AN EXPOSITION OF THE 13. CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. By john Wilkinson.  Revelation 14. 9 
ANd the 3. Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,  V 10. 
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is powered out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shallbe tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  V 11. 
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever.  
Imprinted in the year, 1619.   

IT was the purpose and desire of the Author of this Treatise to have published his judgement of the whole book of the Revelation, But through the malice of the Prelates who diverse times spoiled him of his goods, and kept him many years in prison; he was prevented of his purpose. After his death some of his labours coming to the hands of his friends, in scattered and unperfect papers; they laboured with the help of others that heard him declare his judgement herein, to set forth this little treatise, wherein they have not varied from the Authors judgement, but only in one opint in the 3. verse, which is concerning the wounded head, wherein for the clearing of the matter, they have added the lines thus" marked. Which a little differeth from the Authors understanding of it; the which should not have been altered, if the work had been left perfect.   

AN INTERPRETATION OF THE 13. CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.  
THE Eternal (whose power is over all) from the beginning hath put enmity between the Serpent & the 
Gen. 3. 15.  Woman, and between the seed of the Woman, and the seed of the Serpent, whereupon it hath come to pass in all ages, that the seed of the woman hath laboured to break the serpent's head; that is, to destroy his works, tread him under foot, and triumph in victory over him: He on the contrary hath laboured as earnestly to resist God; to deceive the Nations, and to bring all into condemnation and destruction with himself. And amongst the manifold ways & means, which Satan hath devised and practised, to manifest his malice against God and his Saints, none hath been more dangerous, nor more available to further iniquity and cause destruction; then the Antichristian generation, which under the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ, and Ministers of the Gospel, have corrupted the earth and brought the Nations into miserable bondage and slavery.  
In this 13. chapter is declared the state, policy and proceeding of the Antichristian Dominion and Kingdom, as the same was signified and foreshowed to john the servant of jesus Christ in a threefold form.  
First by a beast rising up out of the sea, having 7. heads & 10. horns. verses 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10.  
Secondly by a beast coming up out of the earth, having two horns like the lamb, but spoke like the dragon. verses 11. 12. 13. 14.  
Thirdly by an image of the first beast, which the second beast caused them that dwelled on the earth to make, as in vers. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.  
As the Dominion of the Medes Persians and Grecians (which persecuted 
Dan. 8.  and destroyed the holy people of God the jews) were signified and foreshowed to Daniel, in a vision under the forms of several beasts, according to the qualities of those dominions; so here the Antichristian dominion which persecuted the Churches and people of Christ, was foreshowed to john under the forms of such beasts as are here described, whereby we may learn that as reason and judgement is not to be expected in a beast, so equity and right is not to be expected in this dominion, but the contrary.  
Concerning the first of these beasts, john saith. That as I stood upon the sea sand, I saw a Beast rise up out of the sea having 7. heads and 10. horns, and upon his horns 10. Crowns, and upon his heads the names of Blasphemy. And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard, and his feet as the feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, and the Dragon gave him his power, and his seat and great authority.  
That by this first Beast was signified and represented some state of people and body politic, I presume no reasonable man exercised in the Scriptures will deny, because (as it hath been said) it is there to be seen that such States and Dominions as God hath used as rods and scourges to chastise & correct his Church and people withal, have been represented by beasts. States and Dominions they are of two sorts, either Ecclesiastical or Civil, but of which sort the State here meant is, there hath been and is great opposition. Many understand it to be the Roman Empire, to which I cannot consent, because the Roman Empire is ordained of God, and is therefore a lawful Dominion. But the Dominion here represented, is said to be from the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil, who is said to give his power and his throne and great authority unto it, and therefore unlawful: neither can I conceive it to be any other civil dominion for the same reason. But to be short I understand it to be an Ecclesiastical Sat or Dominion, and in particular that dominion which is called The Catholic Church representative consisting of the Prelacy and priesthood of many Nations, as patriarchs Cardinals Archbishops Bishops, with diverse other elected persons, who being called and gathered into counsels or synods (usually called general Counsels) did usurp and take on them the office of Christ jesus in making Laws and Canons, erecting Courts, instituting offices and officers in matters of Religion, (as for the government of the Church and for the worship of God) to be of all men observed & obeyed. These general counsels (or as the Catholics call it) the catholic Church representative, have challenged and exercised spiritual authority and dominion (according to the text) over all kindreds tongues and Nations. By their laws & canons they have guided and governed them as one universal or Catholic Church, and made them also to observe their decrees and commandments for doctrine. This they have done both before and also since the Pope was exalted to his dignity, as all histories of the Church do testify, So that it hath been and is a great question among the Catholics, whether the authority of the Pope, or the Catholic Church in cases of Religion be the greater. And whereas it is said in the 12. vers. that the second Beast exercised all the power of the first Beast before him, thereby is confirmed the truth of this exposition. For the second Beast being the Pope (as hereafter is showed) hath exercised the whole power of the Catholic church or general counsels, and not of any other State or Dominion.  
Further that this is the first beast here presented that which followeth (through God's help) shall make manifest and apparent. But before I do proceed I desire the Reader to observe that I do not condemn all use of Counsels or Synods, but do hold that divers men of diverse churches may lawfully be assembled together, to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion, and the worship of God, for their instruction and better information of their judgements, and so a good & holy use may be thereof. But that any counsels have such power over the churches of Christ, as to impose upon them thrir commandments for doctrine, and to usurp the government of the Churches, and to rule and reign over them by their laws and canons, and prescribe rules and forms how God willbe worshipped, as these general counsels have done, that I do deny, as being contrary to the perfection of the holy 
* 2 Tim. 3. 17. Deut. 4. 2. Revel. 22. 18.  Scriptures, and the practice of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of jerusalem, who being assembled together did profess it to be 
† Act. 15. 10.  a tempting of God to lay such a yoke on the disciples necks, as the observing of the jewish ceremonies, which being unlawful to do it is much more unlawful to devise and impose any other, and therefore the said assembly of the Apostles and Elders, concluded to lay no greater burden upon the disciples then to abstain from such necessary things as either were simply evil in themselves, as fornication, or else evil in respect of 
Act. 15. 18. 19 etc.  offence, as meats offered to Idols, blood and things strangled.  
Now to proceed, First it is said of this Beast, That he did rise up out of the sea. By his rising up was foreshowed that the Antichristian policy should arise from a poor and mean estate to great riches and honour in the world, which we and former generations have seen to the uttermost fulfilled, For days there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world, syoyled of their goods, made gazingstocks and wonders, and afflicted with all kind of cruelty, as histories both sacred and human do abundantly specify and declare. The Apostle Paul saith of himself & his fellow brethren the Ministers of the Gospel, that they were as men appointed to death: and in the account of the world as the filth, refuse & offscouring of all things. But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the church, and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospel, and the Bishops over God's people, have found means by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations, and to bring the multitudes and peoples, and Nations and Tongues under their jurisdiction rule and 
Reu 18. 3. 2. Thes. 2. 7.  Dominion, and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth, and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies. This mystery of iniquity was working in the Apostles time, for there were then crept into the church those that desired worldly pomp and promotion, and were not contented with the portion of the lords heritage, but their ambitious desires could not then be satisfied, there was a let in the way that hindered it, which let being removed their purposes (soon after) took effect, fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up (in respect of those whose successors they, boast themselves to be) The former hold no certain dwelling places but were exposed to hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness, buffet &c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses, warlike Castles, & Prince like Palaces, they have their rents, revenues, and abundance of riches, in great excess, they are pompously arrayed in stately robes and rich apparel, they rule like lords over the people, & have power to afflict all that will not bear the yoke of their Dominion, thus is this generation risen up and exalted as all may see that list to mind it.  
The place from whence this Beast is said to rise up, is the sea. The Natural Sea we know is the gathering together of many waters, Gen. 1. 9 10. A like thing must that be out of which this Beast was to rise, But in the 17. chapter, Multitudes, and nations, peoples and Tongues are resembled by waters, therefore the gathering together of such into one body politic may rightly be resembled by the Sea. Thus then the truth standeth; By the rising up of this beast out of the Sea was foreshowed, That those many waters (that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Tongues, not only under the Roman Empire, but most nations and people of the world) being gathered into one sea or ecclesiastical State, should breed and bring forth this Monster.  
For they being of two contrary sorts, the seed of the Serpent & the seed of the Woman, children of the kingdom, and children of the wicked, unto the one sort the word of God (in the administration thereof) is the savour of life unto life, unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death, The one sort fear God and will obey him rather than man, The other fear and reverence the arm of flesh, more than they do the living God. These (as light and darkness) being contrary one to another; the one being of Christ, the other of Belial: how therefore should they in things concerning God and Christ, Faith and Religion, agree together? Those which be of God, cannot but witness against those that be of the world, because their deeds are evil. Those which are of the world, are heady high minded, proud boasters, wise in their own conceit, and therefore scorn to be rebuked, and hate to be reform. These being together in the world as Wheat and tars in one Field; and as Sheep and goats in one Flock, the true end of the administration of the word of God had been to call and separate the one from the other, the precious from the vile, believers from infidels. But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisdom to take a contrary course, namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church, and likewise unto uniformity in Religion. And because it could not be effected by the power of the Word of God (that sword of the spirit) they procured the help of worldly governors to bring it to pass by their power and command. By which devise and policy these many waters, that is the Nations and people have been gathered into one Church and ecclesiastical body politic, here represented by the Sea, and have been brought to use all one order of worship, service and government. But this conformity not being procured through love, but constrained by fear, was but an human devise and worldly policy, and no divine Institution, And therefore could not be upholden, maintained and continued by the word of God, and the administration of a serviceable ministery; but by the overruling power of a Lordly Prelacy, whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsels of the chiefest of the Prelates and Clergy of divers dominions should be gathered together to make laws and canons, which all men should be constrained by penal laws to observe and yield obedience unto, that so peace and unity might be preserved and kept amongst them. And in short time it came to pass, that whatsoever these Synods or Counsels did agree upon and set down, (how false soever,) was to be held canonical, and those that contradicted the same, were therefore cast out and condemned as Heretics. This was the manner & the occasion of the rising of this Beast out of this turbulent Sea. And here by the way observe, That * Every good giving and perfect gift is from above 
james 1. 17.  from the father of lights: But this beast is from the Sea beneath not from above, and therefore not belonging to the kingdom of Christ, but an adversary and enemy thereof.  
