The Ruin of Rome, Title page – Premonition
THE RVINE OF ROME: OR AN EXPOSITION vponupon the whole Reuelation.
Wherein is plainly ſhewed and proued, that the Popiſh Religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, ſhall ebbe and decay ſtill more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world.
Written eſpecially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of Papists, Seminary Prieſts, Ieſuites, and all that curſed rabble.
Publiſhed by Arthur Dent, Preacher of the word of God, at South-Shoobery in Eſſex.
Apoc. 18. verſ. 7.8.
She ſaith in her heart, I ſit as a Queene and am no widow, and ſhall ſee no mourning:
Therefore ſhall her plagues come at one day, death and ſorrow, and famine: and ſhee ſhall be burned with fire: for that God which condemneth her is a ſtrong Lord.
LONDON
THE EPISTLE TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
BEing often requeſted (gentle Reader) and much importuned by ſundry, both learned and godly, to publiſh that doctrine of the Apocalyps, which diuers of them with liuely voyce heard publikely deliuered: I did at laſt, vponupon my moſt mature deliberation, yeeld vntounto their reaſonable requeſt; I meane the reaſons of their requeſt. Indeed I doe ingeniouſly confeſſe, that I am the vnmeeteſt of many, which this age (God be thanked) doth afford, to deale in a matter of ſo great importance, or any wiſe to be imployed in ſo great and honourable a ſeruice as this is. But if I doe induſtriouſly vſe my ſmall talent, and be found faithfull in a little; I hope it ſhall hauehave both chearefull and comfortable acceptation with the Church of God. For this I preſume will bee granted of all, that hee which hath but a little ſtrength, and yet putteth it forth to the vttermost to doe good withall, is more to be commended, then he which hath thriſe his ſtrength, and vſeth it not to the helpe and benefit of others. And true it is indeed, that ſundry worthy labours of diuers excellent men vponupon the Apocalyps, are already extant: ſo as he may ſeeme to powre water into the Sea, or goe about to mend the crowes eyes, that will attempt to adde any thing to that which is already publiſhed. But know this (O Christian Reader) that the Lords garden is ſo large and plentifull of all moſt ſweete and pleaſant flowers, that where any one hath gathered a Noſegay most fragrant and delectable, another may come after, and gather another not to be contemned. For the wiſedome of God is ſuch an vndrainable fountaine and head-ſpring, that where one hath drawne much before, another may come happely, and draw as much afterward: yea though thouſands doe ſucceede, yet can this fountaine neuer be drawne drie. Be it farre from me to arrogate any thing to my ſelfe, aboue others: for I am priuy inough to mine owne meanes, and do freely confeſſe, that in this worke, I hauehave receiued much light from others: and therefore do not as a iudge, giuegive ſentence vponupon other mens workes: but as one that would furniſh the ſame feast, bring in my diſh among them. Or as one that in the ſame cauſe would come in as a third, or a fourth witneſſe to teſtifie and confirme the ſame thing. And verily through the gracious aſſiſtance of Gods ſpirit, my ſimple purpoſe and indeuor is to giuegive a lift to the vttermoſt of my power, to further that which is already happily begun, and to prouoke others of greater gifts, to come after with their great lights, and Lanternes in their hands, to diſcry and diſcouer whatſoeuer in this Propheſie is not yet fully ſeene into. I am not ignorant that ſome would not hauehave this booke medled withall, nor in any wiſe to be expounded among the common people, becauſe (ſay they) it is ſo darke and hard to vnderſtand. But let all ſuch leaue their owne opinions, and hearken what the holy Ghoſt ſaith.Apo. 1.3. Bleſſed is he that readeth, and they that heare the words of this Prophecy, &c. What can be ſaid more? or more effectually to ſtirre vsus vp to heare and reade, and with all gladneſſe to embrace this booke, then to tell vsus, that in ſo doing we ſhall be bleſſed? For the thinges contained in this booke, be no trifles: they be not things onelyonly for a ſhew to mooue wonderment, or to delight the curious minds of men: but ſuch as indeed do giuegive true bleſſedneſſe vntounto all thoſe that are well inſtructed in them. What thing is greater, then to bee bleſſed for euermore? If we be not exceeding dull, yea, euen like ſtockes and ſtones, it must needs moue vsus & ſtir vsus vp. For who will wittingly & willingly looſe his own bleſſednes, or ſuffer it to be taken from him when as he may hauehave it? If any will obiect that a man may be bleſſed well inough without the knowledge of this booke, and that there bee bookes inough in the Scripture, to procure our bleſſedneſſe, without this: and that thouſands are now in heauen, which neuer knew what this booke meant: I anſwere, that all this doth not take away