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

Lastly, threatened punishment hath lost the nature of suddenness, though not in the passion, yet in the person: it may dispatch with speed, but the pati••• ⟨p. 413⟩before expected it. So when God menaceth, and formerly gives notice, he means not to destroy. Jonah comes to Nineveh, and peremptorily threatens destruction, with the determinate limits of forty days: but God gave a feeling of it in the heart, that there might not be a feeling of it in the flesh. Non est eversa, sed conversa; The sin of the City was overthrown, the City stood. All menaces are not categorical, some are hypothetical: neither doth this argue in God levity, but mercy. Novit Deus aliquando mutare sententiam, nunquam novit mutare consilium. God sometimes altereth his sentence, but he never altereth his purpose. Minatur quod faciat, ne faciat quod minatur; If mens apprehensive hearts repent, there is a retraction of the judgement. If God give not his preventing sorrow, the punishment shall be new enough to the sufferer, how old soever it be in respect of the decreer. Isaiah 10.22. The consumption decreed shall over-flow with righteousness.

Lastly, threatned punishment hath lost the nature of suddennesse, tho•gh not in the passion, yet in the person: it may dispatch with speed, but the pati••• ⟨p. 413⟩before expected it. So when God menaceth, and formerly gives notice, he meanes not to destroy. Ionah comes to Niniveh, and peremptorily threatens destruction, with the determinate limits of forty dayes: but God gave a feeling of it in the heart, that there might not be a feeling of it in the flesh. Non est eversa, sed conversa; The sinne of the Citie was overthrowne, the Citie stood. All menaces are not categoricall, some are hypotheticall: neither doth this argue in God levitie, but mercy. Novit Deus aliquando mutare sententiam, nunquam novit mutare consilium. God sometimes altereth his sentence, but he never altereth his purpose. Minatur quod faciat, ne faciat quod minatur; If mens apprehensive hearts repent, there is a retraction of the judgement. If God give not his preventing forrow, the punishment shall be new enough to the sufferer, how old soever it be in respect of the decreer. Esay 10.22. The consumption decreed shall over-flow with righteousnesse.