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

Now let us come to GODS Arithmetic, and this principally consists in addition.^y Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. To ⟨p. 107⟩give every man his own is but equity, but the addition of charity makes blessed. I was hungry, and ye gave me meat, &c. Mat. 25. Come ye blessed, &c. To remission add restitution, to restitution charity, to charity, piety. How oft says Peter, shall I for give my brother? till seven times? yea saith Christ, and more: to seven times, add seventy times. We must all give an account; blessed are they that can bring in this bill of reckonings; Addition of good to good. Let us not be weary in well doing, Gal. 6.9. there is our bill of reckoning.^a Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man: there is our total sum. Now as Addition teacheth us to add grace to grace: so there is a multiplication required, to increase the effects of those graces, in a multiplicity of good works. Non aucta scientia cessat: knowledge not improved will be impaired. Hast thou faith, but no stronger than many years ago? Is not thy zeal more fervent, thy charity more compassionate, thy humility brought lower?^b Lord, thou deliveredst me five talents: behold! I have gained besides them, five talents moe. To him that hath shall be given: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away that he seemed to have. If here be no usury, we shall lose the principal. God is a father that loves to have his children thrive: he gives them a stock, and looks they should not be unthrifts: if they do well, they shall have the whole inheritance. As in generation, so in regeneration, we must be growing up to a full stature in Christ, Eph. 4.13. As a traveller passeth from town to town till he come to his Inn: so the Christian from virtue to virtue, till he comes to heaven. God hath sown some good seeds in our hearts, let us manure the ground with repentance, and mature the fruits by obedience, that they may grow up kindly, to his honour and glory.