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

merit before mercy. Do not think, To believe, so easy a matter: the death of Christ darkened the Sun, shook the earth, clave the rocks, opened the graves, and raised the dead; yet did not put faith into the Jews hearts. It was a great miracle, Deum nasci, for God to be borne of woman: a great miracle, Virginem parere, for a Virgin to bear a child, and still to remain a Virgin: but the greatest miracle of all is Fidem haec credere, for a mans faith to believe these things. Bernard makes this to be the most wonderful mixture and composition of the three. First, Deus & Homo, God and man, a strange union; that hominem esse incipit, qui Deum esse non desinit; He should begin to be man, who is God without beginning, without ending: Divinity and Humanity in one individual Person; this is very mystical. Next, Matter & Virgo, a Mother and a Virgin: Quod Virgo esset quae peperit, & Mater esset quae Virgo remansit: That she should be a Virgin still, which was now a Mother; that she should be a Mother, which remained a pure Virgin; this was singularly admirable: maternity and virginity at ⟨p. 25⟩once in the same individual person. Lastly Cor hominis & fides, mans heart and faith; a natural understanding, and supernatural objects mixed together. Fire and water would sooner be reconciled then these two, without the supernatural combining work of Gods spirit. This is the most wonderful mixture and mystery. This Faith is no easy thing to obtain. Potes a te deficere, sed teipsum reficere non potes: ille reficit; qui te fecit. Augustine. Thou mayest fall off, from thy self; not recover thy self: He only that made thee, can restore thee. Faith is Gods gift; no man can obtain it, if he detain it.

merit before mercy. Doe not thinke, To beleeve, so easie a matter: the death of Christ darkned the Sun, shooke the earth, clave the rockes, opened the graves, and raised the dead; yet did not put faith into the Iewes hearts. It was a great miracle, Deum nasci, for God to be borne of woman: a great miracle, Virginem parere, for a Virgin to beare a childe, and still to remaine a Virgin: but the greatest miracle of all is Fidem haec credere, for a mans faith to beleeve these things. Bernard makes this to be the most wonderfull mixture and composition of the three. First, Deus & Homo, God and man, a strange union; that hominem esse incipit, qui Deum esse non desinit; He should begin to be man, who is God without beginning, without ending: Divinity and Humanity in one individuall Person; this is very mysticall. Next, Mater & Virgo, a Mother and a Virgin: Quod Virgo esset quae peperit, & Mater esset quae Virgo remansit: That shee should be a Virgin still, which was now a Mother; that she should be a Mother, which remained a pure Virgin; this was singularly admirable: maternitie and virginitie at