A34679:212
An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…
An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent servant of the Lord, Mr. John Cotton ... ; taken from his mouth in short-writing, and some part of it corrected by himself soon after the preaching thereof ; and all of it since viewed over by a friend to him ... wherein some mistakes were amended, but nothing of the sense altered.
London: printed for Tim. Smart, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION Upon the thirteenth Chapter of the REVELATION. › Part
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. To open the mouth implies an audible, and full, and bold, and confident expression of a mans mind, that a man doth not whisper, but lift up his voice, and declare with open mouth what he hath to deliver; as in Exod. 3. 23. Open thy mouth and tell them, that is, speak boldly: Though they be a rebellious People, and will brow-beat thee, yet open thy mouth, and speak unto them; speak boldly, and confidently, as one that goes not behind the door, but speaks plainly: And I put in plainly with boldness, because they are ever concomitants. If a man speak boldly, he doth not extenuate what he hath to deliver, but speaks it plainly.
2. To open the mouth implies an audable, and full, and bold, and confident expression of a mans minde, that a man doth not whisper, but lift up his voyce, and declare with open mouth what he hath to deliver; as in Exod. 3. 23. Open thy mouth and tell them, that is, speak boldly: Though they be a rebellious People, and will brow-beate thee, yet open thy mouth, and speake unto them; speak boldly, and confidently, as one that goes not behind the door, but speaks plainly: And I put in plainly with boldnesse, because they are ever concomitants. If a man speak boldly, he doth not extenuate what he hath to deliver, but speaks it plainly.
3. This opening of the mouth doth imply that he speaks fully and abundantly, his heart was full of it, and he doth accordingly pour out that which he delivers: As Elihu tells you in Job 32. 18, 19, 20. I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me: Behold my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles, &c. So the meaning is this, That as the Pope saw (which was the head of this Beast) that he had a mouth given him; that is, uncontrollable liberty to speak what he would: He did not suddenly or rashly speak, some inconsiderate, or erroneous, or arrogant speech which he did eat in again; but he spake advisedly in his grave and considerate Council, upon advised judgment he did speak ⟨p. 65⟩great things and blasphemies: And this he did plainly and boldly, not in ambiguous or obscure phrases, but plainly in such expressions as could bear no other meaning; and that with such confidence, that you may see he cared not who heard, nor what Construction might be made of it. And this he did, not in a word or two that dropped from him, but as flowing from him; He was full of matter, as