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 32.

NOw follow those examples that are shut up in a short Epi∣tome and compendium, 1. An enumeration of their persons. 32. 2. A narration of the power and efficacy of their faith. 1. In actions, verse 33, 34. 2. In passions to 39. which are amplified by the event, 39, 40.

In the enumeration, 1. A preface prefixed before it. 2. The substance of the enumeration it selfe. The preface hath two parts; an interrogation, and an affirmation.

I am entred into so large a field, as that I know not how to get out. I am at a non••plus, I know not what to say. If should run on still in this veyne, I should run my selfe out of breath; I should weary both you and me.

Why? I should want time: the time would fayle me telling of Gideon &c. The time allotted to mee to write in would be too little, if I should insist particularly in all the faithfull men and women, that are in the history of the Bible. Wherein the Apostle shewes him∣selfe a singular Rhetorician. Tempus prius deficeret, quàm oratio. I have other weighty matters in hand, Preaching, Reading, Conferring, comforting of distressed soules. I cannot spend my whole time in writing: therefore I must needs abrupt my course, and contract them in a narrow roome.

There bee three kinde of persons in this short enumeration, Iudges, Kings, and Prophets. The Iudges are foure.

He doth not heere observe ordinem temporis, but as it seemeth, dignitatis. Barac was not so worthy a man as Gideon, nor Iephte as Samson: therefore they have the latter place, though they were be∣fore in time.

There are 2. especiall things, that commend the faith of Gide∣on, the overthrow of superstition, and the vanquishing of the ene∣mies of Israel.

1 In the night hee pulled downe the Altar of Baal, and cut downe his grove: whereupon hee was called Ierubbaal: and for that, hee

was like to have beene torne in peeces by the people.

2 By him the Midianites were put to flight, which cruelly op∣pressed Israel: they were as grassehoppers in multitude, without num∣ber, they were as the sand on the Sea shore. Iudg. 7.12. Yet Gideon with three hundred men, having no weapons, but Trumpets in one hand, and lamps in an other, overcame them all: this hee could ne∣ver have done without faith.

In this Gideon there are 2. principall things worthy the ob∣servation.

1 He was a man of no great account in the eye of the world, a poore man, by his owne confession. Iudg. 6.15. and he was a thresh∣ing, when the Angell appeared to him: yet the Lord made him a thresher of the Midianites, and a Iudge of Israel.* 1.1 The Lord, raiseth up the poore out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among Princes, and to make them inherit the seate of glory. Hee raysed poore Ioseph from the Prison, and made him ruler of Egypt: and he advanced poore Hester to be Queene in Vasti her roome. Let not poore folkes be discouraged, but depend upon GOD, which can extoll them, if it seeme good to him, even in this world: if not, yet if they believe in Christ, Hee will make them heyres of His Kingdome, in the world to come.

2 Though he be heere extolled for his faith, yet his faith at the first was marvellous weake and staggering. GODS bare word will not serve the turne, he must have three signes for the confirmation of him. Neither were they sufficient; hee must have a certainty of the victory the night before, from the mouth of the enemies them∣selves. Thus at the length with much adoe, he sets on them being haled to it: yet this faith of his is not onely allowed, but commen∣ded too. Even our weake workes, so as they be sincere, are accep∣table to God.

The second is Barac; His faith likewise was not very strong: hee would not enter upon the worke without a woman, he would not set a foote out of the doores without Deborah: therefore the honour of the victory redounded upon Iael.* 1.2 Yet in confidence of Gods protection he went forth, encountred with Sisera's Army, and overthrew it. This was the worke of faith. As also that af∣terwards hee tooke no praise to himselfe, but adscribed the glory of the victory to God alone: whereupon a song of thanksgiving to God was made by Him and Deborah.

Samson: Sundry things are remarkeable in him.

