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 21.

2. BY the affection of Moses, who was a principall man a∣mong them, by whose hand the Law was delivered, yet he fea∣red, and quaked: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mente; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 corpore.

I exceedingly feare and quake: These words are not expressed in the Old Testament, yet we are to believe them: as the names of the sorcerers Iannes and Iambres supplyed by Saint Paul.

Neverthelesse they may be collected out of Exodus. Moses, said, I feare and quake. God answered, comforting him, Exod. 19.19 dixit facto, etsi non verbo.

Moses was a rare and singular man, greatly honoured by God Al∣mighty: he divided the Red Sea and brought the people over. God talked familiarly with him, as one friend useth to doe with another: when he was dead, God vouchsafed to bury him himselfe, yet Mo∣ses shooke like an Aspenleafe. He was not only afraid, but he tremb∣led too.

Such is the Majesty of God: that it makes the holiest men in the world to quake because of sinne in them. When God spake to Adam after the fall, he was afraid, and hid himselfe among the trees. Manoah cryed out, we have seene God, therefore we shall dye. Moses at the de∣livery

of the Law did quake and tremble: then how shall the wicked shake, when Christ shall come at the latter day; to take an account of the fulfilling of the Law? Felix trembled, when he heard of the day of judgement: what shall they doe when they see it? they shall cry out with them in the Apocalyps, the great day of his wrath is come, &c. If Moses quake, how shall Ahab quake? if S^t. Peter, how shall Iudas? Let us labour before hand to bee reconciled to GOD by IESUS CHRIST, that wee may stand without trembling before the Son of man.

Yee see their condition in the time of the Law: there was black∣nesse and darkenesse, all things were then obscure. We have the cleere light and bright Sunne shine of the Gospell. All things were terrible to them: all things are comfortable to us. God the Father speakes to us sweetly from heaven, this is my beloved Sonne, heare him. They could not abide the voice of God, it sounded with such terrour in heir eares. GOD the Sonne speaketh amiably to us, come to mee all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: therefore f much holinesse were required of them, how much more of us? At the delivery of the Law, they were to sanctifie themselves from the highest to the lowest, they were to wash their garments, they might not come at their Wives all the while: then how holy ought wee to bee, with whom GOD deales so lovingly in the time of the Gospell?

If a servant that hath a sower Master, that lookes fiercely on him, and speakes angerly, must obey: how much more obedi∣ent ought hee to bee that hath a kind and loving Master, that lookes on him alwayes with a cheerefull countenance, and speakes friend∣ly to him? God in the time of the Law was terrible master: hee is most kinde to us now in Christ Iesus. Therefore let us serve him with all cheerefulnesse.

We have had a view of the terrible estate of the Church in the time of the Law. Now let us see the comfortable estate of the Church, whereunto we are come in the time of the Gospell.

What Saint Basil speakes of the Scripture in generall, may be avouched of this in speciall, Hexam. Hom. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.