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…

¹And the four Angels were loosed, which were prepared at an hour, at a day, at a month, and at a year, to slay the third part of men.

¹And the foure Angels were loosed, which were prepared at an houre, at a day, at a month, and at a yeare, to slay the third part of men.

1. 1ver. 15.

Now the Devils being loosed and unbound by a special commandment from Christ, were in a readiness to execute their mischief. This ascending by degrees from a short time unto longer and longer; From an hour to a day, &c. doth signify, that as the Devils were pressed, and at hand at an hours warning, as we say, to put in practice whatsoever they had plotted; so they were as forward to continue the same, From as hour to a day, from a day to a month, and from a month to a year, that is, from time to time, until the date of their commission was out: for their time was limited, and their commission bounded, as afterward we shall see. And this is our comfort, that both the Papacy is limited to five months, and the Turkism to hours, days, months, and years. The divers power is limited, though it grieveth them full sore: They cannot do what they list, ⟨p. 151⟩they cannot continue as long as they would.

Now the Divels being loosed and unbound by a speciall commandement from Christ, were in a readinesse to execute their mischiefe. This ascending by degrees from a short time unto longer and longer; From an houre to a day, &c. doth signifie, that as the Divels were prest, and at hand at an houres warning, as we say, to put in practice whatsoever they had plotted; so they were as forward to continew the same, From as houre to a day, from a day to a month, and from a month to a yeare, that is, from time to time, untill the date of their commission was out: for their time was limited, and their commission bounded, as afterward wee shall see. And this is our comfort, that both the Papacie is limited to five months, and the Turcisme to houres, dayes, months, and yeares. The divers power is limitted, though it greiveth them full sore: They cannot do what they list,