C A r.2. "iPvelatiotïi7ftheApocalypre. 63 of this prefent life ; Towhich end alfohe faid before, that he liveth Sweet now who had beendead,that they might learn by his example,not to finellíng .fear death , which they might know to be the procurer of eternal! Smyrna. felicity; _ II. He that bath an ear. An ufuall conclufión,admoniChing all men tohearken diligently to thefe precepts , that are made concerning vertue and valour of mind in enduring afflicions. Before weewere armed againft inborn fluggifhnefl:°, here we are provided with muni- tio.n againft outward force. The rewardwhich is added in the end is commontothe Whole, Church. That which was before fpokenof was properly belonging to the e4ngel, the knowledge wherof notwith- itanding,didvery greatly concern the whole people , as was faid be- fore. But feeing this combat was to be undergone by thepeople,afwel as by the PafÈours,there is comfort miniftredunto themby name,ten- ding tothe fame purpofe with the former, but aftera divers manner. For there, are two things,wliich.are wont to kindle our defiresto takeupon us anyworthy explbyt hope of reward, and little regar- ding of danger. That was fet before.thePatours, whole minds being móre furnifhedwithknowledge, and more noble, is wont tobe ra- ther led with reward ; This is laid before the people , whom fear of danger principally Both fray from their duty,andwill notfufferthem todo any thing worthycommendation. He fheweth therefore that they ought not to fear to lofe their lives, if needwere; For therecan be no fearof the fecond death,by which the body and foul doperch for ever; according to that of Chrïft;fear not them that kil the bódy,brt cannot k 1 thefoul,ratherfear him thatcan defszroy.bothfoul andbody,in he1,Mati o.28.This hel,is that fecond death whichhe here fpeaks of "wherby the wholemanThal be as much deprived from all comfort in God,as the body is deftituteof all ayd comingfrom the foul, when it is once fevered from it by the firft-death. This is that horrible death, -which is truly tobe feared , from which he delivereth hisfervants, who hath overcome death, the freedome from which he here pro- mifeth them, and not from the firít death, as which is a lighter mat- ter, then either fo mighty a Mafter ofthe prizes Chould give, orhis fouldiers fhould looke for. Nowwhat need is there tobe defended from the firft death,which the necefíityofnature would bringat Taft? but to prevent that neceffity for the truths fake., Both make way to get a more ample crown. He promifeth therefore that which is Lift, and doth not delude us with a vain thew of a leffcr and lighter good. Tlie..
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