Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 9
A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the ſecond Epiſtle of S Paul to the THESSALONIANS.
CHAP. I. Verſe 1. In God our Father, and the Lord &c.]
AS God is in his people of a truth, 1 Cor. 14.25. So are they in God: and as Chriſt is at Gods right-hand, ſo is the Church at Chriſts right-hand, Pſalme 45.9. Yea they are in him, and part of him, &c.
Verſe 2. Grace be to you, &c.] See the Note on 1 Cor. 1.2.
And the Lord Ieſus Chriſt] Who is both the fountain, Ioh. 1.16, and the conduit, Ioh. 1.17. For of his fulneſſe we have all received grace for grace. Grace, that is, Gods favour and reconciliation: For grace, that is, for the favour and love, that God the Father bare unto his ſon, Eph. 1.6.
Verſe 3. We are bound to thank God] Duty is a debt, and a good heart is not well till it have diſcharged it. As he that hath ſomewhat lying on his ſtomack cannot be at eaſe till he hath got it up: ſo neither muſt we, till disburdened in ſounding forth Gods praiſes for the good he hath beſtowed on us, or on others for our uſe. This ſaith Luther, is ſancta crapula: And it can be no hurt to have our harts thus overcharged.
Verſe 4 For your patience and faith] Faith patienteth the heart, by putting the head into heaven afore-hand, and giving a man a glimpſe of future glory. Faith drinks to a ſuffering Saint in a cup of Nepenthes, and ſaith, Be of good courage, and of good carriage under the Croſſe. Flebile principium melior fortuna ſequetur. The right-hand of the Lord can mend all.
Verſe 5. Which is a manifest token] The saints ſufferings hero are an ocular demonſtration of a future judgement,foreign Indig…atio. wherein all their wrongs ſhall be righted, all their labour of love recompenſed. This held Jobs head above water, when elſe he had been overwhelmed with the flouds of affliction. Job 19.25. So Dan. 12.1, 2. Though things be otherwiſe darkly delivered, yet when the Jews were to loſe land and life, then plainly the generall judgement is mentioned. So Heb. 11.35.
Verſe. 6. To recompenſe tribulation] To trouble theſe troublers of Iſrael, and that thorowou… all eternity, becauſe they would be alwaies troubling Gods people if they might … as it is ſaid of the Scorpion, that there is not one minute, wherein it doth not put forth the ſting.Plin.
Verſe 7. Rest with us] As Noahs Ark, after much toſſing, reſted upon the mountains of Ararat: as the Ark of the Covenant formerly tranſportative, was at length ſerled in Solomons Temple. The word here uſed properly ſignifieth remiſſion and relaxation from hard labour, Apoc. 14.13. they reſt from their labours.Av…ow. And as the ſleep of a labouring man is ſweet: ſo here.
With his mighty angels] O what a glorious day muſt that needs be, when to many glorious S…ns ſhall ſhine at once: The Lord Chriſ out-ſhining them all, Velut inter ſtellas luna minores!
Verſe 8. In ſlaming fire] Naturall fire, 2 Pet. 36, 7. whereby the elements ſhall melt like ſcalding lead upon the wicked, whiles they give account with all the world on a ſlaming fire about their ears. Of this laſt dreadfull fire the very Heathen had ſome blinde notions. Eſſe quo que , in fatis meminit, &c.Ovid Metam lib. 1. Denat deer. Luncretius and Tully ſay ſomewhat to it, but little to the purpoſe.
And that obey not the Gospel] This is the grand ſin of this age, Joh. 3.19. No ſin will gripe ſo in hell as this. This will be a bodkin at the heart one day, I might have been delivered, but I have wilfully cut the throat of my poor ſoul by refuſing thoſe rich offers of mercy made me in the Goſpel.
Verſe 9. Who ſhall be puniſhed] Here's the pain of ſenſe, eternity of extremity.
From the preſence] Here's the pain of loſſe, which is, of the two, the greater.
And from the glory of his power] God will ſet himſelf to inflict upon the damned ſuch a meaſure of miſery, as his power can extend unto.
Verſe 10. To be glorified] This is the chi…f end of his coming: like as he reprobateth ſome, that his mercy in electing others may the more appear.
To be admired] When they ſhall be ſeen to ſhine as the firmament, nay▪ as the ſtars, Dan. 12.3. nay as the Sun, Mat. 13.43. nay as Chriſt himſelf, that Sun of righteouſnes, to the great admiration of all men.
