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

Forgotten; the originall is ad verbum, [Greek or Hebrew], ut qui oblivionem ceperit: one that did voluntarily attract forgetfulness to himself: the author of his own mischief; courting his own destruction: forgetfulness did not so much take him, as he did take forgetfulness. The Poets wrote of Lethe, a certain Stygian river; that whosoever drank of it, forgot presently all passed things. He wilfully ingurgitates this Lethean drink, and calls in oblivion to lodge in his heart. The ungodly as if they were impatient at the delay of their own vengeance, hasten to have their^b sins go before unto judgement. They scarce stay the devils leisure to tempt them, therefore do it themselves. They tarry not till oblivion and ingratitude be offered to them, but they snatch it like ravenous stomachs, that will not endure till their meat be dressed. This forwardness is expressed, Prov. 1.16. Their feet run to evil, Mic. 2.1. They rise early to put it in practise, Esa. 5.18. They draw it on with cords and cart ropes. They do not accept it as being offered, but extort it as being prohibited. This saves the devil a labour,² when men call iniquity to themselves. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: if it comes not, they will fetch it, fly to it: but they had better have crept like snails. For mischief comes soon enough, there is no need to seek it: it is more easily found, than avoided, Jam. 4.7. Resist the devil, and he will fly from you. Give to God obedience, to the Prince allegiance, to our Superior reverence, to the weak assistance; only to the devil and sin resistance, Eph. 4.27. Give not place to the devil: for the devil hath no place but where it is given him. I like not that Jesuits humility, that sitting in a chair, and seeing the devil approach, rose up to give him his seat; because he said, he was more worthy of it than himself. But Give him no place, saith Saint Paul: admit no conference with him. He was a fool that went up and down the earth to find Senectutem, old age: which, if he sate still at home, would be sure to find him. Sin will come fast enough; let us not hunt it, nor snatch it: but rather strive to resist it, to expel it.