A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

And let not this trial discourage us, nor discomfort us. Revel. 20. The devil is let loose for a season. For a season, to try the patience of the Church: and but for a season, to fortify the courage of the Church. Revel. 2.10. The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Into prison, why not unto death? no thanks to Satan; he would fain kill them. Some of you, why not all? no thanks to Satan; he would destroy all. And for ten days, why not longer? no thanks to Satan, he would enthral them for ever. There are three limitations to his power and malice: for time, but ten days, not ten months: for number, Some, not all: for extremity, into prison, not to death: they shall feel tribulation, not destruction: that they might be tried, not overwhelmed. These false teachers may prevail for a time; but we shall say truly by inversion, what the Aramites spake by supposition, 1 King. 20.23. Upon the hills they are stronger than we, but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. On the contrary, they are to hard for us in the plains, but we shall be too hard for them on the hills. they prevail against us in this valley of tears, we shall triumph over them in the mountain of blessedness. Let falsity vomit her poison, we shall find saving health in the truth of Christ.

And let not this tryall discourage us, nor discomfort us. Revel. 20. The divell is let loose for a season. For a season, to try the patience of the Church: and but for a season, to fortifie the courage of the Church. Revel. 2.10. The divell shall cast some of you into prison, that yee may be tryed, and yee shall have tribulation tenne dayes. Into prison, why not unto death? no thankes to Satan; he would faine kill them. Some of you, why not all? no thankes to Satan; he would destroy all. And for tenne dayes, why not longer? no thankes to Satan, he would inthrall them for ever. There are three limitations to his power and malice: for time, but tenne dayes, not tenne moneths: for number, Some, not all: for extremity, into prison, not to death: they shall feele tribulation, not destruction: that they might be tried, not overwhelmed. These false teachers may prevaile for a time; but we shall say truely by inversion, what the Aramites spake by supposition,