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

For the dignity of this Office, the Saints have ever had a holy pride in being GODS servants; there cannot be greater honour than to serve such a Master as commands heaven, earth and hell: Non reputes magnum quod Deo servias, sed maximum, quod ipse dignatur te in servum assumere: Do not think thou doest honour GOD in serving him; but think how GOD honours thee, in vouchsafing thee to be his servant. David could not study to give himself a greater stile, than^a O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thy hand-maid: and this he spake, not in the phrase of a humane complement, but in the humble confession of a Christian. Yea, so doth our Apostle commend this excellency, that (if we note it) he sets the title of Servant, before that of an Apostle: first Servant, then Apostle. Great was his office in being an Apostle, greater his blessing in being a servant of Jesus Christ: The one is an outward calling, the other an inward grace: Damnatur Apostolorum unus, servorum nullus; There was an Apostle condemned, never any servant of God: Judas preached to others, not to his own heart; he healed their bodies, not his own soul; wrought miracles upon others, not upon himself; cast out devils, yet himself was cast out as a devil. All which justifies that of Samuel, ^bTo obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams. Prophets have been excluded; many say,^c Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy name; to whom it is answered, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. But never were Servants excluded; for the other, their book and clergy cannot save them; It will be demanded of them at that day; Non quid legerint, sed quid egerint, non modò quid dixerint, sed quomodo vixerint. Bern. Not what books they have read, but what life they have led; not what they have taught others to do, but what they have done themselves. God by this title commends Job, the greatest man of the East:^d Hast thou considered my servant Job? Paul calls James the Lords Brother, Galath. 1.19. other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lords brother. James calls himself the servant of Christ, Jam 1.1. James a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ; quite leaving out the remembrance of that other stile If it were such a noble privilege to be a servant to Caesar, and free of the Roman State;