The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome

The time of his imprisonment is set down, to be a thousand years, that is, all the time from the preaching of Christ, and his Apostles, until Gregory the seventh, & other monstrous Popes, which did let Satan loose again. Which space of time is guessed by the learned, to be a thousand years or thereabouts. But here it is to be observed, that this binding of Satan, is not to be taken simply, and absolutely, as though Satan was so bound and chained up, for this thousand year, that he could not seduce at all, or do no mischief at all, after the preaching of the Gospel by Christ, and his Apostles: I say this is not to be taken simply, but after a sort, that is, that he could not so generally and universally seduce all nations, as he had in former time, before the coming of Christ. For otherwise it is well known, that even after Christs time, he did greatly persecute the Church, bring in many errors and heresies, and harden and blind many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in comparison of that which he had wrought in former ages, when he was even as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worshipped him as God, as the Apostle teacheth,¹ that all the worship of the heathen nations, was the worship of devils. And again, that God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways. ²And then was ⟨p. 272⟩Satan a great prince indeed.³ But now cometh a chain for him: For Christ preacheth the Gospel, and sendeth forth his disciples with power, and thereupon saith, I saw Satan fall down like lightning: For the preaching of the Gospel, beateth down the kingdom of Satan and sin.

The time of his imprisonment is set downe, to be a thousand yeeres, that is, all the time frō the preaching of Christ, and his Apostles, vntill Gregory the seauenth, & other monstrous Popes, which did let Sathan loose againe. Which space of time is guessed by the learned, to be a thousand yeeres or thereabouts. But heere it is to bee obserued, that this binding of Sathan, is not to bee taken simply, and absolutely, as though Sathan was so bound and chained vp, for this thousand yeere, that hee could not seduce at all, or doe no mischiefe at all, after the preaching of the Gospell by Christ, and his Apostles: I say this is not to bee taken simply, but afrer a sort, that is, that hee could not so generally and vniuersally seduce all nations, as hee had in former time, before the comming of Christ. For otherwise it is well knowne, that euen after Christs time, hee did greatly persecute the Church, bring in many errors and heresies, and harden and blind many mens hearts: but yet all this was nothing, in comparison of that which hee had wrought in former ages, when hee was euen as it were the god of the world, and the Gentiles worshipped him as God, as the Apostle teacheth,