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

First, their Subtlety and politic craft, whereby they insinuate their unseen poisonous seeds, Ephes. 4.14. Paul calls it the Sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive. As scandalizers scatter their libels, if it be liked, they know the authors: if it be dangered to penalty, it is none of theirs. Sins agents are brought up in her own house, and taught the rudiments of her own discipline: as your Decoys teach young practitioners their trade of cheating. It is the brand of sin, to be deceitful, Hebr. Chap. 3. vers. 13. Take heed lest you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. This art of cozenage she teacheth to all her litter: O it is the subtlest Dam that ever the Devil engendered withal, and most pregnant in generation! He was in the Serpent when he begat iniquity on man; but now he hath made sin more subtle than the Serpent, Eccles. 21.2. We see the craftiest politicians over-reached by sin: they have tricks beyond all men, Sin hath a trick beyond them. Sin like the Fencer, may teach his scholars many postures, and wards, and tricks; but still reserves one for himself. They can cozen other men of their estates, but Sin can cozen them of their souls. Let us therefore pray for that blessed illumination, to find out the deceits and cunning of sin: that albeit it once deceived us of our Birth-right, it may not now deceive us of our Blessing. It stole from us the happiness of Nature, let it never steal from us the happiness of Grace.

First, their Subtiltie and politicke craft, whereby they insinuate their unseene poisonous seeds, Ephes. 4.14. Paul calls it the Sleight of men, and cunning craftinesse, whereby they lye in wait to deceive. As scandalizers scatter their libels, if it bee liked, they know the authours: if it bee dangered to penaltie, it is none of theirs. Sinnes agents are brought up in her owne house, and taught the rudiments of her owne discipline: as your Dequoyes teach young practitioners their trade of cheating. It is the brand of sinne, to be deceitfull, Hebr. Chap. 3. vers. 13. Take heed lest you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne. This art of coozenage shee teacheth to all her littor: O it is the subtillest Damme that ever the Devill engendred withall, and most pregnant in generation! Hee was in the Serpent when he begate iniquitie on man; but now he hath made sinne more subtill than the Serpent, Eccles. 21.2. Wee see the craftiest politicians over-reached by sinne: they have trickes beyond all men, Sinne hath a tricke beyond them. Sinne like the Fencer, may teach his schollers many postures, and wards, and trickes; but still reserves one for himselfe. They can coozen other men of their estates, but Sinne can coozen them of their soules. Let us therefore pray for that blessed illumination, to finde out the deceits and cunning of sinne: that albeit it once deceived us of our Birth-right, it may not now deceive us of our Blessing. It stole from us the happinesse of Nature, let it never steale from us the happinesse of Grace.