A20217:315
The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome
The ruin of Rome: or An exposition upon the whole Revelation Wherein is plainly showed and proved, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authority of Rome, shall ebb and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an utter overthrow even in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Jesuits, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.
London: printed by T. Creede for Simon Waterson and Cuthbert Burby, 1603London: printed by T. Creede for Simon Waterson and Cutbert Burby, 1603
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
By the stories of the Church, and course of times, it seemeth that the holy Ghost pointeth at those manifold heresies which sprung up in the Church after the first three hundred years, especially after the death of Constantine the great, who procured peace to the Church, destroyed Idolatry, and set up true religion in his days.
By the stories of the Church, and course of times, it seemeth that the holy Ghost pointeth at those manifolde heresies which sprung vp in the Church after the first three hundred yeares, especially after the death of Constantine the great, who procured peace to the Church, destroied Idolatrie, and set vp true religion in his daies.
Now, after his reign, and the reign of Theodosius that good Emperor, Constantius, Julianus, Arcadius, Honorius, and many other wicked Emperors succeeded; by whose means all things in the Church grew worse and worse: yet this one thing is to be observed, that all truth of religion was not utterly extinct and put out, till the full loosing of Satan, which was a thousand years after Christ, as we shall plainly see when we come to the 20. chapter, concerning the binding of Satan for a thousand years. For sure it is, that the main principles and grounds of Religion, continued in the Church till this full loosing of Satan; which was about the time of Pope Sylvester the second, that monster, as afterward we shall hear.
Now, after his raigne, and the raigne of Theodosius that good Emperour, Constantius, Iulianus, Arcadius, Honorius, and many other wicked Emperours succeeded; by whose meanes all thinges in the Church grew worse and worse: yet this one thing is to bee obserued, that all truth of religion was not vtterly extinct and put out, till the full loosing of Sathan, which was a thousand yeares after Christ, as wee shall plainely see when wee come to the 20. chapter, concerning the binding of Sathan for a thousand yeares. For sure it is, that the maine principles and groundes of Religion, continued in the Church till this full loosing of Sathan; which was about the time of Pope Siluester the seconde, that monster, as afterwarde wee shall heare.