A00665:835
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.
Abundantly. I come to the latitude or broadness of this passage. Faith and a good conscience finds an easy entrance to blessedness. Abundantly, It is demanded then, how the word of God makes the passage so straight, and so narrow, Luk. 13.24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, 1and few there be that find it. The answer is easy, the gate is not narrow in it self, but in respect of the unqualified nterers. It is too low for lofty and aspiring ambition, too narrow for impostumated pride, too strait for gouty covetousness: but to faith it is broad. As it is Speciosa for the gloriousness, so Spaciosa for the easiness: it is both a Beautiful gate, and a Bountiful gate. But this bounty is only to the poor, Luk. 1.53. He filleth the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. Rich men scorn to be beggars, their dition admits no such condition. This gate is open, not Potentibus, to mighty usurpers; but Petentibus, to humble petitioners. The Lord is rich in mercy: to all? No, but to all that call upon him faithfully. And apud eum copiosa redemptio with him is plenteous redemption; it is all one, abundant entrance. But, Matth. 11.12. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence: true, but it loves that violence that it suffers: as GOD was well pleased to be overcome of Jacob. This violence doth not take away the facility of entrance, but rather notes the faculty of them that enter.
Abundantly. I come to the latitude or broadnesse of this passage. Faith and a good conscience finds an easy entrance to blessednesse. Abundantly, It is demanded then, how the word of God makes the passage so straight, and so narrow, Luk. 13.24. Strive to enter in at the straite gate; for narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, 1and few there be that find it. The answer is easy, the gate is not narrow in it selfe, but inrespect of the unqualifiede nterers. It is too low for lofty and aspiring ambition, too narrow for impostumated pride, too strait for gowtie covetousnesse: but to faith it is broad. As it is Speciosa for the gloriousnesse, so Spaciosa for the easynesse: it is both a Beautifull gate, and a Bountifull gate. But this bountie is onely to the poore,