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

They shall bring in;] here is the necessity, as the Apostle told us before of these Impostors; Erunt they shall be. Shall, though provision spend all her wit, and prevention all her strength; yet no avoiding it. Saint John tells us, that many spirits are gone abroad into the world, that would be tried before they be trusted. 2 Tim. 3.6. They creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, and led away with diverse lusts, Jud. ver. 16. You have the picture of them drawn to the life. Do you think it impossible for the truth to forsake some private breasts, yea even whole regions? This were a Popish conceit; so they give out of their infallible Rome; that she hath clipped the wings of Truth, as old Rome did once the wings of victory, that it might not flee away. This were to imagine the Holy Ghost bound to every Pulpit, as they bind him to their Chair. No, there shall be some perverters: some? yea too many. There be some yellow seeds that abound; we might well spare them, they mar the field. We daily pray for labourers in the Lords great harvest: but for such as labour for the Lord, not against the Lord. For such as row us in the vessel of the Church toward heaven; not such as hurry us in a man of war to bondage. For then we should complain of multitudes; Jer. 12. Verse 10. Many pastors have destroyed the vineyard. They were pastors, and pastores multi, sed stulti; many pastors, but evil ones: what do they? Diripuerunt vineam meam, they destroy my vineyard. We say not then, the harvest is great, and the labourers are too few: but the harvest is great, and these labourers are too many. Would they all labour for CHRIST; but when will that be? Oh it were special news to be told in Gath, and would sound terribly in the streets of Askelon; it would go cold to the heart of the devil, and shake the gates of hell: that the Church had escaped the ingenious solicitations of these fiends, who not only trouble the waters of her peace, but poison her very springs of life. They shall bring them in, the Lord of his mercy cast them out.

They shall bring in;] here is the necessitie, as the Apostle told us before of these Impostors; Erunt they shall be. Shall, though provision spend all her wit, and prevention all her strength; yet no avoiding it. Saint Iohn tells us, that many spirits are gone abroad into the world, that would be tried before they be trusted.