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 9.

FVrthermore. Besides the consolation out of the Scripture, even reason may move us to it.

Of our flesh: the flesh is put for the body, because it chiefe∣ly consisteth of flesh, 1 Cor. 5.5. flesh and spirit are opposite.

Which corrected us: when wee were Children 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Prov. 13.24.

And we did not only take it patiently at their hands, but wee re∣verenced them, stood in awe of them, were more loath to displease them: revereri est cum timore honorem impendere.

Commonly those Parents are most reverenced of their Children, that have wisely and orderly corrected them: they that have layd the reynes on their neckes and suffered them to goe without correcti∣on, are most despised and contemned of their Children afterwards. Adonijah whom David would not displease, displeased David after∣wards.

Hee doth not say, the mothers of our bodies: they for the most part cocker their Children, seldome or never correct them in wise∣dome and discretion: but, Fathers. The Fathers are the greater cor∣rectours. Shall wee not much rather subject our selves quietly to his castigations?

Father of Spirits: From whom wee have the more principall part, which is the soule or spirit.

We have our bodies also from him: Thou hast fashioned me beneath, in my mothers belly. Yet these mediately by the seed of our Parents: our spirits wee have immediately from God, Num. 16.22.27, 16. Zac. 12.1. Arist. l. 2. de gener. animal. c. 3. sayes, that the soule comes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 extrinsecus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: one God did not make the soule, and another the body, as the Manichees said.

He is the Father of our spirits, ratione adoptionis, regenerationis, sal∣vationis: but here ratione creationis.

There is no comparison betweene these two Fathers:

1. These are Fathers of one family: of him is named the whole family, Eph. 3.15.

2. The name of earthly fathers are drowned in him, Matth. 23.9.

Children have no wit, wisdome, or experience: therefore they submit themselves to their Fathers: no more have we, but from our heavenly Father. Therefore let us subject our selves unto him. Children are subject to many inordinate affections, which makes them the more quietly to yeeld to the ordering of their Parents: so are wee.

This is amplified by the benefit we reape by it, and live. Name∣ly in his eternall kingdome, being fitted for it by afflictions.

Though we submit our selves to the chastisements of our earthly

Fathers, wee cannot but live a while in this miserable world: if wee beare his chastisements, wee shall live for ever: therefore let us doe it.

Soules are not a parcell of the Substance of God, but created of God, not traduced by the seede of our Parents, Eccles. 12. Verse 7. Genesis 2.7. and 23. As the first mans soule came: so doe all others.

2. If they proceed from mortall seede, they must be mortall and perish with the body Saint Augustine hath foure excellent bookes of it, to Barnabas, Petrus proselyt. to Vincentius, Victor.

3. It comes either of the body of our Parents, or of their soule: if from the body, it is mortall, as that is; if from the soule, then ei∣ther the Father conveieth his soule to his Sonne, and hath none left himselfe, or a part of his soule: then the soule should be partible, which a spirit is not.

Object. Gen. 46.26. Exod. 1.5.

There, soules is put for persons.

Object. Hebr. 7.9. Levi was in Abrahams loynes in respect of his body and soule too. Christ only in respect of his body.

But Christ in this place is comprehended under Melchizedec, not under Abraham. Levi was there, in respect of father and mother too: Christ only in respect of his mother.

Object. Then GOD should worke with fornicators and adul∣terers.

Sol. In the act of generation, which is naturall: not in the sin and violation of his Law. A man steales seede, and sowes his ground with it; God sends him a good harvest: yet God worketh not with his stealing.

When it is infused, and how, is scrupulous.

The soule is good, when it is infused by God: it is infected by the conjunction of it with the body: As good wine put into a bad vessell: A cleane man is infected, if he come among Leapers.