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

He that lacketh these things. It is a received maxim, that God and Nature hath wrought nothing in vain: no part or faculty of the body can be well spared. Thou hast two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet; thou canst spare none of them. Man hath five senses, if he lose any of them, the very want will tell him the worth of the habit. The father that should sell one of his children, to buy bread for the rest, and redeem them from famine; looks over them all, and at last concludes he can part with none. What part of thy self after much study couldst thou lose? yet a man may lack some, and be saved too, Mark 9. with loss of a hand, foot, an eye, he may enter into heaven. But what speak I of our members; we are loth to spare the superfluities of this world: those same Adjectiva, as Christ calls them; Adjectanea, as Paul says. Our very delights have their set vicissitudes, and not one is omitted for fear of b eaking the rank. Covetous worldlings will hardly spare the poor some of their fire to warm them, some of their water to drink, some of their ground to lodge on; though it were no more hurt to them, than the lighting of a candle at their torch. We can lack nothing for this world; but for heaven, O the mercy of GOD! Quantum est in rebus inane! We can quietly lack things that conduce to our eternal peace. What is the reason? Superna in fastidio, terreas in desiderio. Ignoti nulla cupido: A man never misseth what he cares not for. If a man Lack riches,¹ he complains; Who will show us any good? If he Lack honour, he is glad to hear a friend in the Court say to him, as Elisha to the Shunamite; wouldest thou be spoken for to the King, or to the Captain of the Host? Few would answer with the Shunamite; I live among mine own people; I had rather dwell at home. If he Lacks children, he is ready to say with that ⟨p. 185⟩Patriarch, Genes. 15.2. What wilt thou give, seeing I go childless? If an Ahab have a whole Manor, yet he lacks Naboths Vineyard; that very nook disfigures his Lordship. If Haman have Ahasuerus favour, yet he lacks Mordecai's knee and cap; and is angry that other men thinks him not so good as he thinks himself. Though Joab have renown with David, yet a word of disgrace from Abner troubles his stomach: he can neither swallow it down, nor vomit it up.