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

To your faith virtue.] We have laid the foundation, and are now come to the walls of this spiritual house. It were a foolish cost of a foundation without walls; then said in derision, This man began to build. Virtue, this is a special material. It is fit, ordiri à definition, to begin with the definition: but we must first see what is the virtue here meant, before we can define it. Jeremiah says that Virtue in the Scripture is sometimes taken for the great power of God; as the Prophet speaks, Virtutes Domini nunciabit in Insulis: And Psal. 46. he is called Dominus virtutum. The Philosopher called Virtue, Been vivendi formam & normam; the rule or method of living well. Piscator understands Virtue here Justitiam erga proximum, righteousness towards others, where-after they that live are called good men. In a word, Virtue is taken in a double signification. 1. In the Latitude; so for all graces and good endowments; as Philip. 4.8. Whatsoever things are true. &c. if time be any virtue, any praise. Thus understood here, it is but the Genus to all these succeeding graces; Knowledge, Temperance, &c. all are Virtues. 2. In a restrained sense, it intends some special habit, directing a man to lead a good life, Tit. 2.12. soberly, ratione tui, righteously, ratione proximi, godly, ratione Domini. First therefore we will consider Virtue in the copious acception; and so we may deduce this general doctrine.

To your faith vertue.] We have laid the foundation, and are now come to the walls of this spirituall house. It were a foolish cost of a foundation without walls; then said in dirision, This man began to build. Vertue, this is a speciall materiall. It is fit, ordiri à definitione, to begin with the definition: but we must first see what is the vertue here meant, before we can define it. Ieremie sayes that Vertue in the Scripture is sometimes taken for the great power of God; as the Prophet speakes, Virtutes Domini nunciabit in Insulis: And Psal. 46. he is called Dominus virtutum. The Philosopher called Vertue, Bene vivendi formam & normam; the rule or method of living well. Psscator understands Vertue here Iustitiam erga proximum, righteousnesse towards others, where-after they that live are called good men. In a word, Vertue is taken in a double signification. 1. In the Latitude; so for all graces and good endowments; as