4. But perhaps some one may say, How does it appear that death has been overcome by the Head, if it still rages with so great liberty against the members? If death is dead, how did it kill Malachy? If it is conquered how has it still power over all, and _there is no man that liveth and shall not see death_?[1040] Death is clearly conquered--_the work of the devil_[1041] and the penalty of sin: sin is conquered, the cause of death; and _the wicked one_ himself is _conquered_,[1042] the author both of sin and death. And not only are these things conquered, they are, moreover, already judged and condemned. The sentence is determined, but not yet published. In fact, _the fire is prepared for the devil_,[1043] though he is not yet cast into the fire, though still for _a short time_[1044] he is allowed to work wickedness. He is become, as it were, the hammer of the Heavenly Workman, _the hammer of the whole earth_.[1045] He crushes the elect _for_ their _profit_,[1046] he crushes to powder the reprobate for their damnation. As is the _master of the house_, so are _they of his household_,[1047] that is, sin and death. For _sin_, though it is not to be doubted that it was _nailed_ with Christ _to His cross_,[1048] was yet allowed still for a time, _not_ indeed to _reign_,[1049] but to dwell even in the Apostle himself while he lived. I lie if he does not himself say, _It is no more I that do it, but sin dwelleth in me._[1050] So also death itself is by no means, indeed, yet compelled not to be present, but it is compelled not to be present to men's hurt. But there will come a time when it is said, _O death, where is thy victory?_[1051] For death also is _the last enemy that shall be destroyed_.[1052] But now, since He rules _who has the power_ of life and _death_[1053] and confines the very sea within the fixed limits of its shores, death itself to the beloved of the Lord is a sleep of refreshment. The prophet bears witness who says, _When he giveth his beloved sleep, behold the heritage of the Lord._[1054] _The death of the wicked is indeed most evil_,[1055] since their birth is evil and their life more evil; but _precious is the death of the saints_.[1056] Precious clearly, for it is the end of labours, the consummation of victory, the gate of life, and the entrance to perfect safety.