the Church are Christs afflictions 500. who afflicteth and the use of afflâ—ctions 548 549. the difference of afflictions and punishments 549. we must not onely take but endure afflictions 550 two reasons to incite us to endure afflictions ibid c. the benefits of afflictions 555. the sharpenesse sweetnes of afflictions 556. the after-reward 557 afflictions not to be imputed to Planets Dogge-dayes or secondary causes 559 Age old age is to be reverenced Almes It is a singular worke above others 18 19. an excellent example in Nazianzens mother 19 20 Alone the evills of being alone 537 Ambrose Theodosius praise of him for being the onely Bishop 573 Amen what it signifieth 46 Anchor or ancre hope and an ancre compared 243. our angre is in heaven 245 Angels they are inferiour to Christ in divers respects 62 63 65. compared to fire 65. their nature and offices 75 76. God used much their ministery 80. why Christ tooke not on him the nature of Angels but of Man 110. their number order wisedome power and office 574 575 c. whether every one of Gods elect have a particular Angel 577.578 Anger wee must not continue in it 27 28. It should be but like the sting of a Bee but not like the sting of a Serpent 28. who doe provoke God to anger 140 Annointing divers good observations from Christs being annointed 67 68. vid. Oyle or Oyntment Apostacie Wee must beware of it 435 Application It is the propertie of faith to apply God to our selves 11 Arke it is a representation of the Church 334 451 Ashamed We must not be ashamed of our Religion 410. not of our heavenly Father 470.471 Assurance assurance of salvation how had 581 B. BAbes how wee should be babes and wherein strong men 204 Baptismes why the word is used in the plurall number 209. The red-sea and baptismes paraleld 511 512. Bastards many brands of infamie laid on them 551 Beauty it is a good blessing but not too much to be doted on 492 493 c. It is the inward beauty that God accepts of 493 Birth Birth-right Its appurtenances and why so called 564 Blessing it is double 1 proper 2 improper 270. the Papists ascribe too much to the Ministers blessing ibid the Parents blessing is highly to be regarded 483. children should so behave themselves as to obtaine it ibid. Bloud Christs bloud is the price of our Redemption 352. what it teacheth us 353. a double benefit by the bloud of Christ. 356 the bloud sprinkled on the people significant 364. of resisting unto bloud 546. how Christs bloud speaketh better things than the bloud of Abel 588. how wee should prize it 624 Body how our bodies are tabernacles 310 311. so is Christs 349. the bodies of the Saints are holy things 39â— with them we must draw neere to God also 408. the body not to be neglected 637 Boldness Minâ—sters may be bold in the execution of their office 20. the boldnesse of Christians through Christ. 403 Bondmen two kindes of them 599 of what kinde of bondmen we must be mindfull ibid. Booke All the Scriptures make but one booke 392. Christ is to be found onely in that booke 393. excesse of bookes condemned 680 Borne first-borne the Church so called 500. the many dignities of the first borne ibid. Bowels what is meant by the bowels of the Saints 18. a good lessen from them 28. the bowels of Gods Saints are refreshed divers wayes 40 Brother all the faithfull are brethren 4. three duties to wit of love accord and support implied in the word brother 4 5. Donatists were angry with Saint Augustine for calling them brethren â—0 a brother is more than a servant 33 34. the spirituall brotherhood is to be preferred before the naturall 34. Christ hath many brethren and that in a manifold respect 102 103. wee should doe nothing that might shame this brotherhood of Christs 103 Buriall we must not be too curious about our burialls 490 Burthen sinne is a heavie burthen 61 C. CAlling it is most requisite in all things 197. examples of Popes that came into their Popedomes without a calling ibid our calling is 1. of God 2. of the Church ibid. none must praech without a calling 280. a twofold calling 361 Censer the golden censer what it signifieth 330 331 Censure Censurers Wee must beware of rash censuring 517 Ceremony All true Churches agree in substance of Religion though not in ceremony 327 Changing In the world there is nothing but changing 278 Cherefulnesse God loves it in all our doings 30 Cherubins their signification and what they are 335 Child Children All the faithfull are Christs children 105. and so the Preachers that convert them ibid. the use of it 106. God hath a care of his children when they are dead 441. A multitude of children a blessing of God 463. how deare they are to their parents 478. examples ibid. we must take heede of doting on them ibid of their education and wherein it consists 668 Children their education in what it stands 668. they must be catechised ibid c. they must be taught manners 669 Christ described three wayes 1. a dignitate 2. a charitate 3. a Sanctitate 9. All things were made In For By Christ. 