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…

But some man may say, Why may not this Star falling from Heaven upon the earth, be understood of other Pastors falling from the truth, as well as the Pope, as it is taken in the former Chapter, and in the twelfth Chapter, and the fourth verse? I answer, that the circumstances will not here bear it. Therefore to persuade every honest mans conscience, that this must needs be understood of the Pope in his pride, let us give ear to these three reasons following.

But some man may say, Why may not this Starre falling from Heaven upon the earth, be understood of other Pastors falling from the truth, as well as the Pope, as it is taken in the former Chapter, and in the twelfth Chapter, and the fourth verse? I answer, that the circumstances will not heere beare it. Therefore to perswade every honest mans conscience, that this must needs be understood of the Pope in his pride, let us give eare to these three reasons following.

First, we are to consider, that the main drift of the holy Ghost in the opening of the seven Seals, and blowing of the seven Trumpets, is to lay out the state of the Church in all ages, till the coming of Christ. Further, ⟨p. 133⟩we are diligently to observe, that the things contained under the opening of the seventh Seal (whereof the blowing of the seven Trumpets are as it were parts, and do all belong unto it) do stretch even to the end of the world, so as there is no strange accident, or any woeful condition of the Church in any age, but it is set forth under the opening of these Scales, and blowing of these Trumpets. But the Papacy was a state of the Church, and that most woeful and lamentable, therefore it is described under the opening of the Seals, and blowing of these Trumpets. But it is not described under the opening of any other Seal, or blowing of any other Trumpet: Therefore of necessity it must be referred to this seventh Seal, and the fifth Trumpet: And this is my first reason. If any man object, that the Pope and his Kingdom are most lively described in the Chapters from the twelfth to the last: I answer, that all those Chapters belong to a new vision, wherein some things propounded under the opening of the seven Seals are more fully opened and expounded. But this I say, that in the second vision, the whole estate of the Church in every age is laid open, even until the last judgement: and