A34679:718
An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…
An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent servant of the Lord, Mr. John Cotton ... ; taken from his mouth in short-writing, and some part of it corrected by himself soon after the preaching thereof ; and all of it since viewed over by a friend to him ... wherein some mistakes were amended, but nothing of the sense altered.
London: printed for Tim. Smart, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION Upon the thirteenth Chapter of the REVELATION. › Part
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly,1 Observe from hence a reason of a note that troubles many Interpreters; That if this beast have such power, why doth he not cause the earth to worship himself? why doth he not provide for his own honour, but for the first beast? The reason is plain; the first Beast being the Roman Catholic Church, and the head of that Beast, all the honour that redounds to the beast, falls upon the head of the beast, and it is upon himself; He exerciseth all that power that the first beast hath, and therefore no marvel if he labour to draw all men what he can to worship, not himself, but the Roman Catholic Church, to be reconciled to it, and receive decrees from it, and submit in conscience thereunto, and receive no worship nor doctrine but from them, nor government, but established by them; no Laws to be enjoined and transacted but by them, for he knows that this honour will redound to him; He knows all this power doth rest in his own breast, and it is he that acts the Roman Catholic Church, and he can do with a Council, and without a Council what the Church can do, and he fails not to do it from time to time. Wonder not therefore that he puts off the honour to the first beast, the old Roman Church, there he lays all his devotion, but in conclusion it is all for himself.
Thirdly,1 Observe from hence a reason of a note that troubles many Interpreters; That if this beast have such power, why doth he not cause the earth to worship himself? why doth he not provide for his own honour, but for the first beast? The reason is plain; the first Beast being the Roman Catholick Church, and the head of that Beast, all the honour that redounds to the beast, falls upon the head of the beast, and it is upon himselfe; He exerciseth all that power that the first beast hath, and therefore no marvell if he labour to draw all men what he can to worship, not himselfe, but the Roman Catholick Church, to be reconciled to it, and receive decrees from it, and submit in conscience thereunto, and receive no worship nor doctrine but from them, nor government, but established by them; no Lawes to be enjoyned and transacted but by them, for he knows that this honour will redound to him; He knows all this power doth rest in his own breast, and it is he that acts the Roman Catholick Church, and he can do with a Councell, and without a Councell what the Church can do, and he failes not to do it from time to time. Wonder not therefore that he puts off the honour to the first beast, the old Roman Church, there he layes all his devotion, but in conclusion it is all for himselfe.