A00665:603
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas AdamsA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams
London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Jacob Bloome, 1633London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Iacob Bloome, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, we must have These, All these; not one or two but all. It is not enough to have faith, and leave out virtue; not knowledge without temperance, nor piety without charity. If thy journey be eight miles, and thou give over at the second or third; thou wilt fall short of heaven. Many will be contented with some, but few will embrace all. Men deal with God, as for their Tithes, so for their lives,r Let him that is taught communicate to his Teacher, in all his goods. [Greek or Hebrew]? In all? nay put out (In omnibus) this In all, and we will compound with you, Deut. 5.33. You shall walk in all the ways of the Lord. In all? nay put out this same (All) and we will consent to you. There are few that say;s All that thou commandest us, we will doe. Vende omnia, Sell all thou hast, and give to the poor; this the world thinks most unreasonable. He that hath not all saving graces in some measure, hath none in any measure. The Romists are so slaved to their superiors, that they will do all they are commanded by them. As a desperate Roman said of Catiline; whatsoever he bids me, I will do. But says another, how if he should bid thee fire the Capitol? he answers, Catiline will not bid it; but if he should, I will do it. So they must do all the Pope chargeth them: but how if he bids them fire the Senate, blow up the Parliament? they secretly reply, he will not command it; but if he should we will do it. They give not this obedience to God: he chargeth them not to touch his anointed ones; against this they have their exceptives. But against the Popes mandamus, there is no question, no exception, and from it lies no appeal. How insatiable mans desires are of this world! give Alexander kingdom after kingdom, he will not rest till he have all. If a covetous man had all the houses; if a City given him, he would rifle for the goods in them: if he had all the Gold and Jewels, he would also require the garments: if he had the City, he would also challenge the suburbs: yea, All could not satisfy him. But how little grace contents us; one or two, as Joash stroke the earth but thrice. 2 King. 13.18. we take insatiably of earth, very moderately of heaven; as if we were afraid to have too much grace, and that it would but trouble us.