A00665:1567
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.
3 By silence. The advocate that ought to plead, betrays the cause by his voluntary silence. The watchman that doth not ring the alarm bell at the approach of danger, betrays the City to the enemy. If the Minister hold his peace, when […] sees Satan in the market bargaining for souls; he doth as it were make merchandise of them, and take money for them. I grant that as Demosthenes had a great see for his silence in a cause, so many have gotten preferments by rarity or rather nullity of Sermons. I envy not their purchase, nor desire a partnership in their merchandise. The Lord keep me from selling that by holding my peace, which he bought by dying on the Cross. I will sell any riches to buy a soul, I will never sell a soul to buy riches.
3 By silence. The advocate that ought to plead, betrayes the cause by his voluntary silence. The watchman that doth not ring the alarme bell at the appro•ch of danger, betraies the Citie to the enemie. If the Minister hold his peace, when 〈…〉 sees Satan in the •arket barganing for soules; he doth as it were make merchandise of them, and take money for them. I grant that as Demosthenes had a great see for his silence in a cause, so many have gotten preferments by rarity or rather nullity of Sermons. I envie not their purchase, nor desire a partnership in their merchandise. The Lord keepe mee from selling that by holding my peace, which hee bought by dying on the Crosse. I will sell any riches to buy a soule, I will never sel a soule to buy riches.
1 They sell you.] Perhaps they bought you first, may they not then sell you? If they bought you dear, would you have them sell you cheap? vendere j••• potest, emerat ille prius. One might buy a benefice haply of some unsanctified Patron, (for no hallowed man will sell hallowed things) and will that merchant live by the loss? But to buy is Simony, to sell is Sacrilege. Christians are the Lords proprieties, sanctified and set a part from the world, for himself. He that sells them, is guilty in some proportion of Judas his merchandise, when he sold CHRIST himself.