the neceſſary vſe of this booke: for the holy Ghoſt doth pronounce a bleſſing vponupon the heads of thoſe that reade and ſtudie this booke, not becauſe a man cannot be ſaued without it: but becauſe of the great comfort which it miniſtreth vntounto vsus of this age, and hath miniſtred vntounto all the Churches ſince the Apoſtles times. For it is the Propheſie of this age, and the Propheſie of all the ages ſince Chriſt: wherein is fully ſhewed what ſhall be the eſtate and conditiō of the Church in the ſeuerall ages thereof, vntounto the ende of the worlde. For God according to his admirable wiſdome & mercy, hath neuer from the beginning left his church without a Propheſie, for the great comfort thereof. For we know, that immediately after the fall of our first parents, God himſelfe, for the great comfort of his Church, did foretell and forepropheſie long before of that reſtauration which ſhould be made by the Meſſias his ſonne,Gen. 3. Gen. 15. according as it came to paſſe in the fulneſſe of time. Afterward he did foretell his people of Iſrael, of their great ſeruitude, and intollerable bondage in Egypt, and alſo of the ende and full determination thereof, after foure hundred and thirtie yeares. After all this he foretold by his ſeruants the Prophets of the captiuitie in Babylon, and the full expiration thereof at the end and tearme of ſeuentie yeares.Ier. 25. And yet further for the comfort and conſolation of his people,Dan. 7. Ezech. 38. he foretold by Daniel and Ezechiel, of the great afflictions & troubles which his Church ſhould endure by the perſecutions of the diuided Greeke Empire: (I meane Alexanders poſteritie,Dan. 8. eſpecially the Kings of Egypt and Siria, which deſcended of Ptolomeus and Seleucus, Dan. 9.Dan. 11.whom the ſcripture calleth the Kings of the North and of the South) by the ſpace of 294 yeares, and of the preciſe determination thereof at the comming of the Meſſias. Loe then what care God hath had of his Church in all ages before the comming of his ſonne in the fleſh, ſo to foretell both of the affliction it ſelfe, and alſo of the iust period and determination thereof. And ſhall we not thinke that God hath the like care now for his church which then he had: or hath he not as great and as prouident care for the good of his Church ſince the promiſed Meſſias was actually exhibited as before? Yes aſſuredly, and much more too: for if his care and prouidence was ſo great for his Church being in her ward-ſhip and minoritie: then much more now being come to her ripeneſſe and full age: If when it was leſſe glorious, then much more now, being farre more glorious. Therefore now vntounto vsus he foretelleth by his ſeruant Iohn what ſhall be the eſtate of the Church vntounto the end of the world: and therefore Bleſſed is hee that heareth and readeth this booke: ſith it foretelleth of the Churches afflictions in this age by the whoore of Babylon, and of the full end and determination thereof. It ſheweth iuſtly and preciſely what the Church hath ſuffered ſince the Apoſtles times in ſeueral ages, and what it ſhall ſuffer: and alſo how all the enemies thereof ſhall ſhortly be troden vnderunder foote. What can be more ioyfull or comfortable to all the people of God, then to know afore-hand that Babylon ſhall fall: Rome ſhall downe: Antichriſt the great perſecutor of the Church, ſhalbe vtterly confounded and conſumed in this world; notwithſtanding all plottes and policies, crafts and deuiſes to the contrary; notwithſtanding all forces & armies cunningly contriued and raiſed vp againſt the Church by Seminary Prieſts, Ieſuites, Pope, Cardinall, and King of Spaine? For all theſe in this age do very buſily beſtirre them, and ranſacke all corners of their wits to repaire the ruines of Rome, and to make vp the breaches which are made in the walles of Babylon their great citie. But alas all in vaine, for it ſhall fall: It ſhal fall: It ſhal fall as Dagon before the preſence of the Arke, do what they can, ſpight of their hearts, maugre their beards: it ſhall fall finally: it ſhall without all hope of recouery: for hath the Lord ſpoken it, and ſhall it not come to paſſe? or can any word of his euer fall to the ground? Sith therefore the Ieſuits and Secular Prieſts do ſo fiske about, and croake in eueryevery corner, as greatly fearing the fall of their Babylon, and the drying vp of their Euphrates, it ſtandes vsus all in hand to be as reſolute for Chriſt, as they are for Antichriſt; and as ſtudious to vphold the kingdome of God, as they are to vphold the kingdome of the diuel. And for this purpoſe it is very requiſite and neceſſary, that all the Lords people ſhould be acquainted with this booke, and armed againſt them with the things reueald in this Propheſie. For this booke is a moſt precious Iewell which God hath beſtowed vponupon his Church in this laſt age: and it is great pitie that all the ſeruants of God are not better acquainted with