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

This faith doth not only with reprobates, believe the Major of the Gospel, that Christ is salvation; but the Minor with Mary; that he is my Saviour. The devils believe much; but Reconciliationem suam non credunt: ¹they cannot believe their own reconcilement. Therefore saith James; horrentes credunt, they believe and tremble. Timor infidelitatis filius, saith Basil; Fear is the child of unbelief.^{2 l}Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? why are the Apostles called, [Greek or Hebrew], timorous, but because they were [Greek or Hebrew], of little faith?^m But being justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.ⁿ In whom we have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of him. A Traitor condemned to death, knows the King, and his prerogative royal, that he is able to pardon: his disposition, that it is mild and merciful: yea, he knows that the King hath forgiven many such offenders. But now for himself, he hath no friends to the King, no word from the King to warrant his pardon: no hope, if he should entreat favour, that himself was a fit subject for this exercise of mercy. Still he trembleth; Sentit see miserum, etsi noverit Regem misericordem: he feels himself miserable, though he know the King to be merciful. So the reprobate knows Gods omnipotency;^o Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean: he knows his infinite mercy, that it^p reacheth unto the heavens, and his faithfulness unto the clouds: he knows GOD hath forgiven many, David for adultery, Solomon for idolatry, Peter for Apostasy, Paul for blasphemy. But for his own part, he hath no friend to God, no mediator betwixt God and him, no Christ to speak for mercy: he hath no word whereby he can apply this mercy: no hope, that mercy would come upon his submission and seeking. He wants that justifying faith, to do this precious act of application. A man is deeply in debt, non solvendo, in no case to pay: he hears and believes, that his Creditor is an honest man, that he hath dealt mercifully with others; remitted a third, half, the whole debt. But he hath neither promise from his creditor, nor persuasion in himself, that he will deal so kindly with him: for all this, he fears arrest and imprisonment, without bail, main prise, or any hope of deliverance. The wicked is deeply run into Gods debt by his sins: