24. He derides the threat of the future judgment, and is thereby made more cruel. For against Leviathan the Lord brandishes a spear, because in his destruction He threatens a strict sentence. For to brandish a spear is to prepare for him eternal death out of strict visitation. But the apostate spirit, despising the Author of life even with his own death, derides the One brandishing the spear, because by strict judgment he does not fear to suffer whatever grave, whatever horrible thing he foresees; but the more he perceives that he cannot escape the eternal torments, the harder he rises up in the exercise of wickedness.
When very many of the wise men of this world consider that he is bound with such pertinacity, with such strength, in all the things he desires, they incline their hearts to the service of his tyranny, and all that they know by God's bestowing, this against Him they weave together for the service of that enemy. Whence it is rightly added: