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

1 That it is the condition of mankind to suffer. When thou considerest thy self, there is presented to thee a man, a naked man, a poor man, and a miserable man, Bern. Luges hominem, erubescis nudum, contemnis pauperem, doles miserum, lacrymas miserabilem; Thou mournest thy mortality, blushest at thy nakedness, despisest thy poverty, weepest for thy misery. Now, quod ferendum est, feras; what thou must bear, bear patiently.

1 That it is the condition of mankind to suffer. When thou considerest thy selfe, there is presented to thee a man, a naked man, a poore man, and a miserable man, Bern. Luges hominem, erubescis nudum, contemnis pauperem, doles miserum, lacrymas miserabilem; Thou mournest thy mortality, blushest at thy nakednesse, despisest thy poverty, weepest for thy misery. Now, quod ferendum est, feras; what thou must beare, beare patiently.

2 That miseries are not only incident to men, but more proper to Christian men,^m All that will live godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution. This was Christs prognostication; In the world you shall have sorrow, Joh 16. This the Apostles prediction; Through many tribulations you must enter the kingdom of heaven, Act. 14. What Saint was ever crowned before he had combated? Jerome. Search the whole Bible over; Et quem legisti in coelis triumphantem, quem non legisti priùs in terris tolerantem? But it is said;ⁿ The Churches had rest through-out all Judea, &c. And there was peace in the days of Solomon; peace in the days of Constantine; peace in the milken times of Queen Elizabeth; and yet still greater peace under the reign of our present Sovereign, that King of peace. Yet though we be freed from public oppressions inflicted by Magistrates, not from private molestations. In the most Halcyon days we find bitterness: Sine miseria vixisse miserrimum est. If there be not an Esau, there will be an Ishmael: if the hand of mischief cannot reach us, yet Penetrabunt spicula linguae; The arrows of slander and contumely will stick in our ribs. All men are necessitated to miseries, that bend their course toward the kingdom of heaven, Aug. Hence it is that S. Paul gives a piece of armour to the feet.