A00665:1899
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.
Universal sin brings universal punishment: Quot in culpa, tot in pana. If all […] be corrupted, all flesh must be destroyed. Find me one just man in the City, •h God,u and I will spare it. How great had bin this mercy, if there had not bin general apostasy? Sodom had bin spared for ten, Jerusalem for one; and yet he ought rather have looked for ten in Jerusalem, than for one in Sodom. By swearing, […] they break out,x till blood toucheth blood: their sins were rounded into a ring, •roome for piety to get in amongst them. Therefore the whole land shall mourn, […] every one therein languish: universally wicked, universally punished. If the •d should make such a judicial scrutiny, and strict inquisition for sinners, asy Je• did for true worshippers, who could plead not guilty? Lactantius reports a prophecy ⟨p. 546⟩of Sibylla; The Fishers hook shall take the Roman Empire. If they mean b• the Empire, all the souls in the Empire; I could wish that Saint Peters […] caught and brought more to heaven than it hath. But if by Empire they […] the imperial dignity, titles, privileges, honours, and royal august•ity; I could […] for their own sakes (that now usurp that office) they had caught less tha• […] have. For when the Majesty of a Prince came in, the piety of a Priest went […]. But will you hear the Hook that hath caught them and all; the hook of covetousness, baited with riches. Doubtless there are some elect, otherwise the w•• could not stand: but major pars vincit meliorem, the greater part drowns the be•• part. Is the fear of God amongst men? Who would ask such a question? But if […] fear God; we will serve him: if we love him, we will obey him: Now the quest• grows bitterer & bitterer; from wormwood to gall. The devout man is even ted out of his holiness, and zeal counted an irregularity. Hypocrisy is the wo apparel, malice his diet, pride his wife, greediness his dog: and thus he so himself in a wilful rebellion. We have all run into a Praemunire against our […] Sovereign, and deserve confiscation of all we have, of all we are.