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

If he doth not punish the adulterer with rottenness in his bones, yet he can add fire to fire; to the flame of lust, the flame of hell. If the Usurer escape bonds here: yet he that bound others above, may be bound himself below. The litigious may get the better, until God comes to enter his action against him. There is no evasion but seasonable repentance: let us punish our selves, that God be not put to do it. Let us correct drunkenness by abstinence, pride by humility, covetousness by charity, cruelty by mercy, uncleanness by chastity, anger by patience, usury by restitution. This is to take a congruous and proportionate vengeance on our selves, that God may spare us in the day of reckoning.

If he doth not punish the adulterer with rottennesse in his bones, yet he can adde fire to fire; to the flame of lust, the flame of hell. If the Vsurer escape bonds here: yet he that bound others above, may be bound himselfe below. The litigious may get the better, untill God comes to enter his action against him. There is no evasion but seasonable repentance: let us punish our selves, that God be not put to doe it. Let us correct drunkennesse by abstinence, pride by humility, covetousnesse by charity, crueltie by mercie, uncleannesse by chastitie, anger by patience, usury by restitution. This is to take a congraous and proportionate vengeance on our selves, that God may spare us in the day of reckoning.

7 Damnation is principally taken for the censure or sentence condemning: as the sentence follows the trial, and the execution the sentence: here it intends the extration of the Judgement. But if damnation be meant for the execution, how doth it proceed the sentence? Seeing it seems very unjust to execute a man before his ju•• gement; after that old scandal of the Stanneries Law; that hanged a man in the forenoon, and sate in judgement on him in the afternoon. The day of judgement is the second appearing of Christ: now for evil men to receive their damnation before ⟨p. 471⟩hand, were to antedate the sentence, and to execute persons unjudged. It is easily answered; Every unbeliever must pass through two Judgement days: a particular, when his guilty soul leaves his unfortunate body: a general, when both body and soul having been co-instruments of sin, shall be made copartners in punishment. Hence the soul, as it hath been the principal in offending, being that part of man wherein God hath placed natural reason and knowledge of his will, shall be the first in suffering. Leaving the body a dead and insensible piece of earth, while her self grows under the burden of unsupportable torments alone, till the body comes o suffer with it.