A35689:600
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.
Here is showed, that this second beast was as mighty and strong as the first beast, and could do as much as he, even in his presence. Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy, in performing as much in the service of the Dragon against God and his Church, as ever the Empire of the heathen, and those wicked Emperors could do: yea, he did much more against Christ and his religion, then ever the persecuting Emperors could do, even then when they were at their highest pitch. And all this he did in his presence that is, in the sight and open view of the whole Empire, or whole world.
Here is shewed, that this second beast was as mighty and strong as the first beast, and could doe as much as hee, even in his presence. Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy, in performing as much in the service of the Dragon against God and his Church, as ever the Empire of the heathen, and those wicked Emperors could doe: yea, hee did much more against Christ and his religion, then ever the persecuting Emperors could doe, even then when they were at their highest pitch. And all this hee did in his presence that is, in the sight and open view of the whole Empire, or whole world.
And he caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, that is, all Papists and worldlings, to worship the first beast, that is, to receive the worship and religion of the old Roman tyranny, which set up and maintained idolatry: so then, although the power in the Papacy came under the name of Christ, yet in truth it was the same with the power of the persecuting Empire; for the heathen Emperors ⟨p. 247⟩condemned the true worship of God, and set up false worship, even the worship of Devils, which is idolatry, & so do the Popes also. So then we see that this second beast is all for the first beast, that is, he levieth all his power and authority to set up the worship and religion of the old Roman tyrants; and to force all men by cruel laws and decrees to receive and embrace the same. So this second beast is nothing better then the first; nay, in truth, a great deal worse.