Verſe 11. The work of faith with power] Without which power neither the goodneſſe of God, nor the good pleaſure of his goodneſſe, that is his decree of glorifying us, nor the work of ſaith could be effected.
Verſe 12 That the name of our Lord] It is much for the honour of the Saints that Chriſt ſhall account himſelf glorified in their glory. Neither is it for their honour only, but for their advantage: for this glory of Chriſt ſhall redound unto them: therefore it is a added by the Apoſtle, And ye in him.
CHAP. II. Verſe 1. Now we beſeech you, brethren]
CHriſts ſpokeſmen muſt be fair ſpoken, ſo wooing for him, that they may win upon mens hearts; leading by the hand thoſe that are willing, and drawing after a ſort thoſe that are leſſe willing, that they may preſent them as a chaſte virgin to Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.2.
By the coming of our Lord] He draweth an argument from the matter under hand, wherewith their hearts were now heated afore hand. It muſt be an elaborate ſpeech that ſhall work up-on the heart.
And by our gathering together unto him] In that laſt and great day, when all the Eagles ſhall be gathered to that once dead,Mat 24.28. Epheſ. 1.10. but now all-quickning carcaſe: when the ſign of the ſon of man ſhall be lifted up as an Enſign, and all the Saints ſhall repair to it, as the ſouldiers do to their colours.
Verſe 2. That ye be not ſoon ſhaken] As ſea-men are toſſed by a tempeſt, and even brought to their wits ends, Pſal. 107.27.foreign, a nomine foreign, ſa…um. That ye be not ſhaken out of your wits, and put beſi…e your ſelves; …o the words may be rendered. And indeed errours and hereſies, ſanam tollunt de cardine mentom.
Or be troubled] Or, terrified, as with a ſudden hubbub, alarm,foreign. tumult.
Neither by spirit] Pretended revelations, ſuch as was that whereby the old impoſtour conſened that young Prophet into a lions mouth.
Nor by Word] Traditions, unwritten verities, &c.
Nor by letter] Counterfeited, ſuppoſititious, ſpurious, ſuch as were thoſe Goſpels that went under the names of S. Thomas, S. Bartholomew, &c. Or by wreſting and writhing that paſſage of his former letter, 1 Theſſ. 4.17. to another meaning then ever the Apoſtle int…nded it. So S. Austin was ſerved,Aug lib 1 de Trin c. 3. and the foreſaw it: I believe, ſaith he, that ſome of my readers will imagine me ſenſiſſe quod non ſenſi, …ut non ſenſiſſe quod ſenſi, that I was in many things of another minde, then ever I was indeed. And it ſell out accordingly. For as Baronius witneſſeth,Baron. Annal Tom. 6. after S. Auſtins death there aroſe up divers, Qui ex ejus ſcriptis malè perceptis complures invexerunt errores, who by miſtaking of what he had written, brought in many pernicious errours and vouched him for their authour.
As that the day of Chriſt] Peters ſeoffers asked, Where is the promiſe of his coming? As if Chriſt would never come. theſe were afraid he would come too …oon, and take them with their task undone. The devil uſually tempteth by extreams, as he did our Saviour, Mat. 4. and as he did Mr Knox upon his death bed, firſt to deſpair, by ſetting his ſins before him, and then to preſumption, by reminding him of his reformations.
Verſe 3. Except there come a falling] Gr. An apostaſie, viz.foreign. of people from the truth, when the whole world went a wondering, and a wandering after the beaſt, Revel. 13.3. To the fathers theſe prophecies of Antichriſt were riddles. The prophecy is ſealed to the end, Dan. 12. till unſealed by event. Austin ſaith ingenuouſly he underſtood not this text. And herein he did better then thoſe other of the Latine Fathers that interpreted it of the falling away of ſundry Nations from the Roman Empire.
And that man of ſin] That breathing devil, ſo portentouſly, ſo pee…l…ſly vicious,Lipſ. Ant. left. Ʋt ejus nomen non hominis, ſed vitij eſſe videatur (as Li…ſius ſaith of one Tubuſus a Roman Praetor) that ſin it ſelf can hardly be more ſinfull.
