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

The Sum of all, is the certainty of inevitable death. A mortal father ca• not beget an immortal son. If they that brought us into the world, have themselves gone out of the world, we may conclude our own following. He that may say in life, I have a man to my father, and a woman to my mother; shall say in death, To corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, thou art my mother, and my sister, Job 14.17. There is not one in the cluster of mankind, but eodem modo & modo vi• ctus & victus, is liable to the common and equal law of death. Methuselah lived nine hundred threescore and nine years; yet he was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of Dust. Ask the woman that hath conceived a child in her womb: will it be a son? she answers, peradventure so. Will it be fair? peradventure so. Will it be witty? peradventure so. Will it be rich? peradventure so. Will it be long lived? peradventure so. Will it be mortal? yes, this is without peradventure, it will die. As the philosopher hearing that his son was dead, answered without astonishment; Scio me genuisse mortalem, I know that I begot a mortal man. Mans body, so well as the ice, expounds that riddle; that Gignit filia matrem, the daughter begets the mother: dust begat the body, and the body begets dust. Our bodies were at first strong Cities, but then by transgression we made them the Fortes of rebels: whereupon our offended Sovereign sent his Serjeant death to arrest us of high treason. And though for his mercies sake in CHRIST he pardon our sins; yet he suffers us no more to have such strong horses; but let us dwell in thatched cottages, paper walls, mortal bodies. Therefore Paul calls the body Our house; not such as God created: he may say of our bodies, as the Poet spake of his verses. Quem recitas meus est, ô Fidentine, libellus sed ma•• dum recitas, incipit esse tuus. Thy body Oh man! while it was holy and immortal, it was my work: but now it is sinful and mortal, it is thy work. An old man is said to give Alexander a little Jewell; which he affirmed to be of this virtue.

The Summe of all, is the certaintie of inevitable death. A mortall father ca• not beget an immortall sonne. If they that brought us into the world, have themselves gone out of the world, we may conclude our owne following. He that may say in life, I have a man to my father, and a woman to my mother; shall say in death, To corruption, Thou art my father: to the worme, thou art my mother, and my sister,