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

Wherefore, [Greek or Hebrew], for this cause: this the first praise of his Diligence, the foundation whereon it is grounded; which is derived from the precedent verse. Because the foundation of eternal life is to be laid here, and in this life an entrance must be made to •hat everlasting kingdom, or there will be no fruition hereafter: Therefore I will •ake all possible pains to prepare your souls for it. Now it is certain, that the foundation of Eternity is to be laid in this life: the proposition is proved by Saint Paul, Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, ¹that they may lay hold on eternal life. The state future follows the former; as the upper ⟨p. 246⟩building follows the foundation. If we live ill, that is a bad foundation: if we live well, that is a good foundation. Luke 19.9. This day is salvation come to this house. This day, for it must come in the day of Grace, or it will not come in the day of Glory: now, or never. The penitent malefactor might say to Christ; Hodie es mec•• in Patibulo; To day thou art with me on the Cross: and Christ says to him, Hodie eris mecum in Paradiso; To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. If Christ first be with us below, then shall we also be with Christ above. The Kingdom of God must first come into thy heart, before thy heart can come into the Kingdom of God. A wicked life doth (even on earth) make an entrance into that lower kingdom of darkness. Interior darkness begins exterior darkness, inferior darkness. John 3.18. He that believeth not, is condemned already. Act. 8.23. Thou art now in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity. As God said to Abimelech, Gen. 20.3. Thou art but a dead man. Sin is the very threshold of hell, and the Fuel of that unquenchable fire:²