The ſonne of perdition] Deſtined to deſtruction, even to be caſt alive into the lake of fire burning with brimſtone, Revel. 19.20.Onuph, in vita Well might Pope Marcellus the ſecond ſtrike his hand upon the table, and ſay, Non video qu…modò qui locum hunc altiſſimum te…ent, ſalvari poſſunt. Cor… a Lapide to Nam 11.14I ſee not how any Pope can be ſaved. When I was firſt in orders (ſaid Pope Pius Quintus] I had ſome good hopes of ſalvation: When I was made a Cardinal, I doubted: but now that I am Pope, I do almoſt deſpair.
Verſe 4,foreign. Ipho oppoſith himſelf] Who ſtandeth in full oppoſition to Chriſt, as a counter-Chriſt. The enemy and adverſary is this wicked Haman, Eſth. 7.6. ſo this man of ſinne, that Antichriſt of Rome. When the Pope ſets forth any buls, commonly he thus concludes, Non obſtantibus conſtitutionibus Apoſtolicis, caeteriſ que , contrarys quibuſcu que , The conſtitutions and ordinances of the Apoſtles, and all things elſe to the contrary not withſtanding.Tamen eſt ipſiſ ſimun Dei…ver bam. The Popes interpretation of Scripture, though it never ſo much croſſe the text, yet it is to be eſteemed the very Word of God, ſaith Hoſius.
And exalteth himſelf] Perfrica frontem (ſaid Calvus to Vatinius) & digniorem te dic qui Praetor ſieres quam Catonem. Q…inoul. 1962Pope Boniface 3. ſet a good face upon it, and arrogated the title of Univerſall Biſhop. The ancient Romans painted pride with three crowns on her head. On the firſt was in…eri…ed Tranſcende, on the ſecond, Non ob dio, on the third, Perturbo. The modern Romans ſee all this daily …cted by their Biſhop.
Above all that is called god] In the year 1540. Pope Paul the third ſuffered himſelf to be thus blaſphemouſly ſlattered. Paulo tertis optim… maximo in terris Deo. In the year 1610. books were printed at Bononi an …at Naples, with this inſcription, Paulo V. vice-deo, Chriſtianae reipublicae Monarchae invictiſſmo, Ponìificiae omnipotentiae conſ…rvatori acerrimo. To Paul the fift vice-god, moſt invincible Monarch of Chriſtendome, moſt ſtout Defender of the papall omnipotency. The Pope can do all that Chriſt can do, and is more then God, ſaith Hostienſis the Canoniſt, and after him Zabarell: Of wrong he can make right,Cap. 4. of vice vertue, of nothing ſomething, ſaith Bellarmine. Lib …de Pan…i… Rom.He is liſted above the angels, ſo that he can excommunicate them: he can diſpenſe againſt not only the law of nature, but againſt all the Evangeliſts, Prophets, and Apoſtles, ſaith Pope Iohn 23, in extravs one of his paraſites clawed him thus,
Oraclis vocis mundi moderaris habenas:
Et meritò in terris diceris eſſe Deus.
Or that is worſhipped] Or, That is Auguſt, foreign.above Princes and potentates. He is cried up for Lord of Lords and King of Kings, one that hath both the ſwords throughout the world, and an…llimited Empire over all reaſonable creatures, Dulià adorandiu, &c. How he trod upon the Emperour of Germany, and how he lathed Henry 2. of England, and Henry 4. of France till the bloud followed, is better known, then that I need here to relate. Sed exorto Evangelij jubare ſagaciores (ut spero) principes ad nutum Romani Orbily non ſolvent ſubligacula, ſaith one.
Verſe 5. Remember ye not] Satan uſually hides from us that which ſhould help us. But as the ſoul ſhould be as it were an holy Ark: ſo ſhould the memory be as the pot of Manna, preſerving holy truths for conſtant uſe.
Verſe 6. What with holdeth, &c.] viz. The Roman Empire, which had its riſe, raign and ruine, whereupon the Popedome was founded, and grew to that exceſſive greatneſſe, that it laboured with nothing more then with the weightineſſe of it leſt.
