A20217:702
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.
But that I may more fully persuade the conscience of the reader, that by these frogs are meant the Jesuits & seminary priests: let us seriously weigh that which goeth before, and that which followeth after in this text, and we shall discern it to be very clear and apparent. First, it is said, vers. 10. that when the fifth Angel poured out his vial of Gods wrath upon the throne of the beast, chapter 16. v. 10. by and by his kingdom waxed dark: that is, the majesty, power, pomp, credit, and estimation of Antichrist began to be diminished, obscured, and to suffer a great Eclipse: which thing was fulfilled shortly after Luther's preaching. And presently it followeth, that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow: that is, they were full of fury and rage, ver. 10 barking and grinning like mad dogs, or rather like hellhounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach, whereby their Babylon began to shake. For at the first, when the Gospel began to peep forth, they did despise it, as a thing which they could easily suppress; but within a short time they found that neither ⟨p. 219⟩by excommunications, wherewith in former times they had even as it were with lightening and thunder caused kings and nations to tremble; neither by force of wars and bloody slaughters; neither by any skill in learning; nor by treacheries, they could any thing prevail, but that the Gospel did still more and more lay open their filthiness and shame: then did they become, and so do they continue till this day, even as mad men in sorrow and rage, which the holy Ghost expresseth, in saying, chapter 16. v. 11. that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow, and blasphemed the God of heaven, &c. Whereby it is evident that the beast, and all that have received his mark are full of fiery hatred and malice, and cannot tell which way to be revenged. For the more they strive, the more they lose daily. Fain would they have Popery restored to his ancient credit and dignity: and they devise what they can to bring it about; but it will not be. For their kingdom waxeth darker and darker, weaker and weaker: and that is a dagger unto them, & a grief of all griefs, which maketh them gnaw their tongues, and gnash their teeth for sorrow. But yet for all this, chapter 16. v. 11.
But that I may more fully perswade the cōscience of the reader, that by these frogs are meant the Iesuits & seminarie priests: let vs seriously weigh that which goeth before, and that which followeth after in this text, and wee shal discerne it to be verie cleere and apparant. First, it is said, vers. 10. that when the fift Angell poured out his viall of Gods wrath vppon the throne of the beast, chapter 16. v. 10. by and by his kingdome waxed darke: that is, the maiestie, power, pompe, credite, and estimation of Antichrist beganne to bee diminished, obscured, and to suffer a great Eclipse: which thing was fulfilled shortly after Luthers preaching. And presently it followeth, that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow: that is, they were ful of furie and rage, ver. 10 barking and grinning like mad dogs, or rather like helhounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach, wherby their Babylon began to shake. For at the first, when the Gospel began to peep forth, they did despise it, as a thing which they could easily suppresse; but within a short time they found that neither