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

Secondly, the pot is cooled by pouring cold water into it: only abundance of sorrowful tears can put out this unruly fire. The Amalekites had spoiled Ziklag, ¹and taken their wives and their children prisoners: which when David and his people found, they wept till they could weep no more. David asked counsel of the LORD, and upon his direction followed them, and smote them from the twilight till the evening of the next morrow. So there escaped none, save four hundred young men that fled upon Camels. Conceive Lusts to be these Amalekites, they spoil our Ziklag, sack our City, captivate our wives and children, our Senses and affections: now let us cast cold water into this pot, weep till we can weep no more; lament we day and night. Then let us pursue these brutish Amalekites, so shall we overcome our untamed lusts, and smite them from the twilight of our youth, to the evening of our old-age. Some young men may escape, some vain words and unclean thoughts may remain in us: but for the old Amalekites, gross and foul faults, we shall conquer them. So recover we our wives and daughters, our affections so dear to us: and they that were the prisoners and drudges to Lust, shall now do good service to GOD.^h The Land is full of adulterers, and because of oaths it mourneth. Shall the Land mourn for the Inhabitants, and not the Inhabitants mourn for their sins? We have preventions, lawful marriages. The Garamantes of Libya have all their women common; wicked Infidels! No marriage, no chastity; we have marriage, but not chastity. Intolerabilius peccatum, ubi tale remedium. The more unsufferable their impiety, that have such a remedy. Though we cannot quench this fire, we will weep upon it; we will mourn for these lusts. Let the offenders use this remedy, and by Gods assistance they shall get the victory.ⁱ Thou breakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters. The heads of the Dragon are broken in the waters, great lusts are drowned in a flood of tears.⁴ Moses in zealous indignation did drown Israels sin: he drowns the Idol, lest the Idol should drown the people: as the Philosopher did with his wealth; mergam te, ne mergar à te; so beat your lustful affections to dust, drown them in your tears, and let your souls drink those tears, as the Prophet says, My tears