[ 1414] The good Christian's absolute Victory over Death.
WHen the Romans had made Warre upon the Carthagenians,* 1.1 and often overca•••• them, yet still within eight of ten years, or lesse, they made head again, and stirred up new Warrs, so tha•• they were in successive combustion; And it hath been the same in all the Nations of the World, he that was erst an underling, not long af••er becomes the Commander in chief,* 1.2 and the same thing that the Lord hath now made the ••ayl, may be the head in time to come. As for Example: Cerealis gets a great Conquest over the Cymbrians and the Tutons, and shortly after Sylla had the like over him; And Sylla no sooner shines out to the World, but is eclipsed by Pompey; And Pompey, the glory of his time, is, by the conquering hand of Caesar,* 1.3 outed both of life and honours: And Caesar, in the height of all his pompous state, falls by the hands of bloody Conspirators in the Senate-house. Thus in the course of this World, As one Man is set up, an∣other is pull'd down, the Conquerour is oft-times conquered himself; but in the Victory that every good Man hath over Death,* 1.4 it is so absolute, that it is without any hope or comfort on Death's part, and without any fear or suffering on their part: For it is so taken away, as if it had never been; and that which had the greatest triumph, the mightiest Trophies in the World, unto which all Kings and Princes have bowed their heads, and laid down their Scepters, as so many mor∣sels ••o ••eed on,* 1.5 shall by the hand of Iesus Christ be turned into nothing, shall have no Name or nation, and be ber••ft of all hope of recovery, 1. Cor. 15.