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

If it be the Lords determinate decree, this Judgement shall come upon them. But because God often threatens, before he once strikes; allow it not so absolute, but that may admit an intervention of repentance. When God threatens to pull down,¹ •ucke up, and destroy a nation; if that nation shall repent of the evil they have •one, God will repent of the evil he thought to do. But whosoever shall connive in this blasphemous course of disobedience, their Judgement shall hasten, and •eir damnation not linger. The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. ²•o close up the passage or hinder the course of divine Justice, will be more impossi•e than for a man to stop the flowing of the sea with his arms, or to beat back the •htning into the clouds with his breath. The name of God shall be famous in eve•• sinners infamy. The wicked may as soon steal the book of vengeance out of ⟨p. 462⟩Gods hand, as steal themselves from the plagues written in his book: Their judgement shall come. They can no more fly the power of their Judge above them, than they could stand still if there were an earthquake under them. There is no appeal from this tribunal: no writ of error lies against this Judge, though he be both Judge and party; because he can neither be over-borne, nor overseen. It is the LORD of hosts that can muster up plagues out of the dusts of the earth: that Strong man, that will break forth in a Martial manner against his enemies.

If it be the Lords determinate decree, this Iudgement shall come upon them. But •ecause God often threatens, before he once strikes; allow it not so absolute, but that may admit an intervention of repentance. When God threatens to pull downe,¹