A20217:361
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.
The voice commandeth the sixth Angel to loose the four Angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. By these four Angels which are thus bound at Euphrates, is meant many devils, or angels of darkness, as we heard before, chap. 7. verse 1. Their binding signifieth their restraint, by which they were held back from doing that mischief which they desired to do. Their loosing, signifieth that power was given them to perform that which they wished. ⟨p. 113⟩They are said to be four in number, because they should raise an horrible plague in the four corners of the earth, both East, West, North, and South. The sense is, that the devils have yet further and greater scope given them to plague and destroy the inhabitants of the earth. These devils had exceeding great power in the kingdom of Antichrist, but they are unsatiable in mischief, and so after a sort lie still bound till they have their desire. The place where they lie bound, is Euphrates, wherein is a mystery: for Euphrates literally taken, is a great River, which ran so nigh the city Babylon in Chaldea, that it was a mighty defence unto it, so that the city could not be taken, until they that laid siege unto it, cut out trenches, and derived the waters an other way. Now for the mystery, it is this: Rome in this book is called Babylon. By a metaphor, and after the same manner, the great River Euphrates, as we shall see afterward, chap. 16. signifieth the power, wealth, and authority, which that city Rome, even this western Babel, hath to defend it self. Then it followeth, that in this power, authority, and strength of Rome, the devils lie bound: for they waited through the power of Rome, to work yet far greater mischief, and therefore are said to be bound, so long as they were restrained. The mischief which they plotted, and purposed to bring to pass by the authority and power of Rome, was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometish religion, which in very deed did spring from the darkness of Rome, as from his proper root and original cause.
The voice commandeth the sixt Angell to loose the foure Angels which are bound in the great riuer Euphrates. By these foure Angels which are thus bound at Euphrates, is meant many diuels, or angels of darkenesse, as we heard before, chap. 7. verse 1. Their binding signifieth their restraint, by which they were helde backe from doing that mischiefe which they desired to do. Their loosing, signifieth that power was giuen them to performe that which they wished. ⟨p. 113⟩