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

Consider then here the ground of this Brother-hood, which is the bond of Adoption. Which if it have power to bind God to man, and man to God; then much more to bind man to man. Religion is a binder, Evangelium colligit: the Gospel hath a combining power, to gather into one fold all the sheep of CHRIST, wandering on the mountains of the broad earth. Friendship is a great uniter; it knows no other language but Tuus sum totus; I am wholly thine. It is ready to exclude those possessives, Meum and Tuum, from being any parts of speech, and to drown all propriety. Marriage is a great uniter, stronger than friendship, by Gods ordinance: it knows no other method but composition. Among Pagans it brought two into one lawful bed: the bride could challenge on her wedding day of the bridegroom; Ubi tu Caius, ego Caia; where you are master, I must be mistress. Among Christians it goes further; not only to bring two into one house, but two into one flesh. As God by creation made two of one, so again by marriage he made one of two. But the principal attractive, congregating, and combining power in the world, to draw together heaven and earth, sea and land, East and West, Jews and Gentiles; and to make one of two, of ten, of thousands, of all, is the Gospel; the bond of our Christian covenant; which makes us all one in the LORD JESUS. Thus we are compact under the government of one Lord, tied by the bond of one faith, washed from our sins by one layer, nourished by the milk of one Gospel, feasted at the supper of one and the same Lamb, assumed by one and the same spirit, to the Inheritance of one and the same kingdom, and shall be brought all to one and the same salvation.

Consider then here the ground of this Brother-hood, which is the bond of Adoption. Which if it have power to bind God to man, and man to God; then much more to bind man to man. Religion is a binder, Evangelium colligit: the Gospell hath a combining power, to gather into one fold all the sheepe of CHRIST, wandring on the mountaines of the broad earth. Friendship is a great uniter; it knowes no other language but Tuus sum totus; I am wholly thine. It is ready to exclude those possessives, Meum and Tuum, from being any parts of speech, and to drowne all proprietie. Marriage is a great uniter, stronger than friendship, by Gods ordinance: it knowes no other method but composition. Among Pagans it brought two into one lawfull bed: the bride could challenge on her wedding day of the bridegroome; Vbi tu Caius, ego Caia; where you are master, I must be mistresse. Among Christians it goes further; not onely to bring two into one house, but two into one flesh. As God by creation made two of one, so againe by marriage he made one of two. But the principall attractive, congregating, and combining power in the world, to draw together heaven and earth, sea and land, East and West, Iewes and Gentiles; and to make one of two, of ten, of thousands, of all, is the Gospell; the bond of our Christian covenant; which makes us all one in the LORD IESUS. Thus we are compact under the governement of one Lord, tied by the bond of one faith, washed from our sinnes by one layer, nourished by the milke of one Gospell, feasted at the supper of one and the same Lambe, assumed by one and the same spirit, to the Inheritance of one and the same kingdome, and shall bee brought all to one and the same salvation.