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

1 All that were preserved, were within the Ark: all that shall be saved, must ⟨p. 591⟩be of the Church. In that great deluge, when Omnia Pontus erat, deerant quoque littora ponto, there was no other possibility of escaping: in the huge pond and vast sea of this world, there is no hope of redemption but by Jesus Christ. Either we must •he incorporate into Christ, or reprobate with the world.^f The Lord adds to the Church daily such as shall be saved: to the Church militant, all souls that shall be crowned in the Church triumphant. As for them that were out of the Ark, no gold could buy their preservation: no holes could hide them, no hills help them, no houses hold them, nothing in the world, not the world it self could save them. So for them that be out of Christ, no riches can bestead them, no honours secure them, no policy can deliver them, no refuges can shelter them, no friends, no favour can do them good; but they must perish in the flood of GODS eternal vengeance. What succour had they by the mountains, or by taking hold on the highest Cedars, whom the Ark received not? Such help shall men find in those worldly things wherein they have trusted, when God shall find them out of his Church. What relief in their honours, upon whose foreheads the sun of promotion wantonly plays: As if that arm should never ache, that wears a silken sleeve: nay as if the highest hills were not most subject to the lightning-flashes. For the covetous, that like a spider eviscerates herself, spends her own bowels in making a web to catch a fly; how foolish is his confidence in that, which he knows will never fail him but when he hath most need! Alas, he cannot buy Christ with it; and therefore must expect Simon Magus doom; Thou and thy money perish together. ^gThere is no other name given to men under heaven, to be saved by, but the name of Jesus. Nothing in nature, nothing in art, nothing in the world, no other creature, no other Name. In vain they think to sail in their cockboats, or swim with their windy bladders: every heresy is a little bark by it self, and while it is not troubled, it goes on with proud sails like a Merchants ship: but vexed you shall find it a man of war.