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 30.

The second argument is taken from a divine testimony, con∣taining in it the nature of God. Where,

• 1. The allegation of the testimony.
• 2. The Application of it.

In the allegation.

1. The manner, how.

2. The matter of the testimony alleadged: which hath two branches; the one out of Verse 35. the other out of Verse 36.

If GOD bee a just judge, and a severe revenger of all impiety, even among his owne people, then those vile wretches must not thinke to escape, that tread under foote the Sonne of God—But God is such a one. Ergo.

Quàm verax & potens sit. They that bee Christians must bee acquainted with God, they must know him, of what nature and dis∣position he is: ye erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, Heb. 9.11. If sitting in the lappe of the Church, we know not God, our condemnation shall be the greater.

Where hath he said it? In the Scripture. Moses was the pen∣man of that booke, out of the which this testimony is desumed: yet it is God that speaketh in that booke. God spake by the mouth of David, by the mouth of all his Prophets. Art thou desirous to heare God speake?* 1.1 as who would not bee glad to heare the King speake? but art thou desirous to heare the King of Kings speake? come to the

Scriptures, and there thou shalt heare him speaking.

Which ought to enflame us with a love of the Scriptures, and cause us to read and heare them with al reverence, because not man, out God speaketh in them.

What sayes he? he thunders with a vehement voice.

Vengeance and retribution are mine.

What, may none revenge but GOD? Surely no, by his owne authority.

The Magistrate may revenge:* 1.2 for he carryeth not the sword in vaine.

But his throne is Gods throne, his sword Gods sword, his venge∣ance Gods vengeance: no private man may revenge. The King sayes, White-Hall is mine, the Scepter and Crowne of England is mine; and shall any goe about to wring them out of his hands? The King of Kings sayes, vengeance is mine, and wilt thou wrest Gods sword out of his hand? Take heede how thou doest it, lest thou beest found a fighter against God. Say not, such a one hath angred mee, I will be even with him: ô saucy Merchant! wilt thou intrude thy selfe into Gods office?

The second branch of the testimony.

The greatest part of Interpreters are of opinion, that the Apo∣stle alleadgeth this to his purpose indirectly, by the way of conse∣quent. If God will bee avenged on the enemies of his people, much more on the enemies of his Sonne.

They thinke that to judge his people, is, to judge the enemies of his people for his peoples sake.

But this is alleadged directly: and to judge is put for to punish.* 1.3 The Lord shall judge his owne people, even so many of them as revolt from him, the living God, to dumb and dead idols. That is the scope of the whole Chapter, as yee may see from Verse 15 to this place: and Saint Paul citeth, Verse 21. Rom. 10. to prove the re∣jection of the Iewes. Though they be his owne people, whom he hath honoured with the Word and Sacraments, that have given up their names to him, and taken upon them the profession of his holy truth: yet if they fall from him, he will severely punish them.

Therefore those men that have beene enlightned with the Spirit of grace, that have had CHRIST IESUS revealed to them, and yet contumeliously despise that spirit; count the bloud of the Testament a prophane thing, and tread the Sonne of God under their feete, un∣doubtedly they shall drinke deepely of the cup of Gods vengeance: for vengeance is Gods, and he will powre it in full measure on them.

It cannot bee denyed but that God is exceeding mercifull: his mercy reacheth to the clouds, is higher than the heavens: his mercy is over all his workes. There is not halfe a Psalme of Iustice: but an whole Psalme of his Mercy. The foote of that song is this, for his mer∣cy endureth for ever: yea he is the Father of mercies, of a great num∣ber of mercies: yet for all that, hee is just too. As mercy is his, so vengeance is his: he is a Iudge as well as a Father. As he is wonder∣full,

kind and beneficiall to his people, when they serve him: so he will judge his people, when they depart from him David said concer∣ning the government of his house and kingdome, I will sing of Mer∣cy, and Iudgement. Wee sing of Mercy, but we let Iudgement goe; like bad Musitions wee leave out one part of the song: wee harpe much on the string of Mercy, but we never meddle with the string of Iustice.

Though wee sweare, be drunken, commit adultery, steale se∣cretly from our neighbours, though we make small reckoning of his word, raile on it and the Preachers too: yet God is mercifull, rea∣dy to forgive our sins.

I but remember likewise that vengeance is his, and he will judge, even his owne people: especially, if with an high hand they sinne a∣gainst him: hee will wound the hairie scalpe of them, that goe on in their sins. The Scripture records examples of Gods vengeance, as well as of Gods Mercie. He threw the Angels out of heaven, when they sinned: hee drowned the whole world for sinne: he rained fire and brimstone on Sodome; he made Iesabel a filthy adulteresse, though a Queene, to be cast out of a window and eaten up with dogs. If we know the truth, and make no conscience to live according to the truth: if we cause his Gospell to be blasphemed by our wicked lives: especial∣ly, if wee choake the truth revealed to us, set our selves against it, and maliciously despise the spirit of grace, whereby wee were in some measure sanctified, then the vengeance of GOD will light heavy on us. Therefore let us thinke as well on Gods Iustice, as on his Mercy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luk. 1.70.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 13.4.
• * 1.3

  Ezek. 7.3.