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

Now whatsoever may be said for exception. That the Prophets had only involved promises, not understood till they were fulfilled. In a promise there are many doubts: mens minds may change, occasions divert, their power be defective: but in a performance there is nothing wanting: now the Gospel was established by the ministry of the Senses. It is true that in the Scripture, there is no difference concerning the truth and certainty of all places and parts of it: but there may be some difference in the material and formal parts: for things may be more plainly, more comfortably set down in one place than in another. Therefore Augustine gives this praise to the Gospel, in allusion to that miracle of turning the water into wine, Joh. 2. That Christ did turn the Prophetical water, into Evangelical wine. There have been some, that through disability to clear this doubt in my Text, have thrust the whole Epistle out of the Canon; and it was four hundred years almost, before it was received, as Eusebius testifies. This was like Alexander, when he could not undo the Gordian knot, to cut it. That was to make quick, but sacrilegious dispatch. There is no such need; to put out the light, because we are blind and cannot see it.

Now whatsoever may be said for exception. That the Prophets had only involved promises, not understood till they were fulfilled. In a promise there are many doubts: mens minds may change, occasions divert, their power be defective: but in a performance there is nothing wanting: now the Gospell was established by the ministry of the Senses. It is true that in the Scripture, there is no difference concerning the truth and certainty of all places and parts of it: but there may be some difference in the materiall and formal parts: for things may be more plainely, more comfortably set down in one place than in another. Therfore Augustine gives this praise to the Gospell, in allusion to that miracle of turning the water into wine, Ioh. 2. That Christ did turne the Propheticall water, into Evangelicall wine. There have beene some, that through disability to cleare this doubt in my Text, have thrust the whole Epistle out of the Canon; and it was foure hundred yeares almost, before it was received, as Eusebius testifies. This was like Alexander, when he could not undoe the Gordian knot, to cut it. That was to make quicke, but sacrilegious dispatch. There is no such need; to put out the light, because we are blinde and cannot see it.