A00665:1816
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas AdamsA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams
London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Jacob Bloome, 1633London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Iacob Bloome, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
8. Lastly, the principal reason of all is the free mercy, and gracious decree of •od. Who made both men and Angels good in creation, and finding both men •d Angels, lost in transgression, vouchsafed to men not to Angels a Redemption. •hat did we deserve at his hands, that he should pity us dust and ashes, passing by •ose celestial spirits? Psalm. 8.4. Quis homo, what is man that thou art mindful of […]? For the wonder had been less to say, Quis Angelus, what is the Angel that •ou art mindful of him? That we should find him a Saviour, whom they find a •st revenger: that we should be loosed from the chains of our sins, and they de•ered into chains of plagues: that the same CHRIST should with his own •oud free us, that shall with his word sentence them: that the same Almighty hand •ould lift us up to heaven, that casteth them down to hell! Oh the riches of that •ercie, which even to taste will keep a man from ever being poor! Of all mixed crea•es men are the best, for they have reason: of all men, Christians are the best, for •ey have religion: of all Christians, holy believers are the best, for they have salva•n. In the sorest troubles, men have some hope, Christians have good hope, believers ⟨p. 524⟩have sure hope. Let us bless God for making us men, but most of all, for making us Christian men: for in that he gives us his Son, he gives us himself. He gave the water to fishes, the earth to beasts, the air to fowls, the heaven to Angels;1 but he gave himself to man, Having no greater to swear by, he sware by hi• self: so, having no greater to give, he gave himself. Whom have I in heaven but thee? saith that royal Prophet. The Romists in 88. cried out, whether maliciously or blasphemously; God shows himself a Lutheran, and the God of Lutherans: but indeed he shows himself a Christian, and the God of Christians. By how much we find more mercy than all creatures, let us be more thankful than all creatures. It is an harmonious sweetness, to have Gods bounty, and our gratitude meeting in that middle way, the hand of Jesus Christ. Without whom neither could we receive his goodness, nor would he accept our goodness.