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.

HEre followes the dehortation; which hath two parts: the one negative, which wee must not doe; the other affirma∣tive, what wee must doe.

Be not carryed about: as chaffe, feathers, &c.

With diverse: by this understand the legall rites and ceremo∣nies which were diverse; that are of diverse sorts. Falsum multi∣plex: verum simplex. And strange doctrine: which the Scripture doth not acknowledge. Strange birds; strangers out of an other Countrie, not bred and borne in the Scripture.

Worshipping of Images, a carnall eating of Christs flesh by tran∣substantiation, &c. are strange doctrines.

Now, the heart cannot bee established with erroneous doctrine, about meates, &c. but with the true doctrine of the grace and mercie of God towards us in Christ: being justified by Faith, wee have peace with God: there is no condemnation to them that bee in Christ. This doth establish the conscience, that the gates of Hell cannot prevaile against us.

Let our hearts bee established with this grace.

Not with meats. .i. with unnecessary questions, about the cere∣moniall law. A part, is put for the whole.

There was a time when distinction of meates was strictly to be observed: some had rather bee cruelly tormented even to death, then to eate swines flesh: but now the difference is abrogated. God hath said to Peter, and in him to us all, arise, kill, and eat: no crea∣ture

now is uncleane, all are sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer.

The severall Observations injoyned us in the Ceremoniall Law, cannot make us acceptable to God; these cannot strengthen the heart: but the grace of God towards us in Christ, that his bloud hath purged us from all sin; this is the true Cordiall that strengthens the heart: Therefore sticke to that, and be not carryed away with other doctrines.

What went yee out into the wildernesse to see, said Christ of Iohn Baptist? A reede shaken with the winde? Wee that bee Christians, must bee as stones firmely built on Christ the rocke, not as reedes. If the East winde blowes, the reed goes with that: If the West winde arise, it goes with that. Christians must not bee weather Cockes, that turne with the winde: wee must be like the steeple it selfe, that standeth firmely; not like the weather Cocke on the steeple: not like Ecebolius, that changed his Religion alwayes as the Emperours changed: In the time of Constantine and Constan∣tius, hee was a Christian: In the Reigne of Iulian, a Gentile, of∣fering to their gods. When Iulian was dead, a Christian againe, ly∣ing at the Church doore, and saying to the people: Calcate mesa∣lem insipidum.

Thus, some now a dayes, are carryed about; there is no stay in them: one while Protestants, an other while Papists; one while Brownists, an other while Anabaptists. Thus they are carryed hither and thither.* 1.1 Be not as children, &c. Children are easily carryed, won with an apple, lost with a nut; of one minde to day, of an o∣ther to morrow: ye may make them say and unsay: yee may make them call a man good or naught with the turning of an hand. Wee must not be like them, wee must bee as men well advised what to doe. Yee may carry a cow up and downe in the field with a lock of hay: ye may carry some horses whither ye will with a horse loafe. So the profits and commodities of the world carry many to any Religion. So as I may enjoy my goods, lands and living, I care not of what Religion I be. Let us carry other men to Christ, but let us not be carryed by any from Christ. In the way of kindenesse, any friend may carry us: but let neither friend nor foe carry us from Christ. When certaine of Christs Disciples went away, Christ asked the twelve, Will yee also goe away? but sayes Saint Peter in the name of the rest, Whither shall wee goe? so let us be as resolute: though there bee never so many turne-coates, let us say, Whither shall wee goe? to Popery, Anabapt. to Brownisme? no, We know whom wee have believed, we will never depart from the truth, and Word of God, established amongst us.

Since the reformation of Religion in England, God wonder∣fully blessed this land: how did hee miraculously preserve it in Q. Elizabeths dayes! how many treacheries have beene discovered? how was the invincible Navy of the Spaniards foyled? How pro∣sperously without the shedding of one drop of bloud came King

Iames to the Crown, to the great joy of us al? How graciously hath God protected him and his Realme since? There hath beene treason on treason: but God hath broken the nets of them all.

Among them all, the powder treason, that should have beene effected by a match, is most unmatchable: hell it selfe cannot devise such another. Fight neither against more nor lesse, said the King of Aram to his souldiers, save against the King of Israel only. So the Papists heretofore cried, away with Queene Elizabeth, fight against her: that is enough. Now not the King alone, but the Queene, Prince, and all their royall Issue, the Nobility, and Clergy, the Iudges, the Knights, and Gentlemen, all the Parliament should have beene blowne up at once: if this had gone forward, where had we beene? Here a leg, there an arme: here the head of such a Noble man should have beene carried about with gunpowder: but GOD be thanked, we all remaine still, and pure Religion, in despight of all, is continued among us. Therefore let us not bee carried about with diverse and strange doctrines. As God hath upheld religion among us strangely and miraculously: so let us hold it fast, and per∣severe in it to the end. Though an Angell from heaven, much more though a Priest or Iesuit from Rome, though a Papist, an Anabap∣tist, a Sectuary preach to us any other Gospell, let us be carried by none of them all. Let us carry to Christ, let us not be carried from Christ. Let us say with Ruth, we will live and dye with thee; and with S. Peter, Thou hast the words of eternall life: we will not depart from thee, but continue in thy truth for ever, and not fall into errour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 4.14.