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

First pride, for that loves at all hands to be foremost. Heresies are set on foot by men that thought well of themselves; and perhaps had some cause so to do, if they could have done it within any good compass. Never mean parts set Schisms abroach against CHRIST: the stronger wit, the stronger Heretic. Excellent gifts bind to excellent modesty; in humilitate Sapientia; wisdom is seen in humbleness. They that blow abroad their own praises, justly incur the suspicion ⟨p. 383⟩of windiness. Alienum laudet te, non os tuum; thy praise would sound better in thy neighbours mouth. Virtue never was a gadding Dinah, that runs abroad to be seen of the daughters of the land. But rather an Elizabeth, that hid her self six months together: lo, then was she fruitful, and bred child, and that so famous a one as John the Baptist. Stand further from me, I am purer than thou, this is vox superbientis, the voice of a proud sinner: Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man; this is vox paenitentis, the voice of a penitent Saint. The wise man never wrote upon his doors, here dwells wisdom: nor did goodness ever dwell at the sign of ostentation. It is for hypocrisy to declare the own worth, otherwise it would never be under stood for Sincerity. As the foolish Painter having pictured a Lion, so rudely and without such due shape that no passenger could know it: he was fain to help his apt with underwriting, This is a Lion. So it is for pride, when she cannot make her charity understood, to proclaim it her self, This is charity. Sincere ministers Nec pugnas narrant, nec cicatrices suas, never publish their own sufferings and virtues: it is enough for them if they be found one day among those, In quorum ore non est inventus dolus, In whose mouth was found no guile, Revel. 14.5. That is, according to Saint Augustine's gloss; who confessed meekly that they were sinners, and sought no other glory then Humility. Whereas Pride, saith Cyprian, is ever looking in her glass: Speculum consulitur: Cur? nisi quia timet ne sit ipsa: at least the glass must say she is fair: yet is, this Jezebels paint no better than the plaster of a leprous countenance, Rom. 1.22. Thus professing themselves to be wise, they became fools! A just judgement to light on them, that thought it nothing worth to be counted wise, unless the whole world were fools besides.