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

Love: this Diligence must fetch the life from affection, and be moved with the love of virtue. They are most, whom fear correcteth from evil, they are best, whom love directeth to good, August. We refuse the dainty morsels of a churls table, because we have them not with love. GOD regardeth not the mammocks of our sacrifices, the scraps of our perfunctory obedience, when the awe and law of man brings us thither; not the love of GOD. Constraint makes a thing easy in it own nature, to become toilsome; love makes a difficult thing easy. He that is banished his native Country, thinks every steppe tedious: let his own will call him forth, his travel is pleasant; else men would nor cross the seas to see fashions. There was a man so well affected to his own City, that in fifty years he never went a league out of it; as if like a fish he must needs die, if taken out of his own element. Not long after his luck was to commit an offence; whereof being convicted, and liable to severe punishment; the favouring Judge, intending to mitigate it, because this was his first error; confined him on the pain of death to the limits of that City. Now what was to his opinion formerly a delight, becomes a bondage and vexation; nothing in the City pleaseth him, all his desire is to gad abroad. How many miles can we ride and run in a day to see one beast pursue another! The unevenness of the way, the uncertainty of the weather troubles us not, because we have a love to the sport. If the charge of a Superior commands us to measure over so many miles, we soon complain of weariness. The Sabbath finds many in the fields, walking to the neighbour Villages, for wanton delights. If they were commanded to travel so far to Church, and to serve God, they would say with Jeroboam, it was too long a journey. All negligence in good things is from the want of love.

Love: this Diligence must fetch the life from affection, and be moved with the love of vertue. They are most, whom feare correcteth from evill, they are best, whom love directeth to good, August. Wee refuse the daintie morsels of a churles table, because wee have them not with love. GOD r•gardeth not the mammockes of our sacrifices, the scraps of our perfunctory obedience, when the awe and law of man brings us thither; not the love of GOD. Constraint makes a thing easie in it owne nature, to become toilesome; love makes a difficult thing easie. He that is banished his native Countrey, thinkes every steppe tedious: let his owne will call him forth, his travell is pleasant; else men would nor crosse the seas to see fashions. There was a man so well affected to his owne Citie, that in fiftie yeeres hee never went a league out of it; as if like a fish he must needs die, if taken out of his owne element. Not long after his lucke was to commit an offence; whereof being convicted, and liable to severe punishment; the favouring Iudge, intending to mitigate it, because this was his first errour; confined him on the paine of death to the limits of that Citie. Now what was to his opinion formerly a delight, becomes a bondage and vexation; nothing in the Citie pleaseth him, all his desire is to gad abroad. How many miles can we ride and runne in a day to see one beast pursue another! The unevennesse of the way, the uncertaintie of the weather troubles us not, because we have a love to the sport. If the charge of a Superiour commands us to measure over so many miles, we soone complaine of wearinesse. The Sabbath findes many in the fields, walking to the neighbour Villages, for wanton delights. If they were commanded to travell so farre to Church, and to serve God, they would say with Ieroboam, it was too long a journey. All negligence in good things is from the want of love.