A35689:19
The ruin of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…The ruine of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…
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 ... written especially for the comfort of Protestants and the daunting of papists ... / published by Arthur Dent ; to which is added an epitome of Reverend Mr. Brightman his Exposition upon the Revelation.The ruine of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly shewed and proved that the popish religion, together with all the power and authority of Rome, shall ebbe and decay ... written especially for the comfort of Protestants and the danting of papists ... / published by Authur Dent ; to which is added an epitome of Reverend Mr. Brightman his Exposition upon the Revelation.
London: printed by T.H. and I.Y. for Jo. Waterson, 1644
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.
For God according to his admirable wisdom and mercy, hath never from the beginning left his Church without a Prophecy, ⟨image 7⟩for the great comfort thereof. For we know that immediately after the fall of our first parents, God himself, for the great comfort of his Church did foretell and fore-prophesy long before of that restoration which should be made by the Messias his Son, according as it came to pass in the fullness of time. Afterward he did fore-tell his people of Israel, 1of their great servitude, and intolerable bondage in Egypt, and also of the end and full determination therefore, after four hundred and thirty years. After all this he foretold by his servants the Prophets of the Captivity in Babylon, and the full expiration thereof at the end and term of seventy years.2 And yet further for the comfort and consolation of his people, he fore-told by Daniel, 3and Ezekiel, of the great afflictions and troubles which his Church should endure by the Persecutions of the divided Greek Empire; (I mean Alexander's Posterity, especially the Kings of Egypt, and Syria, which descended of Ptolomeus and Seleucus, 4whom the Scripture calleth the Kings of the North, and of the South) by the space of 194. years, and of the precise determination thereof at the coming of the Messias. […] then what care God hath had of his Church in all ages before the ⟨image 8⟩coming of his Son in the flesh, so to foretell both of the affliction it self, and also of the just period and determination thereof. And shall we not think that God hath the like care now for his Church, which then he had: or hath he not as great and provident care for the good of his Church since the promised Messiah was actually exhibited as before? Yes assuredly, and much more too: for if his care and providence was so great for his Church being in her ward-ship and minority: then much more now being come to her ripeness, and full age. If then it was less glorious, then much more now, being far more glorious. Therefore now unto us he foretelleth by his servant John what shall be the estate of the Church unto the end of the world: and therefore Blessed is he that heareth and readeth this book: sith it foretelleth of the Churches affliction in this age by the whore of Babylon, and of the full end and determination thereof.