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 1.

NOt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the love of the brethren or brother∣hood. Of them that be brethren in CHRIST: which have one Father, which is God, one mother, the Church: that suck one milke out of the two dugs of the Word of God: that have one Faith, one Saviour, one Baptisme, one H. Supper, one inheritance, the kingdom of heaven. Let the love of these brethren continue. We must love all men, as they are the glorious workemanship of God, crea∣ted after Gods image: but those especially that are His workeman∣ship in CHRIST IESUS, renewed after the image of the LORD IESUS. Owe nothing to any man, save love. Love a Turke, a Iew, but especially love a Christian that embraceth CHRIST truely as thou doest. There ought to bee brotherly love amongst them, that as brethren professe one Faith, one CHRIST, and one Gospell.

1 Love is the body of a Christian.

2 Love is the Seale of our election. 1 Iohn 3.14. If thou hast no love, thou hast no assurance of eternall life.

3 Love is the sauce that seasons all vertues. 1 Cor. 13. Though thou commest to Church and hearest Sermons, receivest the Com∣munion, offerest up the sacrifice of prayer and praise, talkest never so gloriously of Religion; yet without love, thou art but as sounding brasse, &c. therefore let brotherly love continue.

4 It is a sweet thing: therefore it is compared to the oyle, powred on the head of Aaron: it is a profitable thing, resembled to the dew of Henmon: therefore let it continue.

Yet for all that, love is a rare bird among us; she is much in our

tongue, little in our hands: we talke of her, but we walke not accor∣ding to the rule of love. Love envyeth not. What envy is among the professors of the Gospell? If our Neighbour be in better estate then we, we grieve at it. Love disdaineth not. What contem∣ning is there one of another? Love seeketh not her owne. Among us every man is for himselfe, none regards the good of an other. Love thinkes not evill, it speakes not evill. What cursed speaking, back∣biting, railing and slandering is there among us? Love is not onely cold, but in a manner dead among us: there is more love among Turkes and infidels then among Christians. Drunkards love, there is good fellowship among them: Theeves love, they have one purse: Adulterers love: The Divels love: A legion of Divels were in one man: onely wee that professe our selves brethren in Christ, which ought chiefely to abound in love, and be lights to others, wee want love. What a pittifull thing is this?

He doth not say, let it be, let it finde a footing among you, but let it abide and continue: he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD; not he that hath love. He doth not say, let love be as a guest among you, which tarries for a night or two, but let him be a continuer: let him never discontinue from you.

The Scripture sayes, let not the Sunne goe downe on thy wrath. Wee must not keepe anger with us an whole night: but wee must keepe love with us day and night, continually.

Love hath many enemies that seeke to thrust her out of doores. Therefore we had need to hold her, and to labour for the continu∣ance after.

1 There is the Divell that cannot abide her. Iud. 9.23. Accor∣ding to his name, he is an enemy, that sets himselfe against love. If he see love in a Towne, he will expell her if he can, by one meanes or an other.

2 He hath his factors and agents in all places, that labour to breake the necke of love. Now a dayes they bee especially two; talebearers, and wrangling Lawyers. God tooke order in the law, that none should goe about with tales: yet they are too frequent in every Towne, sowing the seed of dissention, and nipping love in the head. Therefore if yee will have love continue, stop up your eares against Talebearers: And as the North winde driveth away raine; So with an angry countenance doe ye the Talebearer.

As for Lawyers, they be necessary in the Common wealth, as well as Physitions: but as he is a bad Physition that will make work for himselfe; So he is a bad Lawyer that will set men together by the eares, for the enriching of himselfe. Let us take heed of all that goe about to pull love from us: and let her bee continued a∣mong us.

3 There bee weaknesses in our selves: wee are too supercili∣ous, too credulous, ready on a small occasion to cast away love.

4 There are many infirmities in them whom wee love: yea even in the best of all. Now when love sees an infirmity, shee

must cover it, or amend it, and not cast off a friend for an infir∣mitie.

The Holy Ghost not without great cause made choyse of this word, [continue:] for hee knew there were many ropes to pull us from love; many that would seeke her discontinuance.

Wee desire the continuance of all other good things: wee would be glad, that wealth, honour, health, ease, prosperitie might continue, and shall we not seeke the continuance of love, that sweetens them all to us?

Doe not onely love for a time, but continually. But alas, love is of little continuance: Many have beene friends, that proove enemies. Herod and Pilat were friends, but afterwards fell out: Love is fine drinke, but it growes soone sower. Some there be with Amnon, that hate more then ever they loved before. In other things wee cannot away with the Praeterperfect tense, as to say, I had health, I had house and land, I had wealth: yet wee content our selves to say, I had love. Indeed, the time was when wee loved: but now one neighbour cares not for an other. That is a miserable altera∣tion. Let brotherly love continue. Let her tarry with us, so long as we our selves tarry. Let her dwell with us in this world, that shee may dwell with us, and we with her in the world to come.

Notes

• Psal. 133.
• 1 Iohn 4.16.