A20217:792
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 cause why he was now bound and chained up, was, for that he had a long time seduced all nations, and reigned as King and Lord over the Gentiles, and greatly seduced the Jews also.
The cause why hee was now bound and chained vp, was, for that hee had a long time seduced all nations, and raigned as King and Lord ouer the Gentiles, and greatly seduced the Iewes also.
The time of his imprisonment is set down, to be a thousand years, that is, all the time from the preaching of Christ, and his Apostles, until Gregory the seventh, & other monstrous Popes, which did let Satan loose again. Which space of time is guessed by the learned, to be a thousand years or thereabouts. But here it is to be observed, that this binding of Satan, is not to be taken simply, and absolutely, as though Satan was so bound and chained up, for this thousand year, that he could not seduce at all, or do no mischief at all, after the preaching of the Gospel by Christ, and his Apostles: I say this is not to be taken simply, but after a sort, that is, that he could not so generally and universally seduce all nations, as he had in former time, before the coming of Christ. For otherwise it is well known, that even after Christs time, he did greatly persecute the Church, bring in many errors and heresies, and harden and blind many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in comparison of that which he had wrought in former ages, when he was even as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worshipped him as God, as the Apostle teacheth,1 that all the worship of the heathen nations, was the worship of devils. And again, that God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways. 2And then was ⟨p. 272⟩Satan a great prince indeed.3 But now cometh a chain for him: For Christ preacheth the Gospel, and sendeth forth his disciples with power, and thereupon saith, I saw Satan fall down like lightning: For the preaching of the Gospel, beateth down the kingdom of Satan and sin.