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 6.

THE reason is double; 1. These chastisements are a token of GOD's love: therefore let us not despise them.

2 They are a token of our salvation, which is an effect of the love of GOD: he receiveth; that is, into his Kingdome.

May we certainely conclude, that God loves all he chastens? I surely. He may punish the wicked, as a Iudge doth Malefactors: but chastises onely his children whom he loves. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians, with frogs,* 1.1 lice, and other plagues: but he chastises onely those whom he lo∣veth. A bad man may have his house burnt; so may a good man. The one the Lord punishes, the other he chastens. A bad man may be grievously sick; so may a good man; the one God punishes, the other he chastens.

How may we discerne betweene punishments and chastisements?

1 The one is inflicted in mercy: the other in fury. Correct me, O Lord, yet not in thy fury.

2 The one waxe worse, they fret and fume, blaspheme, fight against God, continue still in their sins, and obstinately resist God to the end, as Cain and others did.

3 The one are crushed by their afflictions; they are as Gods ham∣mers to crush them in peeces: the other are amended by their affli∣ctions. They say with David, It is good for me that I have beene af∣flicted. Their afflictions makes them hurle away their sins;* 1.2 drunk∣ennesse, pride, covetousnesse, uncleannesse, &c. The one are better, the other worse after their afflictions. Whom he loveth: he whom thou lovest is sick, said Martha to our Saviour, meaning Lazarus. And scourgeth: if a rod will not serve the turne, hee takes a whip, Marke 5.29. That woman had a whip. If a lesser affliction will not

draw us to him, and pull us out of our sinnes, hee sends a greater.

Whom he receiveth: into his love and favour in this life, and in∣to his kingdome, in the life to come. Afflictions are as Gods tooles, that make us fit stones for the heavenly Ierusalem.

Wee have had a text of Scripture out of the Old Testament, which spake to us lovingly, as to children. Now S. Paul makes a Commentary of it, inducing us to a patient suffering of Gods corre∣ctions by three forcible arguments. 1 From the necessity of corre∣ction. 2. From the excellency of the person that correcteth us, Vers. 9.10. Set forth by a comparison. 1. What these Fathers be to us. 2. What they doe to us. 3. From the fruit of correction. V. 11. 1. What it is for the present. 2. What it will be in the time to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chrys.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 119.71.