Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 8:36

36. As it is written , For thy sake we are killed all the day long ; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

He cites this Testimony to prove, That none of the forementioned Evils; no, not Death it self can separate Believers from the Love of Christ: 'Tis taken out of Psal. 44.22. The Argument seems to be this, The Saints of Old have endured all manner of Sufferings, and yet were not Separated from the Love of God; therefore such Sufferings cannot separate them now.

Not for our Sins sake, but for Christ's, or for Righteousness sake, Mat. 5.10. and 10.18, 39. 1 Pet. 3.14.

How could they say this? Killing takes away all Complaining, and makes the Parties so dealt with, uncapable of saying, how it is with them. This Expression Notes the danger and desperateness of their Condition: 'Tis usual in Scripture to set forth an eminent Danger, under the notion of Death, vid. 1 Cor. 15.31. 2 Cor. 1.10. and 4.11.

i. e. Continually without ceasing, vid. Psal. 38.6, 12. and 71.24. & 73.14. Prov. 23.17. Chap. 10.21.

i. e. We are designed for Destruction. Our Enemies make account they can Destroy us, as Men do Sheep, that they have by them in the Slaughter-house. They reckon they have us at Command, and can cut us off when they li[illegible: 1 letter]t. Or rather thus, They make no reckoning of our Destruction; they make no more of killing Us, than Butchers do o[illegible: 1 letter] killing Sheep: Our Death is very cheap in their account, Psal. 44.11, 12. Here let me insert a Tragical Story of the Christians of Calabria, that suffered Persecution, Anno 1560. They were all shut up in one House together, as in a Sheepfold: An Executioner comes in, and among them takes one, and blind-folds him with a Muffler about his Eyes, and so leadeth him forth to a larger Place, where he Commandeth him to Kneel down; which being done, he cutteth his Throat, and so leaveth him half Dead; and taking his Butchers Knife and Muffler, all of gore Blood, he cometh again to the rest, and so leading them one after another, he dispatcheth them to the number of Eighty Eight, no otherwise than a Butcher doth his Sheep. Fox his Act. & Monum.