Of this Beast it is said, that he had 7. heads, a thing which is monstrous in nature, And therefore by this was foreshowed that the dominion represented by this Beast should be a monstrous dominion.  
Concerning these heads, let this be considered, That the whole state or society of the Antichristian Sea, is of two sorts of people, the one sort, they call the Clergy, the other sort, the laity. Of these the Clergy are as heads and guides to direct and go before, And the laity as the body or rather the tail to follow after. Again by the same policy, their clergy are sorted into 7. orders or degrees, namely (to speak in their language) 1. janitores seu ostiarij. 2. Lectores, 3. Exorcistae: 4. Acolithi, 5. Subdraconi. 6. Diaconi, 7. sacerdotes. These are the 7. orders of the Antichristian Clergy. As for Popes, Cardinals, Patriarches, Arch Bishops, Bishops, Arch deacons &c. they are titles of dignity, and not of orders. For the Pope is but a Priest concerning his orders, and when he stands at the Altar and saith Mass, he doth that as a Priest, and not as a Pope, and so of all other degrees. This considered, it way well be said of the Antichristian Synagogue and State, that it is as a Monster with 7. heads. As for the Ministers which God hath ordained to be in his Church, they are first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers etc. 1 Cor. 12. 28. etc. See also Rom. 12. 6. 7. 8. & Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. And these only were given for the gathering together of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, and for the edification of the body of Christ. Not some to have a bunch of keys with a charge of the doors of this or that Temple or Cathedral Church, Another to have a book to read to the people things which neither he nor they did understand. A third to have a book of Conjurations or Charms, with charge to read them or say by heart to such as were distracted of their wits, or possessed with devils, and to put their hands upon them. A fourth to have a Taper or wax candle with a candlestick to carry before the priests and deacons in doing their service.  
A fift to receive of the people oblations and offerings, and to deliver them to the Deacon to carry to the Altar, To read the Epistle and to stand by the Priest while he was saying the Mass.  
A sixth to be the Bishops spy and intelligencer to inform him of such as be irregular, and observe not their orders, To read the Gospel, attend the priest at the Altar etc.  
A seventh to consecrate the Host as they call it, and then to offer it as a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and dead.  
These are not they which God hath given to be in the Church; But these are they whereof the Antichristian clergy consisteth, for whosoever is one of that clergy, is one of these 7. orders, be he Pope Prelate or else whatsoever, and to note and foreshow this point of policy, this Beast which john saw had seven heads.  
If any shall think this to be a vain, frivolous, and strange interpretation to understand by the 7. heads of the beast, these 7. orders of the Clergy, as thinking those heads to betoken things of greater note and importance: Let such consider what account and reckoning is made of such persons as have received the Sacrament of Orders, and holy tonsure in the kingdom of the Beast, and they shall find the interpretation not impertinent, but very agreeable. For a time there was since the writing of this prophecy, * when the meanest shrimp that was within these holy orders (as they call them) was held to be of that dignity, that 
Vide Concil. Matisconen. secundum. Canon. 9 10.  the chiefest and worthiest secular judge in a kingdom was held unworthy to judge or censure them for any trespass or fact, how notorious wicked and manifest soever, because they had received holy Tonsure, & were thereby consecrated and set a part unto God, to be his portion and heritage, & to pray for the people, and therefore were exempted from all secular jurisdiction and power, such was their dignity accounted to be, and still is where that kingdom prevaileth and hath the dominion: yea, even in this land that quarrel hath cost the King his Crown: as is to be seen in the Histories of the Reign of King john, and not his Crown only, but his life also. Now if the meanest of them be above the dominion of any King or secular judge, and secular judges be the heads of the people, whom God hath appointed to bear rule over them, well may these be said to be as heads in the kingdom of the Beast, wherein these shavelings are holden to be so holy and high in dignity and degree.  
As this Beast which john saw had 7. heads, so likewise it had 10. horns, whereby was foreshowed that as the kings of the Medes and Persians were showed and represented to Daniel, by the 2. horns of the Beast which he saw in his vision, so the kings of many kingdoms should be as guarders and defenders of the Antichristian kingdom and state. And that this scripture hath been fulfilled to the uttermost by the kings of the Nations, is so manifest, that none can be ignorant of it, that are of judgement and experience. And it was just with the Lord to make the Kings of the earth vassals to this Beast, because they received not the love of the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness; they would not forsake their sins to live godlily, righteously, and soberly (as all must do that will attain salvation) but they would live after their lusts, and for their sins they would make satisfaction by building of Churches and Monasteries, etc. and endowing them with lands, rents, and other revenues, by means whereof those which traded like Merchants in those many waters, the kingdom of the Beast grew rich and wealthy, and became the great men of the earth.  
Furthermore, john saith of the Beast, which he saw that it was like a Leopard, etc. By the resemblance and likeness of a Leopard was signified that this Beast should be foul and full of spots, as is showed in the 18. Chapter: Babylon is become the habitation of Devils, and the hold of fowl spirits, and the cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. The filthiness of this Beast is apparent, in that he doth by force and Arms compel all sorts of wicked and ungodly people to be of his society, and refuseth none but the godly, therefore fitly was he thus prefigured.  
Secondly, by the quality and disposition of the Leopard was signified that this generation should be subtle and crafty in getting their prey. They boast themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ; but if it be so, whence then had they that infinite store and abundance of worldly wealth and riches wherewith they exceed in deliciousness of living? This was not the condition of Christ and his Disciples, the Lord himself had not whereon to lay his head, but in that respect was more destitute than Foxes which have holes, and then Birds which have nests: his Disciples wanted gold and silver, and had no certain dwelling place; whence therefore had this generation their lands, livings, and Lordships? Their Castles, Manors, Houses and Princely Palaces? It will be said of the donation and gift of Emperors, Kings, and other great States, and of the charitable devotion of all sorts of people: But how were people brought to be so full handed to this generation? To bring this about much slight, craft and nimbleness of wit was used; first, people were made to believe, that what they gave to the Church was to the maintenance of the ministery of the Gospel, and for the comfort and relief of the poor, and therefore should be a sacrifice so well pleasing to God, and meritorious, as that it should receive great reward at his hands, herewith the minds of religious and devout people were so much moved, that they thought nothing too much to give to the Church, by means whereof Churches began to grow rich. Secondly, people were made to believe that the worshipping of Images and relics of Saints, and building of Churches, Chapels, Oratories, etc. and endowing them with Lands, Tenements, Parsonage and Vicarage houses, etc. was an effectual way to have favour with the Saints, and to procure their prayers and intercession for them: By these, and such like means this wily and crafty generation deluded the people, and made themselves rich, and rob Christ of his honour, who only is our Advocate to God. And furthermore, they gathered in heaps of wealth, by Masses, Pilgrimages, Pursse-pennance, Offerings, and such like Merchandises, wherein their subtlety and craft was prefigured by a Leopard; a beast subtle by nature, whose property is to lie in wait for her prey, and slily to catch it as the Cat doth the Mouse, and in that respect doth well resemble the Antichristian Clergy, that subtle generation.  
But further it is added, that the feet of this Beast were as the feet of a Bear.  
The Leopard is more nimble to catch then the Bear, but the Bear is more strong and eager to hold fast that which he hath seized upon, then is the Leopard: both these properties this generation hath; nimble to catch, and greedy to hold: they catch by slight, but hold by force, and therefore in catching resemble the Leopard, but in fast holding the feet of a Bear.  
To this it is added, that the mouth of this Beast was as the mouth of a Lion: And by this another property of the Antichristian Clergy was foreshowed: for as the Lion when he hath taken his prey roareth upon it, at whose roaring the beasts tremble: So this Generation being thus exalted and made rich, and having gotten their prey, they terrify the small Beasts of their Forest, roaring with curses and excommunications against any, be he Prince or Peasant, that shall presume to part stakes with them, or meddle with their prey, or diminish their portion but an Egg or an Onion. That these be the properties of this Generation needs no proof, it is manifest by daily experience.  
Here therefore we may learn what to esteem and judge of the Antichristian Clergy, together with those Multitudes, People, Nations and Tongues, out of which they have sprung, and over which they are set and supported; namely, that they are a monstrous and beastly generation, excelling in craft, covetousness, pride, cruelty, and all iniquity; and therefore not to be esteemed, as they boast themselves to be a holy Catholic Church, and Spouse of Christ which cannot err, etc. And by this we may see how lamentably the Nations have been deluded and led into error and ungodliness by their Guides and Leaders.  
Now it followeth, that unto this Monster the Dragon gave his power, and his Throne, and great authority.  
Here is declared of whom the Prelates and Clergy have received their spiritual Lordships, power, authority and jurisdiction, to devise and make spiritual Laws and Canons, to erect spiritual Courts, and create Officers to bear rule and exercise dominion over the Nations, even from the devil: they have not any lawful authority from God, but an usurped authority from the devil, whose instruments they are to advance his kingdom, and to persecute the Saints, which obey God rather than men.  
And here we may observe that they are rightly called spiritual Lords, because originally they proceed from that Prince that ruleth in the air, the spirit that worketh in the children of unbelief: but withal, in stead of spiritual Lords, Laws, Courts and Officers, call them spiritual wickednesses, and so we give them their right title: and being such, if we will fight the good fight of faith, we must by witnessing what they be, wrestle against them, and not submit unto them, but stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and not be entangled with any yoke of bondage: and that we may wrestle and prevail, we must take unto us the whole Armour of God, Ephes. 6.  
Further john saith, that he saw one of the heads of the Beast as it were 
Ver. 3.  wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the Beast.  
