A34679:240
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.
See it in Hezekiah, when the Lord had wrought great deliverances for him, brought the Sun ten degrees back, and avenged him of his Enemies; afterwards he recovered him from sickness, when his soul was brought to the jaws of death: yet when the Princes of Babylon sent to him to enquire of the wonder, that was done in the Land, God left him to try him, that he might know what was in his heart, and then he shows them his great Treasures, and works, and fortifications, that he had throughout his Kingdom: and it is said, He rendered not according to the benefits done unto him, for his heart was lifted up, 2 Chron. 32. 25. 31. You see good Hezekiah is apt to forget sickness: It argues the depth of the body of Sin which is not only in wicked men (such as these proud Prelates be) but in the Godly, in those that are most eminent in Grace, they are not able to bear great Sails; if God shows us mercy and judgement, it is a wonder to see what poor work we make.
See it in Hezekiah, when the Lord had wrought great deliverances for him, brought the Sunne ten degrees back, and avenged him of his Enemies; afterwards he recovered him from sicknesse, when his soule was brought to the jaws of death: yet when the Princes of Babylon sent to him to enquire of the wonder, that was done in the Land, God left him to try him, that he might know what was in his heart, and then he shews them his great Treasures, and works, and fortifications, that he had throughout his Kingdome: and it is said, He rendred not according to the benefits done unto him, for his heart was lifted up, 2 Chron. 32. 25. 31. You see good Hezekiah is apt to forget sicknesse: It argues the depth of the body of Sinne which is not onely in wicked men (such as these proud Prelats be) but in the Godly, in those that are most eminent in Grace, they are not able to bear great Sailes; if God shews us mercy and judgement, it is a wonder to see what poore work we make.
Many a carnal heart will say, if he be delivered from sickness, or if he be at Sea in danger, if he get a shore; or if in Prison, if he get but liberty, God and men shall see what a new man he will be: O the bottomless depth of a deceitful heart! let the Lord chastise us, and raise us up again, we forget our humiliation, and grow to exaltation; and if God help us a little, we grow to such out-runnings of spirit as we exceed therein: no gift that a man hath, no ordinance of God, but he will thus abuse. And therefore we have cause to sit down in dust and ashes, that we should abuse such mercies as we daily partake in.