A20217:524
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 after the woman's child was set in safety, here is showed what became of the woman her self: To wit, that she was so sore pursued by the Scribes and Pharisees, and by the Priests and Elders, that she was fain to fly into the wilderness. The natural sense & plain meaning of this place is, that when the church began to grow, after Christs ascension, & the number of the Disciples to increase exceedingly, as we read in the 2. of the Acts; Satan did so greatly malign it, and began to be in such a rage, that he would have eaten them up all at a bit, and rooted them out at once, that so the woman might have no more being in the earth. And therefore we read, Act. 8. that after the stoning of Steven, there was such a persecution raised up against the Church by the high Priests, the Princes of the Jews, the Pharisees, and all that cursed crew, that all the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were scattered, and dispersed here and there in the Heathen countries, and among the heathen people, which here are called the wilderness, that is to say, a ground untilled, desolate, and barren of all fruits of godliness.
Now after the womans child was set in safetie, here is shewed what became of the woman her selfe: To wit, that she was so sore pursued by the Scribes and Pharisees, and by the Priests and Elders, that she was faine to flie into the wildernesse. The naturall sense & plaine meaning of this place is, that when the church began to grow, after Christs ascensiō, & the number of the Disciples to increase exceedingly, as we reade in the 2. of the Acts; Sathan did so greatly maligne it, and began to bee in such a rage, that he would haue eaten them vp all at a bit, and rooted them out at once, that so the woman might haue no more being in the earth. And therefore we reade, Act. 8. that after the stoning of Steuen, there was such a persecution raised vp against the Church by the high Priests, the Princes of the Iewes, the Pharisees, and all that cursed crue, that all the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were scattered, and dispersed here and there in the Heathen countries, and among the heathen people, which here are called the wildernesse, that is to say, a ground vntilled, desolate, and barren of all fruits of godlinesse.