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

You will say, did they not for the recovery of the holy Land, many Churches conspire and lay their heads together, and engaged themselves for this War? why, when they they undertook that War, was it Christ that commanded any such thing, that Churches should engage themselves, and their Estates, and Lives, and Souls, and all for the recovery ⟨p. 123⟩very of the holy City; was it not merely undertaken by the Bishop of Rome, and by the motion of the Catholic Church in a General Council? The Roman Catholic Church met in a General Council, and they agreed to set about this expedition; They promised pardon of Sin to the people, and in hope of that, and such like things they went about it. It was service to the Beast, not to Christ: God never acknowledgeth it as any service to Christs Kingdom: It was for the advancement of the head of the catholic Church▪ but as any grew more wise, they grew more afraid of them.

You will say, did they not for the recovery of the holy Land, many Churches conspire and lay their heads together, and engaged themselves for this Warre? why, when they they undertook that Warre, was it Christ that commanded any such thing, that Churches should engage themselves, and their Estates, and Lives, and Souls, and all for the recovery ⟨p. 123⟩very of the holy City; was it not meerly undertaken by the Bishop of Rome, and by the motion of the Catholick Church in a Generall Councell? The Roman Catholick Church met in a Generall Councell, and they agreed to set about this expedition; They promised pardon of Sinne to the people, and in hope of that, and such like things they went about it. It was service to the Beast, not to Christ: God never acknowledgeth it as any service to Christs Kingdome: It was for the advancement of the head of the catholick Church▪ but as any grew more wise, they grew more afraid of them.

So that it is a wonder to see; never did the the Christian world give that Authority to Christ, as they have done unto the Pope, and his Institutions, which are not Ordinances of Christ. Yea let me say another word (which is above what I said:) It hath been a very rare and singular case when any man would acknowledge a particular visible Church, depending on no power, but Independent within it self: It is such a rarity that a man may here and there indeed find it in times of persecution (in 3000. years): But after the Church come to peace, it is very rare to hear such a matter till you come down to the Waldenses, and Albedences, and those poor Churches that were scattered in the Wilderness. It is very hard to find the Church of Christs Institution to remain in the world, whereas this Roman Catholic Church reigns in the world: This is a great power, and yet this power the Church of Rome had. The Harlot reigns over Kindreds, Tongues, and Nations, whereas the true Spouse of Christ hath scarce a subsistence in the world.