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

Bitter then must be their punishment, that take not wine but poison: that precipitate their lives into certain destruction: having no command from God, that he requires it; no promise that he will reward it. Our Saviour teacheth us, being persecuted in one City, to fly into another: if we wilfully run into unnecessary death; he will say who required this at your hands? who bad you run from England to Rome for poison; and from Rome back again to England with treason? you may have Patience, but here's no Godliness. The good sheep knows the voice of his Shepherd, and stays for his call. Those glorious ⟨p. 142⟩Martyrs that now have a permanent triumph in heaven, were not so madly prodigal of their bloods, as to throw them away without a warrant. They that possess this Laurel, washed their garments, not in their own bloods only: so they might have been still red and stained: but in the blood of the Lamb, that changes them into white. ^sTherefore they are before the throne of God, and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. That sinful Mary wasted and bathed herself, not in her own blood but in her tears: saith Chrysostom. And of Saint Peter he asks this question; when he had denied his Master; Nunquid sanguinem fudit? did he shed out his own blood? No, but his tears, and so washed away his sins. We are not sent into this world to suffer, but to do, and when we do suffer, to add to Persecution Patience, to Patience Godliness. The way to triumph in secular arms, was not to be slain in the battle, but to keep their station. In the Roman warlike discipline; Jus legionis facile; Non sequi, non fugere: this was the rule; not to follow desperately, nor to fly basely. So it is in our Christian battle; not to invite danger, not to shrink from it. Indeed God betimes in the world called for this bleeding witness: he sealed his acceptation of Abel's sacrifice, by accepting Abel for a sacrifice; who before all example, first dedicated Martyrdom, Chrysost. And as soon as CHRIST came into the world, after the receiving of the wise mens oblations; he would immediately be glorified with that hecatomb of Innocents. But to offer this without Gods asking, shall bring but a poor reward. For while piety is not preserved, the Crown of patience is lost.^t

Bitter then must be their punishment, that take not wine but poison: that precipitate their lives into certaine destruction: having no command from God, that he requires it; no promise that he will reward it. Our Saviour teacheth us, being persecuted in one Citie, to flie into another: if we wilfully runne into unnecessary death; he will say who required this at your hands? who bad you runne from England to Rome for poison; and from Rome backe againe to England with treason? you may have Patience, but here's no Godlinesse. The good sheepe knowes the voice of his Shepheard, and staies for his call. Those glorious