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

for the truth is, thou art deceived to think the elder times were better; it is true, it is possible men by the policy of Satan may grow worse; But take them at the best, had there not been a Lamb slain to rescue the same from the corruption of it, no flesh had been saved. It is true, in some ages, when the Gospel found free passage, there was some difference. It was so in Davids time, better then in Sauls and Solomons, for a time better then in Davids; and so in Hezekiah's time, better then in Zedekiah's, and so it hath been up and down: but take it the best, all flesh have corrupted their ways, there is not a good thought, not a good word, nor a good practice since the world began. Sometimes in moral virtues men have more exceeded, when the Devil knew they were far off from spiritual grace; he tempted them not when he knew he had them fast in a golden and silken chain, or cord of moral virtues (so I may call them) he led the prisoners of those days in a golden chain. The strong man armed kept the house all the time of the Grecian and Persian Monarchy long before Christ: and if any were delivered, it was by the death of Christ as well as now. It is true, we read in ancient Poets, I think it was fetched out of Daniel from Nebuchadnezzars dream; there was a golden world, and then a silver world, and then a brass, and sometimes iron, there was all. The Babylonian Monarch was gold: but when it was gold, it was but golden fetters of sin, and a land of wickedness that held men close to the Devil; and the silver ⟨p. 198⟩Monarch of Persia was but silver fetters; and the brass Monarch of Greece it was but brazen fetters.

for the truth is, thou art deceived to think the elder times were better; it is true, it is possible men by the policy of Satan may grow worse; But take them at the best, had there not been a Lamb slain to rescue the same from the corruption of it, no flesh had been saved. It is true, in some ages, when the Gospel found free passage, there was some difference. It was so in Davids time, better then in Sauls and Solomons, for a time better then in Davids; and so in Hezekiah's time, better then in Zedekiah's, and so it hath been up and down: but take it the best, all flesh have corrupted their wayes, there is not a good thought, not a good word, nor a good practice since the world began. Sometimes in morall vertues men have more exceeded, when the Devill knew they were farre off from spiritual grace; he tempted them not when he knew he had them fast in a golden and silken chaine, or cord of morall vertues (so I may call them) he led the prisoners of those dayes in a golden chaine. The strong man armed kept the house all the time of the Grecian and Persian Monarchy long before Christ: and if any were delivered, it was by the death of Christ as well as now. It is true, we read in ancient Poets, I think it was fetched out of Daniel from Nebuchadnezzars dreame; there was a golden world, and then a silver world, and then a brasse, and sometimes iron, there was all. The Babylonian Monarch was gold: but when it was gold, it was but golden fetters of sinne, and a land of wickednesse that held men close to the Devill; and the silver