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

Of these things.] [Greek or Hebrew]. This is the last praise of his diligence; whereby he hath fitted, directed, and applied it to matter of the best consequence. Herein we observed his Sincerity; These things, that is, such as may save your souls. He aims at nothing, but that concerns their salvation. The Minister must not labour Pro stolida aurâ, nec pro solido auro; neither for praise nor for purse, but for conscience. Oportet esse Piscatorem, non decimarum, sed animarum: he must fish for souls, not for riches. Some fish without nets, some with broken nets, some with whole ones but not clean, some have nets, whole, and clean, but cast them not: others have nets but not clean, and do cast them, but not on the right side; They like well to fish, but only where they are sure with Peter, to draw up a fish with silver in the mouth. These are far short of Saint Peters Integrity: they mind many things, but not These things. There are three things in the Ministry; Work, Reward, and Honour: the good Minister embraceth the first, minds not the other, only refuseth them not if they come. To desire it for the Honours sake, or for the wages sake, is not good. There is Desiderium boni, and Desiderium bonum: a desire of good, and a good desire. The thing may be good, yet is ill to desire it, if it be not fit for us, or we not fit to desire it. Simon Magus had a desire of good, but not a good desire; when he offered coin for the Holy Ghost. His intention damned his petition:¹ which was to give money for it, that he might get money by it. Appetere ut praesis, malum est: appetere ut prosis, bonum est. To desire this office that we may be honoured in it, is corrupt: to desire it that we may do good by it, is honest, Bernard. Quoties praeesse desidero, Domino praeire cupio. So often as we seek glory and greatness in the ministry, we both mistake the office, for to be a minister is to serve; and we strive to be better than CHRIST, for he served. Indicitur ministratio, interdicitur dominatio. We are commanded to serve, we are forbidden to domineer.

Of these things.] 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. This is the last praise of his diligence; whereby he hath fitted, directed, and applied it to matter of the best consequence. Herein we observed his Syncerity; These things, that is, such as may save your soules. He aimes at nothing, but that concernes their salvation. The Minister must not labour Pro stolida aurâ, nec pro solido auro; neither for praise nor for purse, but for conscience. Oportet esse Piscatorem, non decimarum, sed animarum: he must fish for soules, not for riches. Some fish without nettes, some with broken nettes, some with whole ones but not cleane, some have nets, whole, and cleane, but cast them not: others have nets but not cleane, and doe cast them, but not on the right side; They like well to fish, but only where they are sure with Peter, to draw up a fish with silver in the mouth. These are farre short of Saint Peters Integrity: they mind many things, but not These things. There are three things in the Ministery; Worke, Reward, and Honour: the good Minister embraceth the first, minds not the other, onely refuseth them not if they come. To desire it for the Honors sake, or for the wages sake, is not good. There is Desiderium boni, and Desiderium bonum: a desire of good, and a good desire. The thing may be good, yet is ill to desire it, if it be not fit for us, or we not fit to desire it. Simon Magus had a desire of good, but not a good desire; when he offered coine for the Holy Ghost. His intention damned his petition: