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

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, Joh. 5.25. The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear it, shall live. Now the Spirit of God fill the gardens of all our consciences with it; that the poison of this world, the venom of Satan may not hurt us: but that obedience and faith may bring us to the Paradise where it grows; even that Eternal Word of GOD himself, who sits at the right hand of his Father in heaven.

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 knowes nor askes a step of the way. So there is no hope of salvation without submission to the rule of eternall truth. As it is in the fable of the golden chaine; men and gods were not able to draw Iupiter downe to the earth: but Iupiter 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 Herbe of life, able to cure all diseases of the conscience. A Sage observing that many passing by an unseene Cockatrice, fell downe dead: onely a shepheard with a Garland of herbes and flowers went by unharmed. He called the shepheard to him, and begged his garland: then sent him backe 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 hastned to him, and began to rubbe his eyes with one herbe of the garland; that failing, with another: and so continued, till he lighted upon that herbe which effected his recoverie. Thus he came to know the herbe, preserved it, prescribed it, and defended all that had such. Such a saving herbe is the word of God: when that old serpent the divell hath killed men, and laid them dead in sinnes and trespasses; yet if their hearts be rubbed with this flower, it shall receive them,