then the seals are all opened, then the Book is perfectly revealed to all the world. The opening of the seals therefore symbolizes its gradual progress in the world, till it is completely tolerated and adopted, which was the case on the opening of the seventh seal in the time of Constantine, who subverted Paganism, A.D. 323.

SEED.-1. The Seed of the Woman. Christ, put also for the 144,000, or first-fruits, whose religion experienced an unexampled toleration the first eighteen years of Diocletian's reign, when christianity might be said to have been completely brought forth. See Eusebius Hist. Eccl. Lib. viii. c. 1. See CHILD. FIRST-FRUITS.

2. The remnant of the seed of the woman. The victors over the Beast and his Image. Rev. xii. 17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. Rev. xiv. 9. If any man worship the beast and his image, &c. 12. HERE ARE THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS. Compare Rev. ii. 26, 27, and xix. 11-16, passages referring to these victors.

SERPENT.-The devil, the enemy of souls. Rev. xii. 9. That old serpent called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world.

SEVEN. A number of perfection. See ANGEL, 3, 14. CANDLESTICK, DAY, 6, HEAD, HORN, STAR, Thunders, TRUMPET, VIALS.

SEVENTY.-Seventy Weeks. See DAY, 2.

SHIP-MASTERS.-Patrons of benefices or livings in the Roman Churches. Rev. xviii. 17.

SHIPS.-1. Cities or towns. Rev. viii. 9. The third part of the ships was destroyed. Seventy cities in the third Præfecture of the Empire, Illyricum, erased by Attila and his Huns. Gibbon. vi. xxxiv. n. 20.

2. Sees, parishes, or benefices in the patronage of the Roman Churches. Rev. xviii. 17, 19.

SIDE.-A component part of a kingdom. Dan. vii. 5. And behold another beast, a second like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side. The Persians of the MedoPersian Empire, the most active of the two nations in war and conquest.

SILENCE.-Quietness, Peace. Rev. viii. 1. And there was silence in heaven for the space of half an hour. God's justice was satisfied on the acceptation of his religion by the Roman Empire; and for a short time there was no more occasion for divine judgments. Zech. ii. 12, 13. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

SION.-Mount Sion. Hades, or Paradise, the intermediate state of the good. Rev. xiv. 1.

Dan.

SIT. SITTING.-Reigning ruling and judging. Rev. xviii. 7. For she saith in her heart I sit a queen. viii. 9. I beheld till-the Ancient of Days did sit. Dan. vii. 26. Rev. iii. 21; iv. 4; v. 13; vi. 16; vii. 10, 15; xvii. 1, 3, 9.

SLAVES.-Merchandise of slaves. Trafficking in the cure of souls. Simony. Rev. xviii. 13.

SLAY.-1. Literally. Rev. xviii. 24.

2. To conquer, subject, subdue. Rev. ix. 15.

3. To convert. Rev. xix. 21. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceedeth out of his mouth. Rev. xi. 13. And in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand. but perhaps literally. Rev. xi. 5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

SLEEP.-Death. Dan. xii. 2. Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.

SODOM.-Any apostate city or people. The Roman Empire. Rev. xi. 8. The great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

SORE.-1. An annoyance. Rev. xvi. 2. And there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. The Reformation which was a grievous sore to the ROMAN SAINTS, and especially those of the German Empire, the worshippers of the German Emperors of THE ROMANS, among whom it took root.

2. Loss of power; and subjection. Rev. xvi. 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

SOUTH.-See KING.

STAR. A priestly government whether of Papists or other Christians, Pagans or Jews. See p. 145. Supr.

1. The morning star. The High Priest Christ. Rev. xxii. 16. I am the bright and morning star. Rev. ii. 26, 27, 28. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my words unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my father. And I will give him the morning star.

2. The seven stars. The seven governments of the seven churches, put also for the seven churches themselves. See Rev. i. ii. iii.

3. The twelve stars. The twelve apostles. Rev. xii. 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. Eph. ii. 19–22. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

4. The stars. a) The Jewish Priesthood. Dan. viii. 10. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. b) The stars of heaven. The Pagan established hierarchy, or whole body of Priests. Rev. vi. 13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs. The Pagan Priesthood was abolished by Constantine. The Priests of the Pagan Religion were mostly the Nobles.

5. The third part of the stars. a) A great part of the

church of God. Rev. xii. 4. And his (the dragon's) tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth. Compare it with Dan. viii. 10. under 4 above. That is, the devil had already persecuted or killed a great part of God's people through the Pagan Emperors, his agents, in the nine preceeding persecutions. b) Third part of the stars smitten and darkened. Rev. viii. 12. The Præfecture of Gaul disjoined from the Empire, and thus a third of the Roman church given over to Euric, the Visigoth, and Arianism.

6. Falling star. An apostate Priest or Church. See 2. Rev. viii. 10. And there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. The Arian Church. Rev. ix. 1. I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. Mahomet, or rather Muhammed, together with his successors, the Khalifs. See ABADDON.

STONE.-1. The diminutive origin of the kingdom of the saints at the issue of the great IT SHALL BE (JAHOн), or Word of God, as He now starts forth to smite the nations. Dan. ii. 34, 45. Rev. xix. 11-16.

2. White stone.-A full pardon and acquittal. Rev. ii. 17. I will give him a white stone. It was a custom among the ancients to announce a person's condemnation to him by giving him a black stone, and his acquittal by giving him a white stone.

SUN.-1. The LORD God and the Lamb. Ps. lxxxiv. 11. The LORD God is a sun. Mal. iv. 2. Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. Rev. vii. 2; xii. 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun. Rev. xxi. 23. And the city had no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten