A20217:468
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.
And the same hour there shall be a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city shall fall, and in the earthquake shall be slain in number seven thousand, and the remnant were sore feared, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
And the same houre there shalbe a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the citie shall fall, and in the earthquake shalbe slaine in number seuen thousand, and the remnant were sore feared, and gaue glory to the God of heauen.
As he hath showed before that the world was very joyful & jocund, when they had made dispatch of Gods witnesses; but afterward full of fear & terror, when they saw what followed: So here in this verse is showed, that at the same hour, that is about the same time when they have persecuted the Saints, and see thousands of others raised up in their stead, and as it were out of their ashes, or rather out of their blood, that there should immediately follow a great earthquake; that is, horrible commotions, seditions, tumults and open wars among the kingdoms and nations of the world, and amongst all people which should live after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel, as this day we see with our eyes. For who now in these days doth not see ⟨p. 148⟩and feel this Earthquake? who knoweth not what stirs there have been and are every where about Religion? Who is ignorant that all the wars, seditions, treacheries, treasons, and rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one kingdom and an other, are specially concerning the matter of religion? But mark what followeth. Behold the effect of this Earthquake. It is said, that the tenth part of the city shall fall. By the city here, he meaneth the great city Rome, mentioned before vers. 8. which is therefore called the great city, because it was the chief city of the Roman Empire, and the very seat of Antichrist. Now then the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is, that when there once beginneth to be an earthquake, that is, broils, contentions, alterations, questions & disputations, about religion: and that the popish doctrine which had so long prevailed in the world, should be called in question, yea openly preached against, convicted and condemned, that then Rome should begin to fall, and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse, yea the tenth part; that is, some part of the city of Rome: I mean the doctrine and authority of Rome should be overthrown. Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome, was fulfilled within some few years after the broaching of the Gospel by Luther, and his immediate successors; but since it is gone back many degrees, and hereafter it shall still ebb & consume away by degrees, even till it come to nothing: as God willing shall be plainly proved hereafter.