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

Thus let us cull out the best patterns: be our delight to the Saints on the earth, and such as excel in virtue, Psal. 16.3. Now every Saint excels in some virtue: o•• excels in knowledge, another excels him in faithfulness, a third excels him in zeal, a fourth excels him in humility, another excels him in that Christian virtue, yea, Christs virtue; Forgiving of wrongs: and yet a poor man may out-go them all i• an admirable patience, 1 Cor. 12.29. Now as when Paul had propounded many […] graces; he concludes; Desire you earnestly the best gifts. Take the best of every […], and so make up an excellent man: learn of him zeal, of him knowledge, of him patience. A proud Dame will propose to her self the fashion of such a woman for h•• apparel, of another for her attendance, of another for her diet, of another for her carriage, of another for her place and precedency; of none for humility: Now as ••e that takes the worst of every woman, will make her self an extreme bad woman. So she that gathers obedience from Sarah, wisdom from Rebecca, chaste love from Rachel, faith from Mary, hospitality from Martha, humility from Anna, charity from Dorc••; she shall make her self a most excellent woman; Delicias humani generis, the joy of men, the delight of Angels, and the beauteous Spouse of Jesus Christ. All these were the properties of that good wise Solomon speaks of; and in what woman soever you find them, you may say with him; Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou s•• mountest them all. These be good patterns to follow, as we pray for our Sovereign, that not only he may be like some former Prince, but have the virtues of them all: the courage of Joshua, the heart of David, the head of Solomon, the zeal of Josiah, the integrity of Hezekiah, &c. So all those eminences which we find in the ancient Saints, we desire to be concentered in our own heart. He that would plant a garden, borrows here a choice flower, there an herb, there a plant; till at length his own surpasseth all the rest. But alas; where is this imitation of goodness to be found among us? we are led by whom we are fed, without respect to him that feeds both them and us. Some spoil many of Gods creatures to confer all on their own creature, which is some cking cur that they have dressed up in high fortunes. Now, Quid non summa nequiti poterit in summa fortuna?