A20217:611
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.
Having described the first beast which is the Roman Empire: now the Holy-ghost cometh to describe the second beast, which is the Papacy, or the kingdom of the great Antichrist: for although he be described before in regard of his monarchy, that is, the civill jurisdiction, which he exercised as he was the seventh head of the beast, and head of the Empire; yet here he is described after another sort, that is, according to his ecclesiastical authority: and therefore he is called another beast, or a beast differing from the former, in that he exerciseth an other power, besides the power of the heathen Emperors of Rome, which is his spiritual jurisdiction,1 in which respect he is called the false prophet.
Hauing described the first beast which is the Roman Empire: now the Holy-ghost commeth to describe the second beast, which is the Papacy, or the kingdome of the great Antichrist: for although hee bee described before in regard of his monarchy, that is, the ciuill iurisdiction, which hee exercised as he was the seuenth head of the beast, and head of the Empire; yet here he is described after another sort, that is, according to his ecclesiastical authority: and therfore he is called another beast, or a beast differing from the former, in that he exerciseth an other power, besides the power of the heathen Emperours of Rome, which is his spirituall iurisdiction,1 in which respect he is called the false prophet.
- 1Chap. 16 Ver. 13. Chap. 19. Ver. 20.
This second beast riseth out of the earth, as the former rose out of the sea: then it appeareth that Antichrist is, by his breed, a son of the earth; obscurely borne, & by little and little creeping up out of his abject ⟨p. 182⟩estate; as did the Turk. It is here most truly said, that the kingdom of Antichrist ariseth out of the earth, & is the very breed of the earth: for assuredly it never came from heaven. It was first hatched out of covetousness, ambition, pride, murders, treasons, poisonings, sorceries, enchantments, and such like. For all stories do show, that from these roots the Papacy grew to his exceeding height and altitude.