John Trapp on Revelation 20:4

And judgement was given unto them] That is, ſay ſome, the ſpirit or diſcerning between Chriſtianity and Antichriſtianiſme: Or the clearing of the innocency, and doing them right, ſay others. Or, they had their chairs, ſeats and conſiſtories, wherein they did both preach the Word, and execute the Churches cenſure, as ſome ſenſe it.

And I ſaw the ſouls] This makes againſt the Millenaries Souls raign not but in heaven: there are the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, Heb. 12. Cotton his pouring out of the 7. vio[illegible: 1 letter]s, p. 26. True it is (as Mr Cotton well obſerveth) that there are many deviſes in the mindes of ſome, to think that Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come from heaven again, and raign here with his Saints upon earth a thouſand years▪ But they are, ſaith he, but the miſtakes of ſome high expreſſions in Scripture, which deſcribe the judgments poured out upon Gods enemies in making way to the Jews converſion, by the patern of the laſt judgment. Thus he. The ſouls here mentioned are the ſame I conceive, that were ſeen under the Altar, Revel. 6.9. and doe cry, How long Lord? Theſe are not capable of a bodily reſurrection, nor of an earthly raigne.

And they lived and raigned with Chriſt] They, that is, thoſe that ſat on the thrones (not they that were beheaded) Lived and raigned, as ſpirituall Kings (after the ſame manner, as they are Prieſts, verſ. 6.) for elſe there ſhould be more Kings then Subjects.

With Chriſt] It is not ſaid with Christ upon earth, this is an addition to the text; or if the words did import a raigning upon earth, yet this would not inferre an earthly raign for a thouſand years in great worldly delights, begetting many children, eating and drinking, and enjoying all lawfull pleaſures, as ſome dream now a-daies. The conceit, I confeſſe is as ancient as Cerinth[illegible: 2 letters] the heretike, and P[illegible: 1 letter]pias (ſcholar to S. John) a man much reverenced for opinion of his holineſſe, but yet homo ingenij pertenui[illegible: 1 letter], ſaith Euſebius, not oppreſſed with wit. Hierom and Augustine explode it, as a Jewiſh fable, and declare it to be agreat errour, if not an hereſie: ſo do all the [non-Latin text not transcribed] at this day. The Patrons of Chriſts perſonall raign upon earth, Moſes's choice, p. 487. are Mr Archer and Mr Burroughes, who tels us, That if the opinion of ſome concerning Chriſts coming to raign here in the world before the day of judgement be not a truth, he cannot make any thing of many places of Scripture, as this place for one. But if he cannot, yet others can. See an Anſwer to his and M. Archers chief Arguments in M. Bayl[illegible: 1 letter] his diſſwaſive from the errours of the times, Chap. 21. p. 238.