A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

But if all these were fables, and Peter disclaims them in delivering the truth of the Gospel; why then do Preachers make use of them in Divinity? I answer. There is a difference betwixt the venom in a material, and the wholesome virtue. Saint Paul that condemned the one, often used the other: there may be honey in a nettle. As in the Law of a beautiful woman (Deut. 21.11.) that was a captive: he that desired her for his wife, was first to shave her head, and pare her nails. Humane learning is the Grecians Helena, full of admirable beauty: but must not be admitted into the Divinity Schools, till her head be shaved, and her nails pared. But from her take her abominable figments; shave and pare off what is dead, idolatrous, voluptuous, fabulous, those superfluous excretions of sin; of a Moabite make her an Israelite, and then accompany with her: she shall bring forth fair children to the Lord of Hosts. As Hosea took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, a wife of whoredoms; who yet bare him Jezreel, the Seed of God, Hos. 1.4. They were adversaries to the truth: their ingenie was great, their industry greater, but against the truth, Aug. Therefore cut off Goliaths head with his own sword, Hieron. The Word of God is the Bread of life, humane inventions but for gloss and ornament; hanging gold and jewels upon our apparel, as the Israelites did on their garments. Ab illis inginua animi delectatio, ab his sanitas & vita petitur. Those like the Aliptae, may put blood in our face, and mend our colour: this is the nourishment that maintains our life. Without this, all that grows in the green fields of Philosophy is but Toxic••, baneful: mors in olla, there is death in it; the Word of God is that Salt of Elisha, that sweetens the broth. The wood of the Cross is that wood of life, which relisheth the Marah of Gentile-learning. Jerome was buffeted by an Angel, for studying Heathen Authors too much: and Saint John had a book of this given him to swallow down. Yet I would not have men to rail down arts, and use them as the King of Ammon did Davids messengers; to grub their beards, yea, their very chins. As if the captive woman were to be slain, not shorne: as if Hagar stood Abraham in no stead for procreation, and all learning were but cozenage. Though they happily can reach to the top of preferment, and never climb by the stairs:

But if all these were fables, and Peter disclaimes them in delivering the truth of the Gospell; why then doe Preachers make use of them in Divinitie? I answer. There is a difference betwixt the venome in a materiall, and the wholesome vertue. Saint Paul that condemned the one, often used the other: there may be honey in a nettle. As in the Law of a beautifull woman (