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

The Reward, it is immense and glorious.^f Bread, correction, and work are for a servant. For bread, God gives us our daily bread; we are all at his keeping. For correction, Heb. 12. he chastiseth us, because he loveth us. For work, Matth. 21. he sends us to work in his vineyard: we have from him Protection and Provision. For protection, Rom. 8.31. If God be with us, who can be against us? For provision, Luke 15.17. Even the hired servants of my Fathers, have bread enough, and to spare. But what is all this to that future glory, which was from everlastingness prepared for those servants! I know, they do not ever speed best in this world: out of a related story let me draw this conclusion in earnest. A servant convicted of some misdemeanour before a magistrate, besought some favour for his masters sake. Why, whom do you serve, said the magistrate? I serve God, said the delinquent: with that his mittimus was quickly made; away with him, he scoffs at authority: not long after a great Lord sends for enlargement of this his servant: the magistrate upon the receipt of the letters, sends in all haste for the prisoner; of whom he frettingly demands, why he told him not that he served such a Lord: The servant answered, ⟨p. 11⟩because I thought you cared more for the Lord of heaven: you say, this is but a fable: you count him a fool that makes it a moral. O utinam tantummodò fictum, non factum diceretur: would God it were but a tale, and that our courses did not justify it well though our reward be short on earth, let us look for it with comfort in heaven. Ambrose said on his death-bed, we are happy in this, we serve a good Master.^g Where I am, saith Christ, there shall my servant be: and if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. If we have done good and faithful service to him, we shall hear him say to us;^h Well done good and faithful servants, enter into the joy of your Lord: and this joy be to us all. An Apostle: here he specifies his office.