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 12.

BVt He, that is Iesus Christ our Priest: hee being but one is op∣posed to them that were many. He could doe more than all they, put together.

Not many, as they did: one specie and numero too.

For the expiation of sins: which those sacrifices could not take away.

There be foure things that commend this sacrifice.

• 1. Sufficientia, quoad precium.
• 2. Efficacia, contra peccatum.
• 3. Gloria, quoad praemium.
• 4. Victoria, quoad adversarium.

Hee doth not stand as they did. Stare est famulorum: sedere do∣minorum.

Not at the Altar here on earth: but at the right hand of God in heaven.

Not for a time, as those Priests continued their time, and then went away, but for ever.

Some joyne 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to that which goeth before: after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for ever, the vertue whereof lasteth for ever.

God hath no right hand nor left: but as Kings cause them that bee neerest, and deerest unto them to sit at their right hand; so

Christ—He is in equall Majesty with his father. After the offering up of this one sacrifice, he offers no more as a Priest: but reignes as a King for ever.

There must be no iteration of this sacrifice. The Papists alleadge, that the sacrifice of the Masse is the same with that on the Crosse. Suppose it were, yet it must bee but once offered. Those in the Law were often offered: but this must be but once offered: otherwise the whole disputation of the HOLY GHOST in this Epistle is over∣throwne.

What doth he now? he doth not now play the Carpenter: he takes no more paines in preaching, in suffering as he did here: but he sits quietly in all joy and happinesse at the right hand of God.

Acts 7.55. Christ appeared to Stephen standing: but that was for the strengthning and encouraging of him against the rage of his enemies. He stood up ready to take him out of their clawes into the kingdome of heaven: otherwise, for the most part the Scripture, in∣troduces Christ sitting, as it were in his regall throne at the right hand of God, next in glory, power and Majesty to God the Father, yea equall with him in all things.

1. This may bee a comfort to us against all our adversaries. The King and Protectour of the Church sitteth at the right hand of God in heaven. The Vniversities chuse them to be their Chancel∣lours, which are in greatest favour with the King, and most gracious in the Court: so doe incorporations chuse the like to be their high stewards, that may stand them instead in the time of need: He that hath the protection of us is a great man in the Court of heaven: He sits at the right hand of God, hee hath all power in heaven and earth. Therfore let not us feare, that are under his wings: he will not suf∣fer us to want the thing that is good.

2. As CHRIST now sitteth in heaven, after all the miseries, crosses and afflictions, which hee sustained on the earth: so when this wretched life is ended, we shall be in heaven with Christ, Ep. 2.6. Let this encourage us to a patient suffering of all calamities in this world. Wee may have a tragedy here, but a comedie hereafter: worme-wood here, and honey there. Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord, they rest from their labours, and shall remaine in heaven with Christ for ever.