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

The motive of the old world to this unfortunate conjunction, was Beauty; They saw that the daughters of men were fair. This is the common attractive; men place their loves upon Adams Image in the face, rather than upon Gods Image in ⟨p. 556⟩the soul. Yet what is that same goodly frame of flesh and blood, but only a natural colour which the Creator hath laid upon dust and ashes? but the effect of well digested sustenance, not much above that we behold in pictures. A thin weak ve•• drawn over a corruptible body: a transient delight of the eye: a glory that fades with life, yea, often before life: a piece of fine glass, that sickness or old-age will soon break; yet is this the snare that hath caught many souls: to enjoy this, David lost his peace for a while, Sampson lost his eyes for ever. Thus the Midianites entrapped Israel with their dancing whirligigs: and the wisest King was wrought to folly. I do not lay the fault on Beauty, Gods admirable workmanship upon clay: for who blames a clear and crystal river, because some melancholy distracted man drowns himself in it? And when this outward ornament is joined with inward lustre, it graceth all actions. Gratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus. But it is the minds beauty, that keeps the other sweet and delectable: a fixed and constant goodness, which as it disdains all the tinctures of painted hypocrisy, so is far beyond •he ruin of time, sickness, or any other mutability. Like Heaven, which is fa••e outwardly to our mortal eyes, but shall appear fairer within to our immortal •oules. Without this, all affection is ill placed, and will soon perish. He that loves for no other end, but to please his senses, hath a sensual love, little better tha• brutish.

The motive of the old world to this unfortunate conjunction, was Beautie; They saw that the daughters of men were faire. This is the common attractive; men place their loves upon Adams Image in the face, rather than upon Gods Image in ⟨p. 556⟩the soule. Yet what is that same goodly frame of flesh and bloud, but onely a naturall colour which the Creator hath laid upon dust and ashes? but the effect of well digested sustenance, not much above that we behold in pictures. A thin weake ve drawne over a corruptible body: a transient delight of the eye: a glory that fades with life, yea, often before life: a piece of fine glasse, that sicknesse or old-age will soone breake; yet is this the snare that hath caught many soules: to enjoy this, David lost his peace for a while, Sampson lost his eyes for ever. Thus the Midianites intrapped Israel with their dancing whirlegigs: and the wisest King was wrought to folly. I doe not lay the fault on Beauty, Gods admirable workmanship upon clay: for who blames a cleare and crystall river, because some melancholy distracted man drownes himselfe in it? And when this outward ornament is joyned with inward lustre, it graceth all actions. Gratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus. But it is the minds beauty, that keepes the other sweet and delectable: a fixed and constant goodnesse, which as it disdaines all the tinctures of painted hypocrisie, so is farre beyond he ruine of time, sicknesse, or any other mutabilitie. Like Heaven, which is fae outwardly to our mortall eyes, but shall appeare fairer within to our immortall oules. Without this, all affection is ill placed, and will soone perish. He that loves for no other end, but to please his senses, hath a sensuall love, little better tha brutish.