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

Let us then be like the Sun and the Moon; without retrogradations. There was an ordinance for the Israelites concerning their entry into Gods house:^q He that entereth into worship by the way of the North-gate, shall go out by the way of the South-gate: he that entereth in by the way of the South-gate, shall go out by the way of the North-gate: no man shall go out the same way he came in. So the Wise-men were charged,^r to depart into their own Country, another way. Teaching us a straight course, to go continually forward. It is but a Poetical fiction, how Orpheus went to fetch his wife Eurydice from hell; which was granted him on this condition, that he should not look back upon her, till he had brought her to heaven. But, Flexit amans oculos, & protinus illa relapsa est; he looked back, and lost her. It is a Scriptural truth, that Lots wife for looking back to her desired Sodom, was turned into a pillar of salt. Therefore, Remember that woman, saith CHRIST: that pillar of salt, ut te condiat; that it may season thee, saith Augustine. It is observable, Ephes. 6. That Paul describing the whole Armour of God, and numbering all the pieces; makes no mention of a back curet for the Christian soldier. There's a helmet for the head, a corselet for the breast, a shield for the fore-parts; but no guard, no regard of the back. It is a panoply, a complete Armour, yet no defence for the back. Teaching us that we must never show our back in Gods wars: we must rather dye than fly; continuing faithful to the end, not leaving the banner of Christ, till we have gotten the full victory. When Bias fell into the hands of his enemies, his soldiers flying, and crying: What shall we do? He answered with noble resolution; Tell ye the living, that I dye fighting: and I will tell the dead that ye did escape flying. When William the Conqueror landed his Army in Sussex: he presently caused his ships to be sunk, that there might remain no hopes of running back again; they must stand to it. Let us all learn to multiply our graces: he that spends of the stock and never increaseth, shall come to beggary. Be not enticed with every vanity, to forsake your first love. In temporal lendings, you think it scarce enough to have the surplusage of ten in the hundred: in spiritual things you think it enough and enough again to hold your own.