A35689:724
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.
But now, me thinketh, I hear some men say, How is it like that Popery shall fall ⟨p. 326⟩down more and more here among us, sith it hath so many friends, backers and upholders, and seemeth to gather strength, and make an head again? I answer, that all is but a lightning before death. I answer, that all is but the stopping of a water-brook, or making a dam overthwart it, which will cause it to swell more, and to break over with great violence. I answer, that all is no more then is fore-told, that the Jesuits shall come forth like frogs out of their puddles and marish grounds, and keep a croaking for a time, till they have croaked their own destruction and many others. For they shall never set Popery here in England, to stand and continue, do what they can. I must needs confess, that our sins being so horrible and outrageous as they are, and being grown to such an height and ripeness, do deserve some fearful vengeance, and that God hath a just controversy against us, as sometimes he had against Israel, 1because there was no mercy, nor truth, nor knowledge of God in the land: but swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and whoring, and blood toucheth blood, and therefore saith God, The land shall mourn, &c. But yet I hope for his covenant sake, for his great mercies sake, for his names sake, for his glory ⟨p. 327⟩sake, and for his Churches sake, he will be gracious and favourable unto us, and not bring upon us that vengeance which our sins have deserved: or at least wise though he correct us, as indeed he hath just cause, and we may justly fear it; yet he will do it in mercy for our amendment, and not in wrath to our destruction, as he saith by his Prophet: I will not utterly destroy thee, 2but I will correct thee by judgment, and not utterly cut thee off. But howsoever it shall please the most wise God to deal with us, yet this I say, and am persuaded of, that Popery shall never be established again in this kingdom: my reason is, because the everlasting Gospel carried abroad by the Angel that flieth in the middest of heaven, shall spread still more and more throughout all the kingdoms of Europe, as appeareth, chap. 14. v. 6. for otherwise how shall Rome fall? how shall the Jews ever be converted?