calleth the children of the devill) laboured mightily to bring him to the crosse, The very fight it selfe was triumph: while the Devill ran with all his might against Christ; he killed himselfe. Angry Bees stinging once, make themselves drones forever: So Satan.supposing they had gotten full conquest when he was laid in the grave: but when they hoped to have vanquished him, the Kingdome of darknesse was utterly overthrowne, Sathan, sin and death were conquered and taken captive, and whatsoever might be brought against us, was taken away, as the least bill or scroale, Col. 2. 14, 15. 1 Joh. 3. 8. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Christ was wounded in the heele: but by the power of his divine nature, he soon recovered of his wound: being put to death concerning the flesh, he was quickned by the Spirit, and liveth through the power of God. 2 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. But by the wound he received, he wounded his enemies irrecoverably: he bruised the head of the Serpent, which wound is deadly, He spoyled principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly. And it is not improbable, that in reference to this promise, that Christ by his death should conquer and subdue the enemies of our Salvation, he is said to be the Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13. 8. For what can we understand by that phrase from the foundation of the world, but from the beginning, which cannot note eternity which is without beginning: for then from the beginning should be as much as before all beginning or without beginning. But seeing the death of Christ to vanquish and subdue the enemies of our soule is published in this ancient and famous promise, ever renowned in the Church of God, in reference to it, it may be said, that he was slaine from the foundation of the world.
These words doe containe a manifest distinction betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent, and a promise of assured victory to the seed of the woman over Sathan, and all spirituall enemies to be administred according to the decree of God. So we reade, that the names of some are written in the booke of life from the foundation of the world, Rev. 17. 8. that God hath saved some, and called them with an holy calling, not according to their workes, but according to his owne purpose and grace, which was given them in Jesus Christ before the times of the ages, 2 Tim. 1. 9. that God hath from the beginning chosen some to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth, 2 Thes. 2. 13. In all which passages that choosing, writing and calling is to be understood, which is taught in this famous promise, whereunto they seeme to be referred. For the phrase is, fromthe
