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

There are two Ladders whereby men climb up into heaven, and become acquainted with God. The Ladder of Petition, and the Ladder of presumption. The Sa••• ascend by the one to their consolation, the wicked by the other to their confusi••. Both press into the Presence-chamber, both have the like access, both have not the like success. The one thrusts in like a conspirator to practise treachery: the other […] a petitioner to implore mercy. Wickedness is saucy and peremptory, and will be notable though hit be notorious. It scorns to keep low water, or live in an •b: […] like pride, is only to that end proud, that some notice may be taken of it. Commonly it is gone from the memory of the offender, ere it come with so fierce an i••••• tion before the punisher. And that wind of rebellion which causeth justice to wa••, rocks unrighteousness a sleep. But shall our sins come up before God, and […] first come before our selves; who dwell in the region where they were borne, a•• were present when they were done? This is the greatest fault of our ignorance, to be ignorant of our faults. Must heaven know what is done on earth, before earth […] self be acquainted with it? As Tully said, he could hear at Antium what news […] at Rome, better than at Rome it self. Shall we turn our wickedness so far o•• […] our own remembrance, that we never think of it till we feel it in vengeance. These be wilful mistakings, tricks to make our selves blind. Alcaeus took a mo•• upon ones face for a grace, it was none by his leave. The more quietly and securely sinners sleep in the good opinion of themselves, the more certainly their dami•• on sleepeth not.

There are two Ladders wherby men climbe up into heaven, and become acquainted with God. The Ladder of Petition, and the Ladder of presumption. The Sa••• ascend by the one to their consolation, the wicked by the other to their confusi••. Both presse into the Presence-chamber, both have the like accesse, both have not the like successe. The one thrusts in lik a conspirator to practise treacherie: the other a petitioner to implore mercie. Wickednesse is sawcy and peremptorie, and will be notable thoug hit be notorious. It scornes to keepe low water, or live in an b: like pride, is only to that end proud, that some notice may be taken of it. Commonly it is gone from the memorie of the offender, ere it come with so fierce an i tion before the punisher. And that wind of rebellion which causeth justice to wa, rockes unrighteousnesse a sleepe. But shall our sins come up before God, and first come before our selves; who dwell in the region where they were borne, a were present when they were done? This is the greatest fault of our ignorance, to be ignorant of our faults. Must heaven know what is done on earth, before earth selfe be acquained with it? As Tully said, he could heare at Antium what newes at Rome, better than at Rome it selfe. Shall we turne our wickednesse so farre o our owne remembrance, that we never thinke of it till we feele it in vengeance. These be wilfull mistakings, trickes to make our selves blind. Alceus tooke a mo upon ones face for a grace, it was none by his leave. The more quietly and securely sinners sleepe in the good opinion of themselves, the more certainely their dami on sleepeth not.