By this Head, which was as it were wounded to death, was signified the reviving of Priesthood, the mystery whereof, in few words, is this. The workers of iniquity in this Antichristian Kingdom, having ordained this order of ministry called Priesthood (whether it were in imitation of the jews or Heathen it is doubtful) but certain it is, that because it wanted external sacrifices, it came short both of the jewish Priesthood, and also of the Heathen, so that it was a lame and wounded Priesthood, and was not respected. In time it came to pass that they found out a sacrifice (as is to be seen in their Mass-book) which was the transubstantiating of bread and wine, into the very Body and Blood of Christ, really and substantially (as they use to speak and teach) and being so transubstantiated to offer it up unto God a sacrifice propitiatory both for quick and dead. Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived, and so became the world's wonder, as now it followeth to be declared, according as john here witnesseth:  
And all the world wondered after the Beast. That is, The people of the Nations having this Priesthood set over them, and commended unto them to be of such power and dignity, as that they could make them a visible God, not only to behold with their eyes, and look upon, but also to eat, and that their maker and redeemer to their everlasting salvation: And being so effectually deluded as that they believed these lies, hereupon they wondered and followed the Beast. Well might they wonder to see bread, and taste bread, where was no bread, and to see wine, and taste wine, where was no wine (for so were they made to believe) and to eat flesh, and drink blood, and yet neither to see nor taste flesh nor blood: this was a wonder to wonder at; and who would not follow him for a guide that had power to work such wonders?  
But they did not only follow the Beast, as the jews did Christ when they saw his miracles, But they worshipped the Dragon which gave 
Ver. 4.  power unto the Beast, and they worshipped the Beast, saying who is like unto the Beast? Who is able to make war with him? To worship, is to hear and obey, and by worshipping the Dragon was showed, that they wholly addicted themselves to be directed and ruled by the Beast whom the Dragon used as his instrument to work his will, and to whom he had given authority and power to that end: thus originally they worshipped the devil. Secondly, they worshipped the Beast, as being the instrument of the devil, and they became subjects in all things obedient unto the Beast, as being of such holiness and truth as that it could not err, nor deceive others, and of such power as what they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven, and what they bond in earth was bound in heaven, & therefore such a power as had no match or peer, so that they boasted, and said of it, Who is like unto the Beast? As David considering the power, 
Psal. 71. 77.  and wonderful works of God, saith; Who is like unto the Lord? So do the Nations boast of this Beast, saying; Who is like unto the Beast? And further they said of him, Who is able to make war with him? As if they should say, This our holy Mother hath power to excommunicate, and deliver to Satan, all (of what estate condition, and degree, soever they be) that will not hear her voice, bear her yoke, and be ruled by her: Who therefore is able to make war with her? that is, make his party good against this our holy Mother. Of such admiration was this Beast in the earth; thus hath the world thought, and spoken of her.  
And moreover, there was given unto this Beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given him to make 42. months. 
Ver. 5.   
As the mouth is the means and instrument whereby men do declare their minds, so this Beast had a mouth to declare and utter her mind; by which mouth was signified a ministery of false Prophets, and lying Spirits, namely, Doctors, Schoolmen, Monks, Frvars, and all sorts of their Preachers, who teach for doctrines the commandments of the Beast, and declare and utter the mind and will of the Beast as being equal to God's Word, this their Canons, Laws, Books and Monuments, do manifestly witness: The effect of that which this mouth uttereth is noted to be, great things, and blasphemies. They boast of this Beast that she is the holy Catholic Church Militant, the Mother of all true believers, the chaste Spouse of Christ, the Pillar and ground of Truth, that it cannot err, etc. And that all which will have God to be their Father, must have her to be their Mother; Finally, that out of her lap and communion there is no salvation. These, and many other such great things speaketh the mouth of this Beast, which are indeed great things, and being so spoken are great blasphemies: For is it not great blasphemy to call that Holy, which is most abominable? To call her the Mother of all true Believers, which is the Mother of fornications, and of all abominations? To call that the Pillar and ground of Truth, which hath corrupted the earth with her errors and fornications and caused all Nations to drink of the wine of the wrath thereof? To say there is no salvation but in her fellowship whose end and judgement is to go to destruction? Beware of false Prophets, and teachers of lies, for such are the mouth of this Beast.  
And it is further to be minded, that it is said of this Beast, that the mouth which she had was given her; for had this Beast no more to maintain this mouth, than she hath of her own by descent and heritage, she could not have so many to speak for her as she hath: But Emperors and Kings, Princes & Nobles, and other great sinners became benefactors to this Beast, giving unto her Lands and Tenements, rents & revenues to maintain this mouth to utter great things and blasphemies, and more than this, Power was given him to act, or make two and forty months.  
For the better understanding of this point, let this be considered: In the Antichristian Kingdom they have a rule how to proceed in every cause, but not given them of God, but of their own making, which they commonly call the Canon Law, concerning which Law here we may learn by whom it was made, & how long it was in making. These makers usurp the name of the Church of Christ, but the true Church is the Kingdom of Christ, and being the Kingdom of Christ it hath him only for lawgiver, they therefore which under the title of the Church presume to make laws, are fitly & worthily resembled by a Beast: For what is more unreasonable then for those whose greatest dignity, glory & happiness, consisteth in hearing, obeying, & administering of God's Word, to fall from this, and Lucifer-like to exalt & oppose themselves against their Maker, as though they were wiser & juster than God; & to add unto his Testament which is sufficient to instruct us in all wisdom, & to make the man of God perfect in every good work; and to take from the same 
2. Tim. 3. 17.  Testament at their pleasure, which is not lawful to do to any man's testament, without great offence and injustice, as the Apostle showeth, Gal. 3. 15. yet this is the way wherein those great doers, the authors of the Canon Law have walked. It is said of those Actors, that Power was given them, etc. Where first we may observe, that of themselves they had not this power, for than it could not have been said to be given them, but given them it was; it is therefore to be considered who was the giver. Not Christ, he gave his Disciples no power to make laws, but gave them charge to teach believers to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them, it is certain therefore that this power was given them, not by God but by men; namely, by Kings & Princes, for the states & degrees of men considered, it is plain, that none can give power to make laws but such as be Sovereigns; by such therefore this power to make laws was given unto this Beast. But what should move Sovereigns to give power to Bishops & Ministers to make laws for the Church? Nothing verily but blind devotion; for they being ignorant of God, & of his Word, thought it the best way to keep peace & unity in the Church, whereas indeed it was the cause of strife & dissension, & at length by that means iniquity was established for a law, & God's Word wholly rejected & cast aside as unmeet for Lay-men to use. Now as in all lawful proceed, Princes are Gods ministers, in God's stead unto their subjects and people, so in giving this power to this Beast, they are the Dragon's ministers, and instruments. Whereas it is said that power was given unto the Beast to make, but it is not noted what should be made, it argueth that the things made are of that nature and quality that they are not worthy of any name, the makers themselves use to call their Acts, Canons, Constitutions and Laws, but falsely; for if they were such indeed, than men might have some good use of them, but that no man can have, therefore it is but falsehood and deceit so to name them: It is like the calling of one carved Image, S. Peter, another S. Paul, another S. john, etc. that is to name things that which they be not, and that is to lie.  
In that it is said, that power was given unto the Beast to make 42. Months, It showeth that the beasts time is limited. And seeing that the time is limited, we must find that the time of making of the Catholic church agreeth with this stint, before we can be sure that it is the Beast, here represented, wherefore consider that the ecclesiastical state began to make about the year of our Lord, 304. (the Ancyran counsel being the first, whose constitutions took the effect and force of law,) And made not an end of making until the year 1564. the Counsel of Trent being the last wherein the beast acted the last act of this making, and fulfilled the measure of that iniquity, and therefore is now to receive judgement and condemnation from the Lord, as is hereafter in this prophesy declared. So that if we account a year for a day, and thirty days for a month, it will amount to 1260. days, which is the just some of 42. months, that this beast was a making, which is a strong argument, that by this beast was signified the ecclesiastical estate, or Catholic church, as is showed before page 1.  
Further it is said of this Beast, that he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  
In that this Beast, by the ministery of false Prophets and Teachers, as by her mouth hath seduced the Nations, and made them believe, That God by the ministery of his holy Apostles and Prophets, hath not left us a sure and sufficient rule of faith, in the holy Scriptures, but that the want thereof must be supplied with unwritten verities, the writings of ancient fathers, determinations of counsels, and the Pope's decretals, otherwise all people would run into confusion, it may truly be said, that she hath opened her mouth unto blasphemy against God. First it maketh the eternal who hath created all things, and for whose wills sake all things are and were created, To be but a rude and gross beginner of a work, which he hath left and given up for vain man to finish & make perfect. Secondly if there be particular laws left out of the Scriptures, for want of which all people would run into confusion, than God hath not showed himself to be a God of order. Thirdly the word of God is not sufficient to make the man of God perfect, in every good work, as the Apostles saith. But thus to think, is a horrible error, Thus to speak, is wicked blasphemy, and thus to teach, is hellish iniquity. For how will it stand with the glory of God, and of our Lord jesus Christ, not to give unto his people a perfect Law and sure Testimony, whereunto they might trust, and wherein they might rest and live by faith, but must depend upon other men, to see as it were with their eyes, and not with their own, and so to hold their faith in respect of other men's persons, to believe as they believe etc., as though God's people (their leaders excepted) were not reasonable creatures, but as beasts without understanding: But blessed be our God, we have a sure word of the Prophets, which is as a light shining in a dark place, whereunto we shall do well if we take heed. God's people have no need of unwritten verities, men's precepts and traditions; They have surer lights to walk by then the writings of the School men, and other writers of ancient times; They have surer Rules and righter Testimonies, whereby to decide and end controversies and doubts, than the determinations of counsels, and Pope's decrees, and they which speak to the contrary, open their mouth to blaspheme against God. Concerning blaspheming the name of God, amongst other attributes or titles whereby he is set forth unto us, he is called the Holy one of Israel, and the high Priest in Israel did bear this inscription upon his forehead graven in gold, Holiness to the Lord. First therefore we may truly and boldly say of the Lord, that Holy is his name, Secondly we may likewise truly and boldly affirm, that to give the title of Holiness unto any unholy profane and abominable thing, is to blaspheme the name of God: But thus the Beast hath done many and sundry ways. They ascribe Holiness unto their Antichristian orders, and priesthood, to their Idolatrous Mass, to their exorcised or conjured Bread, Water, Oil, Tapers, Ashes, Vestures, Vessels, and many other implements in and by all which they blaspheme the name of God.  