58. how he resembles the person of the Father 59. The comforts comming to us by his sitting at the right-hand of God 62.63 six arguments to prove Christ to be above the Angels 63. the proofe of it 62 63. his Throne and Scepter 66 67. Christ is a builder heaven and earth is his workemanship 71. Christs similitude and dissimilitude with a garment 72 73. hee is without change 73. Christ is Lord Iehovah 87 88. his death sufficient to all but efficient onely to beleevers 94. why Christ tasted of death for us 95. he is our onely Sanctifier 100. his Incarnation described and applied 106 107. c. the difference betweene his and our nature 107. how he was like unto us in all things 111. Christ-masse how it is now kept 112. he is our friend in the court of heaven 114. Christ is our Prophet with foure reasons why we should attend his prophesie 114 115. how Christ is denied 673. Christ two inducements to attend to Christ. 116 117. wherein Christ was both alik and unlik above Moses 117 118. the difference betweene Christ and Moses 120. Christs entrance into rest is an assurance of ours 153. how Christ descendeth to the lowest of his brethren 188. an excellent example to great ones to doe like wise 189. hee suffereth with his ibid. how Christ ruleth 252 he is our peace ibid. Christ in his Priesthood excelleth all Priests 274. Christ prefigured by Melchizedec in many circumstances 275. his Priesthood is above all others 276. the use of Christs being called the Lord Christ 282. Christ a Priest after the similitude of Melchizedec how 283 284. Christ is our suretie in the covenant betwixt God and us 294. Christ how hee maketh intercession for us 298
hungry and thirsty he was many times He was called all to naught a bibber of wine a Samaritane and one that had a devill a little before his Passion they blindfolded him spit on his face buffeted him whipped him extreamely platted a crowne of Thornes on his Head that made the bloud run about his Eares they stripped off all his clothes nailed him hand and foot to the Crosse where he continued in bitter paines of soule and body a long while together Thus was this innocent Lambe killed and pittifully handled for our sakes Our sins were the causes of all He bore our infirmities and hee was wounded for our transgressions These were the knives that cut the throat of this Lambe and yet shall we take delight in sin CHRIST went through all these afflictions for our drunkennesse uncleannesse covetousnes pride c. yet shall we lye wallowing in these sins the consideration of the manifold afflictions that Christ suffered for sin should cause sin to be odious and loathsome to us all 2 If the Prince could nor get to Heaven without afflictions should the subjects imagine to go thither without crosses the Master was afflicted and shall the servants thinke to live without affliction it cannot be avoided we must all drinke of Christs cup and be baptised with his baptisme Many in their hearts complaine of God that he is too hard to them they are never without some crosse or other one while in their soules another while in their bodies sometimes in goods in good-name one while they have the tooth-ach another while the head-ach one while vexed with children another while with servants one while losses in goods another while by lying and malevolent tongues they are robbed of their good names sometimes God stirreth up adversaries against them in Towne or Countrey as he did against Salomon Marvell not at that neither repine nor grudge at it God grievously afflicted his naturall Son and shall we thinke much if he afflict his adopted sons GOD imposed many afflictions upon him that knew no sin and shall we sinners stomack it if we be afflicted CHRIST hath gone before as a Captaine in the foule way of afflictions we must follow him All that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14.22 no remedy They that Will goe to London in the dead of Winter must goe through many showres and if we will passe to that high Citie the heavenly Ierusalem it must be through afflictions they that are without correction are bastards not children It is an argument of a wicked man of whom God makes no reckoning to bee without affliction they are not in trouble as other men If we Will be glorified with Christ let us suffer with Christ as he went to heaven through afflictions so must we else we shall never get thither we must not think to goe to heaven out of all prosperity but out of adversitie These be they that came out of many tribulations Therefore let not