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

1 Their judgement.] The menaces of God are not always followed with an infallible event: being sometimes on purpose signified, that they may be by penitence prevented. Consider this fearful curse for a part of Gods counsel, then •olloweth an absolute ratification of it. Esa. 46.10. My counsel shall stand, and I •ill do all my pleasure. Who hath resisted his will? None can or shall do it by their •ower: if they do attempt it, be it at their perill. For hoc ipso quod contra Dei volun•tem fecerunt, de ipsis facta est voluntas Dei, Aug. Even in that they have done against •is will, his will is done upon them. None but the King of Kings hath right to •he stile imperial, (I will, or I will not) without all limitation. Because his will •nd power be matches only: and when his decree hath gone before, an answerable ••ccesse doth ever attend it. Therefore for the correction of those Merchants, who •ould traffic without God, and resolve on voyages without his passport: the Apo•le chargeth all humane language to observe that necessary Parenthesis;¹ If the Lord •ill. William Rufus proudly threatened, from the rocks of Wales to make a bridge •ver into Ireland. But a Prince there understanding that he asked no leave of God; answered, that he never feared that bridge whose foundation was not God: the Name of whom the King had omitted, in a presumptuous confidence of his own •rength.

1 Their judgement.] The menaces of God are not alwayes followed with an •nfallible event: being sometimes on purpose signified, that they may be by penience prevented. Consider this fearefull curse for a part of Gods counsaile, then olloweth an absolute ratification of it.