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

And though we may think of mending our selves here or there, yet you will find it a difficult thing to find 12. multiplied by 12. in any place under Heaven, that is, either your foundation shall not be Apostolical institution, or your administration apostolic doctrine: That christians should be the foundation of Churches, as the Apostles require, Saints by calling, and to build on such, and to administer such according to the word of God: Yea though the Lord should be pleased to give our Country-men free passage of a Parliament, (as now we have speech of it) and though they be a wise Nation, yet such is the very frame of the State, and of the Sons of men, that if the Lord give free passage of a Parliament, you will find it a very difficult thing, to have the State ruled by Apostolical judgment, to reject all devices of men, to shut out the greatest part of a kingdom from the Lords Table, you would find rebellions multiplied exceedingly, if they were of the spirit that they were of in Edward the sixths time. And when you are gone out of the Country (not that I would flatter the Country, the Lord knows we our selves here, have need to grow more spiritual daily; but yet in respect of the Churches of God, and administration of things here, though we fail and go aside, we have the rule to show us the way back again:) I say when you are gone, go whether you will, you will have much ado to find materials, and more ado to find form and administration: as that it may be in cold blood, you will fit and mourn by the waters of Babylon, and hang your Harps upon the willows, and say, how ⟨p. 260⟩shall we sing the Lords song, the song of Zion in a strange La•d? Therefore let it provoke us to hold fast what we have received and not to be taken off with fair pretences, to turn aside to one hand or the other; if we be in a state of wisdom, let us keep in it, and believe it, whatever takes you to a contrary course to things as they stand; if the holy Ghost say this is wisdom, then I am sure the contrary of it must needs be folly.

And though we may think of mending our selves here or there, yet you will finde it a difficult thing to finde 12. multiplyed by 12. in any place under Heaven, that is, either your foundation shall not be Apostolical institution, or your administration apostolick doctrine: That christians should be the foundation of Churches, as the Apostles require, Saints by calling, and to build on such, and to administer such according to the word of God: Yea though the Lord should be pleased to give our Countrey-men free passage of a Parliament, (as now we have speech of it) and though they be a wise Nation, yet such is the very frame of the State, and of the Sonnes of men, that if the Lord give free passage of a Parliament, you will find it a very difficult thing, to have the State ruled by Apostolical judgment, to reject all devices of men, to shut out the greatest part of a kingdom from the Lords Table, you would finde rebellions multiplyed exceedingly, if they were of the spirit that they were of in Edward the sixths time. And when you are gone out of the Countrey (not that I would flatter the Countrey, the Lord knows we our selves here, have need to grow more spiritual daily; but yet in respect of the Churches of God, and administration of things here, though we faile and go aside, we have the rule to shew us the way back againe:) I say when you are gone, go whether you will, you will have much ado to finde materials, and more ado to finde forme and administration: as that it may be in cold blood, you will fit and mourn by the waters of Babilon, and hang your Harpes upon the willowes, and say, how