And as they blaspheme the name of God; So likewise they blaspheme his Tabernacle, That is to say, the true visible Church of Christ under the Gospel, which is the place of God's presence, which he hath chosen to put his name there, 
* Math. 18.  where two or three or more are gathered together in the name of Christ, there is Christ present, and where Christ is present there hath God put his name, there he is to be sought; and there he may be found, and there is his Tabernacle. To come together in the name of Christ, is when God's people join themselves together in a spiritual body politic, separated from the common multitudes of known unbelievers, to the end to meet together for the mutual edification and comfort one of another, by doctrine, breaking of bread and prayer, and to practise all other Ordinances of Christ set down in his Testament, as they shall have occasion: and to companies of Believers, having such fellowship and communion one with another, the title of the Churches of Christ doth (in our use of speech) properly and of right belong: but for believers to do this apart by themselves is adjudged contempt of authority, factious, novelty, making of Conventicles and unlawful Assemblies, dangerous to the State, and not to be suffered in any Kingdom or Commonwealth, and so they blaspheme the Tabernacle of God in a high degree, as if God's people were a company of ungodly rebels, and wicked conspirators; but the righteous Lord will in due time visit his people, & rebuke his enemies.  
And on the other side, for God's people now to deny the kingdom of the Beast; that is, (as they call it) the holy Catholic church Militant, to be the true Church of Christ: To refuse to partake and communicate with them in their abominations, delusions, and unfruitful works of darkness, is adjudged disobedience, schism and contempt of the power and authority of the Church: To speak against their proceed, sedition, disturbance of the peace of the Church, heresy, impiety, and what not? Thus they adorn the Harlott, which corrupteth the earth with her fornications, with the title of the Church, and spouse of Christ, and Tabernacle of God, And so blaspheme the Tabernacle of God, as if it were not a communion of Saints by calling and profession, but an habitation of Devils, an hold of Fowl spirits, and a cage of every unclean & hateful bird.  
Further it is said of the Beast, that it did blaspheme those that dwelled in heaven, that is the Saints departed this life.  
Those that dwell in heaven, are then blasphemed when it is said of them, that they take it as honour done unto them, when we make them our patrons, build them Temples, set up their images, offer and pray unto them, and make them Mediators between Christ and us, for by this they are made not only idols, but also favourers and chief maintainers of idolatry: They are also blasphemed when the doctrine which they taught and practised is condemned for heresy, or when erroneous doctrines, vain traditions, superstitious rites, ceremonies and customs are fathered upon them as received from them by Tradition, as unwritten verities, but the world hath been brought to believe that Saints in heaven might by these means be as it were bought and fold, between Priest and people, wherein they have been highly blasphemed.  
Moreover it is said, that it was given to the Beast to make war with the 
Ver. 7.  Saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all Kindred's, and Tongues and Nations.  
War is made with the Saints when they are accused to Rulers and Governors to be Heretics, Schismatics, wicked and ungodly persons; and they may then be said to be overcome, when their accusers are justified and they condemned, according to this, this Scripture hath been fulfilled and verified. Great and of long continuance have been the wars which the Beast hath made with the Saints, and many have been the victories of this kind which the Beast hath had against them: as the Histories, and other records of the Nations do plentifully witness. It was given to the Beast to make war with the Saints, when Rulers and Governors gave way to the Beast to devise and make laws at their own pleasure, concerning Religion and the worship of God, and then to condemn for delinquents and evil doers all that would not observe those laws. How free and forward Rulers and Governors have been to give such power unto the Beast, they themselves have felt by long and woeful experience: for much woe hath the Beast wrought (not to the poor and meaner sort of the Saints only, but) even to Emperors and Kings and all degrees of people, and therefore it is said in the words following, that power was given unto this Beast over every Kindred, Tongue and Nation: So that the exaltation thereof was such, as to be as a father above all fathers to every Kindred; a Lord above all Lords to every Tongue; a King above all Kings to every Nation. Thus was this Beast exalted, and sat as a Queen triumphing over them, having all of all degrees brought in bondage unto her dominion, which was a just recompense upon their heads that gave such power unto this Beast: yet see how the world was herein deluded, they were not as captives against their wills, but in blind devotion, had this Beast in most high reverence, as being a Divine Power, ordained and given by God, and not from the Dragon. Thus did the Lord give them over to be deluded by this Beast, as a just reward of their ungodliness, in that they received not the love of the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.  
Further it is declared in the words following, That all that dwelled upon 
Ver. 8.  the earth shall worship him (that is the Beast) whose names are not written in the Book of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  
By those that dwell on the earth is meant those that have set their habitation there, and choose rather to enjoy the prosperity of the world and the pleasures of sin, together with the Beast, then to suffer affliction for the truth, and for witnessing against the Beast: These are they that worship him, that is, receive their precepts and rules, for doctrine and wholesome instruction, and observe their ordinances and laws as perfect rules of equity and righteousness, casting the Word of God, declared in the holy Scriptures, behind their backs, and treading his Ordinances under their feet, making far more conscience not to eat an Egg on a Friday, then to steal, or commit adultery. But of such it is said, that their names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world: That is, they are not of the number of God's Elect and Chosen in Christ, and given unto him for his portion and heritage, whose condition is to be hated, despised, persecuted, and afflicted in the world, for righteousness sake; in whom the Lamb Christ jesus, as in his members hath been slain since the beginning of the world: which condition, those which cannot brook and endure, but count it a pleasure to live deliciously for a season, and take delight to enjoy the pleasures of sin, may thereby be discerned, not to have their names written in the Book of Life.  
Concerning these things it is added, If any man have an ear let him hear. 
Ver. 9   
As if it should be said, few there be which have an ear to hear these things: For who can endure to hear that Catholic Church, which they account to be spiritual, holy, and heavenly, to be compared to a Beast, ugly in form, and horrible and monstrous in nature? Who can endure to hear that Power, that Throne, and that authority which they believe to be of God, to be said and affirmed to be of the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan? Who will believe that a righteous God would give way to his enemies, the workers of iniquity, so far to prevail, and so long time, as for many hundred years together, to delude the Nations, to bring them into bondage, and to keep them in slavery? And that a few poor despised people of no reckoning in the world, here one, and there another, should see more, and be wiser than all the great Clarks, wise counsellors, mighty Princes, and all the Nobles of the earth? Who (I say) hath an ear to hear these things, and not be moved to fret in himself, and to gnash his teeth at the hearing of them?  
Yet notwithstanding all this, and more, let him that hath an ear hear, for times and seasons will change; a time will come (as the verse following doth declare) when these great workers of iniquity shall be subdued and trodden under foot.  
He that leadeth into captivitiae shall go into captivity, he that killeth with 
Vers. 10.  the sword must be killed with the sword, here is the patience and faith of the Saints.  
Here is showed the justice of God, who will recompense unto the wicked according to the works of their hands, as they have measured unto others it shall be measured unto them again; they shall reap the fruit of their unrighteousness to the full: Therefore the Saints and servants of God should here learn with patience to bear the Cross, because the Lord will take their parts, and avenge their blood upon their enemies, and those which with patience rest upon the Lord, are here recorded for Saints, Here is the patience and faith of the Saints. As if it were said, those which patiently endure affliction for the truth, and commit their cause unto God, resting faithfully upon him, are thereby tried and made manifest to the world, to be the Saints and Servants of God, that in sure hope of a time of refreshing, choose to endure captivity and the sword, rather than they will (to have peace with the world) together with the world worship the Beast.  
Thus much concerning the first part of this Chapter, and of that power and promotion which the Prelates and Clergy crope up unto before the exaltation and supremacy of the Pope. The mystery of whose iniquity is next to be considered; To God be glory for ever. Amen.  

The second part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation, beginning at the 11. Verse.  VERSE 11. And I beheld another Beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a Lamb, and he spoke as a Dragon. 
AS in the former part of this Chapter, the Prelacy and Clergy in general, who under the title of the Catholic Church Militant, exalted themselves to work iniquity, and bring the Nations into captivity and bondage to their traditions, were resembled by a sevenheaded Beast: so here, after much striving amongst themselves who should be the chief and greatest, not being content with their former riches, honour, and earthly promotion, but aspiring higher, at last the Prelate of Rome in particular, attained to this title and dignity, to be Christ's Vicar, Peter's successor, and universal Bishop; and under that Title pretended a fullness of power and supremacy over all persons and causes, and therefore is here resembled and foreshowed by a Beast, etc.  
First, whereas it is said of this Beast that it came up out of the earth, thereby is signified, that the high degree and dignity whereunto the Prelates of Rome have aspired, and exalted themselves, is not from heaven, it is of the earth, earthly; it is a plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, and therefore shall in the end be rooted out.  
Concerning the coming up of this Beast, it is to be minded, that the Ministers of the word of God (of which rank of men this Beast boasteth himself to be the chief) if they were in their right kind should be as the Stars of heaven, lights and guides unto others: But at the opening of the 
* Rev. 6. 13.  sixth Seal john saw the Stars fall from heaven to the earth, as a fig tree casteth her green figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind; whereby was signified, that the Ministers of the word of God would in time degenerate and go out of kind; they would, contrary to the Apostles rule, set their affections on earthly things, they would for filthy lucre make Merchandise of the people and Word of God; they would gather riches, and grow wealthy by the wages of unrighteousness, and so become the great men of the earth: all which is fulfilled and come to pass, as all may see that are not wilfully blind.  
Among the rest of the fallen Stars, to one was given the key of the bottomless pit, Rev. 9 1. whereby was signified that power and pre-eminence should be given to one of the fallen Stars above the rest: which thing was effected and came to pass, when Phocas being Emperor he promoted Boniface then Prelate of Rome to be universal Bishop, and to have power and jurisdiction over all other Bishops: Which thing when Phocas had done, this Abaddon King of Locusts, with the rest of the brood of the bottomless pit that succeeded him, who had the opening and shutting of Purgatory at their pleasure, so prevailed in time, that they exalted themselves above Emperors and Kings; which thing they could never have done, had they not first besotted the Nations in blind devotion to impoverish themselves to feed these Locusts under the title of the Church, and in hope of meriting thereby, and to be released from their sins, and from the supposed pains of Purgatory: For had the Pope, that Prelate of Rome, been as destitute of worldly wealth, and as well furnished with spiritual grace, as Peter and john were when they went up into the Temple to pray, 
Acts 3. 1. 6.  and healed the lame man, he had never set his foot upon the emperors neck. For as much therefore as the Romish Prelate from a mean and lowly estate and degree in the world, hath crept up and been exalted above Kings and Emperors: and seeing worldly wealth and riches have been the means whereby he hath got the pre-eminence, very significantly was this upstart resembled and prefigured, by a Beast coming up out of the earth.  
