A34679:766
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.
Thus you see what the number is, and the reason why the Holy Ghost calls it so, and how he doth oppose it to the contrary number of that which is delivered by the blessed Apostles, and followed by the holy Saints of God from one generation to another. Put then all these together, and all will amount to this; That whereas the number of Christ upon which both his followers are built, and his Church, and all the Dimensions and Administrations of it: Their foundation, their gates, their length, height, and breadth, all of them are founded in the Apostolical doctrine: For Christ prayed for his twelve Apostles, and all that should believe in his name through their word, John 17. 20. It is the comprehension of all Saints to the end of the world, whereas they are built upon Apostolical simplicity, both for their State and Church-administrations, they are all built upon twelve, and multiplied and enlarged by 12.
Thus you see what the number is, and the reason why the Holy Ghost calls it so, and how he doth oppose it to the contrary number of that which is delivered by the blessed Apostles, and followed by the holy Saints of God from one generation to another. Put then all these together, and all will amount to this; That whereas the number of Christ upon which both his followers are built, and his Church, and all the Dimentions and Administrations of it: Their foundation, their gates, their length, heighth, and breadth, all of them are founded in the Apostolicall doctrine: For Christ prayed for his twelve Apostles, and all that should believe in his name through their word, John 17. 20. It is the comprehension of all Saints to the end of the world, whereas they are built upon Apostolicall simplicity, both for their State and Church-administrations, they are all built upon twelve, and multiplyed and enlarged by 12.
On the contrary, all the Roman Catholics they are built upon the Popish Laws and Decrees, all which require subjection to the Popish Church, and submission to that Church, and to the Pope as the head of that Church, receiving doctrine, and worship, and discipline from that Church, and that was founded in six, on the six books of their Decrees, and it is multiplied according to the same books, to maintain all the Clergy, from the Pope to the lowest Parish priest: And it is wisdom to find this out, and it requires heavenly wisdom to see the dangerous state of this, and yet they that have wisdom may find this out; and when they search it out, They will find it but the number of a man, not of the Angel, or of the Apostles, or of any messenger of God.