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

If a man bless himself in these engagements, and in these imbondagements to the enemies of his soul, and thinks his captivity is his liberty, he doth not know what the Lord Jesus hath purchased, there is little hope such a man hath redemption from the blood of Christ. This is the condition of all the people of God in the greatest temptations, unless it be in some extreme hurry of passion, it is a captivity to him, and a burden to him that he wants Christ Jesus, and that is a good sign of a mans liberty purchased by Christ: This Christ who hath reconciled others to God, and done great things for them in a way of greece, and hath also reconciled him to God, and delivered him from death to see this captivity, and to groan under it, it is a sign this man ⟨p. 185⟩hath had some other liberty in times past: For otherwise there is no man naturally but he thinks this is his freedom to have his own mind not crossed, to have his full liberty in the world, to have good bargains, and not to be pinched in this and that, and not for conscience to fly in his face; it is a sign a man is yet a natural born captive. But when a man feels his captivity, and looks at it as his burden, that he feels not the favour of God, and union with Christ, and communion with the Spirit: It is a sign God hath called him to liberty, but he hath sold himself for a captive again; & now he cries as the Apostle, Rom. 7. 24. O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death: There he is carried captive. I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members, vers. 23. Here is a sign of redeeming love by the blood of the Lamb.

If a man blesse himselfe in these engagements, and in these imbondagements to the enemies of his soule, and thinks his captivity is his liberty, hee doth not know what the Lord Jesus hath purchased, there is little hope such a man hath redemption from the blood of Christ. This is the condition of all the people of God in the greatest temptations, unlesse it be in some extreame hurry of passion, it is a captivity to him, and a burden to him that he wants Christ Jesus, and that is a good signe of a mans liberty purchased by Christ: This Christ who hath reconciled others to God, and done great things for them in a way of grece, and hath also reconciled him to God, and delivered him from death to see this captivity, and to groane under it, it is a signe this man