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

They which dye cloth, do not immediately change one contrary into another; but first turn white into an azure, then make it a puke, &c. so we can never hold colour, or have our integrity died in grain, but by mediate degrees. Nisi dediscimus benè, quod dicimus non benè, Lirinens. What we did ill get, we must well forget: and happily unlearn what we did unhappily learn. They that work in wax, cannot form a new impression, but by defacing the old: till Satan's image be extinguished, CHRISTS cannot be imprinted in us. We must forget the wilderness, that we may dwell in Canaan. Faith is that fair Helen, which drinks to us in a cup of Nepenthe, and says;^h There shall be no more sorrow; for vetera transierunt, the former things are passed away. The hearty draught of the living fountain, shall make a man not to remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. The Scripture is full of this language, Esa. 43.18. Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. There are some dissolute persons, that laugh at the memorial of their sins: shall they not weep tears of blood for those smiles? Woe be to them that thus laugh, for they shall weep. When they are past committing,² they applaud themselves in recounting, in reporting their aspersions of fraud, blood, or lust:ⁱ they glory in their shame. They remember that on earth laughing, which they must remember in hell howling. This is a cursed commemoration; when an old man shall glory in his former whoredoms, boast his homicides; yea perhaps (if it be possible) make himself worse than ever he was. Some men lie to save their credits; and that is as if one should wipe his mouth on his sleeve to spare his napkin. But this man tells lies to increase his discredit; and to fill up the measure of his torments. As if his damnation could not otherwise be heavy enough, his tongue shall make up the weight which his hands failed to accomplish. Here is a damnable remembrance of sin; not by penitence to cleanse the soul, but by impudence, more to foul it, Psal. 52.1. why boastest thou thy self in mischief.