afflictions be altogether unwelcome to us nay let us boast of them after an heavenly manner I carry about with me the markes of CHRIST sayes Saint Paul afflictions are CHRIST his markes by them wee are knowne to belong to him afflictions consecrate us There is no Bishop elected but will joyfully goe to his consecration afflictions consecrate us as Kings and Priests to GOD Almighty therefore though irkesome to the flesh yet in some sort let us willingly embrace them as some Martyrs did the flame of fire CHRIST went to Heaven by afflictions and let us be content to be afflicted here for a short season that wee may live with CHRIST for ever let us suffer with Christ that we may be glorified with Him VERSE 11. ANother reason why it became Christ to be man it is taken from the impurity of our nature Men had sinned and were destitute of the grace of God they were by nature impure and unholy conceived borne brought up in sin now it was necessary they should be sanctified made cleane and holy This could not be done by the bloud of Goates and other sacrifices in the Law neither could they sanctifie themselves by their owne good workes and merits therefore it was requisite that God should take this sanctification on him Now mans nature being corrupt was to be sanctified by a man that knew no sin or corruption for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are of one therefore Christ became man The High Priest that sanctified the people in the time of the Law and the people sanctified by him were both of one Father namely Abraham the Father of the Israelites so Christ that sanctifieth us and we that be sanctified by him are of one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the neuter gender of one thing of one nature Of one that is of one Parent of whom came all mankinde Acts 17.26 Christ and we came of one Adam whereupon S. Luke deduceth his Genealogie from Adam Luke 3.38 We are all of one high and low rich and poore and Christ is man like to us sin onely excepted All the persons in the Trinity sanctifie us God the Father by the Son God the Son by the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost immediately by himselfe but Christ as the Mediator of the Church sanctifieth it As the ointment came from Aarons head downe to the skirts of his garment so the spirituall oile of holinesse comes from Christ the Head to us that be his members Christ is our onely sanctifier 1 Cor. 1.30 No Saint as the Virgin Mary no Angell can sanctifie us How he sanctifies us is apparent Ephes. 5.26 27. 1 Cor. 6.11 by purging us from our sins clothing us with his righteousnesse renewing us by his Spirit making us New Creatures and fit for the holy Ierusalem This doth give us to understand that by nature we are unholy and un-sanctified conceived borne and brought forth in sinne the children of Gods wrath In us that is in our flesh dwels no good thing Being considered in our selves we are Idolaters Whoremongers Wantons Raylers Drunkards ready to be carried into all impiety Such were some of you sayes S. Paul but ye are washed As the Leper in the time of the law cryed out I am uncleane I am uncleane So must every mothers Sonne of us say we are as uncleane swine by nature except the Lord Iesus sanctifie us When Christ washing his Disciples feet came to Saint Peter he repelled him saying thou shalt not wash my feete No sayes Christ then thou hast no portion in me Saint Peter hearing that answered Lord not my feete alone but my head and hands Wee are corrupt in soule and body therefore let us entreat Christ to wash and sanctifie us in them both No uncleane thing shall enter into the heavenly Hierusalem Dogs Enchanters Whoremongers are without Therefore let us beseech CHRIST to make us cleane by his Word
lust will be quenched Let us strive against drunkennesse by not comming at Ale-houses by not looking on the Wine when it smileth in the glasse 4 By imbracing the contrary vertue Instead of Pride let us imbrace Humility instead of Covetousnesse Liberality of Vncleannesse Chastity c. VERSE 5. THE profitable vse of afflictions is grounded on a testimony of sacred Scripture Where 1. An allegation of the testimony Verse 5.6 2. An application of it In the allegation 1. The manner how it is alleaged 2. The matter of the testimony alleaged The Physitions prescript and the reason of it Verse 6. It seemes that it should rather be an Interrogation which is more forcible and frequent in the writings of the Apostle Have ye forgotten Have yee suffered such a sweet sentence to slip out of your mindes Some interpret it exhortation but the word consolation is comfortable suitable to the place as the word children doth import What consolation not that which is dumbe but speaketh by the way of a kinde reasoning and