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

Now that either the world could possibly be drowned, or that he should separably be saved; this they laughed at.

Now that either the world could possibly be drowned, or that hee should separably be saved; this they laughed at.

Lastly, it was a thing most harsh to natural reason. 1. It had no precedent; and to credit new and strange things, requires a new and strange faith. 2. It seemed no• likely, that Gods mercy should be so wholly swallowed up of his Justice. 3. To live in the Ark, as in a close prison, without light, without fresh air, and comf••• of liberty; among beasts of all sorts, and that he knew not how long! Rea••• might say, it is better to die with men, than to live with beasts: better to die a f••• man, than to live a prisoner: better to die with company, than to live alone. Th•• if God had purposed to save him, he could have devised means more direct, […] easy, more safe than this: therefore his deliverance was to be doubted of. Thus i• deed, he might make himself a derision and ridiculous story of the world, all this while: and if the wicked should alter their practise, God would alter his purpose, and so there would be no flood. If there were, yet the Ark might dash against the mountains, and so he perish with the rest: and then he might with the same success have saved all this labour: therefore the best course is to let all alone, and to take my venture with the world.

Lastly, it was a thing most harsh to naturall reason. 1. It had no precedent; and to credite new and strange things, requires a new and strange faith. 2. It seemed no• likely, that Gods mercie should be so wholly swallowed up of his Iustice. 3. To live in the Arke, as in a close prison, without light, without fresh aire, and comf of libertie; among beasts of all sorts, and that he knew not how long! Rea might say, it is better to die with men, than to live with beasts: better to die a f man, than to live a prisoner: better to die with company, than to live alone. Th if God had purposed to save him, he could have devised meanes more direct, easie, more safe than this: therefore his deliverance was to be doubted of. Thus i deed, he might make himselfe a derision and ridiculous story of the world, all this while: and if the wicked should alter their practise, God would alter his purpose, and so there would be no floud. If there were, yet the Arke might dash against the mountaines, and so he perish with the rest: and then he might with the same succsse have saved all this labour: therefore the best course is to let all alone, and to take my venture with the world.