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

First,¹ you may observe from hence, that Universality, and Prosperity, though they be given for two notes of a true Church by the Papists, yet indeed they are but sophistical, deceitful delusions; They are not such marks of a Church as are peculiar to a true Church; here is Universality, All the world wondered after the beast; and here is Prosperity, all the world adore, and admire the Beast; Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Not all the Princes of the world: So that here is external prosperity, for so they call it; here are both these concur, and they do indeed argue a Catholic Church, as Bellarmine saith; but note this, that Catholic Church which is visible, (which is the Roman visible Catholic Church) the Scripture holds it forth as a great, and ugly, and monstrous Beast: look not therefore at these as any good marks and signs, by which Jesuits, and Seminaries are wont to draw to deep devotion to the Catholic Church, for all the world have run this way, there is but a handful, a few of such as are otherwise minded; what is Geneva and some others to Rome? what have they been able to do in comparison of the Church of Rome, which is the Church of Churches, none have been able to do as they.

First,¹ you may observe from hence, that Universality, and Prosperity, though they be given for two notes of a true Church by the Papists, yet indeed they are but sopisticall, deceitfull delusions; They are not such marks of a Church as are peculiar to a true Church; here is Universality, All the world wondred after the beast; and here is Prosperity, all the world adore, and admire the Beast; Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Not all the Princes of the world: So that here is externall prosperity, for so they call it; here are both these concur, and they doe indeed argue a Catholick Church, as Bellarmine saith; but note this, that Catholick Church which is visible, (which is the Roman visible Catholick Church) the Scripture holds it forth as a great, and ugly, and monstrous Beast: look not therefore at these as any good marks and signes, by which Jesuites, and Seminaries are wont to draw to deep devotion to the Catholick Church, for all the world have run this way, there is but a handfull, a few of such as are otherwise minded; what is Genevah and some others to Rome? what have they been able to doe in comparison of the Church of Rome, which is the Church of Churches, none have been able to doe as they.