A20217:758
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.
The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. Here then it doth plainly appear, who they be that shall overthrow Rome, and by whom it shall be destroyed. To wit, by the ten kings of Europe, or kingdoms of Europe, which some very learned do reckon up to be these, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweveland, Poland, Russia, and Hungary. *S. John words are plain, that these kingdoms which took part with the beast, shall take against her, & pull her down. But we know, that all the kingdoms of Europe did take part with her, therefore it followeth that all the kingdoms of Europe shall take against her. And therefore it is very probable, that in time France, Spain, and Italy, 2shall turn against the beast. We know that the rest of the kingdoms are already turned against the beast, and the beast hath lost seven of his ⟨p. 257⟩horns: the eight, which is France, beginneth to be somewhat loose, and to shake a little, which if it fall off, the rest will follow after a pace. The reason why the kingdoms, which were subject to the Roman empire, are compared to horns, is, because that as horns are the strength & defence of a beast, wherewith also he pusheth down other creatures: so the strength and defence of the Roman empire, and the papacy, was in the kingdoms which were subject unto them, and took part with them, whereby also they did mightily push at other nations and kingdoms. Moreover we are to observe, that whereas S. John saith, the same horns which did uphold and defend the whore, shall pull her down, it is not to be understood of the same men, but of their successors in the same kingdoms. For the kings of England, Scotland, Denmark, Polonia, and other countries, which gave their power and authority unto the beast, are dead and gone. If we respect the persons of the men, and those which succeed them now in these kingdoms, and pull down the whore, are other persons: but because they succeed & govern in these kingdoms, they are said to be those ten horns of the beast. Then thus it is:
The ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and make her desolate, and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and burne her with fire. Heere then it doth plainely appeare, who they bee that shall ouerthrow Rome, and by whom it shall bee destroyed. To wit, by the tenne kings of Europe, or kingdomes of Europe, which some very learned doe reckon vp to bee these, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spaine, Denmarke, Sweueland, Poland, Russia, and Hungary.