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

Whence infer, that sin doth naturally draw on punishment: and is like the thunder that breaks the cloud, and makes way, for the lightning of Gods vengeance. Wheresoever presumption goes before, destruction follows after.^p When the evil servant had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The wife may be taken for concupiscence, the children for fruits of it. Or thus, Uxor stulti est stultitia; the wife of the covetous is avarice, the wife of the haughty is Pride, &c. These things are very dear to them, but they must be sold.^q The children of Israel committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. There is punishment of sin, 1. In the full measure, They fell; nothing bated of utter ruin. 2. In the full number. 23. thousand; a few examples would not serve the turn. 3. In the due time, In one day, no long forbearance. For the measure, it was not sickness, not flying before enemies, not scourging, but death; They fell: either by plague, or some other immediate Judgement: some of them were hanged up against the Sun. ⟨p. 464⟩For number the Apostle speaks of three and twenty thousand: but (Numb. 25.9.) there is mention of one thousand more. Paul did not exceed the number; nor doth the Scripture tie it self always so precisely. It is most probable, that the Princes with their servants that were hanged up, made up the other thousand. For time, it is in one day; no space of preparation, they presently fell. Thus if adultery walk in our streets, the plague will bear it company. GOD is angry with all sin, but his wrath is most hot against universal sin: thousands fall, a whole army of men. When God rides his circuit, he will strike fearfully; with death, with general death. Universal sin will bring universal destruction: and it is his great mercy, if he do not always punish so generally. Error omnium, p••• paucorum: all offend, some only are punished; because so it pleaseth him. There is no policy against Gods judgements: Cesar Borgias is made by Machiavell, a Precedent of Policy to Princes; yet he was caught at his own trick. The escaping for a while, is no argument of exemption: Gods temporal plagues are but short excursions before the main battle.