it, eſpecially in theſe times, for now in this age is and ſhall be the very heate of the warre, and brunt of the battell betwixt Papiſts and Proteſtants; betwixt God and Belial; betwixt the armies of Chriſt, and the armies of Antichriſt. Now this Propheſie laieth all open, and plainly telleth vsus what ſhalbe the iſſue and ſucceſſe in the day of battaile: which ſide ſhall hauehave the victory, and which ſide ſhall goe downe. And therefore very needfull it is that it ſhould be expounded againe and againe, and all the Lords people made throughly aaquainted with it. For in this age wherein we liue, this Propheſie can neuer be inough opened and beaten vponupon, that all good Proteſtants may bee armed with it againſt future times, euen as it were with an armour of proofe. S. Iohn plainly telleth the people of his time, euen the Churches of Aſia, that they ſhould be bleſſed by reading and ſtudying this booke, becauſe they ſhould thereby be both forewarned, and forearmed againſt many eminent troubles and future dangers. For ſaith he, The time is at hand: that is to ſay, ſome things were euen then to be fulfilled. For ſome matters foretold in this booke, did begin to be fulfilled, euen preſently after they were ſhewed vntounto Iohn, for the miſtery of iniquitie did euen then begin to worke. The Church in the Apoſtles time had her conflicts. The ten great perſecutions began euen then to be raiſed vp. Hereſies ſhortly after beganne to ſpring and ſprout. Afterward by degrees, the great Antichriſt did approach towards his curſed ſeate. And after all this, S. Iohn foretelleth how hee ſhould take poſſeſſion of his abhominable and moſt execrable ſeate and ſea of Rome: How he ſhould raigne and rule for a time as the Monarche of the world: How he ſhould preuaile againſt the Church, and make warre againſt the Saintes: How he ſhould raigne but a ſhort time, and afterward come tumbling downe, as faſt as euer he roſe vp, and decreaſe as faſt as euer he increaſed. Therefore Bleſſed is he (ſaith S. Iohn) that diligently readeth and peruſeth this booke, that thereby hee may foreſee all theſe thinges, and bee armed againſt them. For as the Heathen man ſaith; Leuius laedit quicquid praeuideris antè, Foreſeeing daungers do leaſt hurt. Now to apply all this to our times, I ſay they are twiſe happie that are ſtudious and painfull in ſearching out the true ſenſe and meaning of this Propheſie, that thereby they may be ſtrengthned againſt all the aſſaults of the Papiſts our profeſſed enemies, and the enemies of Gods Church, and ſtick faſt to the euerlaſting truth of God, knowing for a certaintie that theſe ſonnes of Belial ſhall not long preuaile. The date of their raigne is almoſt out, and the time draweth on apace, wherein both they and their king Abaddon ſhalbe laide in the duſt. But I will now proceed to a new reaſō,Apoc. 9 11. to proue that this booke of the Reuelations ought not to be concealed: but openly preached and publiſhed to the whole Church of God in this age. My reaſon is taken out of the 22. chapter of this booke, ver. 10. in theſe words. Seale not the words of the Propheſie of this booke, for the time is at hand. Here is a flat commandement from God, that this booke and the doctrine of it may not be ſealed vp; that is to ſay, kept cloſe from the knowledge of Gods people: but it muſt lie alwaies vnſealed, that all men may open it, read it, and ſee what is in it: for it is a borrowed ſpeech, taken from ſealing of Letters. For we all knowe, that when Letters are ſealed, none may open them, or reade them, but onelyonly thoſe whom it doth concerne: but if they be of purpoſe left vnſealed, then any man may reade them without daunger: So the Lorde willeth and commaundeth, that this booke of the Reuelations ſhould of purpoſe be left vnſealed, that all the people of God might reade it, ſtudie it, and knowe it. If any man doubt whether the Metaphor of Sealing be thus taken in the ſcripture, let him reade the places quoted in the margent,Eſa. 29 11. Dan. 12.9. Apoc. 4.1. Apoc. 10.4. and in all theſe places hee ſhall finde it taken in this ſenſe. Whereby it doth euidently appeare, that the minde and meaning of God is, that this booke ſhould be proclaimed and publiſhed in all the Churches. And vponupon this grounde, I holde that eueryevery Miniſter of the Gospell ſtandeth bounde as much as in him lyeth, to Preach the doctrine of the Apocalyps to his particular charge and congregation: for eueryevery Minister of the Gospell muſt ſhewe vntounto his people all the counſell of God, and keepe backe nothing: as Paul testifieth that hee did, to the great comfort of his conſcience. But the doctrine of the Reuelations is a part and parcell of the counſell and will of God: therefore it muſt not be concealed or kept backe from the knowledge of the people of God. And in theſe dayes I thinke it not only meete and conuenient that it ſhould be ſo, but in truth abſolutely neceſſary.
