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

4 Because they are unthankful for blessings and graces infinite. God give them life while they can live: if they be ingrate, he will give them death while they can die. His mercy strove the utmost to make them blessed, his Justice shall strive the utmost to make them cursed. If any deliverance, preferment, or content come to an unthankful person; let him know that it is but his impropriation; God will make him pay for it. Contribution of blessings requires retribution of thanks, or will bring distribution of plagues. We have many Adeodates, but return few Deodates. God gives freely and continually, so let us praise him: voce & cord, with the voice and the heart: not the voice alone, for then the heart is tied; not the heart alone, for then were tongue-tied. Continually; for if thou canst find one hour wherein he doth not give thee something; take that hour to return him nothing. Yet is there thanks enough owing for the former: but there is no new hour which is not witness of new benefits.^f Thy mercies are new every morning. CHRIST hath bought us both in body and soul; we must glorify him in both, or he will destroy us in both. He will be glorified either in our voluntary obedience, or necessary vengeance. Thus how easy is it for a reprobate to bring upon himself damnation. The more God lodes him with benefits, the more he lodes himself with accounts. Be thankful, this is the way to ease thy reckoning: fly to CHRIST, this is the way to get it quite taken off. As Alcibiades told the steward, when he complained of his trouble about making his accounts; that his care were better bestowed, Quòd non reddat, quàm quod reddat, how to make no account at all, than how to make his accounts even. If our faith have gotten CHRIST to account for us, we shall make no reckoning at all. Every benefit forgotten in present gratitude, must be remembered in future servitude. Thus he that receives infinite favours, and remains unthankful, deserves infinite pains.

4 Because they are unthankfull for blessings and graces infinite. God give them life while they can live: if they be ingrate, he will give them death while they can die. His mercie strove the utmost to make them blessed, his Iustice shall strive the utmost to make them cursed. If any deliverance, preferment, or content come to an unthankfull person; let him know that it is but his impropriation; God will make him pay for it. Contribution of blessings requires retribution of thankes, or will bring distribution of plagues. We have many Adeodates, but returne few Deodates. God gives freely and continually, so let us praise him: voce & corde, with the voice and the heart: not the voice alone, for then the heart is tied; not the heart alone, for then weare tongue-tied. Continually; for if thou canst find one houre wherein he doth not give thee something; take that houre to returne him nothing. Yet is there thankes enough owing for the former: but there is no new houre which is not witnesse of new benefites.