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

Admire the mercy of God, which doth not only prepare a kingdom for us, but also prepare us for that kingdom. In the world there is no mercy to a sinner: it hath commonly been the fault even of men entered into this kingdom, to shut the door after them, and to keep out others, Luke 13.14. The Ruler of the Synagogue could not endure, that the people should be healed on the Sabbath day, Matt. 20.31. When the blind men cried to Christ; O Lord, thou Son of David, have mercy […] ⟨p. 235⟩us: The multitudes rebuked them, because they should hold their peace. This is a malicious and uncharitable sin, when men are passed over the deep pit by a bridge, to pluck it up, and suffer none to follow them. Thou sayest, such a one is a refractary and dissolute offender; what then? therefore shut the Church door against him? this is thy mercy, but Gods mercy is more; to repentance he ministers an entrance. Yes, saith the malevolent repiner; he seems to repent, but he is only humbled in hypocrisy: but what window hast thou into his heart? It is worse in thee to be so critical a censurer, than in him to be so hypocritical a sinner. The Lawyers say, Semel malus, semper malus: once bad, never good. The Cathari did use to excommunicate for ever: if a man were once revolted, never to be received: but this was but a Puritan trick. Or if upon undeniable contrition, and humble submission, they admitted such a one to their outward service, yet they held him a reprobate: as the Gibeonites were permitted in the Tabernacle, but with disgrace. The Brutii in Italy, for their revolting from the Romans to Hannibal, were upon their submission received again into the Roman protection, but might never be trusted for that trick. Paul says, 1 Cor. 6.9. Neither Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Yet was Solomon an Idolater, Mary Magdalen an adulteress, the malefactor on the Cross a thief, Zaccheus an extortioner, Noah drunk: yet did all these enter into the kingdom of God. The Apostle adds, Verse 11. Such were ye; you were, but you are not: neither did they enter into heaven, Idolaters, or Adulterers, or Extortioners, but they became new creatures: they were washed, sanctified, justified, in the Name of the LORD JESUS and by the Spirit of GOD. Tu muta sententiam tuam, Deus mutabit suam.