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This you shall see lively exemplified in Saint Paul, 2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards. Saint Paul was a very prudent man, and therefore hated above all the Apostles, as Saul was angry with David, because he walked wisely, he was so subtle to escape out of his hands, which is as if ⟨p. 65⟩the hounds should complain of the hare, that she hath so many tricks to escape from them: but, as I say, he was a very prudent man, and he used the serpents wisdom to save himself, as he did when the assembly consisted of Sadducees and Pharisees, he put a division between them, and so escaped himself, as it were through the middest of them. So the first part was true in him, he was as wise as a serpent, to keep the blow off from himself. But now (saith the Apostle) if carnal wisdom shall come in, that is, if my understanding shall suggest a thing inordinate, and shall say, Go, and give a bribe to Faelix, and thou shalt escape imprisonment, go and take a gift of these Corinthians, and thou shalt have something of thine own, and shalt not be so dependent on the alms of others; now, saith he, when carnal wisdom shall suggest any such thing to me, I would not admit of it, but I walked in simplicity and godly pureness toward all men, but especially toward you, Corinthians; here was in him the simplicity of the Doves.

This you shall see lively exemplified in Saint Paul, 2 Cor. 1.12. For our rejoycing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sinceritie, not with fleshly wisedome, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards. Saint Paul was a very prudent man, and therefore hated above all the Apostles, as Saul was angry with David, because he walked wisely, he was so subtle to escape out of his hands, which is as if ⟨p. 65⟩the hounds should complaine of the hare, that she hath so many trickes to escape from them: but, as I say, he was a very prudent man, and he used the serpents wisedome to save himselfe, as he did when the assembly consisted of Sadduces and Pharises, he put a division betweene them, and so escaped himselfe, as it were through the middest of them. So the first part was true in him, he was as wise as a serpent, to keepe the blow off from himselfe. But now (saith the Apostle) if carnall wisedome shall come in, that is, if my understanding shall suggest a thing inordinate, and shall say, Goe, and give a bribe to Faelix, and thou shalt escape imprisonment, goe and take a gift of these Corinthians, and thou shalt have something of thine owne, and shalt not be so dependent on the almes of others; now, saith he, when carnall wisedome shall suggest any such thing to mee, I would not admit of it, but I walked in simplicity and godly purenesse toward all men, but especially toward you, Corinthians; here was in him the simplicity of the Doves.