A00665:1423
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas AdamsA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams
London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Jacob Bloome, 1633London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Iacob Bloome, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
God concealeth the m•nner, but denounceth the measure. Destruction is either temporal in this world, or eternal in the world to come. If we first consider it temporally, we shall find it heavy enough: Incerti generis, sed certissimi ponderis. Jonas 3.4. Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be destroyed. He lets them know of a de•ruction, but he tells them not how: the quantity is plain, the quality is hidden. Nineveh might have been plagued many ways, and yet stood upon her foundation •ill. With want of rain, as Samaria in the days of Ahab: with want of bread, •at women did eat their own children, as in the days of Jehoram: with pestilence, •s in the days of David: with the siege of enemies, as was Betulia: with the tyranny and exaction of her own Kings, as once was Rome. But these are all too ought in GODS balance, and nothing will satisfy his Justice, but her final subver•on. So is it denounced against the wicked, Hosea 7.13. Destruction unto them, be•use they have transgressed against me. Prov. 16.18. Pride goeth before destruction. thus they understand the general, not the special: this holds them in suspense, •d adds to their fear, when they know not what they should study to prevent. •OD hath always enow to do it; Mille nocendi arts; he speaks of four grievous plagues, Ezek. 14.21. The sword, the famine, the noisome beast, and the pestilence. […] he should particularly threaten the famine, how would they hoard up corn, like •seph; fill their barns, their granaries, penuaries, and store-houses? If the Beasts, •ow would they be provided of engines to kill them? If the Pestilence, how would ••y shift ground, and run from their country, as vermin from an house on fire? If e enemies Sword, what mustering of men, scouring of armour, preparing of muniti, levying of forces, exercise of arms, would there be? Cities would be victualled, piers repaired, Holds fortified; art and labour would study the best prevention,