A00665:1509
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.
2 The Sincerity; the way Of Truth. Which is that way? as Pilate as […] Christ, What was the truth, when the Truth stood before him, Joh. 18.38. There is veritas legalis, a legal truth; Gods Law is the truth. It was a custom among the Heathen, to derive the authority of their Laws from their gods, that they might be received for truth; Trismegist to the Egyptians from Mercury, Erontes to the Carthaginians from Saturn, Solon and Draco to the Athenians from Minerva, N••• Pompilius to the Romans from Aegeria. But we have from the true God, the truth of God. Deut. 4.8. What nation is so great, &c. Now if they magnified their Laws so full of error, how shall we dare to blaspheme Gods Law so full of truth? No, let us bless it, and obey it. David in his hundred and nineteenth Psalm beats in every verse upon that one string, The Law, the Statutes, the Ordinances, Commandment, Truth, &c. of God. There is also Veritas Evangelica, the Truth of the Gospel, G•l. 3.1. But if this be the truth, then is the other excluded? No, for the Gospel is not contrary to the Law; neither delighteth in others overthrow, but both espouse friendship in a kiss of peace. But it is said, Joh. 1.17. The Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. But then the Law was n•t the Truth; for here seems to be a comparative opposition. No; Truth is not denied to the Law, but only the truth of Justification: the Law is true, but not the true means of salvation to us. Non negatur Legi veritas Ligandi, sed ascribitur Evangelio veritas • solvendi; The Law is a condemning truth, the Gospel an absolving truth. For if the Law could have justified us, God might well have spared his own Son: but the Grace of justification, and the Truth of salvation is only by Christ. If ye believed Moses, much more believe me, saith Jesus: if you embraced your thraldom, th•• much rather accept your freedom. Only, Vos liberabit veritas, Joh. 8.32. You shal• know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. Christ is called the End of the L; not Finis terminans, sed perficiens, sed complens: Not a terminating, but a fulfilling and accomplishing end. Having then received the truth, so gracious a truth, such promises of everlasting life, from a God so true; they are wretched men that blaspheme it. Thus it is the Truth both for the Infallibility and excellency of it.