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

Sixthly,¹ It may serve to humble us so far, as in times past we had any thing to do with this Beast, either in the loins of our Fathers with this first Beast, the Roman Catholic visible Church, or as in our own time we have had any communion ⟨p. 239⟩(I mean Ecclesiastical communion) with the image of this first Beast, that is, with Provincial, Diocesan, Cathedral, National Churches.

Sixthly,¹ It may serve to humble us so farr, as in times past we had any thing to do with this Beast, eyther in the loynes of our Fathers with this first Beast, the Roman Catholick visible Church, or as in our own time we have had any communion ⟨p. 239⟩(I meane Ecclesiasticall communion) with the image of this first Beast, that is, with Provinciall, Diocesan, Cathedrall, National Churches.

1. 1Use 6.Ʋse 6.

You know it is not my manner to fall into speeches of Christs in other parts, it is best for us to look to our own; but when the Text is just so fit, now to be silent, were to deny the children of God the bread of their portion: If it be such a Church as is of the Popes devising, as hath provoked the jealousy of God, and hath not been derived from the primitive institution that Christ hath established; then so far as we have had to deal with them, either in office, or out of office, receiving their Sacraments, and their Censures, or have published their Censures, though God (it may be) mercifully kept us from publishing such as we did conceive unjust; yet forasmuch as there hath been any submittance in this kind, any Church-communion, whereby we have been admitted into Church-office by the Image of this beast, or installed by the ordination of the first beast, or so far as we have submitted to the first or second Beast; so far as we have partook in the holy things of God, which flow from Church-communion, as Sacraments and Censures do, verily so far we have cause to be humbled; though the Lord kept any of us from thinking it any necessity to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, or kept us from sundry things in our practice, which the Image of the Beast required; and though he kept us also from receiving all their Dictates without control; yet for our practice in entering into our calling, and our dispensations which have been but images of the first beast: and so far as our fellowship in Ordinances with them have cleaved to that Church, verily the guilt of that will lye upon such souls as have not unfeignedly bewailed it before the Lord.