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

Thus they had, but now they have lost; not the Letter, but the Spirit and life of this propheticall Word. Deus misit, Judaeus amisit; God gave it, and they lost it. And as it is fit, he that condemns the Sun, should not have a Star to light him: so they that refused Solem justitiae, that Sun of righteousness; should not retain Lumen Prophetiae, the light of Prophecy. Esau hath sold his Birth-right to Jacob: the Jews are to us Christians; Imprecatores in cordibus, suffragatores in codicibus: Enemies in their hearts, but friends in their books. They have only the word prophesying, we have the word prophesied: they the Prophetical shadow, we the Evangelical truth, Jesus Christ. This Word is now devolved to us, we have it, Rom. 15.4. Whatsoever things were written afore-time, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The letter for our eyes, the history for our tongues, the mystery for our heads, the comfort of all for our hearts. God grant we never inherit the sins of the Jews, with the Scriptures of the Jews. Like Gehezi, that could not take Naamans money, but must also take his Leprosy. Or Nadab, that succeeded Jeroboam, both in his Crown, and in his sin. Or as Satan offered Christ, Glory, but Idolatry withal. No, the Lord that hath given us their light, keep us for ever from their darkness! We will be content with Esau's Birth-right and his Blessing, we will none of his Profaneness. While these Oracles were with them, they were like jewels in an infected house, or the precious stone in the Toads forehead, we might say of them, as it was proverbed of Galba's wit; Ingenium Galbae malè habitat; the Romans loved his policy, but not his company. The Prophets foretold things they could not see, the Jews beheld things they would not see.¹ Our Saviour made distinction between the Pharisees doctrines and doings: whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but day not after their works. So we say to them still; Give us your doctrines, we will none of your deeds: you rejected that Jesus Christ, whom your prophecies teach us to embrace. When a debauched Limner had drawn an exquisite Piece, many desired the picture, but all disdained the Painter. Pulchrum hominem pinxisti Pictor fadus; The Jews had verbum propheticum, the word of prophecy: not fidem propheticam, the faith of prophecy.

Thus they had, but now they have lost; not the Letter, but the Spirit and life of this propheticall Word. Deus misit, Iudaeus amisit; God gave it, and they lost it. And as it is fit, he that condemnes the Sun, should not have a Star to light him: so they that refused Solem justitiae, that Sun of righteousnesse; should not retaine Lumen Prophetiae, the light of Prophecie. Esau hath sold his Birth-right to Iacob: the Iewes are to us Christians; Imprecatores in cordibus, suffragatores in codicibus: Enemies in their hearts, but friends in their books. They have only the word prophesying, we have the word prophesied: they the Propheticall shadow, we the Evangelicall truth, Iesus Christ. This Word is now devolved to us, we have it,