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

First,¹ from the wrong Interpretation of some Scriptures, which were very frequent with them in those days, and are still; and that was, that the Catholic Roman Church was builded upon a rock, and that rock was the Bishop of Rome, and into his hand the Lord Jesus by Peter had given the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and these keys had absolute universal power to bind on Earth, and upon his binding on earth, Christ would bind in heaven: this was an error in judgment that did so possess their hearts, that upon the healing of this wounded head, all the world did admire him: Therefore Bellarmine makes a large discourse; Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, and they that trust in him shall never be confounded; and so never was there any man that was an enemy to the Catholic Church, but was confounded; nor never did any man stand for the Catholic Church, but was preserved: and so they did admire him; A great inundation of barbarous Nations were all driven out by the piety of the Bishop of Rome; they were able to overturn the Emperors of the East (and it was overturned) and bring them to his feet, and all to be at his disposing; This was some confirmation to them, that he was the successor of Peter, that now whoever is saved, it must be by the power of this key, or else never look for any saving in this world.

First,¹ from the wrong Interpretation of some Scriptures, which were very frequent with them in those dayes, and are still; and that was, that the Catholick Roman Church was builded upon a rock, and that rock was the Bishop of Rome, and into his hand the Lord Jesus by Peter had given the keys of the kingdome of Heaven, and these keys had absolute universall power to binde on Earth, and upon his binding on earth, Christ would bind in heaven: this was an error in judgment that did so possesse their hearts, that upon the healing of this wounded head, all the world did admire him: Therefore Bellarmine makes a large discourse; Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, and they that trust in him shall never be confounded; and so never was there any man that was an enemy to the Catholick Church, but was confounded; nor never did any man stand for the Catholick Church, but was preserved: and so they did admire him; A great inundation of barbarous Nations were all driven out by the piety of the Bishop of Rome; they were able to overturn the Emperors of the East (and it was overturned) and bring them to his feet, and all to be at his disposing; This was some confirmation to them, that he was the successor of Peter, that now whoever is saved, it must be by the power of this key, or else never look for any saving in this world.