A34679:334
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.
Now they are not private persons, but in the place of the Country: The Lord he put the power of the sword into the head of their Guides & Leaders where they lived; and though they were by former Laws engaged by way of Homage, yet now they may take up the sword of their own defence and maintenance, in witness bearing to the Truth to the last blood: In such cases the case is much altered, for their Princes and supreme Governors, they are all subject to the Laws and Oath of the Kingdom, and they have no power but according to the Laws which are made: If therefore they take up a power against Law, and contest with the people of God, then this power which these holy men did exercise to maintain their peace against all opposition to be raised against them is lawful.
Now they are not private persons, but in the place of the Country: The Lord he put the power of the sword into the head of their Guides & Leaders where they lived; and though they were by former Lawes engaged by way of Homage, yet now they may take up the sword of their own defence and maintenance, in witnesse bearing to the Truth to the last bloud: In such cases the case is much altered, for their Princes and supream Governours, they are all subject to the Laws and Oath of the Kingdome, and they have no power but according to the Lawes which are made: If therefore they take up a power against Law, and contest with the people of God, then this power which these holy men did exercise to maintain their peace against all opposition to be raised against them is lawfull.
For a fourth use;1 it may teach all the people of God not to measure a cause by the event, nor persons by accidents that do befall them, lest they should condemn the generation of the Just. It was a grievous temptation Asaph lay under, to see the ungodly prosper, and have what their hearts could desire, and himself plagued all the day long, and chastened every morning, Psal. 73. 3. to 13. and by this means he condemned the generation of Gods children: But no matter though the Beast prosper, and the Saints are overcome, yet the Beast is a Beast when he prospers, and the Saints are Saints, though they be overcome; therefore let us not judge of things according to their appearance.