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

This Lust is a friendly Judas within us, a familiar devil: She is indeed the mother of all wickedness; yield the father-hood to the Devil, Lust will challenge the mother-hood to her self,ⁿ When Lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin: and Sin when it is finished, bringeth forth Death. Saint James seems to speak of a womb; Lust conceives: of a Birth, it bringeth forth: of a Growth, it is finished: of a Death, it lastly kills, brings forth death. The Psalmist describes the bringing her to bed, Psalm. 7.14. First, she conceives mischief, and grows quick with child. Then, she Travels with iniquity; there's her labour. Lastly, she brings it forth, there's her delivery. The Prophet gives her a quicker dispatch;^o She conceiveth mischief and bringeth forth iniquity. She doth but conceive, and presently bringeth forth. Let me take leave to follow this significant allegory. We have found out the mother of sin, Lust; but can she be with child without an husband, or one instead of an husband! sin must have a father, so well as a mother: though it be an illegitimate bastard, it must have a father. You all know the ⟨p. 90⟩Father of sin, that's the devil. We have now a father and a mother: the father begets, and the mother conceives: she is big with child: but how shall she do for a midwife? she cannot be delivered of her burden without a midwife. There is one ready at her call, that's consent. We have now a father, a mother, a midwife: suppose the child is begotten, conceived and borne; how shall we do now for a nurse? it will otherwise die for want of keeping. Lust is some great Lady, and scorns to nurse her own children. There is a nurse provided too, and that is, Custom. Here are all things too fit and ready for the production of this monster. The devil is the father, Lust the mother, consent the midwife, and custom the nurse: if consent bring it forth, custom will bring it up. When sin was first brought forth into the world in that first humane person that ever sinned, Eve, this was the proceeding. Concupiscence the mother kept company with the devil the father, and he suggested to her his seed, that was temptation. Presenting a fair fruit to her eye, and dissuading from confidence in the truth of Gods charge: upon this seed she begins to conceive,