A20217:762
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.
Now it followeth to speak of the time when it shall be destroyed. Which of all the rest is a thing most hard to be decided. For the holy ghost faith,1 why should not the times he hid of the Almighty: So as they which know him, should not foresee the times appointed of him. 2And again, the words are closed and sealed up, 3until the time determined. And again, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath put in his own power. Yet even in this point, I vvill by Gods assistance, set down so much as is revealed, and so much as God hath given me to see. First I do confess that God in his word, ⟨p. 261⟩hath set down the just period, and precise determination of all the greatest afflictions & persecutions, that ever came to his Church, before the coming of his Son in the flesh, for the comfort thereof, as that of Egypt, after the expiration of four hundred and thirty years: that of Babylon, after the date of seventy years: that of the Medes & Persians, 4after the determination of an hundred & thirty years: that of Alexander's state after six years:5 that of Magog and Egypt, after 294 years. So likewise that of Christs death and resurrection, after seventy sevens, or seventy weeks, which make 490 years, as the Angel Gabriel foretold, unto the prophet Daniel. 6But concerning the just period and precise determination, of the persecutions of the Church, since Christ by the Roman Empire, and the papacy, we find not the like set down: & here of there may be two reasons yielded. First because the Church of the Jews were not under so clear, and precious promises as we are, therefore it was needful, for the better strengthening of their hope & comfort in afflictions, that they should know the very time determined: but because the Church of the christians liveth under most clear & comfortable promises of deliverance, therefore God according to his deep wisdom would have our faith exercised in an assured expectation of the accomplishment thereof, though the precise time be concealed. An other reason may be this: the utter overthrow of Rome, falleth out to be, but a little before the coming of Christ to judgement, as appeareth in