A20217:344
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.
Therefore in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall fly from them. vers. 6
Therefore in those daies shall men seeke death, and shall not finde it, and shall desire to die, and death shal flie frō thē. vers. 6
This verse doth show, that all Papists being thus stung and tormented in their consciences with this lingering pain of Popish doctrine, shall wish themselves out of the world, and buried quick, that they might be rid of their spiritual stinging, and hellish torments which they had in their conscience. For the Popish doctrine hath no sound comfort in it, it leaveth men in desperation in sickness, and upon their death-beds.
This verse doth shewe, that all Papists being thus stung and tormented in their consciences with this lingring paine of Popish doctrine, shall wish themselues out of the world, and buried quicke, that they might be ridde of their spirituall stinging, and hellish torments which they had in their cōscience. For the Popish doctrine hath no sound comfort in it, it leaueth men in desperation in sicknesse, and vpon their death-beds.
For alas, what comfort can a poor distressed conscience have in Popes pardons, Indulgences, Masses, Dirges, Merits, Works, Pilgrimages, Purgatory, Crosses, Crucifixes, Agnus deis, & such like trash and trumpery? these alas are too weak remedies for any spiritual diseases: they are not sufficient to procure pardon at Gods hand for any sin. Alas, the poor blind Papists did know & feel that they were vile sinners: they knew they must come to judgement: they knew that the reward of sin was death, even the second death: they knew all this full well, & therefore had horrible convulsions in their consciences, and knew no way nor means how to wind out of them. For the doctrine of free justification in the blood of Christ, was hid from them, they knew it not: and therefore all assurance of Gods favour, all peace of conscience, & all joy in the holy Ghost, was utterly taken from them, & therefore many of them died in most desperate & uncomfortable manner. And for this cause it is here said, that they sought death, and desired to be rid out of the world one way or an other: for a tormented conscience who can bear it, it is a kind of he torment.