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

They that infect our manners are evil companions; Satan's agents: who is still scattering his fiery darts among the Army of Israel. And when they light upon wood they kindle, when upon flax they flame, when upon gunpowder they blow up all. Infirmity is as the wood; desire to sin, that is the flax; delight a sin, that is the powder. If we be naked, or only clothed with hypocritical our sides, or with the thin coat of reason, these darts will wound us: only the shield of faith rebates the points, and quenches all the fire. Some are afraid of meeting the Devil in a dark night: alas, he will not scare thee from himself: what should he get by that? No, it is worse meeting him like an Angel of light: by an Orator persuading, by a Poet delighting, by a friend flattering, by a wife seducing: thus is the Devil often brought in like concealed ware. Some make question whether there be a Devil or no, because they never saw any: but thou mayest see him in his effects, tempting thee to lewdness. In the time of Superstition, the Devil did often appear in some bodily shape, and he had reason for it; for by that means be drave men forward to desperation, to which in those days they were most inclined. But in these times of profaneness, he will not appear in his likeness, lest he should hold men back from presumption, to which they were running head-long. For he is never a worse devil, than when he comes lapped up in Samuel's Mantle; privily under the cloak of holiness! so that now all the wisdom is to see the Devil. If a mans eye be too near the object, the beams of his sight will be confounded; there must be a mediocrity of distance. As in the Optics, if a man would perceive the art of a perspective picture, he must go a distance from it, and then look on it with artificial eyes, or spectacles fitted for the purpose. So if a man would apprehend the prospects of Satan, with all his shadowings and deep deceits; he must not stand too nigh him, but go further off. And then he must look, not with the eyes of nature or reason, so he shall never descry him: but with the eye of faith in the glass of the Scripture; this shall plainly represent him.

They that infect our manners are evill companions; Satans agents: who is still scattering his firy darts among the Armie of Israel. And when they light upon wood they kindle, when upon flax they flame, when upon gunpowder they blow up all. Infirmitie is as the wood; desire to sinne, that is the flax; delight a sinne, that is the powder. If we be naked, or onely clothed with hypocriticall our sides, or with the thin coat of reason, these darts will wound us: onely the shield of faith rebates the points, and quenches all the fire. Some are afraid of meeting the Devill in a darke night: alas, he will not scare thee from himselfe: what should he get by that? No, it is worse meeting him like an Angell of light: by an Orator perswading, by a Poet delighting, by a friend flattering, by a wife seducing: thus is the Devill often brought in like concealed ware. Some make question whether there be a Devill or no, because they never saw any: but thou mayest see him in his effects, tempting thee to lewdnesse. In the time of Superstition, the Devill did often appeare in some bodily shape, and he had reason for it; for by that meanes bee drave men forward to desperation, to which in those dayes they were most inclined. But in these times of prophanenesse, he will not appeare in his likenesse, lest he should hold men backe from presumption, to which they were running head-long. For he is never a worse devill, than when he comes lap'd up in Samuels Mantle; privily under the cloake of holinesse! so that now all the wisdome is to see the Devill. If a mans eye be too neare the object, the beames of his sight will be confounded; there must be a mediocrity of distance. As in the Optickes, if a man would perceive the art of a perspective picture, he must goe a distance from it, and then looke on it with artificiall eyes, or spectacles fitted for the purpose. So if a man would apprehend the prospects of Satan, with all his shadowings and deepe deceits; he must not stand too nigh him, but goe further off. And then he must looke, not with the eyes of nature or reason, so he shall never descry him: but with the eye of faith in the glasse of the Scripture; this shall plainly represent him.