A20217:348
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.
Hitherto we have heard of the petigrew & poisoned stings of these vile Locusts, and how they vexed ⟨p. 109⟩the inhabitants of the earth all the time of the great Antichrist. Now we are to understand of their form and likeness: for the spirit of God doth here paint them out in their colours, that all men may discern them, and beware of them. First, it is said that they were like unto horses prepared unto battle: that is, they were as strong and fierce as barred horses, to rush and run upon all such as should but once mute or mutter against them, or their authority. Moreover, they have crowns of gold upon their heads, which showeth and signifieth, that they were the conquerors of the earth, & Lords of the world, and who but they? for in those days no man, nay, no Lord or King, durst quitch against a Monk, a Friar, or a pilled Priest: for if any did, they were sure to smart for it. They had also faces like the faces of men; that is, they set fair faces upon matters, and pretended great devotion in religion, flattering the people, and making them believe that they could give them pardon of all their sins, and bring them to heaven; when as in very truth, for their bellies, and for their gain, they did cunningly smooth with the nobles, the rich, & the mighty, setting fair faces upon all their proceedings; and as S. Peter saith, Through covetousness with feigned words, they made merchandise of mens souls, 1and did closely wind themselves into the hearts of the simple people, by their fawning insinuations, being in very deed most notable flatterers and hypocrites. They had hair, as the hair of women; that is, they were altogether effeminate, being given to delicacy, lust, and wantonness; they were drowned in whoredom & all kind of beastliness, being a shoal ⟨p. 108⟩of most filthy villains. Their teeth were as the teeth of Lyons, to catch & snatch all that they could come by. They devoured all the fat morsels every where: they got the church-livings into their hands: they first made impropriations: they encroached upon temporal mens lands: they swallowed up all every where. If we look upon the Abbeys, Priories, and Nunneries, we may easily judge what teeth they had. Moreover, it is said they had Habergeons, like to Habergeons of Iron;
Hitherto we haue heard of the petigrew & poisoned stings of these vile Locusts, and how they vexed