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

The Son of Rapha defied Israel, and Jonathan slew him, 1. Chro. 20.7. This sin is interdicted, Exod. 22.28. Principi populi tui non maledices. Thou shalt no• revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. This is the vulgar sin of this world, for the greater sort are apt to blaspheme the better sort. The Apostles could not scape it. 1. Cor. 4.13. Blasphemati precamur: being defamed, we entreat. Such were the aspersions of the infidels against the christians in Justines and Tertullians times; that their feasts were Thyestean banquets, that they had promiscuous mixtures &c. 1. Pet. 3.16. They speak evil of us, as of evil doers, accusing our good conversation in Christ. This blasphemy what Saint hath escaped? Because God wrought miracles by Moses, they called him a conjurer. Because John Baptist lived an austere life, they said he had a Devil. Because Paul spake of Christs death and our redemption by him, Festus called him a mad man. They abused holy Cyprian, with the nickname of Caprion, when Christ himself cast out Devils, they blasphemed that he did it by Beelzebub. Now all these maledictions offer injury and ignominy to God himself: because his Saints are the organs whereby he will propagate the glory of his Name: they do what they can to obscure his majesty. 1. Sam. 17.10. when that pr••• Philistine defied the armies of Israel, David says directly that he had blasphem•• God himself, ver. 45. I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, whom thou […] defied. Rabshaceh defied the Jews; yet saith Hezekiah, he hath reproved the living God, Esa. 37.4. The weight of this sin is felt in the punishment. If it be against ⟨p. 441⟩the magistrate, a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter,