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

Virtue as a servant follows Faith her Mistress, but when she comes to answer ⟨p. 116⟩the Justice of God, virtue runs behind the door, with a Lord be merciful to me a sinner: and so leaves the burden on faiths shoulder, which only answers it in the blood of JESUS CHRIST. Faith is like Rachel, and virtue her maid Bilhah: though Bilhah supply the defects of Rachel, yet still let her remember that Rachel is her Mistress. CHRIST is our husband, and we his spouse: now it is fit the Bridegroom should be alone with the bride in the secret chamber; all the servants and attendants being shut forth: but when the door is opened, and the Bridegroom cometh into the waiting-room, then let all the servants and hand-maids attend: then enter virtue, temperance, &c. Extra causam justificationis opera satis laudari non possunt: ad causam hujus admitti non debent. Out of the point of Justificati-works cannot be sufficiently commended: into the cause of Justification, they must not be admitted. David had a great army of soldiers at his back, yet he slew Goliath alone; had none to help him. Faith alone conquers Satan, but it hath an host of seconds with it. Faith like John that beloved Disciple, leans on CHRISTS breast; good works with Peter follow CHRIST. The story of Judith proceeding with Holofernes may be here entertained for a fit similitude. Bethulia is in danger of Holofernes, ¹the terror of the East; as we of the Justice of God. Judith's undertakes for the safety of the Bethulians, faith for the safety of Christians. All Bethulia being too weak to encounter him, as all our obedience is too little to answer God. Judith goes accompanied with her hand-maid, faith with virtue. The hand-maid waits on Judeth all the way: yet in the act of deliverance Judith is alone, and her hand-maid attends without the door. Virtue is ever waiting upon faith; but in the mighty act of deliverance she dares not come in, but lets faith alone with the whole business. It is she that goes to the throne of grace with confidence, and obtains mercy through the mediation of her sweet Saviour Christ.

Vertue as a servant followes Faith her Mistresse, but when she comes to answer ⟨p. 116⟩the Iustice of God, vertue runnes behind the doore, with a Lord be mercifull to me a sinner: and so leaves the burden on faiths shoulder, which onely answers it in the bloud of IESUS CHRIST. Faith is like Rachel, and vertue her maid Bilhah: though Bilhah supplie the defects of Rachel, yet still let her remember that Rachel is her Mistresse. CHRIST is our husband, and we his spouse: now it is fit the Bridegroome should be alone with the bride in the secret chamber; all the servants and attendants being shut forth: but when the doore is opened, and the Bridegroome commeth into the waiting-roome, then let all the servants and hand-maides attend: then enter vertue, temperance, &c. Extra causam justificationis opera satis laudari non possunt: ad causam hujus admitti non debent. Out of the point of Iustificati-workes cannot be sufficiently commended: into the cause of Iustification, they must not be admitted. David had a great army of souldiers at his backe, yet he slew Goliah alone; had none to helpe him. Faith alone conquers Satan, but it hath an host of seconds with it. Faith like Iohn that beloved Disciple, leanes on CHRISTS breast; good workes with Peter follow CHRIST. The story of Iudith proceeding with Holofernes may be here entertained for a fit similitude. Bethulia is in danger of Holofernes,