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

Thus Satan is a false Prophet, in making sour to seem sweet, this is deceptio gustus. The world a false Prophet, in making shadows appear substances, this is deceptio visus. The flesh a false Prophet, in calling frail things durable, this is deceptio auditus. In a word, every man is naturally a false Prophet to himself, lying to his own soul. Vis tollere mendacem? tolle teipsum. Wouldest thou punish a liar? punish thy self. Do not kill thy life, but kill thy lust: mortify thy false-hearted affections, ut tu vivas, that thy self mayest live. Moriatur iniquitas, ne moriatur iniquus: let the sin be mortified, that the sinner may be saved. Thou needest no falser a prophet, than thou art to thy self. Psal. 140.1. Deliver me O Lord, from the evil man. Augustine studiously considers who this evil man should be: he knew that he had many enemies, perhaps Satan might be that evil man: at last he lights upon the evil man, and that was himself. Domine, libera a me; Lord deliver me from my self; deliver Augustine from Augustine. Let me ask my soul this question. Gal. 5.7. Who did hinder me, that I should not obey the truth? Who? mihi obsto, I have ⟨p. 371⟩been false to my selfe. Qui sibi nequam, cui bonus? Hence there is so little fidelity of man to man, because there is so little faith of man to himself. He that is not true to his own soul, will never be good to me. An oppressor gaping for a young Gentleman's estate lately mortgaged to him, sent him in pretence of love a loose fellow to accompany him, and increase his luxury: he smelt it, and wittily returned his answer; I thank him for his care to set me forward: but tell him, I can spend my estate fast enough my self, I need no help. So what need Satan send false Prophets to them, that are false Prophets to themselves? If we desire to prevent all instruments of error from working upon us, let us be faithful to our selves, in being faithful to Christ.

Thus Satan is a false Prophet, in making sowre to seeme sweet, this is deceptio gustus. The world a false Prophet, in making shadowes appeare substances, this is deceptio visus. The flesh a false Prophet, in calling fraile things durable, this is deceptio auditus. In a word, every man is naturally a false Prophet to himselfe, lying to his owne soule. Vis tollere mendacem? tolle teipsum. Wouldest thou punish a lyer? punish thy selfe. Doe not kill thy life, but kill thy lust: mortifie thy false-hearted affections, ut tu vivas, that thy selfe mayest live. Moriatur iniquitas, ne moriatur iniquus: let the sinne be mortified, that the sinner may be saved. Thou needest no falser a prophet, than thou art to thy selfe.