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

After divers manners. First, by the preaching of the word; and herein he useth two bells to ring us to Church: the Treble of mercy, and the Tenor of judgment.^r Out of the Throne proceed lightnings, and thunderings, and voices. Lightnings that illuminate the dark air of the world: thunderings, the menaces against corruption and vices; lastly, the sweet voices of comfort that preacheth^s liberty to captives, and proclaims the acceptable year of the Lord. One said, our hearts are all of sin, but our ears are all of mercy: he that will please us with a song, must set it to the tune of the Gospel: we can hear nothing but Pax vobis: and see nothing but Ecce Agnus: as if the Law were of no further use, like an old Almanac out of date. But we know that Moses and Christ met upon the mount, Matth. 17. not the Law alone, nor the Gospel alone; but Moses and Christ, the Law and the Gospel are conjoined. Next he calls by his Judgments: thus he heats our iron hearts in the furnace of afflictions: that nocumenta might be documenta; mens sufferings their instructions. Quòd levitèr nocet, salubritèr docet, that which makes the body ⟨p. 56⟩smart, makes the soul wise. Doth God afflict us? he calls us to repentance; for^t Tribulation works patience. Whilst we are thus exercised either De malis illatis; vel de bonis dilatis: with sorrows inflicted, or with hopes delayed; God calls us home to himself. He often conveys holiness through the wounds of afflictions: the persecuted Church, Cant. 2.14. flies like a Dove to the clefts of the Rock; nestles her self in the wounds of Jesus Christ. Trouble is a messenger, that speaks thus to us; make your peace with God. Thou cmo plainest that thou art afflicted on every side, groanest under thy burden, after many changed sides criest out of unremedied pain: alas, thou repentest not: trouble came on this message, to teach thee repentance: give the messenger his errand, and he'll be gone. Lastly, by mercies, thus we have him frequently calling; he sows mercy upon us with a liberal hand now the patience and long suffering of God lead us to repentance.