Verſe 7. Doth already work] In thoſe ancient Apoſtates and Antichriſts S. …ohn complaineth of. Tertullian condemneth the Biſhops ſprouting ambition in theſe words, I hear that there is a peremptory edict ſet forth alate. Pontiſex ſcilicet maximus, Epiſcopus Epiſcoporum dicit, This he called, foreign&c. Thus ſaith the chief-Prieſt, the Biſhop of Biſhops, &c. Odi faſtum illius Eccleſiae, ſaith Baſil, Vehicalis inſidentes circumſpecte veſsiti, epulas curantes proſu at, &c.I hate the pride of that Weſtern Church. Ammia…us Marcellinus (a Heathen Hiſtorian) ſharply taxeth the roman Biſhops of his time for their pride and prodigality. How ſtifly did Gregory the great oppoſe Iohn of Conſtantinople for affecting the title of Univerſall Biſhop? And yet how baſely did the ſame Gregory collogue with Phocas the Emperour, that himſelf might be ſo ſtiled.Zonaras. This Phocas, a wilde, drunken, blo…y, adulterous tyrant, advanced the Biſhop of Rome (Gregories ſucceſſour) to the primacy, and was therefore ſlaughtered by Heracliut, who cut oft his wicked hands and feet, and then his genitals by piece-meal.
Vntill he be taken out of the Way] That is, The Roman Emperour have removed his ſeat to Constantinople, that Rom… may become the neſt of Antichriſt.In mari, biſtor. Ioannes de Columna writeth, That Otho Emperour of Germany thought to have …uated himſelf at Rome (as former Emperours had done) and began to build him there a ſtately palace. But at the earneſt importunity of the Romans he gave over that deſign. the like had been attempted 300 years before by Conſtans nephew to Heraclius, Theophanes. Zonaras. …i…enu…. Genebr. Chron.but could never be effected. This was by a ſingular providence of God (ſaith Genebrard, a Popiſh Chronologer) that the kingdome of the Church prophecied of by Daniel might have it's ſeat at Rome. If he had ſaid, that the kingdom of Antichriſt, prophecied of by S. Paul and S. Iohn might have it's ſeat in that City ſeated upon ſeven hils, he had ſaid the very truth, he had hit the nail one the head.
Verſe 8.foreign. And then ſhall that wicked] Gr. That lawleſſe, yokeleſſe, masterleſſe monſter, to whom in the Councel of Lateran 1516. (one year only before Luther ſtood up to reform) there was granted plenary power over the whole Church; which was never ſetled upon him in any former Councel. Pope Nicolas the firſt ſaid,Diſt. 96. That he was above law, becauſe Conſtantine had ſtiled the Pope God. But the very gloſſe derides him for this inference.
With the ſpirit of his mouth] i.e. With the evidence of his word in the mouths of his faithfull Miniſters. Vide catalogum Teſtium veritatis. Bellarmine confeſſeth to his great grief,Lib 3 de Papa Rom cap. 11. that ever ſince the Lutherans have declared the Pope to be Antichriſt, his kingdom hath not only not increaſed, but every day more and more decreaſed and decaied.
With the brightneſſe of his coming] At the laſt day. The holy City ſhall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths, Rev. 11.2. that is (as ſome compute it) till the year of grace, 1866. But that's but a conjecture.
Verſe 9. After the working of Satan] Who (as Gods ape) works effectually in his, and by his agents upon others. By corrupt teachers Satan catcheth men, as a cunning fiſher by one fiſh catcheth another, that he may feed upon both.
And lying wonders] The devil is aſhamed (ſaith the Jeſuite Gretſer) to confirm Luthers doctrine by miracles, But he that now requireth miracles to make him to believe, is himſelf a great miracle, ſaith Auſtin.
Verſe 10. And with all deceivableneſſe] Popery is nothing elſe but a great lie, a grand impoſture, a farrago of falſities and hereſies. It is not without cauſe, that the Centuriſts ſay,Cent. 10. cap. 11 That all the old heretikes ſled, and hid themſelves in the Popiſh Clergy.
Becauſe they received not the love] This is the great Goſpel-ſin, puniſhed by God with ſtrong deluſions, vile affections, juſt damnation.
Verſe 11. Strong deluſion] Gr. The efficacy of orrour. Wolph. mem…lect.As in thoſe at Genoa that ſhew the Aſſes tail, whereupon our Saviour rode, for an holy relique, and perform divine worſhip to it. And in thoſe that wear out the marble croſſes graven in the pavements of their Churches, with their often kiſſing them.Spec. Europ. The crucifix which is in the city of Burgus, the Prieſts ſhew to great perſonages, as if it were Chriſt himſelf: telling them that his hair and nails do grow miraculouſly, which they cut and pare monethly, and give to Noble-men, and holy reliques. The Jeſuites confeſſe, that the legend of miracles of their Saints is, for moſt part falſe; but it was made for good intention: and herein, that it is lawfull and meritorious to lie, and write ſuch things,Spaniſh pilg…. to the end the common people might with greater zeal ſerve God and his Saints: and eſpecially to draw the women to good order, being by nature facile and credulous, addicted to novelties and miracles.
