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 22.

1 AN admonition: Suffer the word of exhortation. 2. The reason: which is taken from the brevity. In admoniti∣ons I have beene briefe: hee spent but three Chapters in them: therefore take them the more patiently.

Such is the pride and perversenesse of our nature, we cannot a∣bide to be told of our faults: like gauled horses, wee are ready to winch and kicke at it. Therefore this caveat is very needfull: Suffer your selves meekely and quietly, to bee reprooved for your sinnes: Suffer the Preacher to tell you of your covetousnesse, your pride, malice, &c. of your drunkennesse, fornication and adultery, of your negligence in comming to Church: of the little care that is had for the good of the Towne; every man is for himselfe, none for the Towne. Suffer your selves to be admonished of these things, it is good for you. Ye suffer fooles gladly, sayes Saint Paul: yee suffer stage players to tell you of your faults, and ye laugh at it; and will ye not suffer Preachers? ye suffer the Physition to give you sowre potions, yee send for him and reward him for it: and will yee not suffer the Physition of your soules to bee sharpe with you for your salvation?

Ye suffer Chirurgions to cut you: and will yee not suffer us to lanch the soares of your sins, that the corrupt matter may issue out? Suffer the words of exhortation, and magnifie God for them. Blessed be thou, and blessed be thy counsell, sayd David to Abigail: So when the Preacher tels us of that which is amisse, and exhorts us to good∣nesse; let us not fret at it, carry a spight against the Preacher: but let us say, blessed be thou, ô man of God, and blessed be thy Counsell, blessed be God that sent thee to us, &c. Thus we should suffer even with thankesgiving the word of exhortation.

The reason is, because he hath beene briefe in it. I have not beene long rubbing of your soares. I have told you of it in a word. Therefore suffer it rather. Yet now adayes some unwise hearers commend longitude: hee stood upon it long, againe and a∣gaine; he was an houre, two, three houres: peradventure he might have spoken as much in a quarter of an houre. A wise and pithy brevity should be more welcome to us, if wee were judicious hear∣ers. Suffer them that wisely in a few words in the spirit of love and meekenesse, exhort you to that which is good.