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

But let this malicious heart hear Gods argument and eviction. Is thine eye evil, because I am good? This was the Prophet Jonah's discontent. chap. 4.1.¹ When the Lord would not destroy them according to his threatening; It displeased Jonah exceedingly. God means to spare Nineveh, Jonah would not have it so. God thought it best, the man is of another mind. Here is an opposition of two, but the match is very unequal. I am certainly persuaded, that no man is like to gain much by such bargains. The Potter is on the one side, and the pot-sheardon the other. Fire, thunder, lightning, says it shall be so, flax and tow says, it shall not be so. Yet is weakness angry that he may not bear away the bucklers. Therefore he proceeds to argue the matter with God, Ver. 2. But as Tully said of Romulus pretending a Law to kill his brother ⟨p. 236⟩Remus; It was a fault by the leave of Romulus: so if Jonah pretend reason why God should overthrow penitent sinners, this was a fault by the leave of Jonah. The Disciples were not free from this error, Matth. 19.13. When they brought little children to Christ for his blessing; the Disciples rebuked them. They that have part in the kingdom, grudge it to others. Only Jesus spoke for them: it is his goodness to answer for that is not able to answer for it self. Suffer them and forbid them not: he doubles his charge, both affirmatively, suffer them: and negatively, forbid them not. As in the kings writ there is not only a Capias, but a Nullatenus omittas. Abundans cautela non nocet. Let them come unto me: If I have given them a kingdom, will you not let them come to the King? Let this teach us to yield a joyful consent to Gods doings: we must not dislike his will though it be to destroy: but when it is sweetened with mercy, let us vehemently love it. When Joshua told Moses of Eldad and Medad's prophesying in the camp, Numb. 11.28. My Lord Moses, forbid them: he answers, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lords people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. When Paul was called to be an Apostle, those Pillars envied not, but gave him the right hands of fellowship, Gal. 2 9