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

And the Dragon gave this church power.] All that the Roman Emperor could do before, that doth the Catholic church; that wch the old Roman Emperor did by force of arms, that doth the Roman Church by the power of Religion and conscience: The Dragon gave him his power, and Seat, and great Authority. And Satan will work by the power of conscience, making them believe that all must be subject to them: He gave them his Seat: what was the Seat of the old Roman Emperor? It was Rome, Satan gave that to the Beast; There is his Seat, and great Authority, insomuch that all the world were deeply taken with the reverence they owe as to the Imperial mother City; So to this sovereign mother Church, & their holy Father the Pope that was the head of that Church: This is the plain description of this first Beast. I cannot proceed now to open the wounding of one of the heads of this Beast, nor of the healing of that wound, nor of his war ⟨p. 13⟩against the Saints: I am the longer in this, because the more clearly these things are opened, the more fully will the counsel of the holy Ghost appear in the sequel. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear: do not think that these things concern Students only, and Scholars; But what is this to common christians? He that hath an ear, let him hear what the holy Ghost saith: It is the same charge which he gave concerning the Epistles which were common to all churches; If any man have an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches: Those general doctrines necessary for all Christians to understand, the same charge is laid upon all to hear what is spoken concerning this beast; If thou understandest Religion, if thou wouldst be, or art a member of a Church of Christ know this point; If any man have an ear let him hear this.

And the Dragon gave this church power.] All that the Roman Emperor could doe before, that doth the Catholick church; that wch the old Roman Emperor did by force of arms, that doth the Roman Church by the power of Religion and conscience: The Dragon gave him his power, and Seat, and great Authority. And Satan will worke by the power of conscience, making them believe that all must be subject to them: He gave them his Seat: what was the Seat of the old Roman Emperor? It was Rome, Satan gave that to the Beast; There is his Seat, and great Authority, insomuch that all the world were deeply taken with the reverence they owe as to the Imperial mother City; So to this soveraign mother Church, & their holy Father the Pope that was the head of that Church: This is the plain description of this first Beast. I canot proceed now to open the wounding of one of the heads of this Beast, nor of the healing of that wound, nor of his warre