A commentary vpon the Epistles of Saint Paul to Philemon, and to the Hebrewes together with a compendious explication of the second and third Epistles of Saint Iohn. By VVilliam Iones of East Bergholt in Suffolke, Dr. in Divinity, and sometimes one of the fellowes of the foundation of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge.

VERSE 10.

AN other Argument from the Creation of the world. Christ is the maker of heaven and earth: therefore GOD, Ier 10.11.

Psalme 102.25. This Psalme intreateth of the deliverance of the Church out of captivity in Babylon, of the re-edifying of the Temple, and the repairing of the Walls of Ierusalem: which is fur∣ther to bee applyed to our deliverance from sinne, to the building up of the Walls and Temple of the Church: whereupon the Psal∣mist converteth his speech to CHRIST, the true instaurator of the Church.

Lord: to whom all Creatures are subject as servants to their LORD.

In the beginning: therefore CHRIST was before that be∣ginning:

Io. 1.1. Before Abraham was, I am, Io. 8.58. CHRIST is the beginning of the world who was before it had a beginning.

Layd the foundation of the earth: made it firme, sure and so∣lid, so as it cannot be moved: contrary to those Philosophers, that are of opinion, that the heavens stand still, and the earth moveth, though it cannot be discerned with the eye.

And the heavens, i. all the heavens: the firmament and the ayre; are the workes of thy hands: it is a metaphor borrowed from Carpenters and Masons; else God hath no hands.

CHRIST in setting up the building of the world observed an other order then earthly Artificers. When they goe about to build, they lay the foundation first, and set on the roofe afterwards, for they cannot build otherwise: but this celestiall builder made the roofe first, and the foundation afterwards:* 1.1 first he spread forth the heavens as the roofe, and afterwards laid the foundation of the earth: which was a lively demonstration of his unspeakable power.

Heaven and earth is the workemanship of CHRIST, the high and eternall God. In that respect it should be admired by us all: if thou haddest a picture of Apelles making, that famous and renowned Painter, wouldest thou not often looke upon it? The world is the admirable picture of God Almighty, in whom the trea∣sure of all wisedome is hidde: therefore let us behold it with admi∣ration. If the Tabernacle were now to bee seene which was of Aholiabs and Bezaleels making, or if the goodly Temple that was of Salomons setting up, were now to bee seene, we would runne and ride many a mile to take a view of it. The frame of the world set up by the wise, high and eternall God, surpasses them all, yet we goe through it, we looke upon it, and it never carries us to the contem∣plation of the wisedome and power of GOD. The reason is, be∣cause it is so common and ordinary a sight. They that come first to London, and looke on Pauls and Westminster, upon the faire Tombes, and costly ornaments that be in them, are ravished with the sight of them: but if they have beene there long, they passe by them and regard them not.

So is it with us: because we see the Sunne, Moone, and Stars, the glorious curtaine of the heaven, the birds of the ayre, fishes of the Sea, beasts of the field, the goodly coate of the earth dayly, which is better arrayed than Salomon was in all his royaltie; be∣cause these are common, they are not esteemed of us. Let us re∣member they be the handy worke of God, a glasse wherein we be∣hold the everlasting God-head, and in that respect; let us view di∣ligently, and bee brought to the knowledge, the feare and love of God by it, that hath made all these things for our sakes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 1.