Verſe 12. That they all might be damned]Levit. 13.291 Hereſie is the leproſie in the head, which is utterly uncurable, and deſtroies the ſoul. See Rev. 19.21.
Had pleaſure is unrighteouſneſſe] Theſe are delivered up to that dead and dedolent diſpoſition, Epheſ 4 19. looſing at length all paſſive power alſo of awakening cut of the ſnare of the devil, who taketh them alive at his pleaſure, 2 Timothy 2. ult.
Verſe 13. But we are bound, &c.] Leſt they ſhould be diſcouraged with the former diſcourſe, the Apoſtle tels them that being elect they cannot be finally deceived. So the Authour to the Hebrews, Chap. 6.9. Zuinglius, after that he had terrified the wicked, was wont to come in which Bone vir, hoc nihil ad te. This is nothing to thee, thou faithfull Chriſtian. We cannot beat the dogs, but the children will cry, and muſt therefore be ſtilled and cheared up.
And belief of the truth] That is, of Chriſt the object, in the glaſſe of the Goſpel.
Verſe 14 To the obtaining of the glory] This is the end of faith, as faith is of effectuall calling.
Verſe 15. Stand faſt] Though never ſo many fall from the faith. Falling ſtars were never but Meteors.
Hold the traditions] Hold faſt by theſe, that ye may ſtand the faſter.
Verſe 16. And good hope] The fruit of everlaſting conſolation, Rom. 15.4. And well called good, becauſe it hath for it's object the greateſt good, and that which is of greateſt certainty, Heb. 11.1.
Verſe 17. Stabliſh you] Taking you by the hand, and laying hold on you, like as ye lay hold upon his Word, verſe 15.
CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Finally, Brethren, &c.]
QƲod ſupereſt: foreign.That which yet remains, brethren. Miniſters have never done, but have ſomewhat more to ſay (Redit labor actus in orbem) when they have ſaid their utmoſt.
Pray for us] As he had done for them, Chap. 2.16, 17. See the like, 1 Theſſ. 5.23, 25. with the Notes. O pray (ſaid a dying Dutch Divine) that God would preſerve the Goſpel: Pontifex enim Rom… & Concilium Tridentinum mira moliuntur: For the Pope and his Trent conventicle are plotting ſtrange buſineſſes.
May have free courſe] Gr. May run its race, as the Sun doth,foreign. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 3. Pſal. 19. Euſebius ſaith that the Goſpel ſpred at firſt through the world, like a Sun-beam.
And be glorified] As it was Act. 13.48. The word never worketh, till it be received with admiration.
Verſe 2. From unreaſonable] Men compact of meer incongruities, ſolaeciſing in opinion, ſpeeches, actions, all.foreign.
For all men have not faith] And are therefore unreaſonable: nothing is more irrationall then irreligion. An unbeliever is no better (but in ſome reſpects worſe) then a beaſt: A brutiſh perſon skilfull to destroy, Ezek. 21.31.
Verſe 3. But God is faithfull] Though men be faithleſſe: and though they be evil, as verſ. 2. yet he ſhall keep you from evil, from whatſoever adverſe power either of men or devils. Thus the Saints may finde and fetch comfort from God under whatſoever diſaſters. They go alwaies under a double guard, the peace of God within them, Phil. 4.7. and the power of God without them,foreign. 1 Pet. 1.5. How then can they poſſibly miſcarry?
Verſe 4. That ye both do, and will do] Qui monet ut facia… quod jam facis, ille monendo laudat, &c. Here the Apoſtle, Oratour-like, entereth their boſoms: and by praiſing their preſent obedience, artificially wreſteth from them a redoubled diligence. Virtus laudata creſcit. Thus being crafty he catcheth them with guile, as he did thoſe Corinthians, 2 ep. 13.16. It muſt be an elaborate diſcourſe that ſhall work upon the heart.
Verſe 5. And the Lord direct] Or rectifie your crooked hearts,foreign. and diſtorted affections, that ſtand a-croſſe to all good, till God ſet them to rights. Mens perſwaſions are but as a key to a lock, thats out of order, unleſſe God cooperate.
