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

The villainy; The world shall hate you, saith Christ. Then Christ hath not told us truly, or the world will use us hardly. As Tertullian observes on Nerva's epistle to Pliny: he would not have Christians sought for, quasi Innocentes, as if he confessed them innocent: yet being found he would have them punished, quasi reos, as if he professed them guilty. Good men commonly find as much favour of the world, as vitellius showed Julius the. Senator: when the Emperor Commodus commanded he should be slain with the sword; vitellius in favour did beat him to death with cudgels. Plead what they can for their own innocence, the Wolfe will answer the Lamb; Indeed thy cause is better than mine, but my teeth are better ⟨p. 95⟩than thine, I will devour thee. There are not wanting, that like Fimbria of Rome, who meeting a Citizen that he hated, in the street, gave him a deadly thrust into the body with his sword: and the next day entered an action against him, that he had received but part of his blade into his body, and not all, as he meant it. Sic nocet innocuo nocuus: what can the Lamb expect else of the butcher? Indeed sometimes the world useth a man, as Jerome notes, the Praetor handled a soldier, to make him renounce CHRIST. First he imprisons him in his own house, allows him a chamber well furnished, soft lodging, dainty cheer, wine, music, all delights. When this course would not take, (yet Lord, how many are thus tempted to leave their Saviour!) then he casts him into a dark dungeon, loads him with irons, starves him with the hungry allowance of husks and puddle-water. When nothing would do, he burns him. If the devil cannot win men to hell as he seems an Angel of light, he will strive to accomplish it as he is a spirit of terror; if not transformed to another shape, then deformed in his own shape.

The villanie; The world shall hate you, saith Christ. Then Christ hath not told us truly, or the world will use us hardly. As Tertullian observes on Nerva's epistle to Plinie: hee would not have Christians sought for, quasi Innocentes, as if hee confessed them innocent: yet being found he would have them punished, quasi reos, as if he professed them guilty. Good men commonly find as much favour of the world, as vitellius shewed Iulius the. Senator: when the Emperor Commodus commanded hee should bee slaine with the sword; vitellius in favour did beat him to death with cudgells. Plead what they can for their owne innocence, the Wolfe will answer the Lambe; Indeed thy cause is better than mine, but my teeth are better