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

1 How to judge of all we have; as the LORDS gifts, not our own merits. Bona mea, Dona tua, Domine. It is a wretched thing, Uti datis, tanquam innatis: To use those things that are added to us, as if they had been bred in us.^l What hast thou, that thou hast not received? If thou didst receive it, why doest thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? GOD, saith Bernard, is the Author of merit; Qui & voluntatem applicat operi, & opus explicat voluntati: For he both applieth the will to the work, and disposeth the work to the will. Thou doest good works; so much as is good in them is not thine, but GODS. Man for these things, Magis Deo debitor est, quàm Deus homini; is rather a debtor to GOD, than GOD to man. Thou canst not so much as give GOD Gratias, Thanks; unless GOD first give thee Gratiam, the grace of thankfulness. Thou canst not be patient under his hand, except his hand give thee patience. Why do we boast then? Seeing that Quae non fecimus ipsi, vix ca nostra voco: We cannot call those deeds ours, which we have not done our selves.^m I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the Grace of GOD which was with me. Still if we do good, we are beholding to GOD for it, not GOD to us.

1 How to judge of all wee have; as the LORDS gifts, not our owne merits. Bona mea, Dona tua, Domine. It is a wretched thing, Vti datis, tanquam innatis: To use those things that are added to us, as if they had beene bred in us.^l What hast thou, that thou hast not received? If thou didst receive it, why doest thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? GOD, saith Bernard, is the Author of merit; Qui & voluntatem applicat operi, & opus explicat voluntati: For hee both applieth the will to the worke, and disposeth the worke to the will. Thou doest good workes; so much as is good in them is not thine, but GODS. Man for these things, Magis Deo debitor est, quàm Deus homini; is rather a debter to GOD, than GOD to man. Thou canst not so much as give GOD Gratias, Thankes; unlesse GOD first give thee Gratiam, the grace of thankfulnesse. Thou canst not be patient under his hand, except his hand give thee patience. Why doe wee boast then? Seeing that Quae non fecimus ipsi, vix ca nostra voco: Wee cannot call those deeds ours, which wee have not done our selves.