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

They sell you.] You are private persons perhaps, and this Text concerns not you. Yes, strongly in another sense. Beloved, we sell not you, but you sell us: the Pastor doth not make merchandise of the flock, but the flock of the Pastor. Our hand is against every man, and every mans hand is against us: our hand is against your sins, and your hand is against our livings. There is no fraud or cozenage that less troubleth your consciences, than that whereby you rob the Church: yea this Sacrilege is held an action of Justice. While you had leaden Priests, you payed golden tithes and were than persuaded, that blasphemy and drunkenness were tolerable sins in respect of sacrilege. But now those that in your own consciences teach you the true way to blessedness, you will be sure to make exemplary subjects of poverty and miserableness. You were then glad to lick up the dust that fell from their feet (no whit beautiful:) we are glad to pick up the crumbs that fall from your superfluous tables. It is the pride of this sacrilegious city, that the Minister be always the poorest man in the parish.

They sell you.] You are private persons perhaps, and this Text concernes not you. Yes, strongly in another sense. Beloved, we sell not you, but you sell us: the Pastor doth not make merchandise of the flocke, but the flocke of the Pastor. Our hand is against every man, and every mans hand is against us: our hand is against your sins, and your hand is against our livings. There is no fraud or cussenage that lesse troubleth your consciences, than that wherby you robbe the Church: yea this Sacriledge is held an action of Iustice. While you had leaden Priests, you payed golden tythes and were than perswaded, that blasphemie and drunkennesse were tolerable sins in respect of sacriledge. But now those that in your owne consciences teach you the true way to blessednesse, you will be sure to make exemplary subjects of povertie and miserablenesse. You were then glad to licke up the dust that fell from their feete (no whit beautifull:) we are glad to picke up the crumes that fall from your superfluous tables. It is the pride of this sacrilegious citie, that the Minister be alwayes the poorest man in the parish.

I do not think it a curse upon us, (as it was upon Eli's house: to beg a Priests office for necessity sake;