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

To conclude; the Truth is not the less glorious indeed, but in the worlds estimation. It lies not in the power of men, or malice of devils, to disgrace the truth: for it shall shine glorious, when heaven and earth perish, and all her maligners subjected under her conquering feet, it is of the nature that God himself is; whose glory is not capable of any augmentation, nor passive of any diminution. He is said to be dishonoured by our sins; to be magnified and glorified by our good works But let our works be good or evil, still thou continuest holy. O thou worship of Israel, whether the Turks despise Jesus, or the Christians adore him; still he abides, The same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Such is the immutability of truth: the pa•ro•• of it make it not greater, the opposers make it not less. As the splendour of the Sun is not enlarged by them that bless it, nor eclipsed by them that hate it. That thing which may be extended, may also be contracted: if it admit addition, it may […] suffer diminution: God and his Truth are liable to neither. Indeed the blessed vi• gin sung, Luk. 1.46. my soul doth magnify the Lord. This word may naturally seem to signify, magnum facere, to make great: but cannot there so be understood. God is so immense, that nothing can be added to him, nor taken from him. The […] may be multiplied, the earth swollen bigger, the heavens stretched out, hell enl•• ged: but God is ever the same. There is nothing greater or more than Infinite. It himself he is neither magnified, nor vilified, but in respect of others. When we blaspheme his name, we do what we can vilem reader, to lessen his greatness: when we praise his name, we do what we can magnum facere, to augment his greatness. Because the former teacheth others to contemn him, the latter to admire him. So magnificare is only magnum significare: to magnify him, is to express him great let men be won by your good works, to glorify God, 1. Pet. 12. qui mal•d••• Domino, ipse minuitur: qui benedicit, augetur. Aug. Thy contempt of the truth mai•s not it worse; but thy self: thy advancing it makes not it greater, but thy self better. Therefore for Mary's giving her soul to magnify God, God doth magnify her s•••e,