But now me thinketh I heare ſome man ſay: what? muſt this book of the Apocalyps be preached & made knowne to the commō people? alas, what ſhould they do with it? It is not for them to meddle withall: It is not for their diet. I anſwere, and yet not I, but the holy Ghoſt: that this booke muſt be made knowne to all the ſeruāts of God. For Saint Iohn calleth it the Reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt which God gaue him to ſhew vntounto all his ſeruants.Apoc. 1.1. It is plaine therefore, that al the ſeruantes of God, both men and women, yong and old, rich and poore, muſt be made acquainted with this booke. Moreouer, Iohn is commaunded by the God of heauen, to ſet downe all the viſions which the Angell ſhewed him: and to write them all in a booke, and ſend them to the ſeuen Churches of Aſia: that is, to people of all ſortes, and conditions:Apoc. 1.11. And therefore this booke doth not only concerne preachers, and deep diuines; but euen all the Lords people whatſoeuer: for it doth miniſter great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God, that liue in this age. But here the Papists obiect that this booke is full of darkeneſſe and obſcuritie, and therefore not for the common people to meddle withall: nay, (ſay they) there are as many miſteries, as words in it, and therefore what ſhould men trouble their heads about it. But no maruell though the Papists ſay ſo much, for it is the wound of their kingdom, and the battery of their Babylon. As for others, both learned and godly, which in this point are almoſt of the ſame mind, that they will not meddle with this booke of the Reuelations: I cannot but maruell at it. The modeſty and humility of ſome, very rare and reuerend men for learning, & great variety of gifts (which notwithſtanding ſcotch much at this book) is greatly to be commended: But if I were worthy to giuegive them aduice, I would wiſh them, in this behalfe to change their minde, and to be of another reſolution: for I dare auouch it, that there is nothing in this Propheſie, which ſtudy and diligence, with prayer and humility, may not ouercome. True it is indeed, that the ſhell is thicke, and hard to breake: but being broken, the kernell is moſt ſweet and pleaſant. If any be diſcouraged with the darkeneſſe & obſcurity of it, let him hearken to theſe reaſons following. Firſt it is called a Reuelation, which is as much to ſay, as an vncouering of things which did lie hid: if it be an vncouering, and reuealing of things, then no doubt it may be knowne and ſeene into. For reuealed thinges are for vsus and our children.Deut. 19. If it be a Reuelation, how ſay ſome that it cannot be vnderſtood? For, it is contrary to the nature of a Reuelation, to be ſo darke that none can vnderſtand it. But ſhall we ſay that the holy Ghoſt which is the ſpirit of truth, hath giuen a wrong name vntounto it? God forbid. For if it hide matters, or ſo ſet them forth that it cannot be vnderſtood, then it is not rightly called a Reuelation. If this booke be ſo myſticall that it cannot be vnderſtood: If the interpretation of it be vncertaine: If the common people cannot be taught to vnderſtand it: how then ſhould the holy Ghoſt ſay, Bleſſed is he that readeth the words of this Propheſie?Apoc. 1.…. Apoc. 22 7. &c. Let any man iudge that hath common ſenſe: Can any man be bleſſed by hearing and reading thoſe things which he vnderſtandeth not? I trow no. Then it followeth, that this booke may be vnderſtood, and no doubt is vnderſtood of many: and might bee better vnderſtood of many moe, if they would bend their wittes and ſtudies vntounto it. The holy Ghoſt as I ſaid before,Apoc. 22.10. willeth and commaundeth that the words of this Propheſie ſhould not be ſealed vp. Whereby it is euident, that he would hauehave them read and made knowne to all. Then I reaſon thus: That which is open and vnſealed, may be read and knowne: But this booke is open and vnſealed: Therefore it may be read and knowne. If men ſay the matters of this Propheſie are ſealed and hid, and God ſay they be vnſealed and open, whether ſhall we beleeue men or God? If any ſhall reply & ſay, we feele & finde by experience, that the words of this booke are hard to be vnderſtood: I anſwere, that the fault is in our ſelues, becauſe we are ſo negligent in the ſearch and ſtudy thereof. For if we did with that humilitie, and reuerend care