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

I conclude with three cautions given by three several Saints from one most holy Spirit. Exod. 23.2. Follow not a multitude to do evil. Foolish birds follow the kite in hope of a part of the expected prey, when she draws her own guts after her, Rom. 12.2. Fashion not your selves to this world: it is a fashion that must be washed off with fire and brimstone. Prov. 28.14. Blessed is the man that feareth alway. Salvianus gives the reason; Nemo magis diligit, quam qui maxime veretur offender. No man so truly loves, as he that fears to offend. I confess, there be many things lawful that the common people do, but I will suspect that which the common people do. The Jews might give offenders forty stripes by the Law, yet they gave Paul but nine and thirty. Perhaps they thought that if they had given the full number, their fingers might have itched to give one more. Qui a nullis abstinet licitis, vicinus est illicitis: he that abstains from nothing that is lawful, neighbours upon that which is unlawful. Nam mala sunt vicina bonis. The note which comes too near in the margin, will skip into the Text at the next impression. Of all studies, let us never study to range in the borders and extremities of our liberty. As how much of this world we may swallow, and riches not choke us. How near we may come to the skirts and suburbs of hell, and hell not wholly devour us. How much we may drink, and be no drunkards: how far we may wade in usury, and yet scape hell? The devil is crafty and watchful; if he spy our venturous outrodes, and find us extravagant out of our own grounds; he will not lose one inch of his advantage.

I conclude with three cautions given by three severall Saints from one most holy Spirit. Exod. 23.2. Follow not a multitude to doe evill. Foolish birds follow the kite in hope of a part of the expected prey, when she drawes her owne guts after her, Rom. 12.2. Fashion not your selves to this world: it is a fashion that must be washed off with fire and brimstone. Prov. 28.14. Blessed is the man that feareth alway. Salvianus gives the reason; Nemo magis diligit, quam qui maxime veretur offendere. No man so truly loves, as he that feares to offend. I confesse, there be many things lawfull that the common people doe, but I will suspect that which the common people doe. The Iewes might give offenders fortie stripes by the Law, yet they gave Paul but nine and thirty. Perhaps they thought that if they had given the full number, their fingers might have itched to give one more. Qui a nullis abstinet licitis, vicinus est illicitis: he that abstaines from nothing that is lawfull, neighbours upon that which is unlawfull. Nam mala sunt vicina bonis. The note which comes too neere in the margent, will skippe into the Text at the next impression. Of all studies, let us never study to range in the borders and extremities of our libertie. As how much of this world we may swallow, and riches not choake us. How neere we may come to the skirts and suburbes of hell, and hell not wholly devoure us. How much we may drinke, and be no drunkards: how farre we may wade in usurie, and yet scape hell? The divell is crafty and watchfull; if he spy our venturous outrodes, and find us extravagant out of our owne grounds; hee will not lose one inch of his advantage.