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

The Severity of it: Judgement and damnation. Vicinity of it; Lingers not, slumbers not.

The Severity of it: Iudgement and damnation. Vicinitie of it; Lingers not, slumbers not.

First, let me spend a little time upon the general similitude (Merchandizing) here used by the Holy Ghost. The calling of a Merchant is of great antiquity, and necessary use: the state of the world cannot well stand without it. Non omnis fert •• nia tellus: our northern parts have no wine for the Sacrament; Meshek King of Moab was a Lord of sheep, Hiram had store of timber, Ophir was famous for gold, Chittim for Ivory, Bashan for Oaks, Lebanon for Cedars: therefore there must be a path from Egypt to Ashur. Merchants are the feet of the world, whereby remote and distant countries meet together. Yet it is a dangerous profession, not only for wrack of life and goods, but also for wrack of conscience: which is not always made in their ships abroad, but too commonly in their shops at home. There be the quicksands of nimble fraud, and the rocks of perjury. Gain is a busy temptation, and they can neither use measures nor balances, but the devil is at one end to do some office. The quest of wealth is dangerous: Per bella quaerere, flagitium: per maria, periculum: per falsitatem, opprobrium: per agriculturam, verò licitum: to seed it by war is injury, by falsehood ignominy, by sea danger, by husbandry honest and safe.¹ I will not say with Chrysostome; Tu qui Christianus es, fuge forum; ut nec f• cias, nec patiaris fraudem: Come not near the market, for fear of deceiving, or being deceived.

First, let me spend a little time upon the generall similitude (Merchandizing) here used by the Holy Ghost. The calling of a Merchant is of great antiquity, and necessary use: the state of the world cannot well stand without it. Non omnis fert •• nia tellus: our northerne parts have no wine for the Sacrament; Meshek King of Moah was a Lord of sheepe, Hiram had store of timber, Ophir was famous for gold, Chittim for Ivorie, Basan for Okes, Lebanon for Cedars: therefore there must be a path from Aegypt to Ashur. Merchants are the feete of the world, whereby remote and distant countreyes meet together. Yet it is a dangerous profession, not only for wracke of life and goods, but also for wracke of conscience: which is not alwayes made in their ships abroad, but too commonly in their shops at home. There be the quicksands of nimble fraud, and the rockes of perjurie. Gaine is a busy temptation, and they can neither use measures nor ballances, but the divel is at one end to doe some office. The quest of wealth is dangerous: Per bella quaerere, flagitium: per maria, periculum: per falsitatem, opprobrium: per agriculturam, verò licitum: to seede it by warre is injurie, by falshood ignominie, by sea danger, by husbandry honest and safe.