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

There were false Prophets also among the people.] I begin with the narration, which ⟨p. 369⟩hath recurrence to those past times, the state of the Church under the Law. Who being the beloved people of GOD, yet were not exempted from that exercise of their faith, by the seducements of false Prophets. To proceed in order.

There were also. This is the connection; [Greek or Hebrew], Also, implies that there were always true Prophets; such as he formerly had specified: otherwise he could not say here; Also false prophets. Where behold Gods careful indulgence to his children, that never leaves them without Tutors. Zach. 1.5. The Prophets do not live for ever: there is no everlasting Priest but JESUS CHRIST. Moses and Samuel are dead, Paul and John have laid down their Tabernacles. Yet still the Lord raiseth up Ministers to stand before his Alter, and to keep the holy fire of the Sanctuary from going out. Some have observed that Jonah began his Prophecy with And, or Also. Which intends a conjunction, either of Jonah with other Prophets, or Nineveh with other Cities, or of the business related with other affairs: as if it began a book without a beginning, and continued a course of some precedent dealings. When one Lamp is spent, God will also send another: when one star sets, another rises. The Church shall be no more destitute of Ministers, than the Firmament can be without stars. God will not leave his house without builders, till the edifice be perfectly finished. Eph. 4.13. He placeth Pastors and Teachers, to the edifying of his body, until we all meet unto a perfect man. This comforts us, that if our sins cause not God to remove our candlestick from us, we shall have shining lamps in our Church, until we be all lighted to the kingdom of heaven. The Greeks of Constantinople had store of wealth, but because they would spare none of it to the reparation and defence of the City, they lost all to the Turks, which afterwards no money could recover. The foolish virgins, to spare a shilling, bought no oil: but when their lamps were out, and the Bridegroom came, what would they have given, what would they not have given, for a little oil? I pray God this prove not the unfortunate case of this land: we have store of lamps to light us to heaven, but we are so niggardly of oil to feed them, that they must needs at last go out, and leave us darkling. It is no wonder, if God take from us Altaria, our Altars; who have taken from him Altaragia, his Tithes and offerings.