Again, it is said of this Beast, that it had two Horns like the Lamb: By Horns in the Scripture is usually signified power and authority, and by the Lamb is meant Christ jesus, who had all power in heaven and earth given to him, Math. 28. 18. So that hereby was showed, that the Prelate of Rome would challenge and usurp great power and authority which he persuadeth the world doth belong unto him, as being Christ's Vicar, and under this pretence usurpeth a twofold power and jurisdiction, both Civil and Ecclesiastical, not in earth only, but in heaven also; what he bindeth in earth, is bound in heaven, and whom he will he can release from the pains of Purgatory, and place them in heaven: Therefore in token of this his power he is armed with two swords, which thing was plainly signified by the two Horns which he had like the Lamb. But though the Beast would be the Lambs equal, and resemble him in power, yet his voice bewrays him to be but a counterfeit, and a dissembling hypocrite: he speaks like the Dragon, he pretendeth property to that which is not his own, and exalteth himself against those unto whom he should submit and give honour: Even as the Dragon said of the Kingdoms of the world; All these are in my power, I give them to whom I will? So likewise saith this 
Luk. 4. 6.  Beast his Vicar, the Prelate of Rome: The Empire and Kingdoms of the earth are in my power, and at my disposition, and to me it belongeth to depose and set up Emperors and Kings at my pleasure, as shall be behoveful for the peace of the Church. And thus may the Beast in this be known by his voice, likewise in diverse other particular blasphemous speeches and devilish doctrines.  
Further it is said of this Beast, That he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him, and causeth the earth, and them which dwell therein, to 
Vers. 12.  worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  
In that this Beast is said to exercise, All the power of the first Beast before him, thereby was signified, That what the first Beast could do by her motherly authority and power under the usurped title and name of the holy Church, the same could this Beast do, by the authority & power of his fatherhood under the title & pretence of Christ's Vicar, Peter's successor, universal Bishop, etc. But that this Beast may yet further be discerned, it is said of him, That he caused the earth, and those which dwell therein to worship the first Beast, etc. By causing the earth to worship the first Beast, was foreshowed, that the Pope would exact of the earth the tenth part of the fruits thereof for the maintenance of the holy Church, & this is indeed to worship: For as the paying of Tithes in the time of the Law was a part of the true outward worship of God, so this is the worship of the Beast. And further, by causing the Inhabitants of the earth also to worship the first Beast, was showed that he would carefully see due homage, service, and obedience to be yielded and performed to the holy Church: so that though the Prelate of Rome as a son of perdition, did exalt himself above measure, yet still doth he maintain the power and dignity of the Catholic Church; the estimation of her Motherhood must still be maintained, her voice must still be heard and obeyed; not to come when she calls is contumacy and contempt not to be endured; they that dare so far to despise her authority, as not to obey her Paritors Process, are by her doom to be accounted cursed children, and worthy of no less censure and punishment then to be struck with that terrible Thunderbolt of her Excommunication, the violence whereof is such, as who can endure it? Who will not rather ride, run, dance attendance, crouch, kneel, pay, pray, or do any thing else which Master Official or his Register will enjoin them, then undergo so heavy a burden as the censure of Excommunication? Thus will the Pope have the magnificence of this Diana to be maintained, The earth and those which dwell in it must yield unto her the Tithe of all their increase, as also mortuaries, Offerings, and many other Church duties which she requireth of them; for she is a goddess and must be worshipped. And this diminisheth the Pope's glory never a jot, the two estates of the Whore and false Prophet, can well agree and stand together, as father and mother in one family, and therefore the second Beast, as father of all, will have the first Beast worshipped, that is, obeyed & maintained in glory, as mother of all. And further observe, in that the Pope hath executed all authority of the Catholic Church, thereby is confirmed the truth of the exposition, that the first Beast was the Catholic Church, and the second Beast the Pope, as hath been before observed.  
And he doth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from 
Vers. 13.  heaven on earth in the sight of men.  
First, by the wonders which he did, was foreshowed what wonderful things the Prelate of Rome, that false Prophet should bring to pass, as namely, under the title of the servant of the servants of God (which indeed all Ministers of the Word, and other Church Officers ought to be) to creep up and exalt himself above Emperors and Kings, and all other estates in the earth, which being considered, is indeed a thing wonderful: for first, the Prelacy and Clergy in respect of the pretended holiness of their Orders were exempted and freed from being subject to any secular jurisdicton and power, the meanest of them might not be produced before any secular judge, for any crime or offence how 
Vide Consilium Matis. Can. 9 10.  haunous soever, yet unto this Beast, they must be obedient in all things, as servants to their Lord; upon him they must depend with all observation, as children upon their fathers: And as for Emperors and Kings, and other worldly States, it is plain to be seen that though they stand highly upon their titles and dignities, not to have them impaired, or in any thing diminished, which is a thing which they will withstand to the shedding of abundance of blood; yet to be made such vassals to this Beast, as to hold his stirrup, to lead his horse by the bridle, to kiss his feet, they thought it no abasement, but an honour: And notwithstanding that very many of that beastly rank have been notorious wicked men, and abominable livers, yet have they the craft so to delude and besot all people of all degrees in the world, as to bring them to believe that the truth is so infallibly annexed to that seat of the Beast, that it is not possible for him to err in judgement; yea, he made the world to believe it as an Article of faith, that his determination and judgement of any controversy or point of doctrine, is a more indifficient and infallible rule of faith than is the holy Scriptures: That these and the like gross doctrines are believed and received, are great wonders.  
Further, He maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men; etc.  
By fire in this place was foreshowed the punishment which should be inflicted on the Saints, which was burning with fire: And in that the fire was said to come from heaven, thereby was foreshowed, that the judges of the earth, Who are 
* Psal. 82. 6.  called Gods, and their seats as the Throne of God in heaven, should be so corrupted by the Pope, as that they should believe the Saints and Servants of God which refused to obey the Pope and his Laws, to be therefore Heretics, Schismatics, refractory, rebellious and disobedient persons, and therefore should condemn them to be burnt to death: This they have done, thinking they did God therein good service, and that it was the just judgement of God upon them. Thus he made fire to come down from heaven: For true it is, that the judgements rightly pronounced by the lawful Magistrates are the judgements of God, and their punishments, Gods punishments, and therefore it is that Maigistrates are called Gods: but seeing Magistrates have been thus corrupted by the Pope, and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements, we are to esteem them as the judgements of the Dragon; and yet nevertheless their authority and power lawful and ordained of God. Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by means of those Miracles (falsely so called) which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast, as is showed in the verse following.  
And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles 
Vers. 14.  which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast.  
Those which the Beast deceiveth are said to dwell on the earth, that is, have their affections fet upon earthly things, and not upon heavenly, so that they will not for love of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures: these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast; but those that are strangers and pilgrims in this world, whose affections are set upon heavenly things, and not upon earthly, these are not deceived nor deluded by him: these making trial of him by God's word have found him to be a liar and a deceiver, and believe him not, but taking their lives in their hands, witness against him to the death, that his power and working is of Satan, and that his wonders are lies.  
And whereas it is said, that he had power to do these miracles in the sight of the Beast: thereby is confirmed & made manifest that which before is showed page 23, that this son of perdition, the chief darling of his holy catholic Mother, is present with her, and in her bosom, and for her sake and in her behalf exerciseth his power, she retaining still her former authority without any diminishing thereof, as is evident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church. Thus much for the second part of this chapter.   

The 3. part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation: Wherein is foreshowed a third Beast, which was set up by the commandment of this second Beast the Pope, who said to them that dwelled on the earth, that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live.  
HEre we may see that the Pope by his commanding power, was the cause of setting up this Image, and for the better and more clear understanding, what this Image is; Let us consider a little the pattern whose image and likeness it beareth, namely the first Beast.  
The first Beast, as hath been showed was the representative body of the Catholic Church Militant, consisting of the selected Prelacy and priesthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one Council, or Synod, with authority to make laws and canons for the universal Church, to be observed uniformly of all Nations, under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the government of the Church, and the worship of God. In like manner the Pope (in his wisdom seeing it necessary for the good government, maintenance, and upholding of his kingdom, and the rooting out of Heretics, and seditious persons (as they call them,) which daily increased in every Country,) did ordain and command 
| Vide concilium Lateran secundum, Can. 6.  that in every Province there should yearly be held and kept a Provincial counsel or Synod consisting of the Prelates and diverse other selected persons which should look to those matters, to which Synod he also gave power to make laws and ordinances, to which the people should be conformable and obedient: This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast, which had the wound with a sword and did live.  
Further it is said, Vers. 15. And power was given him to give life unto the Image of the Beast, that the Image of the Beast should both speak, and 
Ver. 15.  cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast, should be killed.  
In this verse we may observe: first, that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image: secondly, what this gift was, viz. to give life or breath to the Image: thirdly, the end and effects of the gift, which was, that the Beast should speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed: As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authority, and also a mouth to speak blasphemies and to make war with the Saints, in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope, to give life or breath to this Image: By life is here meant authority, which is the life of a Synod, without which it is of no force, and so this Image should have been no more than a very image or picture, and set up to no purpose, but the Pope having received it, gave authority to the Image that he should speak, that is, make and set forth Canons and Laws; for to speak is so understood: as for example: A King is said to speak to his subjects when he setteth forth his Laws and Proclamations: so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees, speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them. Moreover, the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed: Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth, to be answerable to the first Beast, and therefore rightly is he called her Image: for as the first Beast made wart with the Saints and overcame them, and all that dwelled on the earth worshipped him, etc. so whosoever would not worship this Image, that is, hear his voice and keep his commandments, there was no way for him but death. All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants, is * That they fear him, walk in all his ways, love him, and serve him with all their 
Deu. 10. 12. 13.  hearts, and with all their souls to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his ordinances. And this is indeed the true worship of God, In like manner this Image willbe worshipped, his laws must be observed & his canons obeyed without examining and trying of them, be they never so unholy and unjust: They that do not observe and obey them, be they never so upright and holy men, they shallbe therefore indicted, arraigned, judged and condemned to death, as being in their estimation Heretics, schismatics, disobedient and rebellious persons, contemners of God and of the Church, yea as the filth and ofscowring of the world, and unworthy of the society of men.  
