A35689:652
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.
First therefore we are to understand what is meant by this Angel here mentioned, to wit, not any celestial Angel, or invisible spirit, as it is sundry times taken before: but by this Angel, and the two Angels following, are meant all the faithful ministers of the Gospel, which should be raised ⟨p. 272⟩up in these last days, for the overthrow of Rome, and the delivering of the Church from under the captivity of Antichrist: which may plainly appear by this that is said; this Angel preacheth the everlasting Gospel unto them that dwell on the earth, which cannot properly agree to the celestial spirits. We have heard out of the tenth chapter, that Jesus Christ did open the little book, which is the Bible, and did give authority to his faithful ministers to go preach and publish the doctrine thereof to many nations,1 countries, and kingdoms: now unto that agreeth this which is here spoken of, and is a further opening and declaring of that which is there set down. For as there Jesus Christ cometh down from heaven, and openeth the little book, which had been long shut up under the darkness of Popery, and the smoke which came out of the bottomless pit: so here Christ Jesus raised up his faithful ministers and preachers to publish and proclaim the doctrine of the Gospel, which had long lain hidden under outrageous persecutions of the two monstrous and most hideous beasts. To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this book, where Saint ⟨p. 273⟩John seeth an Angel come down from heaven, having great power, so that the earth was lightened with his glory. By which Angel is meant all the preachers of this age. And the Angel is said to have great power: for what is more powerful then the ministry of the word? And moreover it is said, that the earth was lightened with his glory, that is, with the brightness of the preaching of the Gospel, whereby the darkness of Popery was dispersed and driven away, and Babylon falleth upon it, as there you may read, and as here we shall see the like effect by and by.
First therefore wee are to understand what is meant by this Angel here mentioned, to wit, not any celestiall Angel, or invisible spirit, as it is sundry times taken before: but by this Angel, and the two Angels following, are meant all the faithfull ministers of the Gospel, which should be raised