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But if he were malicious only to wish our destruction, and not mighty to wreak his malice, we should have little cause to fear: but he is mighty, therefore he is termed ⟨image 10⟩a lion, the power of darkness, a great dragon, which drew to the earth the third part of the stars of heaven: ¹that is, with earthly temptation to have overthrown them, which seemed to shine in the church of God as Lamps, and Stars. O then how easy is our overthrow, if the Lord did not hold us up, which shine not as stars in heaven, but creep like worms on earth?

But if hee vvere malitious onely to vvish our destruction, and not mightie to vvreake his malice, wee shoulde haue little cause to feare: but he is mightie, therefore hee is tearmed ⟨image 10⟩alyon, the power of darkenesse, a great dragon, which drewe to the earth the thirde part of the starres of heauen: ¹that is, with earthly temptation to haue ouerthrowne them, which seemed to shine in the church of God as Lamps, and Starres. O then how easie is our ouerthrow, if the Lord did not holde vs vp, which shine not as starres in heauen, but creepe like wormes on earth?

1. 1Luke. 11. Ephe 6. Reu. 12.

3 Yet if he were but malicious and mighty, it were better with us; but he is fierce, and therefore called a roaring Lyon, who laying wait for the blood of the godly, stirreth up blood-thirsty persecutors, to make themselves drunk with the blood of the saints: as most grievously he did from the time of John Baptist, to the reign of Maxentius, the space of 294. years, flaying some by the sword, burning other with fire, hanging some on the gallows, drowning some in rivers, stabbing some with forks of iron, pressing others unto death with stones, devouring many thousands of the tender lambs of Christs flock.