And he causeth all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand and in their foreheads.  
This Image challenging worship to be performed unto him, of all people of all sorts and degrees, according to the authority given him by the Pope, was by some contradicted and despised, wherefore the Image in policy for the better trial of those that were his trusty subjects and slaves, ordained: that all his Ministers should receive a mark, at the receiving whereof, they should vow and swear to be of his dominion & under his Banner, to fight against Christ and his Saints. What this mark is, and what is the manner of giving and receiving of it, is now to be declared.  
The 
‡ For proof of this look no further then in the 36. Canon of the Church of Eng. made An. 1603.  prelacy and Clergy being as hath been before showed, assembled with authority to make laws, did ordain that every Bishop in his diocese should carefully observe that none should preach or execute the function of a parish Parson, Vicar or Curate in any parish, but he that would swear to observe their Laws & Canons, and thereupon should receive the Letters of Orders of the Bishop of the Diocese, which Letters of Orders signed and sealed by the Bishop, is the Mark of the Beast here mentioned, and doth testify in the behalf of the Bearer thereof that he is their sworn servant, under holy orders, either a Priest, a Deacon, or half Priest etc., and that he is a man found capable & meet for the cure and charge of souls, and therefore to what parish soever these tried Lads are sent to do service, upon sight of this Mark they must be received without any opposition, upon penalty of the Law upon those that shall refuse them.  
Here may be objected, that this Mark is only received by the Clergy, and not by the people of all sorts, rich and poor, bond and free, according to the Text. I answer, that all persons which receive these false Priests do likewise receive, and submit to that authority which sent them, and also the Mark by which they are sent, as is evident, when a Priest cometh to take possession of a Parish to which he is by the Bishop appointed; he is not received upon his word, nor because he tolleth the Bell, and putteth on the Surplice, and useth other Ceremonies enjoined him by the Prelate: But, showing the foresaid Mark of the Beast they receive both him and it, and communicate with him: Thus all, both small and great, rich and poor, bond and free, that receive and submit unto their appointed Priest, receive a mark in their foreheads, or in their right hands, by receiving and submitting to him: For as our Saviour Christ saith of his Apostles and Ministers, He that receiveth you receiveth me, he that heareth you heareth me: 
Luk. 10. 16. Joh. 13. 20.  So those that receive, hear, and join in fellowship with these false Ministers, do hear, receive, and join to the false power which sent them, and the mark by which they are sent.  
Whereas it is said, that they received this mark in their foreheads, or right hand, thereby was showed that this mark should be an apparent testimony that they were servants of the Beast, and that they were of that Band which had joined hands, and made a league to walk in the ways of destruction.  
Further it is said, Vers. 17. And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark of the Beast, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name.  
Here are propounded three conditions, and whosoever had not one of them, thereby to be known to be of that Kingdom, might not buy or sell, or have any thing to do amongst them. For the better understanding hereof let us mind, that although these three Beasts in respect of their several power and jurisdiction did differ one from another, The Catholic Church being the chief, and the Pope inferior to her, and the Image of the Beast as it were a servant or handmaid inferior to them both, yet notwithstanding they were one body, being joined and knit together by the power of the Dragon, and have so far prevailed over the Nations as that they have brought all, both small and great, rich and poor, bond and free, to be in subjection to their kingdom, which beareth the name of the holy Catholic Church or Sea of Rome, but the Holy Ghost calleth it 
* Reu. 14. 8.  Babylon the great City: for as the material Babylon was a City which dwelled 
† Esa. 51. 13.  upon many waters, which caused her to abound in riches and treasure: so this mystical Babylon, this great City of Rome, I mean the Ecclesiastical State, is said also to sit upon many waters, which the Holy Ghost expoundeth to be People and Nations, as in the 17. Chapter and 15. verse: The waters on which the Where sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes, and Nations and Tongues: And these waters have been the means of the flowing and increasing of the wealth and riches of this City, so that their Merchants, that is, the Prelates have grown rich and become the great men of the earth, by traficking in them; also the Shipmasters (which are the Parish Priests) and all Ship men and Mariners (which are the inferior guides, and Ecclesiastical Officers) have gathered crumbs and waxed rich thereby, and therefore at the destruction of this great City shall stand a far off and howl to see the desolation thereof, and their own gain taken away, for from thenceforth no man will buy their commodities any more. Here note, that these foresaid spiritual prrsons are the sellers, and the Lay-people are the buyers, and the wares which are bought and sold in this kingdom are all called spiritual, as pardons for sin, and indulgences of diverse sorts, which is a special commodity, and bringeth in abundance of treasure; also their Pistling, Gospeling, Canting, Homeling, Massing, which must be maintained with the Tithes, or Tenth of all things, which they usually call the maintenance of the Ministry; also the Sacrifices (unacceptable to God and wellpleasing to the devil) which are daily offered at their Altars, and at diverse Images of Saints; also the body of their Maker and Saviour: besides Marrying, Baptizing of children, Churching of women, Houseling the sick; burying the dead, these, and many such like, are the spiritual wares sold in this kingdom which have particular prizes set on them: Now so it is, that these wares are privileged that none may either buy or sell them save he that hath the mark of the Beast, or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name. What the Mark of the Beast is, hath been before showed: Secondly, the name of the Beast is to be considered, For the manifestation whereof let us consider and mind, that those which did preach and profess Christ and his doctrine, are said to have and to bear his name. The Lord Christ jesus said unto Ananias in a Vision concerning Paul, That he was a chosen Vessel to 
Acts 9 15.  bear his Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel: By the name of the Lord, here was meant that Paul should preach the doctrine of Christ, and those that believed by his Preaching were said to believe in the name of Christ, and were therefore baptised into his name, and called Christians: 
† Acts 11. 26.  The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Also the disciples and followers of Christ are said to have the Lambs Fathers name written in their forehead: According to this is the meaning of the name of this Beast, which the Holy Ghost setteth down in a mystery in the 17. chapter and 5. verse, Babylon the great, the mother of Harlots, and abominations of the earth: But the Papists call it, not Babylon the great, but the great universal or Catholic Church; not the mother of Harlots, but the mother of all true Believers; not the mother of all abominations of the earth, but the Pillar and ground of Truth, that cannot err: This is the difference betwixt the name which God giveth them, and which they take and attribute unto themselves: But let them speak the best of themselves, and let us consider and answer them in their own language, they call themselves the Catholic Church, and their professed vassals and subjects are therefore called Catholics, and whatsoever they be, that do either preach or profess the Catholic faith, that is, believe as this Catholic Church believeth, that it is mother of all true Believers, that it cannot err, etc. they are Catholics, such persons wheresoever they live, if they thus believe (although they never received the mark of the Beast, nor can receive it) yet this profession is enough to entitle them in the right of buying or selling these foresaid wares, such persons have the name of the Beast, and therefore they may buy pardons of the forgiveness of part or all their sins, and use any of these things which they suppose necessary for their soul's health (but indeed destruction) yea, after their death they may, for a sum of money given to the foresaid Merchants by their charitable successors, be released out of Purgatory: thus, by their own description we have found out the name of the Beast, and who they are that have received it.  
The third condition is the number of his name, as the Beast had one general name (which the Catholic Church) whereby he was known from all other States and Kingdoms in the world, so it hath a number of names belonging to the particular parts and members thereof to distinguish one from another, as in the 17. Chap. and third verse, The Beast was full of names of blasphemy. As the true Church, which is that body whereof Christ jesus only is the Head, is complete and furnished, when it is coupled and knit together by every joint and member which Christ jesus hath given for the furniture thereof; namely, Apostles, Prophets, 
1. Cor. 12. Ephe. 4. 11.  Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers: So this false Church being furnished with those parts and members which that great red Dragon hath invented and set up under the title of Ministers of Christ, to work upon the children of disobedience, namely, the Pope, patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, archdeacons, Abbots, Priors, Prebends, Canons, Chancellors, Commissaries, Registers, Doctors, with the rest of the selected Synod or Council: so (I say) this Church or Beast, being furnished with these his parts and members, is an entire body, and these members are the full number of his name; that is, they are the number of whom the Catholic Church consisteth, and from them all inferior power and offices of ministery, as Monks, Friars, Parsons, Vicars, Curates and jesuits are derived. This I understand to be the number of his name, and this exposition agreeth with that in the verse following, where it is said, let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast. By the number of the Beast what can be understood but the Number of the particular parts whereof he consisteth? And where it is said, For it is the number of a man: What can be understood but that it beareth the resemblance and likeness of a man? as followeth to be declared. Thus we see who may buy and sell in this Kingdom, and who may not.  
Here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the 
Vers. 18.  Beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.  
Here is showed, first, what is required in searching out this mystery, and that is wisdom and understanding, not such as is from beneath, but from above, which cometh down from the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, he it is that giveth wisdom to the simple, and the understanding of his secrets to those that fear him, which should teach those that desire to know the Mysteries of his will to labour to be such as to whom he hath promised to reveal them, then, whatsoever we ask we shall receive of him, for to such he giveth liberally and upbraideth not.  
Secondly, here is showed a direction how to employ a man's wisdom in finding out this Mystery, and that is by counting or reckoning the number of this Beast.  
Thirdly, a reason why the number of the Beast is to be counted, Because it is the number of a man; that is, it agreeth with and is answerable to the parts of a man, and so is the more easily to be found: for as we know the true Church of Christ is compared in the Scriptures to the natural body of a man, as in 1. Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ Jesus: And in the 27. verse, the Apostle speaking of the church of Corinth, he saith: Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular, etc. So in the Ephes. 1. 22. 23. Christ is given to be head over all things, to the Church which is his Body. Thus as the true Church is called and compared to a body; so the catholics affirm that they only are that church and that body, and that the particular parts and members of their church are the full number thereof. Now whereas they say they are the church, let us say they are the Beast; and whereas they say, their particular parts and members make up the number of the Church, let us say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Beast, and so we find the true interpretation of this Scripture.  