loving disputation Not onely to them of the Old Testament but to you also of the New And how doth it speake not as to servants but as to children 1 We are ready to forget good things those that be most joyful and comfortable to us our memories are as Iron Chests for bad things they will keepe them fast enough We will remember injuries seven yeeres after we will remember that which we have heard at a Play and interlude many yeeres together and talke of it If we have read a thing in a wanton and lascivious Booke wee will remember it But as for the sacred Scriptures the pastures of our soules we quickly forget them yea even those things that serve most for our comfort Though we forget spurs yet me thinkes wee should not forget comfits though we forget those Scriptures that spur us on to goodnesse yet we should not forget them that may comfort us in our calamities Yet sayes he ye have forgotten the consolation Little children will hardly forget sweet things plums sugar c. yet we forget the sweetest junkates that bee in GOD's Apothecaries shop Let us rub our memories and call them to minde to the everlasting comfort of us all 2 The Papists will not be judged by the Scripture because it is mute and cannot speake Iudex est lex loquens The Scripture cannot speake therefore unfit to be a Iudge Yet here ye see the Scripture speaketh So Iohn 5.39.7.42.19.37 and not that alone but God speaketh by it Heb. 3.7 Luke 1.70 Therefore it may well be Iudge of all Controversies 3 The Scriptures speake generally unto all not to them alone that were alive at the first writing and publishing of it but it speaketh to al posterities to the end of the world Rom. 15.4 Marke 13.37 The Lawes appertaine to the whole Nation so doe the Scriptures to the whole Church Therefore let us not say of any place in the Old or New Testament this belongs not to me 4 It speakes to the wicked as to servants they shall quake at it whether they will or no as Foelix trembled at S. Paul's speech but it speaketh to the godly as to children therefore we should reverently attend to the voice of our Father c. speaking in it Then comes the testimony it selfe which hath two branches an exhortation and a reason of it In the exhortation a double counsell is prescribed to us 1. That we should not despise GOD's corrections 2. That we should not be discouraged by them Hee speakes to us as a Father Not my servant but my Sonne Despise not according to the Hebrew cast it not away according to the Greeke set not light which is all one For that which we care not for we hurle away The fatherly chastening as a father chastiseth his children For he it is that chasteneth us whatsoever the rod or instrument be which he useth Sometimes he chasteneth us by the Devill as he did Iob sometimes by creatures fire and water by men of our owne mold yet alwayes the LORD chasteneth us The Philistims had killed Eli his two sons and taken away the Arke yet Eli said it is the Lord The Sabeans and Chaldeans tooke away Iob's cattell yet Iob sayes the Lord hath taken away Afflictions come not by chance or fortune 1 Sam. 6.9 but by the providence of God Therefore let us not despise but accept with meeknesse Gods chastenings 2 We must not faint under the burthen of afflictions imposed on us by GOD. How ready are we to breake forth into passionate and desperate speeches Never was any so tormented as I am If GOD loved me he would not thus afflict me Oh this is greater than I can beare We have much Aquavitae to keep us from fainting 1. The inward comfort of the Spirit which in all afflictions cryeth in our hearts Abba Father 2. The consolation of Scripture GODS Apothecary shop from whence we may have medicines against all griefes whatsoever 3. The recoâ—dation of the mercy of God that will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able to beare 4 The cogitation of that heavenly company that draweth in he yoke of afflictions with us If we did beare the burthen alone we might faint but we have many to beare it with us 5 The sweet end afflictions Ye have heard of the patience of Iob and what end the Lord made Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth unto us an eternall weight of glory therefore faint not VERSE 6. THE reason is double 1. These chastisements are a token of GOD's love therefore let us not despise them 2 They are a token of our salvation which is an effect of the love of GOD he receiveth that is into his Kingdome May we certainely conclude that God loves all he chastens I surely He may punish the wicked as a Iudge doth Malefactors but chastises onely his children whom he loves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians with frogs lice and other plagues but he chastises onely those whom he loveth A bad man may have his