of Solomons Proverbs, (Chap. 14. 14.) the Backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; If you dote after inventions of men, you shall be filled with vain Superstition to the contentment of your own hearts. God out of his tender faithfulness to his Church he will redeem some, and doth give them fair opportunities to undertake their own liberties out of the usurpations of men; but if they will rather sit under the shadow of Egypt, then feed upon Manna, then go you back again saith God, none of you shall eat of that which I have prepared, that is one Reason; Such backsliders that delight in such communion in such heads over their Churches, it is just with God to fill them with their own inventions.

First,¹ in regard of his just displeasure against the backsliding apostacies of the Church in such times: When the Lord sees the spirits of men are bent to apostacy and backsliding, so as that they reject the simplicity of the Gospell of Christ, and if they might have it they will not; now it is a righteous thing with God to plague them with the arrogance & tyranny of Antichrist: If I come in my Fathers name, you will not receive me; if another come in his own name, him you will receive; Now it is a just judgement of God, if Christ come and offer himself in the simplicity of his Ordinances, and they think this is too mean, and doth not reach the state of an Imperiall City, but they must have such and such orders in all Churches,