[Sidenote: _Of all the Apostles St._ John _only is thought to have suffered a natural death: And why?_]
Now why among all the rest _John_ only escaped the death of a Martyr, the reason is given; because all others fled away or withdrew themselves at his death, and he alone of the Twelve beheld his passion on the Cross. Wherein notwithstanding, the affliction that he suffered could not amount unto less than Martyrdom: for if the naked relation, at least the intentive consideration of that Passion, be able still, and at this disadvantage of time, to rend the hearts of pious Contemplators; surely the near and sensible vision thereof must needs occasion Agonies beyond the comprehension of flesh; and the trajections of such an object more sharply pierce the Martyred soul of _John_, than afterward did the nails the crucified body of _Peter_.
Again, They were mistaken in the Emphatical apprehension, placing the consideration upon the words, If I will: whereas it properly lay in these, when I come. Which had they apprehended as some have since, that is, not for his ultimate and last return, but his coming in Judgment and destruction upon the _Jews_; or such a coming, as it might be said, that that generation should not pass before it was fulfilled; they needed not, much less need we suppose such diuturnity. For after the death of _Peter_, _John_ lived to behold the same fulfilled by _Vespasian_: nor had he then his _Nunc dimittis_, or went out like unto _Simeon_; but old in accomplisht obscurities, and having seen the expire of _Daniels_ prediction, as some conceive, he accomplished his Revelation.
But besides this original and primary foundation, divers others have made impressions according unto different ages and persons by whom they were received. For some established the conceit in the disciples and brethren, which were contemporary unto him, or lived about the same time with him; and this was first the extraordinary affection our Saviour bare unto this disciple, who hath the honour to be called the disciple whom Jesus loved. Now from hence they might be apt to believe their Master would dispense with his death, or suffer him to live to see him return in glory, who was the only Apostle that beheld him to die in dishonour. Another was the belief and opinion of those times, that Christ would suddenly come; for they held not generally the same opinion with their successors, or as descending ages after so many Centuries; but conceived his coming would not be long after his passion, according unto several expressions of our Saviour grosly understood, and as we find the same opinion not long after reprehended by St. _Paul_ [SN: _Thes._ 2.]: and thus conceiving his coming would not be long, they might be induced to believe his favorite should live unto it. [SN: _Saint_ John, _how long surviving our B. Saviour._] Lastly, the long life of _John_ might much advantage this opinion; for he survived the other twelve, he was aged 22 years when he was called by Christ, and 25 that is the age of Priesthood at his death, and lived 93 years, that is 68 after his Saviour, and died not before the second year of _Trajan_. Now having out lived all his fellows, the world was confirmed he might live still, and even unto the coming of his Master.