that ought to be in vsus, ſearch after the things reuealed in this booke, we ſhould finde that they be not ſealed vp, but lie open to bee read and knowne. True it is indeed, that if any man light vponupon ſome peece, and take it by it ſelfe, he ſhall finde it very darke: But if he looke vponupon the whole courſe of matters throughout the booke, and marke and obſerue diligently how things be iterated, hee ſhall finde no ſuch darkneſſe as he feareth, for there is a notable coherence of matters, and courſe of times obſerued in this booke, euen from the first chapter vntounto the laſt, as God willing ſhall more fully & plainly appeare in the particular opening and interpretation thereof. One great obiection againſt this Propheſie is, that the Fathers confeſſe it is full of myſteries, and that they could not vnderſtand it. If they could not vnderſtand it ſay ſome, how, how ſhall we vnderſtand it? Is it not great arrogancy for vsus to ſay wee vnderſtand it better then they did. I anſwer no. For a man of meane learning in compariſon, may now in theſe daies more eaſily vnderſtand & expound this booke, then the learnedeſt Doctors and Fathers in auncient time. The reaſon is this, we liue in an age wherein the moſt of the things propheſied in this booke are fulfilled. Now the fulfilling of a propheſie is the beſt expoſition of it. But as for the Fathers, they liued in a time wherein many of theſe things were not come to paſſe, nor fulfilled, and therfore more hard for them to interprete and vnderſtand: for thoſe things in this Propheſie which are not yet fulfilled, are hardeſt for vsus of this age to vnderſtand and reſolue of. But when a Propheſie is fulfilled, it is an eaſie matter to ſay this was the meaning of the Prophet. Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the daies of the Fathers, and ſome thinges in the daies wherein they liued: and both thoſe they did clearely vnderſtand. Some things were fulfilled after their daies, as the riſing and raigning of the great Antichriſt, which they did not ſo clearly ſee into. Hereupon it commeth to paſſe, that many things which vntounto them were very obſcure, are vntounto vsus moſt cleare & manifeſt: as being already fulfilled: inſomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded, may ſee and vnderſtand them, yea the moſt vnlearned. Be not therefore diſcouraged (gentle Reader) at the darkneſſe & difficultie of this booke. Doe not preiudicially reſolue and ſet downe with thy ſelfe, that the naturall ſenſe of this booke cannot be giuē, nor the true meaning found out, but that we muſt be faine when we hauehave done all that we can, to reſt in vncertaine coniectures, ſome following one ſenſe, and ſome an other, as ſeemeth moſt like and probable. But no man can ſay confidently and preciſely this is the meaning of the holy Ghoſt. Oh be not of that minde good Chriſtian brother: for if we hauehave not an vndoubted certainty for the ſenſe & meaning of this Propheſie, we are neuer the nearer: and that is it which the Papiſts would driue vsus vntounto. But know for a certainty, that the naturall ſenſe of this booke, is to be found out, as well as of other bookes of the Scripture. And that we might not be left to our ſelues in the darke, and to our vncertaine coniectures, and doubtfull interpretations; Behold the mercifull goodneſſe of God to his Church, who himſelfe doth expound the darkeſt, and most miſticall things in this Propheſie, or at leaſt ſo many of them, and ſo far, as the reſt are thereby laid open, and made manifest. The Lord himſelfe expoundeth ſome things in the firſt Chapter, which giuegive cleare light to the firſt viſion: The Angell expoundeth diuers other things. In the 17. Chapter, which is the key of this propheſie, the Angel doth of purpoſe, open and interpret all the greateſt doubts of this booke: as who is the Whore of Babylon, who is the beaſt, what be his ſeuen heads, what be his 10. hornes, what be the waters which the woman, that is, the Whore of Rome, ſitteth vponupon. Moreouer, for the better vnderſtanding of this Propheſie, we muſt note, that the writings of Moyſes and the Prophets, vntounto which there bee ſundry alluſions, and from the which ſundry things are drawne, do cleare diuers things in this Reuelation. The knowledge of antiquities, miniſtreth much aide to the vnderſtanding of this Propheſie. The knowledge of