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

7 Gregory adds another reason of this infinite punishment. He that dies without repentance, is presupposed by Justice, that if he could have lived for ever, he would have sinned for ever. And it is just; if thou wilt rebelliously sin so long as thou livest; God should punish so long as he liveth. If thou wilt peccare in aeterno tuo, God will punire in aeterno suo. Nothing is more proportionable, than that those who will sin against God so long as they have a being, without repentance; should perish from God so long as he hath a being, without mercy. It is the Lords just Judgment, ut nunquam mortuus careat supplicio, qui nunquam vivus carere voluit peccato; ¹ut nullus detur iniquo terminus ultionis, qui quamdiu valuit, habere noluit terminum criminis. They would have lived for ever, that they might have sinned for ever. Their injustice would put no date to their sins, Gods justice shall put no date to their sufferings. On earth he that will still run in debt while he lives at liberty, shall at last be cast into prison to lie while he lives in misery. Shall man have this law against his brother, and not God against his creature? yes, there will come a day when all reckonings shall be cast over, when justice must be satisfied to the full; at least so full as the delinquent can satisfy it, not with ready money, the merits of Christ: then with eternal durance, he must lie by it for ever.^o Till he hath paid the uttermost farthing; and which is lamentable, he hath not one farthing towards it. The reprobate cannot do many things he would: the needy drunkard cannot be an usurer: the base pilferer cannot be a rich commonwealths oppressor; no thanks, they would but they cannot. The power, not the will, is wanting in them to any wickedness. Now it is just, velle malum et non posse, pati malum et non velle. Hee that doeth what he will, must suffer what God will.

7 Gregory addes another reason of this infinite punishment. He that dies without repentance, is pr•supposed by Iustice, that if hee could have lived for ever, he would have sinned for ever. And it is just; if thou wilt rebelliously sin so long as thou livest; God should punish so long as he liveth. If thou wilt peccare in aeterno tuo, God will punire in aeterno suo. Nothing is more proportionable, than that those who will sin against God so long as they have a being, without repentance; should perish from God so long as he hath a being, without mercie. It is the Lords just Iudgment, ut nunquam mortuus careat supplicio, qui nunquam vivus carere voluit peccato;