house burnt so may a good man The one the Lord punishes the other he chastens A bad man may be grievously sick so may a good man the one God punishes the other he chastens How may we discerne betweene punishments and chastisements 1 The one is inflicted in mercy the other in fury Correct me O Lord yet not in thy fury 2 The one waxe worse they fret and fume blaspheme fight against God continue still in their sins and obstinately resist God to the end as Cain and others did 3 The one are crushed by their afflictions they are as Gods hammers to crush them in peeces the other are amended by their afflictions They say with David It is good for me that I have beene afflicted Their afflictions makes them hurle away their sins drunkennesse pride covetousnesse uncleannesse c. The one are
better the other worse after their afflictions Whom he loveth he whom thou lovest is sick said Martha to our Saviour meaning Lazarus And scourgeth if a rod will not serve the turne hee takes a whip Marke 5.29 That woman had a whip If a lesser affliction will not draw us to him and pull us out of our sinnes hee sends a greater Whom he receiveth into his love and favour in this life and into his kingdome in the life to come Afflictions are as Gods tooles that make us fit stones for the heavenly Ierusalem Wee have had a text of Scripture out of the Old Testament which spake to us lovingly as to children Now S. Paul makes a Commentary of it inducing us to a patient suffering of Gods corrections by three forcible arguments 1 From the necessity of correction 2. From the excellency of the person that correcteth us Vers. 9.10 Set forth by a comparison 1. What these Fathers be to us 2. What they doe to us 3. From the fruit of correction V. 11. 1. What it is for the present 2. What it will be in the time to come VERSE 7. THE necessity of correction is set forth 1. Affirmatively then Negatively affirmatively shewing what commodity we shall reape if we receive correction negatively declaring the in commodity of not receiving it 8. Not onely if ye take it but endure it so long as your heavenly Father shall strike A childe must not limit his Father so many stripes shalt thou give me and no more he must referre himselfe to the wisdome and discretion of his Father so must wee endure whatsoever our Heavenly Father shall impose on us though it be a sharpe and a long chastening we must endure it We read of a woman that had an issue of bloud twelve yeeres and had spent all on the Physitians Wee reade of another woman that was bound by Sathan eighteene yeeres and of a man diseased in his feet thirty eight yeeres yet they endured it so must we doe though it be hard for flesh and bloud If we have an ague a weeke a moneth a quarter a whole yeere we must endure it If it continue three sixe tenne yeeres wee must endure it Iob lost seven thousand Sheepe three thousand Camels five hundred yoke of Oxen yet he endured it he was deprived of seven Sons and three Daughters at a clap yet he endured it his owne body was full of boyles from the Crowne of his head to the soales of his feet hee sate scraping himselfe in ashes yet he endured it his wife provoked him to shorten his paine to curse GOD and dye yet he would not he still endured it Thou speakest like a foolish woman c. He was an Adamant against all afflictions so must we be we must endure all There be two reasons to excite us to it both set downe by S. Paul 1 Cor 10.13 1. No temptation happens to us but that which is incident to men Other men have endured as much as we The Patriarchs the Prophets the Apostles yea Christ himselfe We are not alone there are many thousands that draw with us in the yoke Yea Christ himselfe suffers with us Saul Saul why persecutest thou me therefore let us endure it 2 God is faithfull and will not suffer us to bee tempted above that which wee are able he knowes whereof we be made he is as loath to afflict us as we are to be afflicted he doth not willingly punish the children of men It goes to the heart of a tender Father to beate his childe the water stands in his eyes it grieves him to doe it So is it with our Heavenly Father hee is full of pitty and compassion therefore let us endure his chastening how bitter soever it seemes to bee If we do then God offers himselfe to us as unto sons you are my sons I will acknowledge you for mine now ye are my sons now I will be your Father No son but will deserve it at one time or another though he be never so good a childe For children will forget themselves and our bloud is soone stirred even so the best of Gods children will deserve it In many things we sin all the just falleth seven times a day and God in justice must strike though not in fury as we doe Which he proveth by a common custome among men if they be not carried more by affection than judgement they will doe it Oftentimes good fathers forget themselves in it and become fooles but ordinarily what son is there whom the Father chasteneth not No son but the Father chasteneth him so no good man or woman but must be chastened by GOD. VERSE 8. 