A20217:709
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.
That is, God doth now at length call to mind all the wrongs done to his people, & all the righteous blood shed, for the space of seven or eight hundred years, by ⟨p. 227⟩the whore of Babylon, that he may be fully revenged, and execute the fierceness of his wrath both upon her, and her whole kingdom: yea, and that in such terrible and wrathful manner, that there shall be no place of refuge, no place to fly unto for succour. vers. 20 For Saint saith, Every Isle fled away, and the mountains were not found: Meaning, that the Papists in that day shall have neither mountain, nor Island to fly unto. And last of all, the holy Ghost saith, that there fell a great hail like talents out of heaven upon the Idolaters: chapter 16.21. insomuch, that they blasphemed God, because of the plague of the hail. For the plague thereof was exceeding great. A talent was about the weight of threescore pound, as some write. Then it followeth, that this hail of Gods wrath upon the Papists, shall be most terrible and fearful, and beat them all down to the ground, as it were an hail of millstones, or plough-irons. Now, when this hail of talents cometh, as assuredly come it shall, then shall the kingdom of Popery be beaten to dust and powder: and therefore no marvel though the idolaters, seeing all this, be in a most horrible rage, and blaspheme God, as Saint John saith, vers. 21 because of this exceeding and most extraordinary plague, which shall then come upon them. But now to conclude and wind up all together: For as muc• as this last vial is poured into the air (God saith, it is done) an extraordinary earthquake followeth; the great city of Rome is rent; Babylon called into question; and fearful hailstones of wrath poured down upon the Idolaters: I do conclude, that Rome shall fall finally, and come to utter destruction in this life.
That is, God doth now at length call to mind all the wrongs done to his people, & all the righteous bloud shed, for the space of seuen or eight hundred yeers, by ⟨p. 227⟩the whoore of Babylon, that he may be fully reuenged, and execute the fiercenesse of his wrath both vpon her, and her whole kingdome: yea, and that in such terrible and wrathfull maner, that there shall bee no place of refuge, no place to flie vnto for succour. vers. 20 For Saint saith, Euerie Ile fled away, and the mountaines were not found: Meaning, that the Papists in that day shall haue neither moutaine, nor Iland to flie vnto. And last of all, the holy Ghost saith, that there fell a great haile like talents out of heauen vpon the Idolaters: chapter 16.21. insomuch, that they blasphemed God, because of the plague of the haile. For the plague thereof was exceeding great. A talēt was about the weight of threescore pound, as some write. Then it followeth, that this haile of Gods wrath vpon the Papists, shal be most terrible and fearfull, and beate them all downe to the ground, as it were an haile of milstones, or plough-irons. Nowe, when this haile of talents commeth, as assuredly come it shall, then shall the kingdome of Poperie bee beaten to dust and powder: and therfore no maruell though the idolaters, seeing all this, bee in a most horrible rage, and blaspheme God, as Saint Iohn saith, vers. 21 because of this exceeding and most extraordinarie plague, which shall then come vpon them. But nowe to conclude and wind vp all together: For as muc as this last viall is powred into the aire (God saith, it is done) an extraordinarie earthquake followeth; the great citie of Rome is rent; Babylon called into question; and feareful hailestones of wrath poured down vpon the Idolaters: I do conclude, that Rome shal fall finally, and come to vtter destruction in this life.