A20217:592
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 I saw one of his heads, vers. 3 as it were wounded unto death: but his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered, and followed the beast.
And I saw one of his heads, vers. 3 as it were wounded vnto death: but his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondred, and followed the beast.
Here John in a vision seeth one of the seven heads of the beast, almost wounded unto death. There be divers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire, both when it should be, and how, and by whom. Some understand it of the death of Julius Caesar: some of Nero: some of the oppression of the Goths and Vandals: some of the great prevailing of John Huss, and Jerome of Prague in the greatest part of Bohemia. But to let all these pass, if we do wisely consider and weigh with our selves, that by a beast in this place, is not meant any lawful administration of government: but a tyrannical ⟨p. 174⟩power in persecuting the Church, we shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded, when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius, the two last persecuting Emperors, set up true religion, and brought peace to the Churches. For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded, as touching the tyranny of it. The holy Ghost doth not set down which of the seven heads were thus wounded, but in general saith, one of them. Now it is very probable, that he meaneth the sixth head: For we do not read of any such wound in the former five which were past. Neither can it be understood of the seventh head, which was the Papacy, because it received no such wound as yet. It followeth then, that the wound was in the sixth head, that is, in the Empire. But we read of no Emperor that did so wound the beast, as did Constantine the Great. And therefore it is very probable, nay, an hundred to one, that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him.
Heere Iohn in a vision seeth one of the seuen heads of the beast, almost wounded vnto death. There bee diuers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire, both when it should bee, and howe, and by whom. Some vnderstand it of the death of Iulius Caesar: some of Nero: some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandales: some of the great preuailing of Iohn Husse, and Ierome of Prage in the greatest part of Bohemia. But to let all these passe, if wee do wisely consider and weigh with our selues, that by a beast in this place, is not meant anie lawfull administration of gouernement: but a tyrannicall