A35689:24
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.
if it be an uncovering, and revealing of things, no doubt it may be known and seen into. For revealed things are for us and our children. If it be a Revelation, how say some that it cannot be understood? For it is contrary to ⟨image 12⟩the nature of a Revelation, to be so dark that none can understand it. But shall we say that the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth hath given a wrong name unto it? God forbid. For if it hide matters, or set them forth that it cannot be understood, then it is not rightly called a Revelation. If this Book be so mystical that it cannot be understood: If the interpretation of it be uncertain: If the common people cannot be taught to understand it: How then should the holy Ghost,1 Blessed is he •hat readeth the words of this Prophecy, &c. Let any man judge that hath common sense: Can any man be blessed by hearing and reading those things which he understandeth not? I trow no. Then it followeth that this Book may be understood, and no doubt is understood of many, and might be better understood of many moe: if they would bend their wits and studies unto it.2 The h•ly Ghost, as is said before, willeth and commandeth that the words of this Prophecy should not be sealed up. Whereby it is evident that he would have them read and made known to all. Then I reason thus: that which is open and unsealed may be read and known: But this book is open and unsealed: Therefore it may be read and known. If men say the matters of this Prophecy are sealed and hid, ⟨image 12⟩and God say they be unsealed and open, whether shall we believe men or God? If any will reply and say, we feel and find by experience, that the words of this book are hard to be understood: I answer that the fault is in our selves, because we are so negligent in the search and study thereof. For if we did w•th that humility, and reverend care that ought to be in us, search after the things revealed in this book, we should find that they be not sealed up, but lie open to be read and known. True it is indeed, that if any man light upon some pe•ce, and take it by it self, he shall find it very dark: