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

All this while we have considered Lusts in the narrowest bounds; as a particular effect of that grand beldame Concupiscence. But Lust is of a greater latitude, and is not only to be taken for the desire of fleshly company, but for the whole general corruption of our nature, prone to all sin.^l There is in the world the Lust of the flesh, the Lust of the eyes, and the pride of life: therefore it is called Concupiscentia mundi; the lust of the world. Saint John divides the world into three parts, and gives lust two of them there: all in the next verse; The world passeth away, and the lusts thereof. Whatsoever is in the unregenerate will of man, that is Lust. ^mThe works of the Flesh are manifest; that is, of Lust, it is all one. When they are conjoined, as Lusts of the Flesh; then flesh is as the mother, and lusts the daughters: when they are found in several places, know they are but diverse names of one and the same thing. Paul in reckoning them up, mentions many, and concludes more; with And such like. He says first they are so manifest that he need not, and last so manifold that he cannot reckon them all up. Now if Saint Paul numbering the sins of his times, was fain to break off his catalogue with an & caetera; how shall we in these days deliver up a true inventory of them? Alas, we have now those sins, to which they then wanted names. Theirs were Serpents, ours are dragons: the first were evil, but the last are worst of all. The consummation of times and sins are met together upon us. The world, like that Image, had a head of gold, there was some purity: his shoulders of silver, there the metal declines: his arms of brass, baser still: his legs of iron, yet more rusty; but now come to his feet, they are all of clay; nothing but earth, earth. And as commonly in a diseased body, all the humours fall down into the legs or feet, and make an issue there. So the corruption of all ages hath slided down into the present, as into the feet, and there Lust hath made an issue, to the annoyance of all the world.

All this while we have considered Lusts in the narrowest bounds; as a particular effect of that grand beldame Concupiscence. But Lust is of a greater latitude, and is not onely to be taken for the desire of fleshly company, but for the whole generall corruption of our nature, prone to all sinne.^l