A20217:713
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 behold yet stronger, and plainer proof. chapter 18. verse 2. For Saint John saith, a mighty Angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, with such violence shall that great City Babylon be cast down, and shall be found no more. Al men know, that old Babylon in Chaldea was destroyed by the Medes, and Persians, ⟨p. 230⟩long before Saint John writ this book: and therefore that is not here meant, but the new Babylon which is Rome, as afore hath bin proved. The Phrases of speech, and the signs which the Prophets used to declare the destruction and desolation of old Babylon, are here alluded unto in the destruction of Rome. For we read in the prophecy of Jeremiah, that the Prophet having written in a book all the evil that should come upon Babel, for holding Gods people so long in most miserable captivity, said to Seraiah, When thou comest unto Babel, 1thou shalt read all these words, and when thou hast made an end of reading this book, thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middest of Euphrates, and shalt say: Thus shall Babel be drowned, and shall not rise up from the evil that I will bring upon her, although they weary themselves. Now let us consider how this agreeth with the same which is here set down, and we shall find, that all things are here set down, with greater force, to express, as it were, a deeper vengeance, and a more heavy (and unrecoverable destruction). First, there is a man, here is a mighty Angel: there the man taketh up a stone, here the Angel taketh up a great stone, like a millstone: there the stone is caste into the river, here into the deep sea. Al these circumstances being applied to Rome, do greatly aggravate the matter,2 and very plainly show, that it shall fall, Without all hope of recovery. For the Lord declareth by this forcible sign, of casting a millstone into the sea, that the City and kingdom of Antichrist shall be cast deep down into perdition, ⟨p. 231⟩and shall lie overwhelmed, and drowned in the same for ever. For if old Babylon was utterly destroyed, and came to a final desolation in this life; much more shall Rome, as the Holy Ghost disputeth. But old Babylon came to utter ruin and desolation in this life, as both Isay and Jeremiah do witness: Therefore new Babylon; that is, Rome, shall come to utter destruction: