A20217:754
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 what then,1 shall we be sorry for the fall of Babylon and the ruin of Rome? No no. The holy Ghost counselleth us greatly to rejoice in her destruction and overthrow, saying, O Heavens rejoice over her, and ye holy Apostles & Prophets, because God hath given your judgement on her. We are therefore to be so far from mourning & lamenting for the desolation of Rome, as the kings, merchants, mariners & other her friends, as that it ought to be the very joy and rejoicing of our hearts. For S. John saith, that not only the holy Angels, Prophets, Apostles & Martyrs shall rejoice at the destruction of Rome: but also all the Saints, and the whole body of the Church. And therefore he saith, that after the utter overthrow of Rome, He heard a great voice of a great multitude in Heaven, saying, Hallelu-jah, that is, praise ye the Lord, 2for he hath condemned the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants shed by her hand. And again saith S. John, ⟨p. 252⟩they said, Hallelu-jah, Hallelu-jah, Hallelu-jah, thrice together, thereby expressing the great joy, & thanksgiving, for the destruction and overthrow of the great whore: and even so ought all that love God, that love the Church, and that love the truth, greatly to rejoice in the destruction of Rome: because this monster shall no longer oppress the Israel of God. And sure it is, that the more zealous & godly that a man is, the more he will rejoice at the destruction of Popery: for a man cannot love God and his church, that doth not laugh in the destruction of that Antichristian and bloody kingdom. Let no man here say, this is cruelty: this is want of charity: and want of pity, to laugh in the destruction of any, or to rejoice at other mens harms.3 But the most wise God saith, Reward her, even as she hath rewarded you, and give her double, according to her works, and in the cup that she hath filled to you, fill her the double. Inasmuch as she glorified her self, and lived in pleasure, so much give ye to her torment and sorrow. And therefore I affirm, that no man ought to be moved with any compassion or pity,4