A20217:700
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.
Many acts, edicts, and injunctions are set forth in sundry nations and kingdoms of Europe to destroy, root out, and deface all monuments of Idolatry and superstition, which Antichrist had erected in all kingdoms.
Manie acts, edicts, and iniunctions are set forth in sundrie nations and kingdomes of Europe to destroy, roote out, and deface all monuments of Idolatrie and superstition, which Antichrist had erected in all kingdoms.
Now the Popes which were honoured as Gods in the earth, are accounted, and adjudged as the most vile and abominable creatures that live upon ⟨p. 217⟩the earth. Doth not all this experimentally show that Babylon is fallen, and that Babylon doth fall by degrees? It is very palpable: we need no further proof for this second point. But here we are further to observe, that the Jesuits perceiving the great decay of Rome,1 and the continual drying of their Euphrates, do bestir them to stop the leak, that it might not dry up altogether. Even as when men let out the waters of great fish-ponds, so as the water waxeth low, we see the fishes skip and plunge, and take on wonderfully: So the Jesuits perceiving the waters of their Romish Euphrates to empty and dry up daily, do mightily take on, digging and searching every day to open the springs, and to find out some fresh fountains to maintain their great fishpond, and to keep the waters deep enough, that there may be no safe passage over, for the kings of the earth to come and take their great Babylon. All this doth appear out of the sixteenth Chapter of this Prophecy: where Saint John in vision seeth three unclean spirits like Frogs, chapter 16. v. 13. coming out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet. By which frogs the holy Ghost meaneth the Jesuits and Seminary Priests,2 which are compared to frogs for three reasons. First, that as frogs delight in filthy lakes, and puddles; so the Jesuits delight in the filthy puddles of idolatry and superstition. Secondly, as frogs make a great croaking in their marish grounds; so the Jesuits make a great croaking in kings courts, in Noblemen's houses, and Gentlemen's