2 THE necessity of correction is set forth negatively which is amplified by the generality of it All. Before the Law under the Law after the Law Are partakers Some one way some another some in one measure some in another some in soule some in body name goods Some have a long sicknesse some a short Is there any that never had Febriculam Bastards spurius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 semen nothus quasi ignotus Iud. 11.1 It is an ignominious thing to be a bastard Bastards are despised by all many brands of infamy are set on them by the Law 1 A Bastard properly is not a son Abraham was Pater when he had Ishmael but not filii Pater till he had Isaac So that he cannot inherit his Fathers lands unlesse he be made legitimate by act of Parliament 2 A bastard may be advanced to no Office in Church or Common-wealth without speciall license favour and dispensation If we be without correction we are bastards Seest thou a man that hath no crosse in himselfe wife children cattell his little finger doth never so much as ake thou mayest safely say yonder goes a bastard he is none of Gods childe Iob 21.9 Psal. 73.4 Here we see the lot of all Gods children not one is exempted The Grammarians say From this generall rule are excepted these that follow Here we have a rule in Divinity that admits no exception All are partakers of correction all that will live godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution There is not any one that can claime a priviledge This is Christs cup and we must all drinke of it hee hath begun in it and we must all pledge him If thou beest Gods childe thou must be corrected Whatsoever thy place bee in the world whether thou beest Magistrat or Subject Minister or people high or low rich or poore yea Kings themselves have their afflictions Mariage is a sweet state the best Wine that ever was was at a Mariage even Wine of CHRIST's owne making yet maried folkes must looke for their afflictions This Rose hath many pricking thornes about it bona vincula nuptiarum sayes S. Ambrose de Virg. l. 3. sed tamen vincula bonum conjugium sed tamen à jugo tractum nubit plorat parturit agrotat de Virg. l. 1. Such
A COMMENTARY VPON THE EPISTLES OF SAINT PAVL TO Philemon AND TO THE Hebrewes TOGETHER WITH A COMPENDIOVS EXPLICATION OF THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLES OF SAINT IOHN BY VVILLIAM IONES of East Bergholt in SVFFOLKE D. in DIVINITY and sometimes one of the Fellowes of the foundation of EMMANVEL COLLEDGE in CAMBRIDGE IOHN 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye thinke yee have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me Sapienter dicit homo tantò magis vel minus quantò in scripturis sanctis magis minusve proficit Augustin de doct Christiana Lib. 4. LONDON Printed by R. B. for ROBERT ALLOT and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-Yard at the signe of the Blacke Beare 1635. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE HENRY LORD RICH BAron Kensington of Kensington Earle of Holland Captaine of his Majesties Guard and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber Iustice in Eyre of all his Majesties Forrests Chases and Parkes on this side Trent Chancellour of the Vniversity of Cambridge Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter And one of his M aties most Honourable Privy Counsell RIGHT HONOVRABLE BEing importuned by many to publish these my elucubrations upon the Epistle to the Hebrewes J could thinke of none so fit as your Honour being truely honourable both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for your vertue and for the dignitie of your place whereunto God hath advanced you Jt is said of Chrysippus that he wrote much yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dedicated them to no potent men but contented himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely with an old woman that saw his writings In that he was injurious to posterity For bonum est sui diffusivum for the good of others And the Writers of all ages had neede to flie to the Patronage of great men as to a kinde of Sanctuary You are Chancellour of the Vniversitie of Cambridge Of the which that may be verified which is spoken of the Academie of Alexandria that it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shop of all good learning wherein your Honour together with your noble brother was trained up And in that Colledge whereof my selfe was once a fellow of the Foundation But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is best when wee speake or write to them that are encumbred with many weightie affaires I trust it shall not repent you to steale as it were some houres from them to the perusing of this worthy Epistle it being as a Christall glasse wherein we may behold the natures of our Saviour Christ his Offices Kingdome Priesthood and Prophesie as likewise the hand that apprehendeth and applieth him to us which is faith as also hope and charity the necessary fruits and effects of faith Thus J humbly take my leave commending your Lordship to the High and Eternall God From East Bergholt in Suffolk Your Honours in all humble service WILLIAM IONES TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir THOMAS IERMYN Vice-chamberlaine and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell RIGHT HONOVRABLE YOur wits endowments together with other naturall parts sutable unto them I have alwayes admired but especially since your comming to the Vniversitie being then most conspicuous To testifie my dutifull respect to you and your vertuous Lady having interpreted the two short Epistles of St. Iohn and that of Saint Paul to Philemon I thought good to dedicate them to you and her for you resemble the man and she the woman to whom Saint Iohn writeth And that to Philemon being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the word importeth doth most fitly agree to you Zeno asked of the Oracle how he might live best Answer was made him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if he were of the same color with the dead Vpon that he fell a reading of the Ancients And in the interpretation of these Epistles I have followed as you shall see the judgement of the Ancients Thus I humbly take my leave commending your honour to the Almighty From East Bergholt in Suffolke Your Honours in all humble service WILLIAM IONES TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THe whole Scripture saies Saint Paul is given by inspiration from GOD and is profitable to teach to reprove to correct to instruct and comfort that even the man of GOD Himselfe may bee perfect to every good worke And they that labour in the elucidation of the Scriptures bring no small commodity to the Church of GOD yea though their labours bee but meane And for mine owne part I ranke my selfe among the meanest as that worthy Father said of himselfe minimorum minimus and as Ignatius dejecting himselfe lower non sum dignus dici minimus For this cause at the importunity of many I have published these my poore Commentaries upon some Epistles which in very truth are no other then my ordinary Sermons whiles I was able to Preach It cannot bee denyed but that a great number have done the like whereof as Saint Augustine speakes Graeci numerari possunt Latini non possunt yet not very many English men If these may give satisfaction I shall be encouraged to proceed to other portions of Scripture In these according to Saint Augustines admonition I thought it most meete recurrere ad fontes to have recourse to those sacred tongues wherein the Scriptures were written unfolding the nature of the Originall words It is a true saying bonus textuarius bonus theologus I have alwayes endeavoured to make the Text cleare If there be weakenesses in these my labours as undoubtedly there bee many I am the more to bee borne withall because it is well knowne I may truly take up that complaint of Nazianzen that my body is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spent with sicknesse age and labour But I entreate thee Gentle Reader to take in good part these my elucubrations commending thee heartily to the Lord. Thine in the LORD VVILLIAM IONES An Alphabeticall Table of the chiefe things contained in this Book A ABell Of him and of his sacrifice with the uses therof Pag. 439 440. c. how Christs bloud speaketh better things than the bloud of Abell p 588 Abraham Of him and his faith obedience and sacrifice c. 454 455 c. What the change of his name did signifie 454. his abode in a strange countrey 457 458. his offering of Isaack 473 474. how 475. his strange triall is called a warre 476. his perplexity supposed and enlarged 477 Adam his salvation doubted by some 440. Reasons for the probability of it ibid. Adulterers God will judge 613. many wayes 614. It is counted the sweete sinne but it hath sowre sawce 615 Afflictions why Christians should not so much complaince of their afflictions as they doe 99. to be without them is an argument of a wicked man ibid. they consecrate us ibid c. they are profitable for us 200. so soone as wee become Christians wee must looke for afflictions 428. what afflictions Christians must suffer 429. affliction is not simply to be chosen 498. the afflictions of