But this now belongeth to the last iudgment, which I thought good to recite, least some should suppose that the Diuell being let loose againe for a season should either finde no Church at all, or by his violence and seducements should subuert all he findeth. Wherefore the Diuells imprisonment during the whole time included in this booke (that is from Christs first comming to his last) is not any particular restraint from seducing the Church, because hee could not in∣iure the Church were hee neuer so free: other-wise if his bondage were a set prohibition from seduction what were his freedome but a full permission to se∣duce? which God forbid should euer be! No his binding is an inhibition of his full power of tempration, which is the meanes of mans being seduced, either by his violence or his fraudulence. Which if hee were suffered to practise in that long time of infirmity, hee would peruert and destroy the faith of many such soules as Gods goodnesse will not suffer to bee cast downe. To auoyd this inconuenience, bound hee is; And in the last and smallest remainder of time shall hee bee loosed: for wee read that hee shall rage in his greatest ma∣lice onely three yeares and sixe monethes, and hee shall hold warres with such foes as all his emnity shall neuer bee able either to conquere or iniure. But if hee were not let loose at all, his maleuolence should bee the lesse conspicuous, and the faithfulls pacience the lesse glorious; briefly it would bee lesse appa∣rant vnto how blessed an end GOD had made vse of his cursednesse, in not debarring him absolutely from tempting the Saints (though hee bee vtterly cast out from their inward man) that they might reape a benefit from his bad∣nesse: and in binding him firmely in the harts of such as vow them-selues his •…•…ectators, least if his wicked enuy had the full scope, hee should enter in a∣mongst the weaker members of the Church, and by violence and subtilty toge∣ther, deter and diswade them from their faith, their onely meane of saluation. Now in the end, hee shalbe loosed, that the Citty of GOD may see what a potent aduersary she hath conquered by the grace of her Sauiour and redeemer, vnto his eternall glory.
O what are wee, and compare vs vnto the Saints that shall liue to see this! when such an enemy shall be let loose vnto them as we can scarcely resist al∣though hee bee bound! (although no doubt but Christ hath had some soldiors in these our times, who if they had liued in the times to come, would haue a∣uoyded all the Deuills trapps by their true discrete prudence) or haue with∣stood them with vndanted pacience.) This binding of the Diuell began when the Church began to spread from Iudea into other regions, and lasteth yet, and shall do vntill his time bee expired: for men euen in these times do refuse the chaine wherein hee held them, infidelity, and turne vnto GOD, and shall do no doubt vnto the worlds end. And then is he bound in respect of eue∣ry priuate man, when the soule that was his vassall, cleareth her selfe of him, nor ceaseth his shutting vpon, when they dye wherein hee was shut: for the world shall haue a continuall succession of the haters of Christianity, whilest the earth endureth, and in their hearts the diuell shall euer bee shut vp. But it may bee a doubt whether any one shall turne vnto GOD, during the space of his three yeares and an halfes raigne, for how can this stand good, How can a man enter into a strong mans house & spoyle his goods, exept he first bind the strongman, & then spoile his house, if he may do it when the strong man is loose? This seemeth to proue directly that during that space, none shalbe conuerted, but that the diuel