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 34.

THe violence of fire, that is, the force or power. Dan. 3.27. If wee have faith, no creature shall hurt us. The mouthes of the Swords. Swords have mouthes: as the mouth devoureth, so doth the edge of the Sword. The Sword devoureth one, as well as an∣other, sayd David.

The Israelites escaped the swords of the Aegyptians, that were at their heeles ready to thrust them through, if the red Sea had not made a passage for them. David often declined the Speare of Saul, wherewith he was purposed to fasten him to the wall: Elias escaped the sword of Iesabel, who had threatned to take away his life: wee escaped the swords of the Spanyards in eighty eight. If they had landed, there had beene no mercy with them, they would have put all to the sword.

For God put valour into them: they were made strong for their weakenesse, Isa. 38.9. Psal. 38.3. and 10. Was it not valiantly done of Abraham, with the servants of his owne house to encounter with five Kings? was it not valiantly done of little David, a young stripling, never acquainted with warre, to fight with that huge Gyant Goliah, that had beene a man of warre from his youth up? did not our English men fight valiantly with their little ships, against the huge ships of the Spanyards; ours being but molehils to their mountaines? This va∣lour was of GOD, who taught their fingers, to fight, and hands to warre.

Weaknesse is twofold: in body, and soule: Hezekiah was brought to great weakenesse, when lying on his death bed, as he thought, hee turned his face to the wall and wept, taking his leave of the world; yet God made him strong againe. David was weake in soule and faint hearted, when hee brake forth into this lamentable speech, one day shall I perish by the hand of Saul: but God made him strong againe. Let us entreate him to strengthen the weakenesse of us all.

When we are sicke, what doe we? some (which is monstrouse to speake) send to the Divell for helpe, to witches, sorcerers, &c. but to speake the fairest, then their is posting to the physitian; pils, poti∣ons, all kinde of medicines must be received. That is not amisse; so as they come in the second place, and wee trust not in the Physiti∣ans, as Ala did. The Physitian wee should seeke to in the time of weakenesse and sicknesse should be God Almighty: with the eye of faith wee should looke up to him. When all earthly Physitians have given us over, hee can set us on our legs againe. Faith is the best medicine for the recovery of health and strength.

Tents. It is a metonymie, put for armies.

As Gideon with his three hundred men vanquished the Midia∣nites. As Ionathan, David, Asa, Iehosaphat, &c. did their enemies: they were not able to stand before them.

When there be rumours of wars, mustering, preparing of Hor∣ses, &c. Let not our hearts be troubled; faith is the best weapon: if you have a strong and valiant faith, one shall chase a thousand, and tenne shall put ten thousands to flight. Let us intreat the Lord to make our faith stronger to our dying day.

As the Psalmist speaketh of the Church, Wonderfull things are spoken of thee, thou Citie of GOD! So wonderfull things are recor∣ded of faith. By that men remove mountaines, cast out devils, subdue kingdomes; nothing is too hard for him that beleeveth. All of us by faith shall subdue the kingdome of Satan, which is stronger than all earthly kingdomes. By faith we shall tread the devill under our feet: therefore GOD strengthen the faith of us all.

Before, we had their actions; now follow their Passions. 1. An enumeration of them. 2. An amplification. The enumeration is first generall, then speciall: generall; some concerne, name, body, Vers. 36. life, 37. The speciall is their flight. An amplification. 1. By a commendation of the men. 38. 2. By a commemoration of the events of their faith. 1. Affirmative, 39. Negative, as the reason, Vers. 40.