Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

In the end it came to pass, that that haughty pride of the Roman Empire submitting it self also unto Christ, was a singular ornament to the house of God. But the malice & ingratitude of men was the cause why this happiness lasted not successively. And so the spouse of Christ as one stripped of so precious a robe, spoiled of her dignity, and deprived of her honourable attire, was brought back again to a miserable deformity: yet God always preserved some remainders, as it were in secret corners; but as touching the outward face of the Church, for the space of many years, nothing appeared any where, but scatterings and confused wastes. And we at this day behold how the Roman Antichrist, usurping far and near over the sanctuary of the Lord, by a sacrilegious tyranny holds it under his feet rent and oppressed. For seeing the purity of doctrine is there corrupted by monstrous errors, and that Gods service being overturned, idolatries reign there without number; that in stead of a government rightly instituted, a cruel torture hath been ⟨image 6⟩brought in, that the Sacraments be in part by gross and absurd abuses corrupted, and partly shamefully set to sale: what remain there (I pray you) but woeful ruins of that natural beauty of the spiritual building?

In the end it came to passe, that that hautie pride of the Romane Empire submitting it self also vnto Christ, was a singular ornament to the house of God. But the malice & ingratitude of men was the cause why this happinesse lasted not successiuely. And so the spouse of Christ as one stripped of so pretious a robe, spoiled of her dignitie, and depriued of her honourable attire, was brought backe againe to a miserable deformitie: yet God alwaies preserued some remainders, as it were in secret corners; but as touching the outward face of the Church, for the space of many yeeres, nothing appeared any where, but scatterings and confused wasts. And we at this day behold how the Roman Antichrist, vsurping farre and neere ouer the sanctuarie of the Lord, by a sacrilegious tyrannie holds it vnder his feet rent and oppressed. For seeing the puritie of doctrine is there corrupted by monstrous errors, and that Gods seruice being ouerturned, idolatries raigne there without number; that in stead of a gouernement rightly instituted, a cruell torture hath been ⟨image 6⟩brought in, that the Sacraments be in part by grosse and absurd abuses corrupted, and partly shamefully set to sale: what remaine there (I pray you) but wofull ruines of that naturall beautie of the spirituall building?