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

It is true, when Religion brake forth, then he put upon them more chains, strong beastly lusts, men with men committing filthiness, Rom. 1. 17. These were iron chains to carry men captive to Satan: He sees Learning break forth, and therefore he lays stronger chains and bands upon them: Be no more stiff-necked, lest your bands increase, saith the Lord: and so from golden bands you have silver, and from silver, brass, and from brass, iron, and all to lead you captive to your last execution: And what is the difference? if a man be pinioned with a golden cord, or a silver, or a brazen and iron cord, the one is more glittering then the other, but all bring to destruction: Therefore look at all the world living in wickedness since the world began, or else in vain was the Lamb slain: The very frame of mans transgression brought in a necessity of a like remedy, and therefore a like need of the blood of Christ.

It is true, when Religion brake forth, then hee put upon them more chaines, strong beastly lusts, men with men committing filthinesse, Rom. 1. 17. These were iron chains to cary men captive to Satan: He sees Learning break forth, and therefore he layes stronger chains and bands upon them: Be no more stiffe-necked, lest your bands encrease, saith the Lord: and so from golden bands you have silver, and from silver, brasse, and from brasse, iron, and all to lead you captive to your last execution: And what is the difference? if a man be pynion'd with a golden cord, or a silver, or a brazen and iron cord, the one is more glittering then the other, but all bring to destruction: Therefore look at all the world living in wickednesse since the world began, or else in vain was the Lamb slain: The very frame of mans transgression brought in a necessity of a like remedy, and therefore a like need of the blood of Christ.

And it is a vain Question, as Solomon saith, why the former times should be better then these: so it is a vain apprehension that men have of themselves as good, to say, I thank God I have a good heart, and you shall find me tractable, and reasonable, (though they be but natural) and so their children are very tractable, you may lead them with a twined thread, and need not use violence, you may soon break them; what then are you but eggshells? what need then a iron hammer to crush all the power of the enemy? do not you and your children stand in need of the virtue of the blood of the Lamb as much as others have since the world began? That men have stood in need of the blood of the Lamb from the foundation of the world to rescue them from the power of the strong man, if they were so tractable, young or old? I know there is a great difference between spirits. God forbid we should defame the work of God in nature, but take the best spirit, there is unconceivable enmity in the best natured man against Christ; there is an in-bred emnity against him ever since the world began, as is impossible to be healed, but by the blood of Christ; Christ came to crush them whiles they are in the shell, and