A20217:467
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.
Here the Lords witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered, are called, and taken up into heaven, that they may be crowned with glory and immortality, having in the earth fought so excellent a fight of faith as they had: for even as Christ their head was taken up in a cloud into the heavens: Even so his faithful members are here taken up in a cloud to reign with him for ever. Moreover, it is here said, that their enemies shall see them ascending up, they shall as it were ascend up in their sight: for from the fire and faggot, swords and spears of their enemies, they went directly unto God, and the very consciences of their persecutors did witness so much; nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of conscience, did not stick to utter it; avouching the innocency of Gods ⟨p. 147⟩Martyrs: as sometimes Pilate, 1and the Centurion did of Christ. But though they had not been justified by their enemies, yet are they here justified by a greater testimony: for the voice from heaven, the voice of God doth justify them, & clear them; accounting them worthy to be called up from the earth to heaven, and received to eternal glory. For howsoever the Pope & his Clergy condemned them for heretics and schismatics; yet here they are justified and cleared by a voice from heaven, which is more then the voices, suffrages, and approbations of all men in the world.
Here the Lordes witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered, are called, and taken vp into heauen, that they may be crowned with glory and immortalitie, hauing in the earth fought so excellēt a fight of faith as they had: for euen as Christ their head was taken vp in a cloud into the heauens: Euen so his faithfull members are here taken vp in a cloud to raigne with him for euer. Moreouer, it is here said, that their enemies shall see them ascending vp, they shall as it were ascend vp in their sight: for from the fire and faggot, swords and speares of their enemies, they went directly vnto God, and the very consciences of their persecutors did witnesse so much; nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of cōscience, did not sticke to vtter it; auouching the innocency of Gods ⟨p. 147⟩Martirs: as sometimes Pilat, 1