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

Damnable heresies.] This is the last circumstance, the malignity of them; [Greek or Hebrew]; they are corruptive, destructive, damnable heresies: doctrines of Perdition. 1. Because they are reprobated of God; so Judas was called the Son of Perdition, because God for his sin had rejected him. A wicked person is called the Son of Belial, because Belial had bred him up. The Son of strife, because contention had begotten him, and he begotten contention. So here the Heresies of damnation; because damnation did bring forth them, and they bring forth damnation. ⟨p. 382⟩2. Because they are exitiall and pestilent to the kingdoms and nations where they are admitted. How great a plague did Arianism bring to the East, Pelagianism to the west, now Papism to all the world. 3. Because they bring destruction to all their followers and defenders: sometimes temporal. Deut. 18.20. That Prophet shall die. Sometimes spiritual; the Lord turning their rivers into blood, that no man can drink of their waters to comfort: the increase of their labours being given to the locust, and all their vines destroyed with hail. Psal. 78.64. Their Priests falling by the sword: slain (if not with the sword of others) with their own malice: and their widows making no lamentation: no widows, or but one at the most, to make lamentation. For who can pity them that hate the truth? the wickedness of their cause drowns all compassion of their case. The last of all is the worst of all; their eternal perishing; for those transformed Ministers shall receive an end according to their works, 2 Cor. 11.15. For how should the Cross of CHRIST be a friend to them, that are enemies to his Cross? Phil. 3. Verse 19. Their end is destruction, that's much: but their destruction is without end that's more. There is nothing but damnation in their ways. Mic. 3. Verse 10. They build up Zion with blood. Hos. 6 9. As troops of robbers wait for a man: so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent. A robber waits for his prey, but being single he may either be avoided or conquered: but here are many robbers. Yet their divided forces may be subdued; Nay, but they join themselves in Troops. Thieves may do thus, that profess not God; Nay, but even apostated Priests. It is much that they fall to robbery, but I hope, no further: Yes, even to murder.