A35689:467
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.
As he hath showed before that the world was very joyful and jocund, when they ⟨p. 192⟩had made dispatch of Gods witnesses: but afterward full of fear and terror, when they saw what followed: So here in this Verse is showed, that at the same hour, that is, about the same time when they have persecuted the Saints, & see thousands of others raised up in their stead, and as it were out of their blood, that there should immediately follow a great earth-quake: that is, horrible commotions, seditions, tumults, and open wars among the Kingdoms and Nations of the world, and amongst all people which should live after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel; as this day we see with our eyes: For who now in these days doth not see and feel this Earthquake? Who knoweth not what stirs there have been, and are every where about Religion? Who is ignorant that all the wars, seditions, treacheries, treasons, & rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one Kingdom & another, are especially concerning the matter of Religion? But mark what followeth: Behold the effect of this Earth-quake; It is said, that the tenth part of the City shall fall. By the City here he meaneth the great City of Rome, mentioned before, vers. 8. which is therefore called the great City, because ⟨p. 193⟩it was the chief city of the Roman Empire, and the very seat of Antichrist. Now then, the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is, that when there once beginneth to be an earth-quake, that is, broils, contentions, alterations, questions, and disputations about religion; and that the Popish doctrine, which had so long prevailed in the world, should be called in question; yea, openly preached against, convicted, and condemned, that then Rome shall begin to fall, and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse; yea, the tenth part, that is, some part of the city of Rome; I mean, the doctrine and authority of Rome, shall be overthrown. Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome was fulfilled within some few years after the broaching of the Gospel by Luther and his immediate successors; but since it is gone back many degrees, and hereafter it shall still ebb and consume away by degrees, even till it come to nothing: as, God willing, shall be plainly proved hereafter.
As he hath shewed before that the world was very joyfull and jocond, when they ⟨p. 192⟩