Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 2:15

15 And deliver them , who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage .

The Effect of the former Destruction of the Devil is laid down in this Verse, viz. the Children's Freedom from the Fear of Death, to which, being Slaves to the Devil, they were once in Bondage. He by breaking and disanulling the Devil's Power, doth really, fully, and justly exempt them from the concomitant Evil.

A painful and wasting Horror, working the saddest Apprehensions, and tumultuous workings of Soul from its apprehended Danger of Death spiritual, temporal, and eternal, when the Wrath of God doth not only dissolve the natural Frame, but makes an everlasting Separation from himself, shutting them up with the worst Company in the worst Place and State that is possible for the Humane Mind to imagine, and that for ever, Iob 18.11, 14. and 24.17. Psalm 55.4, 5. and 73.19. and 88 14; to 18.

When they come to the Exercise of the reasonable Life of Man, and under Convictions of Sin, then these Terrors arise, and never leave affrighting or tormenting them, but makes them pass as many Deaths as Moments, as is evident in Cain and Iudas; for they are inslaved, and in such a State of Drudgery and Vassalage to the Devil the most cruel Tyrant, by their own Guilt, and so are justly, invincibly, and miserably held in it. Christ by his Death rescueth them from this woful, intolerable Vassalage to the Devil, and Hell, and brings them into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God, Rom. 8.21, 25. Colos. 1.12, 13.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 8.15.