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

Fourthly,¹ let it be of this use to raise up our hearts in holy thankfulness to God, that hath delivered us from this Monster, both our Fathers from this great beast, and our selves from the remnants of the Image of this beast, from all Diocesan and National Churches, and from Metropolitan & Catholic visible Churches that are Images of this great beast. You know how much the civill Laws of Christian Kingdoms do strengthen Ecclesiastical power, that if once a Church ⟨p. 19⟩excommunicate a man, you know the power of the Law, if once this or that court excommunicate a man, though it be but for not paying fees, when it may be he hath no money, or thinks it not lawful to maintain them by his purse: yea when he is excommunicate, it may be for going to hear a Sermon in another place, when he hath nothing but reading at home; or if a man fast with his neighbours in his house, then what power there is out of such a Court, civill Courts of Justice confirm, there comes a Significavit, that if he shall live so excommunicate: and if he continue and stay out a certain time, then the Common-wealth apprehends him, and never considers whether the cause be just or unjust: I confess there is a liberty to traverse such a cause; but if a man want money, or want friends, he may be taken and carried to Prison, and there he may lie and rot for any of these misshapen Clergy men: But I say it is a great liberty to be freed from this great beast, that he hath no finger amongst us, we are out of his paw, and out of his smell: It was a matter in question here not long ago, whether the Court should not take a course to punish such persons as stood excommunicate out of the Church, if they should stand long excommunicate, but it was a good providence of God that such a thing was prevented: Let not any Court, Ipso facto, take things from the Church; If such a Law were made (the Fathers live not for ever;) and if such a Law were once established, that a Church-member standing so long excommunicated, the Common-wealth then should proceed against him; were this established, it would make a Beast of the Church; we are subject to err, and our posterity that comes after us may err (it may be feared) worse; It is therefore a mercy to be freed from the beast, from the paw of the Bear, and the mouth of the Lyon:

Fourthly,¹