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

but his power is so blasted, that though he doth continue still, and will continue, yet a great Beast that rules all the world; that power the Catholic Roman Church hath lost, though he prevail with his superstitious inventions with those that are his in a carnal way, or from an opinion of their fathers honesty, &c. But yet the power is not left to the Bishop of Rome to do all things, as in those former times he might; his word is not a law, nor his decrees so Authentical, they are now considered of, even among Catholic Princes; It is not now in his power to take up Controversies between France and Spain, if they will make war: Time was, they durst as well have eaten a Bears foot, as have ventured upon any war without his liking; but that was the time when the arms of his power, and his jaws were not broken.

but his power is so blasted, that though he doth continue still, and will continue, yet a great Beast that rules all the world; that power the Catholick Roman Church hath lost, though he prevail with his superstitious inventions with those that are his in a carnall way, or from an opinion of their fathers honesty, &c. But yet the power is not left to the Bishop of Rome to doe all things, as in those former times he might; his word is not a law, nor his decrees so Authenticall, they are now considered of, even among Catholicke Princes; It is not now in his power to take up Controversies between France and Spain, if they will make war: Time was, they durst as well have eaten a Bears foot, as have ventured upon any war without his likeing; but that was the time when the armes of his power, and his jawes were not broken.

Thus if you take this Scripture as Brightman takes it, from ⟨p. 92⟩Constantine's coming to the Crown, it will expire then about the time when the Bull came forth against Q•: Eliz. and as they thought would be sufficient to blast her, and all the Huguenots with her: But yet that makes but one beginning and ending of this account, whereas the Text makes two; for in Chap. 12. 6. when the child was caught up to God, and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, then there was a great battle; that battle lasted 90 years, and then was the Devil cast out of Heaven, and his Flamens, and Arch-flamens were blasted with him, they had no power in Theodosius time: from that time the Dragon was cast out of Heaven, and persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child, and there was given to her two wings of a great Eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness: Now I say according to this, there is another computation of this time, there was no more place found for him in heaven wch was in the year 395. for two or three years, we must not pinch much; it is hard to keep exact account by reason of taking up one year from the Predecessor, which in so many years come to sometimes more, sometimes less: Now if you shall take the Computation from that time, (tis true from Constantine's time, the Church might fly into the wilderness; for it is true, the Church is made a wilderness if you set the doors of the Church so wide and pull down the walls, that whereas before, it was a Garden enclosed,