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

First, when we must cast it forth, and that; 1. Whilst corruption is young. Kill the enemy whiles he is young; ut virtus ejus elidatur in semine; that he may leave no posterity to hurt thee, Hieron. Sin long customed, is hardly conquered; Acta confirmant voluntatem, tam in malo quàm in bono; Frequent actions constitute an habit, whether in good or ill. He that hath done well once, shall more easily do it the next time. He that hath done evil once, shall more hardly resist it at the next assault. There are mala innata, and mala inseminata; evils that naturally grow in us, and evils that we sow in our selves. Whatsoever grows of it own accord, let us strive to kill; but sow none. Contere caput serpentis, suppress the beginnings of evil. Sin is like a Nettle, the older it is, the hardlyer killed. Well hath our Church ordered that preparative every Morning-prayer; To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 2. Whilst weare young: for Corruption grows the older the stronger, and man the older the weaker. Juvenis, admittis socium; Senex, habebis dominum; Whom thou being young entertainest for thy play-fellow, when thou art old thou shalt find thy Master. Our Saviour began the work of our salvation whilst he was very young. The very first day, that great Prince was Courted in a Stable: he shed some blood in his Circumcision when he was but eight days old. And is it too early for us being young, to work up our own salvation? Shall Satan have the Rose-buds, and God only the stalk? Satan the veins full of blood, bones full of marrow, God a carcass? We vowed in our Baptism, all the days of our life to his service; for shame let us not, Ananias-like, keep back part of the price. ^cIf ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? if the lame and sick, is it not evil? The governor of your bodies will none of it, will the Governor of your souls accept it? Serve God in old-age? a sweet piece of service! If God come in youth, and find no fruit, beware the fig-trees curse; Never fruit grow on thee hereafter. The sealing of a bond without a time set, makes the debt presently due. God doth not bid the drunkard abstain when he can drink no more: nor the Usurer leave oppressing when his bags be full. To leave sin, when sin leaves us, will never pass for true repentance.

First, when we must cast it forth, and that; 1. Whilest corruption is young. Kill the enemie whiles he is young; ut virtus ejus elidatur in semine; that he may leave no posterity to hurt thee, Hieron. Sinne long customed, is hardly conquered; Acta confirmant voluntatem, tam in malo quàm in bono; Frequent actions constitute an habite, whether in good or ill. Hee that hath done well once, shall more easily doe it the next time. He that hath done evill once, shall more hardly resist it at the next assault. There are mala innata, and mala inseminata; evils that naturally grow in us, and evils that we sow in our selves. Whatsoever growes of it owne accord, let us strive to kill; but sow none. Contere caput serpentis, suppresse the beginnings of evill. Sin is like a Nettle, the older it is, the hardlyer killed. Well hath our Church ordered that preparative every Morning-prayer; To day if yee will heare his voyce, harden not your hearts. 2. Whilest weare young: for Corruption growes the older the stronger, and man the older the weaker. Iuvenis, admittis socium; Senex, habebis dominum; Whom thou being young entertainest for thy play-fellow, when thou art old thou shalt finde thy Master. Our Saviour began the worke of our salvation whilest hee was very young. The very first day, that great Prince was Courted in a Stable: he shed some bloud in his Circumcision when he was but eight dayes old. And is it too early for us being young, to worke up our owne salvation? Shall Satan have the Rose-buds, and God onely the stalke? Satan the veines full of bloud, bones full of marrow, God a carcase? We vowed in our Baptisme, all the dayes of our life to his service; for shame let us not, Ananias-like, keepe backe part of the price.