Further, here is set down the number of the Beast, which is 666. By this number I do not understand any set number, and that the parts and members of the Beast are no more nor less, but thereby I understand is meant a full and complete number, as before was showed. As all the parts and members of a man joined together make a whole perfect man, so do the particular parts and members of the Beast make a perfect and entire Beast. Thus briefly, according to the ability which God hath given me, I have gone over this chapter, wherein is briefly set forth the workers of iniquity which have, and yet still do prevail over God's people, under the title of Ministers of the Gospel and Church of Christ, as they were represented under the form of three several Beasts: The first Beast representing the General councils, or (as the Papists call it) the Catholic Church. The second Beast representing the Pope. And the third Beast the Provincial Counsels which were established by the Pope.  
The which three Beasts bearing rule and dominion in these times whereinto we are fallen, and being enemies and opposers of Christ and his Kingdom, it doth behove us to know them, to end that we may eschew them and their evil ways, and seek after the truth, making strait steps unto the Kingdom of God.  
Now that we ourselves may make particular use hereof, it is necessary for us to examine the Nationall Synod, or Convocation, consisting of the Prelacy and clergy of this Land, who whilst they remained under the yoke and bondage of the church of Rome, and whilst they exercised their power which was first given them by the Pope, for, and in the behalf of that church and dominion, they were they very Image of the first Beast before mentioned: But being now separated from the Pope, and Church of Rome, they think (as it should seem) that their spiritual Pontifical power and authority which they exercise is lawful and warrantable, and to be submitted unto: They being gathered together boast themselves to be the representative body of the Church of England, and the true Church of Christ, and that they have power to make Laws and Canons for government thereof, and for the worship of God, which all men ought to yield obedience unto, as appeareth by diverse of their books of Canons.  
But we are not to take this upon their word, but to make trial thereof by the word of God, whether it be true or false. If the word of God did give them such power and authority, than indeed we were bound in conscience to yield all ready obedience to their Laws and Canons: But the most wise God and disposer of all things, who knoweth the vanity of men's minds, would not have his people to hold their faith in respect of men's persons, and at their pleasure to alter and change the same, and therefore did not give to any of his Minister's power to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God, but gave them power only to teach the Nations to observe the things which he had commanded them, as in the eight and twentieth chapter of Matthew, the nineteenth & twentieth verses. And the Apostle Paul biddeth the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 11. 1. to be followers of him as he followed Christ: And in the same Chapter he also saith, That which he had received of the Lord, he delivered unto them. 
Acts 15.  Also the Assembly of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of jerusalem, they would not impose any yoke of bondage upon the Churches of Christ, but held it to be a tempting of God so to do, as before hath been showed: And this agreeth with that in Deutr. 12. 32. Whatsoever I command you take heed you do it; Thou shalt put nothing thereto, nor take aught therefrom: By which Scriptures it is plain, that the chiefest Ministers of the Gospel had no such power as these Prelates presume to have, as we shall find by examining their particular Canons and Constitutions, of which, for examples, I will only note some few of their late and best reformed Book, made An. 1603. in the first year of the King's majesties reign, by which it will be apparent that they pass the bounds of the subjects of Christ, and that they have no power from him to make such laws; but by so doing they usurp the place of God to reign in men's consciences, for unto him only it doth belong to make Laws in matters of Religion and for the worship of God, to which, men are only bound to yield obedience, without adding, or detracting, and that for this their presumption they are liable to the curse of God, being indeed the Image of the Beast here spoken of, that is originally sprung from the Dragon, and hath received power of Lawmaking from him. Concerning the first and second Canons wherein they pretend their zeal for the abolishing of all foreign power repugnant to the jurisdiction of the King's Majesty over the Ecclesiastical estate, he being the highest power under God to whom all men own most loyal obedience; and that his Majesty hath the like authority in Causes Ecclesiastical as the godly Kings had amongst the jews. To these I do● most willingly assent and agree: And further do desire, that (as the Pope) so the Prelacy with all their Antichristian Adherents which usurp spiritual power and superiority, above the Majesty of Christ jesus, being a strange and foreign generation, brought in and established in this Land by the Pope of Rome, may also be abolished and cast out after him: for by them the Pope lives in hope hereafter to be served, as he hath been heretofore, to the great vexation of the Kings and Princes of this Land, yea to the loss of their Crown and lives.  
But to be short, I will proceed to mention some few of their canons, whereby iniquity is established for a Law, and their beastliness discovered. In the third canon it is enacted, that whosoever shall affirm the Church of England, by Law established, not to be a true and Apostolical Church, teaching and maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles, that person shall be excommunicated, ipso facto. That there are some, yea many doctrines of the Apostles maintained in the Church of England, I do not deny, so there are in the Church of Rome: But that the Ecclesiastical state, or spiritual body politic, which is called the Church of England, which consisteth of Arch bishops, Diocesan Lord Bishops, Suffragans, Deans, archdeacons, Prehends, Canons, Chancellors, Commissaries, with the rest of the Clergy, as heads and guides of that body to go before, and the whole multitude of the laity (as they call it) which is as the Tail to follow those Heads, that this political Body is the Spouse and church of Christ, as they affirm in their seventh, eight, and ninth canons, that I do deny: For first, if it were true, that they are the Ministers of Christ and members of the Body of Christ which is his Church, we should find warrant for them in his Testament, wherein is set down the Ministers which he hath set in the Church; namely, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and 
1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. 11.  Teachers, and also their office and administration: But in all the new Testament, no Archbishops nor Lordbishops, no Deans nor archdeacons, Prebends, Priests nor canons, no chancellor's nor commissaries, and other their court officers, nor any such administration as they challenge and execute, can there be found, they are a strange generation that is risen up out of the earth, for earthly-minded and vain men have invented them, and therefore the body which consisteth of them cannot of right be acknowledged to be the Body of Christ, whose Ministers in respect that they are called according to the commandment of Christ, are from heaven: But it is indeed the Image of the first Beast, whose mouth was as the mouth of a Lion, his body like a Leopard, and his feet as the feet of a Bear, an ugly compounded and deformed monster. And as their names are strange, and different from the Ministers of Christ, so is their practice contrary: they are not servants to the Flock and Church of Christ, and helpers of their joy, but they are authors of their woe, challenging and exercising Lordship and dominion over their faith; for in stead of a due administration of the word of God, they have mingled a cup of fornication for the people to drink, that is, devised a form of booke-worship, with orders, rites and ceremonies, which they have imposed on the people under the title of Divine Service, and which they must observe without adding thereto, or taking any thing from it, as in the 4. 6. 7. 8. and 14. canons.  
Further they are not painful preachers, but lazy Lords, they are not followers of Christ and of his word, but are contemners thereof, casting it behind their backs, and will not be reform, nor ruled by it, they are Lawmakers much like Nebuchadnezar, for as he would destroy all that would not worship his golden Image; So whosoever doth refuse to yield obedience to their Laws, shallbe most severely punished, as is plain by divers penalties annexed unto their Cannons.  
In consecrating and ordaining Priests, they are like to jeroboam, for as he consecrated whom he would of the basest of the people, to be the Priests of the high places which he had set up; so do they ordain for the most part ignorant fellows to be their parish priests and inferior Ministers: wherein though they do most absurdly, yet will they not be contradicted, as we may see by the 57 Canon, where it is said whosoever shall refuse to communicate with a dumb and unpreaching Minister, Let him be excommunicated. And although their own Doctors complain and cry out against it, yet they will not amend: amongst the rest it is worthy to be observed what their own great Champion profound Mr. Hooper saith, viz. That both Arguments from light of nature, Laws and Statutes of scripture, the Canons that are taken out of ancient Synods, the decrees and constitutions of sincerest times, the sentences of all antiquitte, and in a word every man's consent and conscience, is against ignorance in them that have the cure and charge of souls. If it be so, how unreasonable and beastly is it for the Prelates to ordain allow and approve of such for the Ministers of Christ, of which there are many hundreds in the land, whom the Prelates are not ashamed to forbid to expound the Scriptures, as in the 49. Canon, where it is said, that some of their parish priests shall not take upon them to expound in their cure or elsewhere, any Scripture, or matter, or doctrine, but shall only study to read etc. It is greatly to be wondered at, that so many grave heads as were gathered together and sat consulting about these matters, should breed and bring forth such absurd and impious Canons. If there were nothing else, this allowance of dumb Ministers, is sufficient to show the vanity of their minds and the darkness of their foolish hearts: So that we may truly say of them, that when they professed themselves to be most wise, by exalting and making themselves equal with God, in making laws for the government of his house the Church, even than they became most foolish and void of judgement.  
As for the best sort of their parish Priests which are men of learing and gifts, they must also be confined within their limits, they must worship God according to the rules prescribed them by these their spiritual Fathers, as in the 38. Canon. If any minister shall omit to use the form of Prayer, or any of the orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion Book, let him be suspended, and if he do not conform within the space of a moveth, let him be deposed. The absurdities and blasphemies contained in that Common prayer Book are many, which having been discovered and laid open by diverse treatises already published in print, I will omit, only this I will add, that in the imposing of that service Book, or any other, this great iniquity is committed by the imposers thereof; That they do exalt themselves both against Christ, who is ascended into heaven 
† Ephes. 4. 8. 11. 12.  and hath given gifts to his Ministers, for the gathering together of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the Church his body, and also they exalt themselves against the holy Ghost, who only hath power 
‡ Rom. 8. 26.  to help our infirmities, & to furnish men with gifts to worship God aright. Further their preachers may not teach against their corrupt Church state and Ministry, though they know it to be Antichristian, nor against the form of worship prescribed in the said common prayer Book, nor against the ceremonies, nor the government of the church of England by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacon's, and the rest that bear office in the same, nor against the manner and form of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons, nor against the Laws and Ordinances Ecclesiastical established in the said Church, whosoever transgresseth in these things, shallbe excommunicated ipso facto, as is plain in the 4. 6. 7. 8. & 54. Canons. Thus by excommunicating and cursing they labour to maintain and defend their corruptions, but not one jot of Scripture dare they show, and no marvel; seeing the whole scriptures are against men's inventions and traditions, of which nature these abuses are, being left here by the Pope, and retained and renewed by his Prelates. As they may not teach against these things, so on the contrary, they may not teach the true and right way which Christ hath prescribed in his Testament, how we must worship God, nor how the true Church of Christ ought to be gathered and constituted, the Ministers thereof ordained, nor the manner how it ought to be governed, as appeareth in the 9 10. 11. and 12. Canons. By which we may see in what bondage their Preachers are kept, they must hide their Talon in the earth, and put their candle under a Bushel, lest men by the light thereof should come to the knowledge of the truth and believe it. Also it is to be observed as a general rule, that none, good or bad, learned or unlearned, can be suffered to receive their Orders of Priesthood or Deaconship, or be admitted to preach, or execute a ministery in their Parish Churches, unless they swear to conform to the worship and ceremonies prescribed by these Prelates, and also submit to their Antichristian rule and government, which they challenge to themselves, as being Lords over all: Thus by swearing they make their inferior Priests to sell themselves to work wickedness; which trick they have cunningly devised to bring the Land in subjection to their Antichristian yoke: And upon the taking of this Oath they receive the Prelates Mark, which is called in this Chapter, the Mark of the Beast; which is understood to be the Letters of Orders under the Prelate's hand and seal to testify that they are made Priests or Deacons, according to the order and canons prescribed in that behalf, in this their Convocation, as we may see in the 36. 48. and 50. Canons: And for refusing to worship them in these things, many are put back, and those that formerly have been ordained, for refusing so to do (which they call revolting) have had their penal Laws executed upon them, which is Suspension, Degradation, and Excommunication, and after these many other afflictions in body, goods and name; being accounted factious and seditious persons, that have no right to buy or sell their wares.  
Concerning the people whereof the Church of England consisteth, it is necessary that we find them such as the Scriptures do require, otherwise they cannot be accounted the Church of Christ, and to this end observe these few places following, Ezeckiel 44. 19 Thus saith the Lord, no stranger uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh shall enter into my Sanctuary: And the people of Israel for suffering such uncircumcised strangers to enter into the Sanctuary of the Lord, he calleth them a rebellious people, that had polluted his Sanctuary, and broken his Covenant; And in the 23. verse, The Lord teacheth his Ministers to put difference between the holy and profane, the clean and unclean; And according to this was the practice of the Apostles in the primitive Age, who by preaching the Word gathered none but such as believed, and voluntarily submitted themselves to walk according to the profession of the Gospel; and if any did cunningly creep into the fellowship of the Saints, and not walk accordingly, they were to be cast out by the Church, as in the 1. Cor. 5. Likewise the Apostle Paul he separated the Disciples of Ephesus from those that believed not; so the Apostle 
Acts 19 9  taught the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 6. 14. 15. etc. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people; Wherefore come out from amongst them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.  
Now if we compare the Church of England with these Scriptures we shall find that the practice and proceed thereof, hath been, and is contrary. The people thereof (for the most part) are such as visibly and apparently live in all kind of licentiousness, and in their works deny God, being abominable and disobedient. For these Lordly Prelates being armed with the sword of Civil authority, and having the Law of their side, they have not laboured by painful preaching to draw men to the obedience of the faith, and to the fellowship of the Gospel apart from the profane and wicked, that speak evil of the ways of the Lord, but they have compelled and enforced all sorts of people, both religious and profane, not only such as fear God, but also such as fear him not, by bodily punishments to be conformable to the profession which is by their Canon Law established in this Church: As if the Word of God, that sword of the Spirit were not mighty enough in operation for the gathering together of the Saints. That this is their practice is plain by the 90. and 114. Canons, where it is said, that Ministers and Churchwardens must present all persons above the age of 13. years, that come not to the Church and receive the Sacraments; after which presentation, if they do not conform they shall be excommunicated, imprisoned, and have their goods attached: This is the means which hath been used for the gathering of this Church of England, whereby they have confounded and mingled them together whom God hath commanded to be separated: wherein what do they less than think themselves wiser and stronger than God? The Word of God is the seed whereby the Church of God is begotten, and those that are begotten by any other means are bastards, and not sons: for as that woman is an Harlot which hath children by any but her lawful Husband: so that Church whose members are gathered by any other way or means, then by the Word of God, persuading and moving their hearts, the same is not the Church of Christ: But this hath been the manner of gathering the Church of England, and therefore it is unworthy to be adorned with the title of the Church of Christ, but aught to be accounted the Image of the first Beast before spoken of, that is, of great Babylon which is an habitation of devils, an hold of soul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful Bird.  
And for confirmation hereof by the testimony of their own mouths, let us but consider the estimation which the members of this Church have one of another: Some there are amongst them, who for making more conscience of their ways then the rest, are in derision called Puritans or Precisians; these on the contrary seeing the ungodly conversation of the rest of their brethren, esteem them as wicked, profane, carnal and unregenerate men, such as (for the most part) are mockers, contemners, and evil speakers of the Truth, and in whom is no appearance of Religion and the fear of God; and therefore they distinguish the better sort from these profane persons by the name of Professors. This is the estimation which they have one of another, which is a manifest note that they are not come into the order of the Church of Christ. I deny not but there are many amongst them, that are the Saints and Servants of Christ, that are godly and zealous people, which so far as they know, they labour to yield obedience to the commandments of Christ; and although by means of their Guides which make them to err and go astray, keeping them in ignorance of this doctrine, yet it shall go well with them: Such persons (I say) are fit stones for the building of the Church of Christ, but so long as they remain in this confusion, they can no more be said to be the true visible Church of Christ, than a heap of stones fitted for a building can be said to be a house; therefore they must be separated from the wicked, and placed together according to the order prescribed by Christ jesus, and practised by his Apostles, as in the new Testament, before they can be so esteemed.  
As these Prelates will have this Church of England to be accounted the true Church of Christ, so they will have the true Church of Christ to be accounted false, schismatical and heretical, as in the 9 10. and 11. Canons: by which it doth appear, that if any people separate from this corrupt Church state, and join together apart from the wicked and profane, to walk in all the ways and ordinances of Christ prescribed in his Testament, acknowledging Christ jesus to be the only King, Lord, and Lawgiver in matters of Religion and the worship of God, which is the true and right rule whereby God's people ought to walk, and by so doing they become indeed the true Church of Christ, to whom he hath promised his presence and blessing: yet notwithstanding such persons are for this to be accounted Schismatics, and to be excommunicated ipso facto, as holding wicked errors. Thus they open their mouths wide to speak evil of the ways of God, whereby also they appear to be the very Image of the Beast that blasphemed the Tabernacle of God, as is showed before upon the sixth verse.  
Further, whereas the Apostles did ordain diverse Elders in every Church, to whom they gave charge to feed the Flock of Christ whereof the Holy Ghost had made them Overseers: On the contrary these Prelates in stead of Elders to feed one Flock, they do ordain one idle Priest to be fed of diverse Flocks; that is, some to have two, some three, and some four Benefices, and this they are not ashamed to publish, as appeareth in the 41. Canon, by which it is allowed, that Licences and Dispensations shall be granted to Masters of Arts, and other Graduates, to have plurality of Benefices, so that they be within the compass of 30. miles.  
Concerning their Copes, Surplices, Crossing in Baptism, and other their foolish ceremonies, which they themselves acknowledge to be things indifferent, yet those that refuse to use them through the tenderness of their consciences are therefore greatly afflicted and persecuted, so far are they unlike the Apostle (who would not use 
* 1. Cor. 8. 13.  necessary things that were offensive to his brethren) as that they themselves will, not only use those things which are unnecessary, but also in their use, justly scandalous and offensive; yea, and compel their brethren also to use them, which if they refuse, they shall enjoy neither liberty, nor worldly possessions. How unworthy this their practice is for those that would be accounted Christians, let the world judge: certainly, it is so contrary to Christian Charity, as that it is to be accounted Heathenish impiety, and beastly cruelty, and it is as a Mark in their foreheads to testify unto the world that they are those which our Saviour Christ speaketh of, that should come in sheeps clothing (that is, pretending themselves to be the Ministers of the Gospel, and such as desire peace and unity) but inwardly are ravening Wolves: such as do sow strife and contention, and by this means they grow rich, filling themselves with the spoil of their brethren, whom they persecute, as Lions, Bears and Leopards fill themselves with their prey.  
These, and many other evils by their Canon Law established, and to the dishonour of God and vexation of his people daily practised, have been much opposed, and the iniquity of them sufficiently manifested, but as yet it remaineth like unto the Decrees of the Medes and Persians, that may not be changed: yea, they boast and say (like their old Mother) that without their Laws the Church of Christ would run into confusion, as if the Testament and Laws of Christ were not sufficient for the government of his Church and Kingdom. Thus they open their mouths and reproach the Almighty: But he who sitteth in the heavens laugheth them to scorn, and will vex them in his sore displeasure, if they repent not.  
By these few examples of their wicked practices, I have briefly showed that this Church of England still remaineth under the bondage of Antichrist, and is ruled and governed by the Image of the Beast mentioned in this 13. chapter, which usurpeth that power which is only proper to Christ jesus.  
And whereas it is objected in the behalf of the Church of England, that it is fallen and separated from Babylon, the universal Church of Rome, and therefore it is the true Church of Christ, and needs no other separation. To this I answer, that true it is that that great City is now divided into three parts, as was foreshowed in the 16. chapter of this prophecy, and the cities of the Nations (that is the Nationall churches, whereof the church of England is one,) are fallen from it; but this is no argument that therefore they are the true churches of Christ that are divided from Rome, unless they be united and joined to Christ, and framed and built together according to the pattern prescribed in his Testament. It is indeed an argument that their kingdom shall not long stand, as our Saviour Christ teacheth, Mat. 12. Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation: and every City or House divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how shall then his kingdom stand? Thus by the division of this great City, God's people may receive comfort and rejoice in assured hope, that the fall and destruction of Babylon is near, and that the Lord will shortly be avenged of their iniquities, which should teach us to come out from amongst them, that we partake not of their sins, and so receive of their plagues, and to have no fellowship with their unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, and steadfastly resist and fight against them. So shall we receive the crown of righteousness, which God the righteous Judge shall give at his appearing. To whom be glory and Dominion for ever & ever Amen.  
 Revel. 20. 4. 
And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.