A00665:210
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.
he that mourns only for the punishment, and not for the cause, shall mourn for ever. Lastly, others curse and are miserable, as Jobs wife counselled him; Curse GOD, and die. This is a desperate poverty, when men defy him that should make them rich. They answer GOD, as Daniel did Belshazzar; rKeep thy reward to thy self, and give thy gifts to another. They have a long festered ulcer; the Physician offers to cure it: but they madly thrust their nails into it; no, it shall not be healed. Such was our estate by nature: some were poor and insensible, others sensible, but disconsolate; others sensible and desperate. We were all poor beggars, and had nothing, therefore had need of a Giver.
hee that mournes onely for the punishment, and not for the cause, shall mourne for ever. Lastly, others curse and are miserable, as Iobs wife counselled him; Curse GOD, and die. This is a desperate povertie, when men defie him that should make them rich. They answer GOD, as Daniel did Belshazzar; rKeepe thy reward to thy selfe, and give thy gifts to another. They have a long festered ulcer; the Physitian offers to cure it: but they madly thrust their nailes into it; no, it shall not bee healed. Such was our estate by nature: some were poore and insensible, others sensible, but disconsolate; others sensible and desperate. Wee were all poore beggers, and had nothing, therefore had neede of a Giver.
To us, that deserved nothing: it is no wonder that GOD loved the Angels, for they obey him: that he loved the irrational and insensible creatures, for they do not contradict him: but that he should be good to us, Neque capientibus, nec cupientibus; neither receiving, nor conceiving, nor desiring Grace: that had not only a rebellion of will, but a will of rebellion; this was the wonder. This was not Dilectio quoniam, a love to us, because we first loved him: but Dilectio etiamsi, a love to us, though we hated him. He loved us, because he loved us: in our creation when we could not, in our redemption, when we would not love him.