The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome

This is set down in the sixteenth chapter, chapter 16. v. 12 where the fall of Rome is compared to the drying up of the river Euphrates, which was dried up by degrees: Thus it is: Euphrates was a great River, which did run very near unto the old Babylon in Chaldea, and it was the wall and fortification of the City; in so much that Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians, laying siege against it, could not take it till by policy they digged great trenches, and derived the waters another way, and so dried them up, that the Holy Ghost saith, The way was prepared for them to pass over. Now, as this Euphrates was the strength and fortification of old Babylon: so the honour, wealth, riches, power, and authority of Rome, is the very fortification of it. chapter 16.12. But the punishing Angel is commanded to pour down the Vial of wrath upon this Euphrates: that is, upon all that upholdeth Rome, or fortifieth Rome, and forthwith it dried up; that is, all the credit, power, riches▪ and authority of ROME did diminish daily upon it, doeth diminish, and shall diminish ⟨p. 216⟩by degrees unto the end of the world. For the utter destruction of Rome is not yet come, but it is greatly decayed from that it was fourscore years ago: And if it continue decaying fourscore years mo, as assuredly it shall, then will it be brought to a low ebb. Since Luther's time we know how the Popes Euphrates hath dried up; but there is yet much water left, and it is yet too deep for the kings of the earth to pass over and take it. But it shall ebb so low, that the kings of Europe shall easily pass over, and take it, as we shall hear anon. But in the mean time we see that it falleth, and that it is in falling, and the work of God goeth forward every day. For now in this age, God be thanked, many kings and princes, with great multitudes of their subjects, have their eyes opened to behold, that the Romish religion is abominable;¹ and that the Papacy is the very kingdom of the great Antichrist. And whereas before they worshipped the beast, now they hold up their hands only to the God of heaven, and glorify him in his Son Jesus Christ. Now we see that many laws are made in sundry kingdoms and provinces to abolish that usurped power of the Bishop of Rome:

This is set downe in the sixteenth chapter, chapter 16. v. 12 where the fall of Rome is compared to the drying vppe of the riuer Euphrates, which was dried vp by degrees: Thus it is: Euphrates was a great Riuer, which did runne very neere vnto the olde Babylon in Chaldaea, and it was the wall and fortification of the Citie; in so much that Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians, laying siege against it, could not take it till by policie they digged great trenches, and deriued the waters another way, and so dried them vppe, that the Holie Ghost saith, The vvay vvas prepared for them to passe ouer. Now, as this Euphrates was the strength and fortification of old Babylon: so the honour, wealth, riches, power, and authoritie of Rome, is the verie fortification of it. chapter 16.12. But the punishing Angell is commaunded to poure downe the Viall of wrath vppon this Euphrates: that is, vppon all that vpholdeth Rome, or fortifieth Rome, and foorthwith it dried vppe; that is, all the credite, power, riches and authoritie of ROME did diminish daylie vppon it, doeth diminish, and shall diminish