A20217:425
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.
Now then, both the Church, the true worship and worshippers, were all to be measured, repaired, and built up by the ministry of the word, which all were decayed and almost laid waste, by the Popes tyranny. But the court which is without the temple cast out and measure it not, for it is given to the Gentiles; and the ⟨p. 133⟩holy city shall they tread under foot two and forty months. John is here forbidden to measure and build up the court which is without the temple. Whereby is meant all heretics, hypocrites, worldlings, & all such as have a place in the Church, but are not of the Church. This phrase of speech is taken from the old shadowish worship as the rest before. For in the temple of Jerusalem there was an outward court which was common to all, good & bad: the holy place which was proper to the Priests and Levites: and the holy of holiest, or most holy place, where none might come but the high Priest only.
Now then, both the Church, the true worship and worshippers, were all to be measured, repaired, and built vp by the ministrie of the word, which all were decaied and almost laide waste, by the Popes tyrannie. But the court which is without the temple cast out and measure it not, for it is giuen to the Gentiles; and the ⟨p. 133⟩holy citie shall they treade vnder foote two and fortie moneths. Iohn is heere forbidden to measure and build vp the court which is without the tēple. Wherby is ment all heretikes, hypocrites, worldlings, & all such as haue a place in the Church, but are not of the Church. This phrase of speech is taken from the olde shadowish worship as the rest before. For in the temple of Ierusalem there was an outward court which was common to all, good & bad: the holy place which was proper to the Priests and Leuites: and the holy of holiest, or most holy place, where none might come but the high Priest onely.
Here is a reason added why the Lord God refuseth all Papists and hypocrites, and all such as belong to the outward court only, and it is this: that this outward court is given unto the Gentiles; that is, to all false Christians and counterfeits in Religion, which are members of the visible Church, but have nothing to do with the invisible. These are compared to Gentiles in two respects. First, in regard of profaneness, for they are as profane as the Heathen. Secondly, in respect of persecuting the truth: for hypocrites and Atheists are as forward in persecuting the people of God as the Heathen Emperors, which persecuted the Church by the space of 300. years. All comes to this, that when the Church should be gathered and built by the Preaching of the Gospel, God would have all Papists, Atheists, and hypocrites shut out.