1 His birth was extraordinary, his mother being barren, and it was foretold by God; with an Argument, that hee should bee some rare and singular man. 2. By Gods speciall providence, he was an avenger of the Israelites on the Philistims. 3. His workes were wonderfull, surpassing the strength of Nature, and were done by the hand of God Himselfe. In all of them it is said, the Spirit of the Lord came on him, then he did this or that. He rent a Lion in pie∣ces, having nothing in his hand: with the Iaw bone of an Asse he slew a

thousand Philistims: hee brake the cords asunder, as if they had beene threds: hee carried away the gates and bars of the Citty Azzah, on his shoulders. Achilles Hebraeorum. 4. He was a Nazarite, in speciall manner dedicated to God, and in many things hee was a type of our Saviour Christ.

There is one onely Spunge which may seeme to wipe him out of the Catalogue of the faithfull: hee killed his owne selfe: yet even that also proceeded from faith, as Saint August. well defendeth it, de civit. dei. lib. 1. cap. 21. cont. secundam epist. Gaudentii. cap. 23. As Abrahams killing of Isaac was obedientia, because GOD comman∣ded it: So it had beene dementia, if that Commandement had been wanting. The like may bee affirmed of this: Samson had beene a mad man, if hee had done it without a warrant from God: but be∣cause hee had a commission from God to doe it, therefore it was of faith: Spiritus latenter hoc jusserat. as Aug. speaketh.

1 Hee doth it not rashly, but with prayer: that prayer came from faith: and God heard it. 2. God Himselfe did strengthen him to that businesse.* 1.3 3. He did it in the execution of his calling; hee was ordained of God to avenge Israel on the Philistims. At this time he was a Prisoner, and could not goe abroade to doe it: therefore by the instinct and motion of Gods Spirit he doth it within the house: he puls downe the house upon himselfe, and upon them all, being willing to lay downe his life for the people of GOD: as if a Souldier for the safety of his Country should dye in the middest of his enemies. A worthy and valiant man! but this must bee no pre∣sident for us.

Iephte. It may seeme strange that he should come into this fa∣mous Calender of most holy and renowned men, which sacrificed his onely daughter. The most ancient Rabbins, the Chalde paraphraste, Iosephus, Saint Ambr. Saint August. Saint Ierome, are of this opi∣nion, and it is generally received of all: be it that he did so in a blind zeale; yet the Holy Ghost heere commends his faith, not every action that he did.

Neverthelesse, it may be collected by probable arguments out of the word of God, that he did not sacrifice his daughter: which is also the opinion of some late writers, and by name of Vatablus and Tremellius, besides some Rabbins, and some Schoolemen.

1 It is not like that a man enlightned with the knowledge of God, and endued with a lively faith should commit so grosse, so un∣naturall a fact, as nature it selfe abhorreth.

2 The conjunction (Vau) is not onely a copulative, but often times a disjunctive, with the Hebrewes. The thing that first meeteth me when I come home, shall be the Lords: or, I will offer it for a burnt of∣fering, that is, if it be a thing which I may lawfully offer. Iudg. 11.31 Vehagnalithihu.

3 His daughter did lament her Virginity alone, after she heard of it: whereas if she should have beene put to death, she would have lamented her life above that.

4. At her returne, it is not said, that her Father sacrificed her, but did to her according to his vow, Verse 39. which is there ex∣pounded, hee consecrated her as a perpetuall Virgine to the Lord, that she never knew man.

5. It is said, Verse 40. that the daughters of Israel went yeere by yeere, not to lament her, but as the Hebrew signifies, to talke with the daughter of Iephte. Therefore she was still alive.

It can hardly be imagined, that so excellent a man, so highly extolled by the Holy Ghost, should for his vow sake doe such an abhominable fact: yet for all that, he is not wholly to be excused. It was rashly done of him to vow the first thing, that met him, as an holy thing to the Lord. What if a dog which is a fauning creature, had first met him? hee might not have consecrated that to the Lord.

