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

Give diligence. Studete, Satagite, [Greek or Hebrew]. Terrene profits, though tanto non digna labore, come not without diligence. Doth a man reap without sowing? The Apostle says, Ephes. 4.28. Give to him that needeth: ¹and Above all things put on charity: yet he says withal; He that labours not, let him not eat. Doth he here put off that charity, which he bids us put on? No, indulget viro, non vitio: he would have us favour the person, not the fault: and relieve Egentes, such as want; but withal Agents, such as work. The Philosophers thought the world was immortal and eternal; for otherwise, say they, God were idle, and should have had nothing to do before the creation. They knew not the divine contemplation of his own Essence in three Persons; they considered not that incomprehensible delight; nor that infinite business of rest, and rest of business, that he had in himself. They were deceived in that, but not in this; that Idleness is not incident to God. How much less should it be in man, his servant; that begs of this God his daily bread? Until we come to the threshold of heaven, there is no rest of travel: but then we shall rest from our labours. The idle person may seem to be Gods outlawry:² slothfulness is a Remora that sticks to our sides, and hinders the Bark from the voyage of bliss. God built his Temple on a Threshing-floor: there must be labour in that place, though after a different manner. As Christ did not wholly put his Apostles out of their trade: Non mutatur piscatio, sed intentio; He made them still fishers, but of souls.

Give diligence. Studete, Satagite, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Terrene profits, though tanto non digna labore, come not without diligence. Doth a man reape without sowing? The Apostle sayes, Ephes. 4.28. Give to him that needeth: ¹and Above all things put on charitie: yet he sayes withall; He that labours not, let him not eat. Doth he here put off that charitie, which he bids us put on? No, indulget viro, non vitio: he would have us favour the person, not the fault: and releeve Egentes, such as want; but withall Agentes, such as worke. The Philosophers thought the world was immortall and eternall; for otherwise, say they, God were idle, and should have had nothing to doe before the creation. They knew not the divine contemplation of his owne Essence in three Persons; they considered not that incomprehensible delight; nor that infinite businesse of rest, and rest of businesse, that he had in himselfe. They were deceived in that, but not in this; that Idlenesse is not incident to God. How much lesse should it be in man, his servant; that begs of this God his daily bread? Vntill we come to the threshold of heaven, there is no rest of travell: but then we shal rest from our labours. The idle person may seeme to be Gods outlawry: