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

2 The necessity of virtuous actions. The law though it have no power to condemn us, hath power to command us. Lex datur ut gratiae quaereretur, Evangelium ut lex impleretur. The law sends us to Christ to be saved, and Christ sends us back again to the law to learn obedience. The former is plain;ⁱ The Law is our School-Master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The other is as manifest:^k If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, Tit. 2.11. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared. There is the grace of God, and salvation with it: whither doth it send us? To the denial of ungodliness and worldly lusts, that we should live soberly, &c. He that believes will keep the commandments. Now the keeping of the Law is two-fold; legal, evangelical. Legal; so Adam might have kept it, so Christ did. Evangelical, Christs righteousness imputed to us: he kept it for us, and we strive to keep it in him. That is true^l faith, which worketh by love. A man is a perfect Christian inwardly through faith before God, who hath no need of our works; outwardly before men by his works; for our faith profits them nothing. We call a painted man aequivocè, a man: some painters are so skilful in casting their colours, and can paint a fire so lively, that at the first blush you would think it to be a fire indeed. But try it by the effects, hold your hand to it, to feel some warmth, it is but a cold board or block. Many can thus lively paint their faith with the colours of profession: that God is their God; and though few be saved, they are sure to be of the number; excellent fire! But let the poor come near to be warmed with works of mercy; or others look for the light of virtue; there's neither light nor heat in it; a mere painted fire. A Pygmalion's block; faced only like faith. But the Gospel that gives salvation, chargeth us with the laws obedience. Esther being brought up in her young years under Mordecai; though she was afterwards married to king Ahasuerus, and an Imperial crown of gold set on her head; yet was still obedient to Mordecai, as before.^m