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

2 The faith of a Christian is well grounded, upon the righteousness of Christ ^xFor other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. That house of faith only shall stand, that is built on this^y Rock. Neither, the Rain that falls in whole showers of prosperity; nor the voluminous Floods, that roar out persecutions; nor the adverse winds, that blow with the loudest violence of opposition; shall overthrow that house, because it is founded on a rock. ^zThou art Peter, and upon this Rock (which thou hast acknowledged to be the Son of the living God) I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Though Stephen Gardiner apostated did read that Text with the Popes spectacles, in the days of Queen Mary; and made the Pope supreme founder of Faith. Yet formerly in the days of King Edward the sixth, he preached it otherwise, that the Rock was only Christ. Non agnovit Petrum esse Petram, sed Petri Dominum. Domus Dei credendo sundatur, saith Augustine. The foundation of Gods house in mans heart, is Faith. First, place the foundation, then rear up the building; the Instruments of which edifice are the Word and Sacraments. Here is no place for Traditions of men, or Constitutions of Popes: the ground of faith is the righteousness of Christ, not our own merits: if in thy garden any grace or good works spring over the wall, and saucily challenge to it self a prerogative of merit; deal with it as the Gardiner doth with superfluous branches, prune it off: or as Torquatus with his over-venturous son; cut it down with the sword of the Spirit for daring beyond the commission. The Justice of Christ is the sole compass of faith: our adversaries oppose this both with pens and tongues, violently in the Schools, invectively in the Pulpits: but come they to their death-beds, to argue it between God and their own souls; then Grace and grace alone; mercy and only mercy; Jesus and none but Jesus. This their great Bell-weather is driven to confess:^a By reason of the uncertainty of our own righteousness, and the danger of vain-glory, the safest course is Fiduciam totam in sola Dei misericordia & benignitate reponere; to put our whole trust and confidence in the only goodness and mercy of God. But perhaps Bellarmine spake this as a eee Jesuit;