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…

Here are set down the proud and blasphemous speeches both of the old and new Roman Empire, and of the old and new Roman Emperors. For this beast (as I said before) comprehendeth all the Roman Empire, both under the heathen Emperors and the Popes. Touching the great things and blasphemies which the old persecuting Emperors have belched out against the God of heaven, it would require a volume to set them down in particulars: I will therefore only mention two or three for examples sake: As first, that of Caius Caligula, which would have his image set up in Temples to be worshipped as God, and that the people should swear by his name. Nero also did openly blaspheme the Name of Christ, & required divine honour to be given unto him. Domitian commanded that he should be called God and Lord. Many others required the like things: and so all the world wondered and worshipped this blasphemous beast. Now as the sixth head, which was the old Empire of Rome, was full of ⟨p. 238⟩the names of blasphemy; so the seventh head, which is the new Empire under the dominion of the Popes, which he here chiefly speaketh of, did most of all blaspheme. For the Pope did challenge to himself all power both in heaven and earth: he would be worshipped as God: he usurped authority over the Word of God: he did take upon him to forgive sins: he did most blasphemously encroach upon all the offices of Christ, as King, Priest, and Prophet: he hath commanded the Angels: he hath erected blasphemous images, and caused pictures to be made of the Godhead: he boasteth and cracketh great things of his papal power, of Peters keys, of Peters chair, of Peters succession, of his miracles, of his two swords, and of his manifold prerogatives royal. One of the Popes poisoned his god: another cast his god into the fire: another would eat his peacock in despite of God. Some of them counted the religion of Christ a tale or fable, some drank to the Devil, some said they could do as much as God. It were infinite to set down all their blasphemies: for it is said of the whore of Babylon, that she was full of the names of blasphemy. Let this suffice for the understanding of this text, that as the old heathenish ⟨p. 239⟩Emperors did blaspheme, so the Popes, being heads of the Empire, did most of all blaspheme.

Here are set down the proud and blasphemous speeches both of the old and new Roman Empire, and of the old and new Roman Emperors. For this beast (as I said before) comprehendeth all the Roman Empire, both under the heathen Emperors and the Popes. Touching the great things and blasphemies which the old persecuting Emperors have belched out against the God of heaven, it would require a volume to set them down in particulars: I will therefore onely mention two or three for examples sake: As first, that of Caius Caligula, which would have his image set up in Temples to be worshipped as God, and that the people should swear by his name. Nero also did openly blaspheme the Name of Christ, & required divine honour to be given unto him. Domitian commanded that hee should be called God and Lord. Many others required the like things: and so all the world wondred and worshipped this blasphemous beast. Now as the sixth head, which was the old Empire of Rome, was full of