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

Though such Godly christians in their weakness have such reasonings, yet believe it we are to bless God that hath given us to see that there is no correspondency to be kept with Rome: If you have the number of his name, this is not that which the holy Ghost speaks of as damnable heresy, you may live and dye in that judgment, and be saved, therefore he doth not pronounce fire and brimstone to such; they think in conscience they may yield to this and that, as being the command of Caesar, or of the Church; the Lord spare you as the Apostle saith; But if a man will adore the Roman Catholic Church or the Pope the head of it, and submit in conscience to be guided by their Laws, he renounces his salvation in such a case; that a man shall pin his faith upon the Churches sleeve, and his hope, and Government, and course of life on the Churches sleeve, this is the way to everlasting damnation: And therefore in those Churches that are even Images of Antichrist, it pleaseth God to keep his servants so far, that they dare not take all their Laws for doctrine without question, ⟨p. 257⟩nor all the ways of their Government as the Government of Christ, that God opens all the hearts of his faithful servants to see: But yet for the number of his name; It is (say they) but a few trifling things, they are made a matter of six, as Cross, and Surplice, and kneeling at the Sacrament, and bowing to Altars, and the name of Jesus, and ye will have six in the end, and what will be multiplied on that six, the Lord knows: But for you here, look at it as a special mercy, that you see the vanity of receiving the number of his name, and that you have this deliverance from it; that though you have lost your buying and selling, that if you were there, you might hardly be seen in the Market, and in many of those Churches you will hardly be allowed, yet you have lost no more then ought to be forsaken.

Though such Godly christians in their weaknesse have such reasonings, yet beleive it we are to blesse God that hath given us to see that there is no correspondency to be kept with Rome: If you have the number of his name, this is not that which the holy Ghost speaks of as damnable heresie, you may live and dye in that judgment, and be saved, therefore he doth not pronounce fire and brimstone to such; they think in conscience they may yeild to this and that, as being the command of Caesar, or of the Church; the Lord spare you as the Apostle saith; But if a man will adore the Roman Catholick Church or the Pope the head of it, and submit in conscience to be guided by their Laws, he renounces his salvation in such a case; that a man shall pin his faith upon the Churches sleeve, and his hope, and Government, and course of life on the Churches sleeve, this is the way to everlasting damnation: And therefore in those Churches that are even Images of Antichrist, it pleaseth God to keep his servants so far, that they dare not take all their Laws for doctrine without question,