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

Thirdly,¹ let it be a seasonable advertisement to all (if I were to speak to Princes) to all Princes, but however to all Magistrates, how to make use of their Authority to be as Protectors of the Church, & in respect of their spiritual estate, as children of the church, but not to give the horns to the church (though horns be for beauty and strength:) you see it makes the Church a monster, and it is to make a beast of the Church: And so if you should make Church-Officers Justices of Peace, or Councillors, or prostitute your own Government to them, that if the Church condemn any, then you must do so too (as heretofore if a man were condemned by the Church, and by them delivered to the secular power, then burn him presently;) this puts your Horns upon the Churches head, unto monstrous deformity: And therefore it is necessary for Magistrates to keep their power in their own hands, and not to take things Ipso facto, from the Church, but to consider what is done, and then they are to confirm what the Church doth according to God; Here are ten horns, and these are ten Kings by the holy Ghosts interpretation, and they add to the monstrousness of this Beast, by giving their power thereto. Why, doth this mishap a Christian Church, for Magistrates to submit their crowns to the Church? No, God forbid, it is an honour and happiness to them, when Kings are nursing Fathers to the church, and bow down their faces to the earth, Isa. 49. 23. But why then doth he put it as a part of the misshapen state of the Church, that it had ten horns, to wit, because these Kings did give their strength and power to the Beast, that the Beast did act these Horns according to the power of his lust, as Chap. 17. v. 17. as it was truly accomplished in all the Kings of Europe, that did submit all their Sceptres, and Thrones, and Crowns, and Dignities to the Bishop of Rome; That if he command this or that, there must be room for him, what ever becomes of Princes, Laws, and Endeavours, and all acts and enterprises of War, or Peace: He had their horns on his head, he ⟨p. 18⟩might push with them as he would: This made the Church a monster, when sovereign power was obnoxious to the Bishop of Rome, when without Excommunication, whether a cause were of God or no, Magistrates proceeded, if the Church had censured: