A20217:812
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.
Furthermore it is to be noted, that the prophet Ezekiel saith, that Gog is the chief prince of Mesech, and Tuball. 1By Mesech he meaneth Arabia, and by Tubal Italy and Spain: noting thereby the countries and kingdoms from whence the great persecutors of the Church, from the return out of the captivity of Babylon, until the coming of the Messiah should arise. For assuredly those enemies, were collected of divers nations, but served chiefly under the princes ⟨p. 279⟩of Asia the lesser, of Syria, and of Scythia. Now then to conclude: Gog and Magog in Ezekiel, are put for the princes of those countries, which were the chief Captains in gathering great and mighty armies unto battle, against the children of Israel, after they were come out of the captivity of Babylon. And the prophet there in one sum under the armies of Gog and Magog, comprehendeth all the enemies that fought against them, from time to time, after the captivity, unto the coming of Christ. And now for the application of this, unto the enemies of the Church, under the Gospel, we must first note, that through this book, the figures and phrases of speech are taken out of the law & the prophets. Now therefore, when the Lord would set forth in one sum all the enemies of the Church, which Satan mustereth, after the time of his loosing out of prison, before the coming of Christ to judgement: there is no one place more fit, to set forth all these armies, then those armies of Gog and Magog, & therefore the names, even Gog and Magog are here brought in, to set forth these huge ar•ies of the Turk, and of the Pope, and of all the enemies of the Church, in these last days, which should gather themselves to battle, being in number as the sand of the sea: as S. John saith, yea, did cover the whole face of the earth with their multitudes, and compass the tents of the Saints about, and the beloved city, that is, did make war against the Church and people of God, which in comparison of them, were but as a few tents, or some little city. ⟨p. 280⟩But mark what followeth, and consider the issue of the battle. The holy ghost saith expressly, that fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them. Which doth plainly show that the armies of Gog & Magog, though never so huge, shall be destroyed by the fire of Gods wrath.