But for the Leopard, Bear, and Lyon, I suppose there is special reference to them all, In Dan. 7. 4, 5, 6. where he resembles the Monarch of Babel to a Lyon, and the Monarch of Persia to a Bear, and the Monarch of Greece to a Leopard: There the Leopard is the last of the three, here it is the first, to show a direct contrary course that this Beast takes in his rise to the old Monarchies. Of the great Monarchies, the first was a Lyon, full of magnanimity, the next was a Bear, full of cruelty, a Bear that devours much flesh, and the Leopard, the spotted Beast comes after, cruel as the former: Now here the Leopard is first, the whole shape is sweet and savoury; other beasts would follow him by the smell; and so this church seems in the whole bulk sweet and savoury to inveigle all unstable Souls; But where he gets hold, he lays his paw like a Bear, presseth hard, and holds fast, and will not let go; Just like the Persian State, they hold fast; Never did any of the States last so long as the Papal State; The Assyrian lasted, long but yet did not continue above a thousand ⟨p. 12⟩years; but this is to continue 1260. days, that is, so many years, in a great deal of Power and Authority; And therefore as by subtlety he draws others to him, so them he holds fast, that it is marvellous hard to root out where he hath got hold; you may cut off his head, as it is in England; but it is a wonder to see what pains there is to have the Government of Christ brought in, and of the Beast cast out: they will make so many Statutes in Parliament, that you can have no wills confirmed, nor Marriages made, but by them, nor no Parliament's Acts pass but through their hands; you have so many matters in the State depending on them, that one would think it impossible ever to root them out: you may take off the Beast his head; you may thrust the Leopard out at windows, but he will take hold with his feet, that you shall have much ado to root him out: The great profits, and great preferments they sink deep in the hearts of carnal men.
But for the Leopard, Bear, and Lyon, I suppose there is speciall reference to them all, In Dan. 7. 4, 5, 6. where he resembles the Monarch of Babell to a Lyon, and the Monarch of Persia to a Bear, and the Monarch of Greece to a Leopard: There the Leopard is the last of the three, here it is the first, to shew a direct contrary course that this Beast takes in his rise to the old Monarchies. Of the great Monarchies, the first was a Lyon, full of magnanimity, the next was a Beare, full of cruelty, a Bear that devoures mucb flesh, and the Leopard, the spotted Beast comes after, cruell as the former: Now here the Leopard is first, the whole shape is sweet and savoury; other beasts would follow him by the smell; and so this church seemes in the wole bulk sweet and savory to inveagle all unstable Soules; But where he gets hold, he layes his paw like a Beare, presseth hard, and holds fast, and will not let goe; Just like the Persian State, they hold fast; Never did any of the States last so long as the Papall State; The Assyrian lasted, long but yet did not continue above a thousand ⟨p. 12⟩years; but this is to continue 1260. dayes, that is, so many yeares, in a great deal of Power and Authority; And therefore as by subtilty he drawes others to him, so them hee holds fast, that it is marvellous hard to root out where he hath got hold; you may cut off his head, as it is in England; but it is a wonder to see what paines there is to have the Government of Christ brought in, and of the Beast cast out: they will make so many Statutes in Parliament, that you can have no wills confirmed, nor Marriages made, but by them, nor no Parliments Acts passe but through their hands; you have so many matters in the State depending on them, that one would think it impossible ever to root them out: you may take off the Beast his head; you may thrust the Leopard out at windows, but he will take hold with his feet, that you shall have much ado to root him out: The great profits, and great preferments they sink deep in the hearts of carnall men.
