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

I remember the speech of one of the Saints of God,¹ That it is a most unworthy thing that the Church of Christ should be governed by the Laws of Antichrist (and such were all their six books) and it is most unworthy, that both the Church it self, and all the Images of it, that they are all governed by these six books; and it is most unworthy that Antichrist should govern all the Administrations of the Church; that if a man be cited, it shall be by a Latin writ; and if he appear, he shall be proceeded against according to Canon ⟨p. 255⟩Laws; and if he be censured, it shall be a Canon Law, and in Latin, and so shall his Absolution be; and what pertains to their whole government, it is but founded in these six books of Decretals, and count them, and you shall find them but the number of a man; nothing but merely the wit and policy of men, either to keep unity as they say (but tyranny in government) or to enrich men with fees, or maintain the honour of some Cathedral person, it is all but mere humane invention. Now for a man to see not only the Roman Catholic visible Church to be a Beast, but that the Pope the head of it is a beast, and the image of that Church is a beast; Diocesan, Provincial, National, and Metropolitan Churches are but images of this great beast, and to see all the numbers and rights they thrust upon the Church by Canons, they are but the number of the beast, the number of a man, humane inventions; what is appointed by the Church, whether Cross or Surplice, or kneeling at the Sacrament, they are but the multiplication of Canons, Canon multiplied on Canon, but it is still but the power of the Canon, this is great wisdom to find it out: And it behooves those that have wisdom to consider it; and they that consider it, shall find it but a mere humane device, one as well as another; and they will consider which way the State goes, and which way the State leans: Though some poor hearts think they are bound to obey the Laws of the Kingdom, and some good souls many times will be tampering with them too much; but he that shall observe it, shall find it but the number of a man when he doth find it: He shall find thus much, that if he do believe as God is wont to teach to his people, they shall not have the liberty of Commerce in buying and selling, nor leave in spiritual or temporal occurrences and dealings with them.

I remember the speech of one of the Saints of God,