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 25.

FOr the caveat: hee doth not simply say, despise him not, but with a watch-word, looke to it, the danger is great if ye doe.

Christ is despised two kinde of wayes; openly and secretly: openly, by refusing to heare him at all, as they in the Gospell, wee will not have this man to raigne over us: How often would I have gathe∣red you together, and ye would not? some will not come to Church to heare CHRIST, they had rather heare a Fidler than heare a Preacher.

2 When as men heare, yet contemptuously: as the Pharisees did, Luke 16.14. these are open despisers of Christs speaking.

The other are close and secret despisers. They doe not peremp∣torily say, they will not come, but they make excuses for not com∣ming: I have bought a yoke of Oxen, sayes one: a Farme, sayes ano∣ther: I have burling in hand, spinning in hand: I have a journey to take on that day, I cannot come. This is a despising of Christ speaking, as the word importeth.

The other secret despisers are carelesse and negligent hearers: we will give him the hearing, but if we were out of the Church, we would not thinke of it againe. They looke themselves in the glasse of the Word: see many spots, but have no care to wipe them away. This is a kinde of despising the voice of Christ, and it shall be requi∣red at our hands: despise not him that speaketh any kinde of way, but heare him with all reverence: He is worth the hearing.

1 He speakes vera, nothing but the truth; for he is the Truth it selfe.

2 Suavia, that which is sweet and comfortable to us all, sweeter than the honey or the honey combe. Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavie laden, I will give you rest.

3 Vtilia, that which is profitable: he tels us of a Kingdome prepa∣red for us.

4 Manifesta: he speakes plainely, evidenter, that any may un∣derstand him: there be no aenigmata, no riddles in his speech.

5 Efficacia: he speakes efficaciter, powerfully, with authority: never did any man speake, as he doth.

6 Sublimia; heavenly things: therefore despise not him that speak∣eth, but receive the honey drops of his speeches, to the joy and com∣fort of you all.

Why? what though we despise him? the matter is not great? yes: there is great danger in it. If they escaped not, who refused him, that spake on earth, namely Moses, yet tanquam ex divino Oraculo, which revealed the Oracles of God to them on the earth.

They that rejected him were severely punished. The man that with an high hand gathered sticks on the Sabbath-day contrary to the Law of Moses, was stoned. Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, that

murmured against him were swallowed up by the earth: they that tooke their parts were destroyed, Num. 16.49.

Some vengeance or other wil light on us, if we turne him away, and refuse him that speaketh from Heaven.

But how doth Christ now speake from heaven? Surely, by the mouthes of his Embassadours: he that heareth you, heareth me.* 1.1 Will ye have an experiment of Christ speaking in me? When a learned Ezra standeth up in the Pulpit to speake to the people, Christ spea∣keth. The wicked will reply on Christ at the day of judgement, and say, Lord when saw wee thee hungry, and gave thee no meat? So some will say, O if we might heare Christ speaking from heaven, we will sit with reverence and heare attentively. When any of his Stewards and Ministers speake, He speaketh; therefore beware how ye despise him that speaketh. They escaped not that despised Moses's ministery, and shall they escape that despise Christs ministery? Many heavie judgements will light upon the contemners of Gods Word. Manasseh though a King, was carried into captivity for it.* 1.2 Pelatiah died; Ierusalem that would not heare Christ when he clocked to her as a loving Hen, heard the cry of the Romanes to their destruction. If we at this day turne away our eares from hearing Christ speaking to us from heaven, the sword of the enemie, famine, pestilence, tedi∣ous Agewes not heard of before, some plague or other will fall on us. If they escaped not that despised Moses, shall they escape that despise Christ speaking from heaven?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 1.70. 2 Cor. 13.3.
• * 1.2

  2 Chron. 33.10. Ezek. 11.13.