the hiſtories of the Church, and the particular ſtate thereof in diuers ages, bringeth great light. The obſeruation of the phraſes and maner of ſpeech, vſed by the old Prophets, doth helpe alſo not a little. The ſerious and deepe weighing of all the circumſtances of the text, & conferring one thing with another the cōſequents with the antecedents, & the antecedents with the conſequēts, furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true & natural ſenſe. And furthermore, as the ſpirit of God is the author of this propheſie, ſo the ſame ſpirit is the beſt interpreter of it, & doth opē and reueale it to all ſuch, as vſing al other good meanes are earneſt and humble ſuters vntounto God, for the illumination thereof: whereby they may vnderſtand both this, and all other the myſteries of his will: which the Apoſtle ſaith, God hath reuealed vntounto vsus by his ſpirit:1. Cor. 2. For the ſpirit ſearcheth all things, yea, the deepe things of God. To all this may be added the knowledge of artes, tongues, and the learned writings, and interpretations of ſundry excellent men, which all do bring great furtherance to the vnderſtanding of this Propheſie. Sith then there be ſo many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Reuelation: why ſhould any be diſcouraged from the reading and ſtudy thereof? But if any man demaund a reaſon, why Saint Iohn writeth this Reuelation in ſuch miſticall and allegoricall maner: I anſwere, that there may be diuers reaſons yeelded hereof. Firſt, that the world being blinded, might fulfill the things herein ſpecified. Secondly, becauſe Iohn was to publiſh this Reuelation, in ſuch maner and forme as he had receiued it from Ieſus Chriſt, which was figuratiue and allegoricall. Thirdly, becauſe it was much more wiſedome, to foretel the deſtructiō of the Romaine Empire, which al that time bare the ſway, almoſt ouer all the world, vnderunder couert and figuratiue ſpeeches, then in plaine tearmes, leaſt the Romaine Princes ſhould rage more againſt the Chriſtians, euen in that reſpect. The like alſo may be ſaid, for Daniels darke maner of deliuering his Propheſie. For if he had vttered thoſe things in plaine tearmes, which he ſpake darkely and allegorically, it might hauehave coſt him his life. For the heathen enemies would neuer hauehave endured to heare that all their Empires glory and renowne ſhould fall one after another, and one by another: and that the Iewes were the onelyonly holy people whome God did defend, and to whome in the ende, God would not onelyonly giuegive a quiet poſſeſſion of their owne land and kingdome: but alſo a kingdome euerlasting, & that through their Meſſias and great deliuerer. But to grow to a concluſion (gentle Reader) thou ſhalt find in this poore trauell: Firſt, an expoſition of the firſt 13. Chapters: after thou ſhalt find the next 6. Chapters, vntounto the twentith, reduced all to one head, which is to proue the 5. points propounded: and laſt of all the 3. Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded. If any through lazineſſe will not, or through want of leiſure cannot read ouer this ſhort trauel: yet for his cōfort, let him read thoſe things only which are written vpō the 14. Chapter. And thus (Chriſtian Reader) hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good, I commēd thee to God, & to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to giuegive thee an inheritance among all them that are ſanctified.
Thine in the Lord, Arthur Dent.
VponUpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke, theſe fiue points are handled.
Firſt, that Babylon in this Booke of the Reuelation is Rome.
Secondly, that Rome ſhall fall, and how.
Thirdly, that Rome ſhall fall finally, and come to vtter deſolation in this life, before the laſt iudgement.
Fourthly, by whom, and when it ſhall be ouerthrowne.
Fiftly, the cauſes of the vtter ruine and ouerthrow thereof.
Apoc. 18. verſ. 4.
I heard a voice from heauen ſay: Goe out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſinnes, and that ye receiue not of her plagues.
THE RVINE OF Rome, or an Expoſition vponupon the Reuelation.
Wherein is plainly ſhewed and proued, that the Popiſh Religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, ſhall ebbe and decaie ſtill more and more, throughout all the Churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow, euen in this life.