A00665:742
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.
For his Policy; he desires to win their souls,1 and therefore insinuates himself into their loves. We begin our letters to men of honour with, Honourable: to ⟨p. 206⟩kindred, with titles of Affinity: to friends, with terms of Amity: the Apostles with the best band, Brethren; beloved in the best Beloved, Jesus Christ. The phrase of [Brother] begins almost to be worn out: whether through Curiosity, or Curialitie, such Christian salutations are thought too gross. But the Apostles wonted to let in their holy counsel by the sweetness of their affection. Notwithstanding their Apostolical authority, and beauty of graces; yet they took all courses to insinuate and work into their hearers hearts. Even when they came with a rod, yet was it not without the Spirit of meekness. In reproving of sins, they did it without passion, not without compassion. You may therefore well pardon us, if with points of Humanity, we illustrate points of Divinity: if according to your capacities, from earthly things we reason to heavenly.2 So did our Saviour; If ye being evil parents, can give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to you? Philosophers were enemies to the Gospel; give us leave to confute them with their own reasons; to cut off Goliaths head with his own sword. All this while we give to secular learning praise, but no more than it deserves. It is a learned ignorance; yet if we can make it, like Balaam's Ass, speak to purpose; you have no wrong. In all our courses we seek, non vestra, sed vos, not yours, but your selves: we love your souls, let your souls accept of our loves. If you will answer God in obedience, you answer us in the desire of our hearts.
For his Policie; he desires to win their soules,1 and therefore insinuates himselfe into their loves. Wee beginne our letters to men of honour with, Honourable: to ⟨p. 206⟩kindred, with titles of Affinity: to friends, with termes of Amity: the Apostles with the best band, Brethren; beloved in the best Beloved, Iesus Christ. The phrase of [Brother] begins almost to be worne out: whether through Curiositie, or Curialitie, such Christian salutations are thought too grosse. But the Apostles wonted to let in their holy counsell by the sweetnesse of their affection. Notwithstanding their Apostolicall authoritie, and beauty of graces; yet they tooke all courses to insinuate and worke into their hearers hearts. Even when they came with a rod, yet was it not without the Spirit of meeknesse. In reproving of sinnes, they did it without passion, not without compassion. You may therefore well pardon us, if with points of Humanity, we illustrate points of Divinity: if according to your capacities, from earthly things we reason to heavenly.