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

Lastly, the invincible power of the Gospel is manifested in throwing down those bulwarks raised against it. When the waters of life began first to flow, what strong flood-gates, ramparts, and dams, were set to stop their source. All the learning, power, and policy of men, with the help of infernal spirits were bent against it. Demosthenes and Tertullus for eloquence, Solon against Solomon, Plato against Moses, Aristotle against Paul, Alexander and Cesar against CHRIST: but whatsoever contenders opposed the truth, they discovered the invalidity of their arguments, with the confusion of their own persons. Christ sent a few fishermen to the sea of this world, with the nets of faith; and they enclosed multitudes of ⟨p. 297⟩•ishes, of all sorts and sises; tantò mirabiliores, quantò rariores, even Kings and Philosophers themselves, Aug. He sent not kings and Philosophers to persuade fishermen; but fishermen to convert Philosophers and kings. They that had no authority to countenance them, no friends to side them, no oratory to second them, no •iches to maintain them: yet went abroad preaching the disdained Gospel of the crucified Jesus. And even when the kings of the earth did set themselves against the Lord, •nd against his Christ: yet even then God did give him the heathen for his inheritance, •nd the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Psal. 2.8. Emperors and Monarchs •ave thrown down their Sceptres at the feet of the Lamb, as the^r Elders cast •owne their Crowns before the Throne; embracing the faith, and yielding to the Sovereign supremacy of JESUS CHRIST. Then was that Prophecy fulfilled. Esa. •1.6. The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lamb, the kid with the Lyon, and a little child shall •ad them. Nero and Domitian study strange deaths, to afflict the Saints, and to •ppresse the Gospel: yet the Church groans and grows, bleeds and battens: evey drop of blood that ends one Christian, begets a thousand. Those men who at he first, Timebant in verbis, postea gaudebant in verberibus; trembled at threatening words, afterwards embraced killing swords, for the testimony of Jesus. You had nce ten Apostles flying, one denying, yet afterwards all rejoicing, to suffer for im that suffered for them.