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

This grace of Temperance may be here diversely understood:

THis grace of Temperance may be here diversely understood:

1 For such a discretion as may season all these graces: so taken it is, Sal omnium virtutum, the salt of every virtue. Devotion without discretion, is like an hasty servant that runs away without his errand. Profession of Faith without Temperance, is turned into hypocrisy, or such a preposterous zeal; that is, like fire not on the hearth to warm, but in the top of the chimney, to set the house on a flame: Virtue without it is folly: Virtus cum indiscretè tenetur, amittitur: ¹cum discretè intermittitur, plus tenetur; A man may so indiscreetly hold Virtue, as to lose it: another may so discreetly forbear meddling, that he doth more firmly hold it. Patience without discretion wrongs a good cause: a man must bear his own injuries patiently, but not GODS nor the Churches. Moses egit causam populi ad Deum precibus & lacrymis, causam Dei adversus populum gladio & vindictis; Moses pleaded the peoples cause to GOD with prayers and tears; but GODS cause against the people with sword and vengeance. Godliness without Temperance, is Devotion out of the wits. Gregory observes on the vision of the four Cherubins, Ezek. 1.10. That the first proportion of those creatures faces, was vultus hominis, the countenance of a man, which saith he did Rationem denotare; signify discretion or this temperance. See them allegorized: the Just man by mortification of the flesh becomes a Calf ready to be sacrificed: by fortitude in his spiritual war, fi• Leo vincens, he is a conquering Lion: by contemplation of the celestial glory, Aquila triumphans, he is a triumphant Eagle: Per rationem Temperantiae homo exemplaris; ²By reason of his Temperance, he is an exemplary Man. Brotherly kindness with out Temperance, is brotherly dotage. So kindness runs into cruelty: thou feedest thy friends sensual appetite, flatterest him in his lusts, concealest his faults, followest his humours; all in kindness: this is to spill his soul in kindness. Charity lastly, without Temperance, is Prodigality: it gives Expansâ manu, sed caeco oculo, with an open hand, and shut eye; and so a man may for his charity go to the Devil, when in stead of Gods friends, he rewards his enemies. Thus hath Temperance relation to all these graces.