A20217:721
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 we are to observe in all this, that the holy Ghost useth a figure or kind of speech, which they call a Prosopopoeta or feigning of a person, whereby the Popish Kings being dead and rotten are brought, in lamenting, and bewailing the fall of Babylon, as if they were alive again: or else it may be understood of the Cardinals, and Legates, which are even as Kings upon the earth. But it cannot be understood of christian Kings, for they shall be the instruments of God to pull down great Babylon, as we shall hear anon. Furthermore, let us consider the causes of this great lamentation, for the deadly downfall of Babylon, by the Popish Kings, Merchants, and Mariners. First the Kings, they mourn and lament, saith Saint John, because they had committed fornication with the great whore of Babylon, ver. 9 and lived in pleasure with her. That is, they ⟨p. 235⟩had lived long with her in abominable idolatry, and pleased her that way: and therefore she gave them dispensations to live in wantonness and all carnal pleasures, and even to do what they list, spending their days in sensuality and all kind of fleshly delights.
But wee are to obserue in al this, that the holy Ghost vseth a figure or kinde of speech, which they cal a Prosopopoeta or fayning of a person, whereby the Popishe Kinges beeing dead and rotten are brought, in lamenting, and bewailing the fal of Babylon, as if they were aliue againe: or else it may bee vnderstood of the Cardinalles, and Legates, which are euen as Kings vppon the earth. But it cannot be vnderstood of christian Kinges, for they shal be the instruments of God to pul down great Babylon, as wee shal heare anone. Furthermore, let vs consider the causes of this great lamentation, for the deadlie downefal of Babylon, by the Popish Kings, Merchants, and Marriners. First the Kings, they mourne and lament, sayth Saint Iohn, because they had committed fornication with the great whoore of Babylon, ver. 9 and liued in pleasure with her. That is, they ⟨p. 235⟩had liued long with her in abominable idolatry, and pleased her that waie: and therefore shee gaue them dispensations to liue in wantonnesse and al carnal pleasures, and euen to doe what they list, spending their dayes in sensuality and al kinde of fleshlie delightes.