A20217:346
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.
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.
For alas, what comfort can a poore distressed conscience haue in Popes pardons, Indulgences, Masses, Dirges, Merits, Workes, Pilgrimages, Purgatory, Crosses, Crucifixes, Agnus deis, & such like trash and trumpery? these alas are too weake remedies for any spirituall diseases: they are not sufficient to procure pardon at Gods hand for any sinne. Alas, the poore blinde Papists did know & feele that they were vile sinners: they knew they must come to iudgement: they knew that the reward of sinne was death, euen the second death: they knew all this full wel, & therfore had horrible convulsions in their consciences, and knew no way nor meanes how to winde out of them. For the doctrine of free iustification in the bloud of Christ, was hid frō them, they knew it not: and therefore all assurance of Gods fauour, all peace of conscience, & all ioy in the holy Ghost, was vtterly taken from them, & therefore many of them died in most desperate & vncomfortable maner. And for this cause it is here said, that they sought death, and desired to be rid out of the worlde one way or an other: for a tormented conscience who can beare it, it is a kinde of he• torment.