Verſe 6. Now we command you] To ſhew how hardly we are divided from evil company, as loth to depart as Lots wife out of Sodome, Vel ut canis famelicus ab uncto corio.
That ye withdraw your ſelves] That ye ſhun them as ſtudiouſly as the ſea man doth a rock or ſhelf.foreign. Nautarum prop…ium. Nihil agendo male agere diſcimus foreign.
Verſe 7. For your ſelves know] You idle addle-heads, verſ. 11. For to theſe he here directs his ſpeech, that by doing nothing had learned at length to do naughtily.
We behaved not our ſelves diſorderly] Gr. We brake not our ranks, as unruly ſouldiers.
Verſe 8. any mans bread for nought] But earnd it before we eat it. Bread ſhould not be eaten, till it ſweat in a mans hand, or head.Chryſoſt.
Verſe 9. Not becauſe we have not power] Poſſe & nolle nobile est. See the Notes no 1 Cor. 9.4.6, 7, 11, &c.
But to make our ſelves an example] Thoſe therefore that have enough to live on, muſt yet be doing ſomething whereby the world may be the better: and not think to come hither meerly as rats and mice, only to devour victuals, and to run ſqueaking up and down, Theſe are Cyphers, or rather excrements in humane ſociety. By the law of Mahomet, the great Turk himſelf is bound to exerciſe ſome manuall trade or occupation (for none muſt be idle) as Solyman the Magnificent,Peacham. that ſo threatned Vienna, his trade was making of arrow-heads, Achmat the laſt horn-rings for Archers.
Verſe 10.Gen. 3. That if any would not work] In the ſweat of thy noſe ſhalt thou eat thy bread, was the old ſanction: Yea Paradiſe, that was mans ſtore-houſe, was alſo his work-houſe. They bury themſelves alive, that, as body-lice, live on other mens labours: and it is a ſin to ſuccour them. Seneca profeſſed, That he had rather be ſick in his bed then out of imploiment.
Verſe 11. Working not at all] But making religion a mask for idleneſſe: whoſe whole life is to eat, and drink, and ſleep, and ſport, and ſit, and talk, and laugh themſelves fat. Theſe are an odious ſort of Chriſtians; a kinde of vagrant people, that having little to do, are ſet a work by the devil: for idleneſſe is the hour of temptation. Standing pools are full of vermine. Behemoth lieth in the fens, Job 40.21.
Verſe 12. That with quietneſſe] Being no medler in other mens matters, but minding his own. Res tuas age. The pragmaticall perſon is an odious perſon, and the place where he lives longs for a vomit to ſpue him out. See the Note on 1 Theſſ. 4.11.
Verſe 13. Be not weary in well-doing] No, not to thoſe diſorderly (and therefore leſſe worthy) walkers, if in extreme neceſſity, or if thereby ye may win them from the errour of their way. As if any prove refractary and irreformable.
Note that man]foreign. Or, Notice him, as infamous: brand him, beware of him; let him ſee a ſtrangenes in you toward him.
That he may be aſhamed]foreign Ʋt quae…a… ubi ſe poſſit prae pudore occulta…e. Cameron. Gr. That he may turn into himſelf, or turn ſhort again upon himſelf: recognize his diſorders, and return to a better courſe. The repenting Prodigall is ſaid to come to himſelf, Luk. 15.17. and thoſe relenting Iſraelites to bethink themſelves, or to bring back to their hearts, 1 King. 8 47.
Verſe 15. Yet count him not, &c. If there be but aliquid Chriſti, any thing of Chriſt to be diſcerned in him.
But admoniſh him as a brother] Conſcience is a nice and ſullen dame, man a croſſe, crabbed creature, and will hardly be wrought upon by a Stoicall ſowrneſſe, or an imperious boiſterouſneſſe: but muſt be gently handled, and fairly admoniſhed. Gentle ſhowrs comfort the earth, when daſhing ſtorms drown the ſeed.
Verſe 16. Now the Lord, &c.] He begins, continues and concludes with fervent praier. All our Sacrifices ſhould be ſalted with this ſalt, perfumed with this incenſe of praier Coloſ. 3.17.
The Lord be with you all] Thus he poureth out his affection, by prayer upon prayer for them. A ſweet cloſing up!
Verſe 17, 18. So I write, The grace, &c.] This is that Saint Paul would have every of his Ep…ſtles ſtamped with his own hand, viz. praier for all his people.