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

Give diligence; not a pragmatical business in others affairs; but rectify thy diligence, confining it principally to thy self. Dress thine own garden, lest it be over-run with weeds, Sen. I know not with whom I had rather have thee be, than with thy self. Ubicunque sum, mecum sum: rebus enim humanis me non trado, sed commodo; I lend my self to other mens occasions, I give my self to mine own. We may say to Worldlings, as CHRIST to Martha, you are troubled about many things; but one thing is needful, mind that. They think when they have gotten store of riches, they shall then sleep in quiet; no then is least quiet of all. The rich man resolves when he hath filled his barns; then Soul rest; no, then Soul come to Judgement, to everlasting unrest; Luke 12.^t It is in vain, men rise up early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of sorrows: for upon better conditions God giveth his beloved sleep. Pyrrhus boasted to his friend Cineas, that he would invade Italy, and hoped to achieve it: Cineas asked him, Sir, what will you do then? Then we will attempt Sicily, and so at last get Carthage and all Africa. And what then Sir? Then saith Pyrrhus, we will rest and be merry. Alas, saith Cineas, may we not do so now, and save all this trouble? Then Otium, I will take mine ease? No, then minus otii, least ease of all: for besides hazard of blood in getting, there will be continual trouble in keeping. Non minor ille labor, quàm quaerere, parta tueri. Eutrop•lus in the Poet, to one that asked how he might be revenged on his enemy; gave this counsel; Facito divitem, make him rich; so lay on him Sarcinam curarum, a burden of cares. The rich Land-lord envied his poor tenant, because he heard him sing every day at his labour, that had scarce bread for his family; while himself wanting nothings was full of discontent. One advised him to convey cunningly into his Cottage a bag of money; he did so. The tenant finding this mass, so great in his imagination, left off his singing, and fell to carking and vexing how to increase it. Crescentem sequitur cura pecuntam; The Land-lord fetcheth back his money, the tenant is as merry as ever he was. God is our Land-lord, while we his poor tenants have but little, we are content with a little: but if riches increase, cares increase with them; and till our Land-lord take back his burden, we have no ease.

Give diligence; not a pragmaticall businesse in others affaires; but rectifie thy diligence, confining it principally to thy selfe. Dresse thine owne garden, lest it be over-runne with weeds, Sen. I know not with whom I had rather have thee be, than with thy selfe. Vbicunque sum, mecum sum: rebus enim humanis me non trado, sed commodo; I lend my selfe to other mens occasions, I give my selfe to mine owne. We may say to Worldlings, as CHRIST to Martha, you are troubled about many things; but one thing is needfull, minde that. They thinke when they have gotten store of riches, they shall then sleepe in quiet; no then is least quiet of all. The rich man resolves when hee hath filled his barnes; then Soule rest; no, then Soule come to Iudgement, to everlasting unrest;