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

Here is a kind of certainty in this ([Greek or Hebrew]) constitution: as sin will make a man fruitful in naughtiness, so piety in holiness. As there is a relation betwixt this life and the next, by an unchangeable ordinance of God. Mischief in this world, misery in the world to come: no repentance here, no salvation there: a devil on earth, no Saint in heaven. But holiness in the seed, shall have happiness in the harvest: if the course be gracious, the end shall be glorious.^g Whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. So there is a relation in this life betwixt the disposition and the actions. If the heart be full of lust, the tongue will be a trumpet of impudence, the eyes windows of temptation, the gestures so many remonstrances of ready prostitution: all the wheels being like apt engineers, employed on the wills business. If avarice sit in the heart, like an Epicure to feast on gold; oppression shall be the purveyor to provide it, Brokage the Cater to fetch it in, Usury the Cooke to dress it, and destruction the stomach to digest it. What evil seed is within, will appear without. And so if grace have Existentiam, a being: it will have apparentiam, a manifestation. Hath David Hope? he will wait for a kingdom in the extremity of persecution. Hath Abraham faith? he will not deny to God, his only son. Hath Job patience? he will brook all crosses with an unmoved quietness. Hath Daniel temperance? he will not be enticed with the Kings dainties. Hath Joseph chastity? he will never come near his mistresses chamber. Hath Paul fortitude? he dares fight with beasts at Ephesus. Hath Stephen a faithful resolution? he will be content to die for CHRIST, and be rained to death with a shower of stones. Needs must that virtue be fruitful that is stirring, and needs must that be stirring that is living, and needs must that be living that is quickened by Jesus Christ.

Here is a kind of certaintie in this (〈non-Latin alphabet〉) constitution: as sinne will make a man fruitfull in naughtinesse, so pietie in holinesse. As there is a relation betwixt this life and the next, by an unchangeable ordinance of God. Mischiefe in this world, miserie in the world to come: no repentance here, no salvation there: a devill on earth, no Saint in heaven. But holinesse in the seed, shall have happinesse in the harvest: if the course bee gracious, the end shall be glorious.^g