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

Are given to us. Here is the fourth circumstance of the Conveyance; the Form of it, which is a deed of gift, Are given us. All worldly things are but lent us: our houses of stone wherein our bodies dwell, our houses of clay wherein our souls dwell, are but lent. Honours, treasures, pleasures, money, maintenance, but lent. We may say of them all, as he said of his axe-head when it fell into the water:^a Alas they are but borrowed. Only spiritual graces are given: of those things there is only a true donation, whereof there is a true possession. Worldly things are but a Tabernacle, a moveable; heaven is a mansion: whatsoever becomes of the former, if thou canst keep the other, say Perdidi periturum, servavi aeternum; I have lost that I could not keep, I have kept that I cannot loose. Happy Christians, though they have the least share of things lent, they have the greatest portion of things given. Nos nihil in terris, illi nihil in coelis: we have little on earth, they have less in heaven. GOD shall say to the wicked, I have lent thee an Office, give account of it, for thou must be no longer Steward. But to the faithful,^b My peace I give to you, not as the world giveth: how gives the world? Dat aliqua, ut surripiat omnia: it gives a little, that it may take away all: but the Joy that I give you, no man shall take from you, Joh. 16.22. Whatsoever is freer than gift; it makes a new proprietary of the same things: such gifts are Gods [Greek or Hebrew], without repentance. He may repent that he made man, Gen. 6. that he made Saul King: but he never repents that he made a man repentant, or that he hath given him grace in Jesus Christ. But saith of him, as Isaac said of Jacob; I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed, Gen. 27.33. Here the Lords bounty requires of us some duty; this threefold.

Are given to us. Here is the fourth circumstance of the Conveighance; the Forme of it, which is a deed of gift, Are given us. All worldly things are but lent us: our houses of stone wherein our bodies dwell, our houses of clay wherein our soules dwell, are but lent. Honors, treasures, pleasures, money, maintenance, but lent. We may say of them all, as hee said of his axe-head when it fell into the water: