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

Our neighbours of Rome presume that they have the keys of heaven and hell some they bring down from heaven to hell, as they did that blessed Queen, Eliza beth: others they lift up from hell to heaven, canonizing bloody Traitors: they censure as they will, not as God will. But their punishment is fitted by CHRIST, Mat. 7.2. With what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged. When they shall find that they have mistaken the keys, and learn what it is to condemn, by being condemned. Because they have put away sacred marriage, therefore they are given upon unclean cloistures, stinking brothels, and preternatural stews.

Our neighbours of Rome presume that they have the keys of heaven and hell some they bring downe from heaven to hell, as they did that blessed Queene, Eliz• beth: others they lift up from hell to heaven, canonizing bloudy Traitours: they censure as they will, not as God will. But their punishment is fitted by CHRIST, Mat. 7.2. With what judgement ye judge, yee shall be judged. When they shall find that they have mistaken the keyes, and learne what it is to condemne, by being condemned. Because they have put away sacred marriage, therefore they are given upon uncleane cloistures, stinking brothels, and preternaturall stewes.

Not to be favourable to our selves at home; what is the reason that this land […] so defiled with blood; and that (not feeling the sword of an enemy) a man complains^u I am wounded in the house of my friends? Nor is this alone in those un•••• ly trials of man-hood in the fields; but even in the streets, in the houses: no place is safe, but a mistaken word is requited with a stab or some mortal blow. And when this comes to be censured, it is found chance-medley, at worst man-slaughter and that perhaps See defendendo. Whereupon these homicides are so fleshed with blood, that they make no more to kill a man, than a fly. Oh they may mend, and become good Christians, good subjects: but that sin is rarely repented off. If he had been cut off for the first murder, the second man had been alive. Why do we presume to cozen God by the warrant of Law, to purloin the maintenance of the Minister, and to put our selves in Gods place! What is this, but to point God the way to plague us, and to send upon us a famine of preaching, who have brought a famine upon the preachers? Is it not just with God to take away the Lamp from that nation, which hath taken away the holy oil that should maintain it? And Lord, that I might herein be a false Prophet! I fear that England shall want the Gospel, when the Barbarians receive it: because England had the Gospel, and would not give a penny to keep it. We hope this nation shall live to see the fall of Rome and Antichrist, so we may, if our sins, and among the rest unthankful sacrilege, do not first give Rome a triumph over us. Consider how immediately upon this charge of rendering the Teacher his portion, the Holy Ghost infers;