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

We are here taught the Christian use of salutings, blessings, and gratulations: such godly complements are not to be neglected. It is the brand of the Churches enemies.^u They that go by say not, The blessing of the Lord be upon you, nor we bless you in the name of the LORD: therefore they are cursed;^x Let them all be confounded that hate Zion. Good men have ever used them: Boaz to the reapers,^a The Lord be with you: and they answered him, The Lord bless thee. A glorious Angel thus saluted Gideon. ^bThe Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. An Archangel to a poor virgin;^c Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women. St Paul spends a whole Chap. in salutations; Romans •he last. What people had not their own forms of saluting: the Idumeans Dominus vobiscum: the Ethiopians Pax vobis: the Hebrews Ave, the Romans Salve. Superiors must perform this duty to inferiors. Inferiors in reverence to superiors, all in love one to another. There is a Generation of men that teach, it is unlawful to salute men with good day, God be with you, or leave be to you. They will salute none with a good wish unless they know his business. As if every mans business required so little hast, as to tarry the leisure of their acquaintance. If all men should pledge them in their own cup, they might pass their whole life without a God speed. They say, we cannot tell whether he goes, or about what: it may be he's going to the Tavern to be drunk. It's but a peradventure that he is going to be drunk, but without all peradventure thou art not sober; that darest so rashly judge thy brother. It is a rule in law and love; every man is to be reputed honest till he be disproved.^d Charity thinks no evil. In Friesland there was a false Prophet, one George David, who called himself Gods nephew; and said, heaven was empty, and that he was sent to choose some to fill it. We have some Separatists such mad Prophets, that will elect and damn whom they please. But as themselves say, the Pope hath no authority to make Saints: so we say, they have no authority to make devils. As many of the Popes Saints are reprobates in hell: so many of their reprobates are Saints in heaven.