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

For the use of it,¹ I might from hence first speak to this point; that it were therefore a necessary counsel to all Roman Catholics, to consider diligently the grounds of the great privileges of the visible Catholic Church, they stretch their authority beyond all degrees of Churches, beyond all Temporal States or particular Churches: Now necessary it were for them to reverse all the great things which are delivered, and which the Pope hath set open his mouth to speak, though they be delivered with never such fullness, and boldness, and plentitude of power: It behoves men to consider whether all these great words be not the words of a Beast, and blasphemies which the head of the Beast had taken upon him to utter, for it is not enough that they are spoken boldly and confidently, and with good advisement and grave Counsel, Provincial Decretals and Decrees, for they are distinct things: It behoves Catholics not to be gulled with Titles and great things; for it is not always that power which God in mercy gives to men when they dare speak great things; they think the Pope is not Antichrist; but when Antichrist comes, will he do greater things then these? as they said ⟨p. 71⟩of Christ; when Christ comes will he do greater works then these? And so when Antichrist comes can he speak grater things then these? And if I were to speak to Lay-men (as they say) in their Religion, I might advise them to take heed they be not taken with the confidence of their Priests, that speak with good advisement even to impudency, and with such resolute courage, that many thousands are carried away with it, and say, certainly men would never be so bold, if they were not possessed with the goodness of their cause: Let them not be deluded, the Beast hath power to speak great things, and he opens his mouth with all courage and confidence, and whispers it not, but speaks with impudency, and abundance of resolution.

For the use of it,¹ I might from hence first speak to this point; that it were therefore a necessary counsell to all Roman Catholicks, to consider diligently the grounds of the great priviledges of the visible Catholick Church, they stretch their authority beyond all degrees of Churches, beyond all Temporall States or particular Churches: Now necessary it were for them to reverse all the great things which are delivered, and which the Pope hath set open his mouth to speak, though they be delivered with never such fulnesse, and boldnesse, and plentitude of power: It behoves men to consider whether all these great words be not the words of a Beast, and blasphemies which the head of the Beast had taken upon him to utter, for it is not enough that they are spoken boldly and confidently, and with good advisement and grave Counsell, Provinciall Decretals and Decrees, for they are distinct things: It behoves Catholicks not to be gulled with Titles and great things; for it is not alwayes that power which God in mercy gives to men when they dare speak great things; they think the Pope is not Antichrist; but when Antichrist comes, will he do greater things then these? as they sayd