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

like a Tyrant, that hath robbed and killed the Father and mother, and then gives the child a coat: that like Socrates, wills his executors to offer a cock to Aesculapius; perhaps lest be should die in the devils debt, and be impleaded in hell: he takes no need to the word, Rom. 13.8. Owe nothing to any man: ⟨p. 347⟩do thou restore according to equity, or the Lord will not restore thee according to mercy. We are not heedy, but heady: we do not tarry for the direction of the word.

like a Tyrant, that hath robbed and killed the Father and mother, and then gives the child a coate: that like Socrates, wills his executors to offer a cocke to Esculapius; perhaps lest be should die in the divells debt, and bee impleaded in hell: he takes no need to the word, Rom. 13.8. Owe nothing to any man: ⟨p. 347⟩doe thou restore according to equitie, or the Lord will not restore thee according to mercie. Wee are not heedy, but heady: wee doe not tarry for the direction of the word.

But as the Architect without his rule will never build a good house: nor the traveller come to the end of his journey, that neither knows nor asks a step of the way. So there is no hope of salvation without submission to the rule of eternal truth. As it is in the fable of the golden chain; men and gods were not able to draw Jupiter down to the earth: but Jupiter was able to draw them up into heaven. As we must submit our reason unto faith, not faith to reason: so we must subject our affections to Gods word, not Gods word to our affections. The word of God is that Herb of life, able to cure all diseases of the conscience. A Sage observing that many passing by an unseen Cockatrice, fell down dead: only a shepherd with a Garland of herbs and flowers went by unharmed. He called the shepherd to him, and begged his garland: then sent him back to the place from whence he came. But by the way the serpent stroke him dead, infecting his visory spirits with her unprevented poison. The old man hastened to him, and began to rub his eyes with one herb of the garland; that failing, with another: and so continued, till he lighted upon that herb which effected his recovery. Thus he came to know the herb, preserved it, prescribed it, and defended all that had such. Such a saving herb is the word of God: when that old serpent the devil hath killed men, and laid them dead in sins and trespasses; yet if their hearts be rubbed with this flower, it shall receive them,