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…

In that Christ saith of this Church, I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold; he observeth, that Christ maketh mention of no one good thing that it hath, the worst of all the 7 (although there were many faithful in it) yet not any so past hope in regard of the outward form and government; which comes to pass not so much through its own default, as by means of the faulty government of the Angels, who have so ordered and governed it, that it was tempered and blended together of strange contraries, a Hoch-pot, not so cold that we would be all Romish, and cleaving to Idolatry and superstition altogether; nor yet so hot that we pursue and admit of a through Reformation; abstaining from grosser sins, well given in Religion, and will serve God so far as they may ⟨p. 7⟩keep the estimation of prudent men moderate in Religion, just Statists or Protestants of State, which are known commonly to be luke-warm professors. This mediocrity, saith he, is worst of all, which indeed is honoured of the world, because it hath a certain show of moderation and peaceableness; but Christ preferreth a blind Papist, or no Religion at all before this hotch-potch lukewarmness. And also whose outward government, and regiment in the Church, is for the most part Antichristian and Romish, tempering pure doctrine and Romish regiment together, broaching again monstrous opinions heretofore hissed out; and through this government they have so filled the Church with such a corrupt Clergy like themselves, to serve their own turn, ignorant drones, profane Priests, Sir John Lack-Latins to say prayers, being so corrupt in their admissions to Church-livings, that any stark fool or arrant knave, may fulfil their conditions for admittance, whereby they have filled and pestered the Church and Ministry with abundance of this kind of vermin and vile-varlets: And though they love riches and honour so dearly, that they content themselves with the loss of a full Reformation; yet that they might not seem to prefer any thing before the truth and good of the Church, they do with swelling words blazon the happiness of this Church ⟨p. 8⟩thus governed as it is; therefore the Holy Ghost brings in this Angel boasting himself in vain-glory, I am rich, &c.

In that Christ saith of this Church, I know thy workes, that thou art neither hot nor cold; he observeth, that Christ maketh mention of no one good thing that it hath, the worst of all the 7 (although there were many faithfull in it) yet not any so past hope in regard of the outward forme and government; which comes to passe not so much through its owne default, as by meanes of the faulty government of the Angels, who have so ordered and governed it, that it was tempered and blended together of strange contraries, a Hoch-pot, not so cold that wee would be all Romish, and cleaving to Idolatry and superstition altogether; nor yet so hot that we pursue and admit of a through Refrmation; abstaining from grosser sins, well given in Religion, and will serve God so far as they may