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 16.

2. WHat it was: which is first, described comparatively: then plainly pointed out with the finger.

The reward.

1. A favour or prerogative in this life.

2. In eternall happinesse in the life to come.

Exod. 3.15. he is the God of the whole world in generall: he is the God of the wicked, for temporall blessings; of the faithfull, for spirituall and eternall.* 1.1

He that is the God of the whole world, is now the God of three men. Chrys.

It is a glory to servants to have a denomination from their Lords and Masters, I am servant to such a Noble man; but it is no honour for a Lord to say, I am the master of such a poore man, such a beggar∣ly fellow is my servant: yet God glorieth of us, that hee is our God, Master and Father. He makes this a piece of his style: as if a puis∣sant Prince would be called the King of Pigmies.

He hath prepared—Hebr. 13.14. Ioh. 14.2.

They doe not merit it: GOD in mercy prepares it for them, When? Vide Matth. 25.34.

God prepares many excellent things for us in this world: but none comparable to this. He prepared the world, as an house furni∣shed for man at the first.

We can but prepare temporall houses for our Children.

Some by this City understand the Church, which though it bee on the earth, is called heavenly, because her chiefest part, Christ her head is in heaven, and her conversation is in heaven. Hyperius.

But they were in the lap of the Church already, within the walls of that City, they needed not to seeke that which they had.

Heaven then is better than earth: it is better by many degrees. Men chuse that which they thinke to be best: we choose earth ra∣ther than heaven▪ therefore in our opinion that is the better. What fooles, what dolts be we? men are ready to change for the better: who would not change a beggars cottage for a Kings Pallace, a patcht Cloak for a Princes robe? We say heaven is the better, yet we are loath to change our dwelling on earth for it: by our good wills, we would tarry here still. We say, heaven is a better country then this: but we would faine continue in the earth still.

Many a Child is ashamed of his Father, when hee comes to great honour. We were base and ignominious wretches, yet God was not ashamed of us. If a great man have a kinswoman, that is poore, yet if a faire and beautifull woman, haply he will not be ashamed of her. We are all fowle and black by reason of sin: yet God is not ashamed of us: and shall we, one of another? A King is not ashamed

of a beggar: and shall one beggar be ashamed of another? Shall one earthen Pot, though it be a little guilt and tipt with silver, be asha∣med of another earthen Pot? Though thou beest a rich man, and hast more silver and gold than thy brother; yet be not ashamed of him: thou art earth as well as he: yee are Pots of one Potter. Constantine was not ashamed of the Bishops: the Angels are not ashamed of us, they acknowledge themselves to be our fellowes and brethren: and shall we be ashamed one of another? Though he be never so poore a man; if he believe in Christ, be not ashamed of him.

2. As God is not ashamed of us, so let us not be ashamed of him: though Christ be afflicted here on earth, yet let us not be ashamed of him and his Gospell: for if we be, he will be ashamed of us, when he commeth with his holy Angels.

How doth it appeare he is not ashamed of us? because he disdai∣neth not to be called our God.

He doth not say; to be called their Lord and Master, but God. I thank my God: that we read often. This comprehendeth all good things for this life, and that to come: happy are the people that be in such a case, blessed are the people, whose God is the Lord. The Lions shall be hungerbit, but they that have God for their Lord, shal want nothing that is good. This may strengthen us against poverty, sicknes, and all calamities, against sin, Satan and death it selfe. Will any child feare want, that hath a rich and loving father? our God, our Father, is rich, heaven and earth are his: he is most loving, he tenders us as the apple of his eye: there∣fore wee can want nothing that is good. The Lord is our God, our shield, Protectour, and defender: therefore let us feare nothing. If God be on our side, who can be against us? Nay,* 1.2 this may comfort us against death it selfe. From this one word our Saviour proves the resurrection: he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him. Though we dye, God is our God, he will raise us up againe at the latter day, and translate us into his kingdome. This may be a pillar of comfort for us to leane upon, that God is our God.

By what token doth he shew himselfe to be our God? because he hath prepared a City. God is an excellent preparer. Hee prepared the world, as an house well furnished, against the comming of man into it: he prepared a Table for the Israelites in the wildernesse; he gave them water out of a stony rocke, and Manna from heaven: he prepared a king∣dome for Hester, when she was a poore banished maide: hee prepa∣red a Whale for Ionah, when he was cast into the Sea: insomuch as the Psalmist exclameth; how great is thy goodnes ô Lord, which thou e∣ven then preparedst for the sons of men! He prepares for us, the foules of heaven, fishes of the Sea, beasts of the field, to be our nourishment: but of all preparations this is the greatest, he prepared for us a City, a most glorious Citty. All the Cities in the world are not worthy to be named the same day with this: thieves may breake into these Cit∣ties; so cannot they into that. These may be sacked by enemies; so cannot that. These Citties shall be burnt at the day of Iudgment; this abides ever: these need the Sun by day, and Moone by night, this

needes none of them, for it is enlightned with the glory of the Lamb. In these there is good and bad; there none but good, the spirits of just and perfect men. In these there is sometimes dan∣cing, sometimes weeping; there is no weeping at all, but continu∣all singing to GOD Almighty: these Cities may be famished; so cannot that: we shall eate of the hidden Manna and of the tree of life in the Paradise of God for ever. Here our fellow Cittizens are men and sinfull men, there we shall be Cittizens with the Angels: here Cittizens have their Gownes whereby they are knowne, which at length are moath eaten and come to nothing; there wee shall be cloathed with the white robe of immortality, that lasteth for ever. In these Citties, some are rulers, some ruled; there wee shall all be Kings and reigne with CHRIST for ever. These Citties are made by Carpenters and Masons: this by God. O admirable City! Let our 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 bee in it in this life: that we may be taken up into it, and remaine in it for ever in the life to come. Yet this City is little regarded. If Yorke, Norwich, London were ours, we would thinke our selves happy men: yet we count the preparation of this City nothing. Ye talke of a City to come. I would I were Lord of one Towne here, take thou that City. Many a prophane Esau is ready to say so: but let us be thankefull to God for this City.

Hebrewes 11.17.18, 19.

WE have here a Catalogue of famous Christians in the Old Testament: wherof some were before the floud; others after: as Abraham, with whom having begun, now he addes and concludes of him in these Verses. Wherein we have a tragedy and a comedy: a tragedie, in a fathers oblation of his Sonne; a comedie in the unexpected restitution of his Son to him. 19. a sorrowfull tragedie in his going; a joyfull comedy in his teturning.

Touching the former, 1. An admirable worke performed by Abraham.

2. The motive that set him on worke, his stedfast faith in the re∣surrection, Verse 19. In the work the author of it, and the exquutio∣ner of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 22.32.
• * 1.2

  Matth. 22.32.