Therefore I conclude, that forasmuch as God in all ages hath effected the most strange and admirable things, either by himself without means, or by very weak means, or contrary to all means, therefore it is in vain to ask this question,1 how or by what means shall Rome be destroyed? for it is enough for us to know that it shall be destroyed, and come to utter desolation. And in my judgement the holy ghost hath so often, & so plainly affirmed this, that no man should any more make any doubt of it,2 or once call it into question. For what can be more plain, then to say, Rome is fallen: Rome shall fall. Great hailstones like talons shall fall upon it. It shall go to perdition: It shall fall to destruction: It shall be cast down like a great millstone into the bottom of the sea. It shall be burnt with fire: It shall be made desolate and naked: It shall be ⟨p. 250⟩without inhabitants. All the popish sort both high & low, shall with great mourning & lamentation bewail the desolation thereof. 3Their armies shall come to Armageddon. The beast & the false prophet shall be taken, & their captains & soldiers slain by infinite heaps, & their carcasses made meat for the fowls of the air. If all this be not plain enough, I cannot tell what can be plain enough. True it is indeed, the holy Ghost doth not name Rome, but it is apparent by the circumstances, that all these places must needs be understood of Rome, of Romish power, and of the Romish armies. For there can be no other sound sense given of them, as all divine writers, and interpreters do affirm, both new & old. And therefore I conclude, that S. John in this prophecy could not speak more plainly, except he should have named Rome. For he nameth Babylon. He nameth the great city, which then reigned over the kings of the earth. He nameth the city situate upon seven hills. He nameth the city which had seven several governments. And therefore out of all doubt he meaneth Rome.
Therefore I conclude, that forasmuch as God in all ages hath effected the most strange and admirable things, either by himselfe without meanes, or by very weake meanes, or contrary to all meanes, therefore it is in vaine to aske this question,1 how or by what meanes shall Rome bee destroyed? for it is inough for vs to know that it shall be destroyed, and come to vtter desolation. And in my iudgement the holy ghost hath so often, & so plainely affirmed this, that no man should any more make any doubt of it,2 or once call it into question. For what can bee more plaine, then to say, Rome is fallen: Rome shall fall. Great hailestones like talants shall fall vpon it. It shall goe to perdition: It shall fall to destruction: It shall bee cast downe like a great milslone into the bottome of the sea. It shall be burnt with fire: It shall bee made desolate and naked: It shall bee ⟨p. 250⟩without inhabitants. All the popish sort both high & low, shall with great mourning & lamentation bewaile the desolatiō therof. 3Their armies shall come to Armageddon. The beast & the false prophet shall bee taken, & their captaines & souldiours slaine by infinit heapes, & their carkases made meate for the foules of the aire. If all this be not plaine inough, I cannot tell what can bee plaine inough. True it is indeed, the holy Ghost doth not name Rome, but it is apparant by the circumstances, that all these places must needes bee vnderstood of Rome, of Romish power, and of the Romish armies. For there can be no other soūd sense giuen of them, as all diuine writers, and interpreters doe affirme, both new & olde. And therefore I conclude, that S. Iohn in this prophesie could not speake more plainly, except hee should haue named Rome. For hee nameth Babylon. He nameth the great citie, which then raigned ouer the kings of the earth. He nameth the citie situate vpon seauen hils. Hee nameth the citie which had seauen seuerall gouernments. And therefore out of all doubt hee meaneth Rome.
- 1The utter overthrow of Rome concluded of.The vtter ouerthrow of Rome concluded of.
- 2Apoc, 14.8. Apoc. 16 2. Apoc 17.8. Apoc. 17.11. Apoc. 18.21. Apoc. 18.8. Apoc. 17 16. Apoc. 18 22. Apoc. 18.9.
- 3Apoc. 16.16. Apoc. 19.20.