This Iephte was an Harlots Sonne,* 1.4 loathed and disdained of his brethren, thrust out of the house, and compelled to live as a bani∣shed man, yet he hath faith. The name of a bastard is contemptible, and that justly. God hath set many brands of infamy upon them: they might beare no office in Israel for many generations.* 1.5 Sometimes God bereaves them of their wits and senses: they sustaine many re∣proches in the world: yet for all that they may be in the number of Gods Elect, and Heires of his Kingdome in the world to come.

From Iudges he proceeds to Kings; where he names but one, yet such a one as may be instar omnium, a famous and worthy King as e∣ver was. Saul was the first King of Israel, but David was the best King in Israel, the first godly King, a man after Gods owns heart: his faith was wonderfully tryed by many strong and fearefull tempta∣tions without, and within too; before he came to the crowne, and after.

Hee was hunted up and downe by Saul, as a partridge on the moun∣taines: he could never be quiet for him, he went continually in dan∣ger of his life, and could never get the peace of him. After he came to the Crowne, he was molested by the house of Saul sundry yeeres together: his owne sonne had like to have justled him out of his kingdome: the pestilence in his time was sore in Israel: many inward conflicts had he in his soule, as appeareth by his Psalmes: Why art thou disquieted in me, O my Soule? hath God forgotten to bee mercifull? He fought with hell and damnation: yet by faith he was a glorious Conquerour over them all: therefore no marvell though hee be in the catalogue of faithfull men.

The last that is named is Samuel. He was both a judge and a Pro∣phet: therefore he is put betweene them both. Shamang ael, audivit Deus. His mother cryed for him: hee was dedicated to God before he was borne; an upright, wise and religious Iudge:* 1.6 he challenged all the people for the execution of his office: whose Asse have I ta∣ken? to whom have I done wrong? they all gave him their approbati∣on and cleared him before the Lords annointed. Last of all, in ge∣nerall, he names the Prophets, Luk. 13.28. Elias, Elisha, Isaiah, Ie∣remiah, and the rest: all these were famous for their faith: nec in

caeteris contrarium est videre: which is wont to be the conclusion of all inductions. Therefore all are justified, and goe to heaven by faith, none flyes thither, but by the wing of faith.

All these that bee here cited, had their blemishes: never a one of these Roses but had their Prickes. Gideon besides many Wives, had a Concubine:* 1.7 he made an Ephod, that was an occasion of Idolatry, and made Israel to sin. Barac was a faint hearted Souldier. Samson defiled him∣selfe with many strumpets. Iephte was very rash and inconsiderate. David was tainted with two horrible sins.* 1.8 Samuel, as it seemeth, was somewhat negligent in looking to his Children: no Prophet but had some weakenesse, being all (as S^t. Iames speaketh of Elias) sub∣ject to the same infirmities that we are: yet they were faithfull men, greatly honoured by God Almighty. There is not the best man or woman on the face of the earth, but it is an easie matter to spie an hole in their coate. Shew mee a Garden without weeds, and a man or woman without imperfections. If ye will have perfect men, yee must goe to heaven for them: there be the spirits of just and perfect men: there be none to be found on the earth. S^t. Peter, S^t. Paul, Saint Thomas, all the Apostles had their imperfections. Yet some pro∣phane wretches there be like Cham, if they find never so small a slip in a godly man, as Noah was, they are ready to laugh at it: scatent ipsi vulneribus, obijciunt illis cicatrices. They themselves are common drunkards, beastly adulterers, the footesteps of whose uncleane life may be traced in every corner: yet if they heare of never so small a thing in a Noah and a David, that is their table talke, meat and drinke to them: whereas in many things we slip all, and there is not the best man but treadeth his shooe awry: we should rather weepe, than re∣joyce at it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Sam. 2.8.
• * 1.2

  Iudg. 4.8.
• * 1.3

  Iudg. 16.28.
• * 1.4

  Iud. 11.1.
• * 1.5

  Deut. 23.2.
• * 1.6

  1 Sam. 12.3.
• * 1.7

  Iud. 8.31.
• * 1.8

  1 Sam. 8.3.