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 4.

NOw followes the second argument, which is taken from a defect in their former affliction. We have endured many things already. Heb. 10.32. Why doest thou speake to us of enduring more? I but ye have not come to the last stroake: yee have lost your goods, but not your lives for Christ and his Gospell as many have done, and you peradventure may doe hereafter. As Christ hath shed his bloud for you: so must you bee content to doe the like for him, if he call you to it, Matth. 23.35.

Vnto bloud; that is, unto death. Such a one seekes my bloud; that is, my life: Bloud-sucker. His bloud be on as and our children; that is, let us be answerable for his death. It is so called, because in a violent death there is an effusion of bloud.

We must never thinke we have resisted enough, to our dying-day, Phil. 3.13. Striving against sin. Some interpret it, against the sin of the persequutors, labouring by threatnings and promises to draw you from Christ.

Rather against sinne in yourselves, which is as Cable-rope to pull afflictions on you. Though God impose them on you, or suffer them to befall you for his Gospell.

There be Cutters sad Hacksters, desperate Ruffians, that will resist to bloud: they will challenge one another into the field, and it may be, see the heart-bloud one of another: but this is in the De∣vils cause, not in Christs cause. Let us resist in the defence of Christ and his Gospell, to the bloud. Christ hath shed his bloud for us, and shall not we shed ours for him? Many of the Heathen have given their bloud for their Countrey, and shall not wee give it for Christ and the Church, for the confirmation of it in the faith of Christ? Though we have stood out a long time in Christs quarrell, resisting the enemies of the Gospell, yet let us not set downe our staffe. Let us never think wee have resisted enough, till wee have resisted to bloud.

Christ gave us our bloud: Christ redeemed our bloud: Christ hath prepared heaven for us that be flesh and bloud: therefore it cannot be spent better than in his service.

But as for us, we yeeld our selves Captives to sin: we throw downe the bucklers, and suffer him to over-master us, there is no striving against sin. We strive one with another; every Towne is full or unneighbourly strifes, and unbrotherly contentions. We strive not against sin. Sin is the greatest enemie that we have: it will cut the throat of our soule, and banish us out of heaven; therefore

let us strive against it. Leave striving one with another, and let us all strive against sinne. We shall never bee Martyrs if we doe it not: for they that will not lay downe their sins for Christ, will never lay downe their lives for Christ.

How must we strive against sin?

1 By prayer, 2 Cor. 12.8. For this thing, I be sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Let us pray against anger, pride, uncleannesse, covetousnesse, continually.* 1.1

2 By Scripture. If we be inticed to idolatry, let us fight against it with the sword of the Spirit, as Christ did, saying, Thou shalt wor∣ship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt thou serve. If we be provo∣ked to adultery, let us say: Whoremongers and Adulterers GOD will judge.

3 By the substracting of the nourishment of that sin. Let us strive against lust and uncleannesse, by a sober and temperate life. The very Heathen could say, Sine cerere & Baccho friget Venus. Eate and drinke sparingly, and the fire of lust will be quenched. Let us strive against drunkennesse, by not comming at Ale-houses, by not looking on the Wine, when it smileth in the glasse.

4 By imbracing the contrary vertue. Instead of Pride, let us imbrace Humility; instead of Covetousnesse, Liberality; of Vn∣cleannesse, Chastity, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  M••t 4.10.