A20217:333
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.
First, he is said to have the key of the bottomless pit, which agreeth well to the Pope: for he hath power given him to open hell gates, to ⟨p. 104⟩let in thousands thither: but no power to open heaven gates, to let in any thither: for he furthereth many to hell, none to heaven. He doth indeed falsely challenge unto himself the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to let in, and shut out at his pleasure. But here we see the holy Ghost doth attribute no such power unto him, but only telleth us, that his power and jurisdiction is in hell, and over hell, & as for heaven, he hath nothing to do with it. It were needless to show how this metaphor of keys is taken for power and jurisdiction in the scriptures, as hath been proved before, cap. 1. ver. 18. & as needless to prove that by the bottomless pit, is here meant hell, as appeareth, chap. 11.7. chap. 20.1.
First, he is said to haue the keie of the bottomelesse pitte, which agreeth well to the Pope: for hee hath power giuen him to open hell gates, to ⟨p. 104⟩let in thousands thither: but no power to open heauen gates, to let in any thither: for he furthereth many to hell, none to heauen. Hee doth indeed falsely challenge vnto himselfe the keies of the kingdome of heauen, to let in, and shut out at his pleasure. But here wee see the holy Ghost doth attribute no such power vnto him, but onely telleth vs, that his power and iurisdiction is in hell, and ouer hell, & as for heauen, he hath nothing to do with it. It were needlesse to shewe how this metaphor of keies is taken for power and iurisdiction in the scriptures, as hath bene proued before, cap. 1. ver. 18. & as needlesse to proue that by the bottomelesse pit, is here meant hell, as appeareth, chap. 11.7. chap. 20.1.
vers. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose the smoke of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace, & the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.