begin fò great a work of Reformation in the Church of God, and the Light of the glorious Gospel, did then begin to break out of Popish Darkness; whereby the Antichriftian Beaft had fuch a Blow given him, as that his Greatness and Grandeur hath been in a declining Confumption ever fince. Yet then was not Satan bound; as will appear from the great Divifion and Differences that there was among the Saints; Luther and Calvin, both eminent for God, yet they could not agree together. Again, what a ftrong Oppofition was ftill continued between Luther and the Church of Rome all his Days? Which could not have been, if Satan had been bound; for the Antichriftian Church could not have ftood, but muft bave fell immediately upon the Spot. And then, do but confider what dreadful and difmal Wars, which did foon break out in Germany, quickly after Luther's Death; together with the Troubles, Broils, Sufferings, Affictions and Perfecutions, that the Church of Chrift hath been in fince; and it will eafily convince us, that this could not be the time of Satan's binding and the Saints reigning.

Befides all this. we cannot but must take Notice of that dreadful abounding of all manner of Sin and Wickednefs, which doth, and hath under all thefe 'forementioned times, fo much increased; and furely this carries no lefs than a Demonftration it felf to prove, that Satan was not, neither is yet bound: For if these difmal Days that are, and have been ever fince Chrift's time, be the Effects of Satan's being bound, what dreadful and horrible times, must we expect it to be then, when he shall be let loofe. Therefore in this, I dare be bold to

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lenge all the World to prove (if they can) either from Scripture or Hiftory, when there was fuch a time of Satan's being bound, fo as not to deceive any of the Nations? And when it was that the Church of God did enjoy Reft, Peace, and Profperity, without Moleftation for a thousand Years? Sure I am that this cannot be proved; then the, thousand Years Reign of the Saints in which Satan, fhall be bound is yet to come.

But to return, and caft him into the Bottomless Pit. How long? 'till the thoufand Tear's fhall be fulfilled, and after that he must be loofed a little Seafon. Here we may obferve, that Satan is to be fo bound, as that he shall not be fuffered for to deceive one Soul any more, until the thousand Years are ended. Then indeed he fhall be let loofe again; but how long a time fhall Satan have after this? A little Seafon. His time after this will be very fhort; much like a Malefactor, that is let out of Prifon in order to his Tryal; and therefore what Satan is now to do, he must do it quickly, because his time will be but a little Seafon. Had it been expreffed, that he fhould be loofed for a Seafon, we colud not have expected that it would have been long; for when the Word Seafon is mentioned by it felf, without either Days, Weeks, Month, or Years joined with it, I do apprehend but a fhort time to be fignified, much more then must that time be fhort, when the Word Little is added; and after that he must be loofed a little Seafon. Wherefore his letting loofe muft be in order to the Judgment, with the reft of the Dead, who are at the fame time to be raised, that they may be judged. What though he begins his old Trade, in going about

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to deceive the Multitude of the Nations into a Rebellion; and their taking of a Compafs about the holy City and Camp of the Saints: Yet this is but only an Attempt which they make, and are deftroyed immediately upon the Spot, by Fire coming down from Heaven upon them. But more of this Afterwards.

Verfe 4. And I faw Thrones, and they fat upon them, and Fudgment was given unto them: And I faw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the W itnefs of Jefus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the Beast, neither his Image, neither had received bis Mark upon their Foreheads, or in their Hands; and they lived and reigned with Chrift a thousand Tears.

After the Apoftle John had given us an Account of the Fall of Antichrift, (in the 18th Chap) by the Comparison of a Milftone that is thrown into the Sea; fignifying that the Fall of Babylon will be quick, fudden and irrecoverable. He comes in the 19th Chapt. and gives us an Account of the wonderful Joy and Rejoycings that there will be upon this in the Heavens, Jaying Halleluiah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, Immediately fubjoins, v. 7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Honour to him: For the Marriage of the I amb is come, and his Wife bath made her felf ready: To fhew that this will be the Time of the Marriage Glory, the Nuptials of the Lamb; the Elect of God, the Bride and Spouse of Chrift being ready, having on her beautiful Garments of Immortality,

fine Linnen, clean and white, which is the Righte oufnefs of Saints. He comes now in the 20th Chap. and gives us an Account of the binding and Thutting up of Satan into the bottomless Pit, that he might not deceive the Nations for a thousand Years and fo defcends down into the 4th v. and there acquaints us, be faw Thrones in the Plural Num ber, to fhew that there will be many and they fat upon them thefe Thrones were not vacant, but they were fat upon, by all those who had part in the firft Refurrection, as appears in the following Words; and Fudgment was given unto them, or Power of judging, that is to thofe who fat upch thefe Thrones: By Judgment being given unto them, is alfo to fhew that this will be the time of their Judgment, wherein particular Rewards will be given, by the Lord Jefus Chrift, not only as the God of all Grace, but as the God of Fuftice too.

This further confirms what I hinted before that the Celebration of the Marriage Feaft, will be in the time of Chrift's glorious Kingdom, (after the Deftraction of Babylon) and that then it will be, not only the time of Efpoufals, but the Coronation Day; and fo confequently a time of Reigning and a time of judging, the one being fignified by their fitting on Thrones, the other hy Fudgment being given unto them.

And I faw the Souls of them that were beheaded for thewitness of Fefus, and for theWord of God, &c. thefe are the Martyrs who laid down their Lives for the Teftimony of Chrift, and the Gofpel. Some from hence have inferred, that it is only the Martyrs who fhall rife firft, and reign with Chrift a thouSand Years. It must be granted that the Martyrs

who fuffered Death for the Caufe of Chrift, will be chief next unto the Apostles, in Chrift's Kingdom; whofe Crowns and Thrones, (I do conceive) will fhine more bright and glorious than the reft. Yet it doth not appear from this, that any one of the Saints fhall be excluded from a Participation of that glorious Reign; but the contrary; for it faith, not only them that were beheaded but those who had not worshipped the Beaft, neither his Image, neither had received his Mark in their Foreheads, or in their Hands. That is who had neither openly nor fecretly polluted themselves with the corrupt Doctrine of the Whore of Babylon; but are as chafte Virgins unto Chrift, which takes in every true Believer, all thefe lived and reigned with Chrift, a thousand Tears.

This living and reigning with Chrift a thousand Tears, cannot be meant of a fpiritual Reigning in the Participation of Grace here, or the Souls enjoying of God in Glory after Death: It cannot be a Reigning with him, whilft in a mortal State, for as fuch none did ever yet reign with Chrift a thousand Years. Neither is the Life of any of the Saints, whilst they be in their mortal, conflict, and suffering Condition, any where in Scripture called a living and reigning with Chrift for fo long a time: And as for the Soul being in Heaven after Death, I cannot find any Place, where this is called a reigning with Jefus Chrift for fuch an exact Term of Years. Neither can thefe Words be taken fo properly; becaufe many of the Children of God have reigned under this Confideration with Chrift fome thousands of Years. Again, fome of the