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 11.

WHereupon God proceeds to a definitive sentence against them: which he ratifieth with an oath.

Seeing they be such an obstinate people: hee doth not say, but sweare, not in sport and merriment, but being much mo∣ved, hot and angrie against them for their sinnes.

If they shall enter. Constructio est defectiva, ad modum irati, qui truncat verba sua: it is a passionate speech, when a man is so moved, as that hee cannot bring forth his words: an usuall Aposiopesis. Something must be supplyed, If they shall enter into my rest, let mee be counted no GOD, let mee never be believed hereafter. The sup∣pressing of these imprecations, doth argue that they should bee sel∣dome used by us. So did Abram, Gen. 14.22. Christ, Mar. 8.12. Saul, 1 Sam. 14.44. whereas we in our anger cannot containe our selves, but furious speeches come by and by out of our mouthes. If I be not even with him, I pray God I may sinke where I stand, never enter into the kingdome of heaven, &c. We should not be so rash in producing of them.

God, as ye see, sweares, so may wee doe: if we could keepe our selves within those limits, that he did.

1. God sweares seldome: the Scripture doth not bring him in swearing often: at every word, as we doe.

2. When God sweares, it is by himselfe, by no creature: wee sweare by bloud, wounds, fire, bread, cheese, &c.

3. It is a matter of weight that makes God sweare: he doth not sweare upon every trifling occasion, as wee doe: it was a matter of importance that made him sweare now, even the establishing of his justice, that men should beware how they provoke him by their sinnes.

4. God sweares not rashly in heat and choller, as wee doe: if our bloud be stirred, then wee sweare vengeably. Though it be here said, hee sware in his wrath, yet it was a just and advised anger; not a cholericke furie, as ours is.

There bee two things that make God sweare: the one is the confirmation of his mercie, and gracious promises to his Children; Hebr. 6.17.

The other is the strengthning of his justice, and threatnings a∣gainst the wicked; as in this place: and let us beware when God sweares. If the King doe not only say, such a man shall dye, but sweares to it, then there is little hope of life for him. God hath not only said but sworne, that all contemners of his word, that harden their hearts against it, shall perish eternally. Therefore there is no dallying, let us looke to it.

An horrible sinne that wrings an oath from God.

It is called, his rest, because he in his eternall counsell prepared

it for them, and promised it to them long agoe: and it was he that brought them into that rest.

This rest is double. 1. The Land of Canaan, which is called a rest in regard of their continuall toyles and turmoyles in the wilder∣nesse, where they were alwayes molested with flitting up and down: but when they came into this land, they should rest. Heere they rested under their Vines and Figtrees: hence it hath the name of rest. 2. By it also is meant the Kingdome of Heaven, where wee shall rest with Abraham, Isaac and Iacob for ever. Now were all they that dyed in the wildernesse, excluded from that rest too? no. Moses never came into the Land of Canaan: yet he came into the Kingdome of Heaven. I dare not say, that all that were over∣whelmed with the flood, went to hell; nor, that all were deprived of the celestiall Canaan, that missed of the earthly: but the wicked persisting in their sinnes without repentance, undoubtedly lost both.

The cause why they were deprived of this rest, was their stub∣borne contempt of God, in his Servant Moses speaking to them from time to time. He perswaded them by a true and lively faith to depend upon God, assuring them, that as he had promised them the Land of Canaan, so, what difficulty soever came, he would one day put them into a peacefull possession of the Land: but they would not beleeve it: when any thing crossed them, then they would goe to Aegypt againe. Therefore let us take off that sinne, that we be not partakers with them of the punishment. As Christ said, behold a greater than Salomon is heere: So say I of the ministery of the Gospell, a greater than Moses is heere.

If the ancient Israelites lost the land of Canaan, and some of them the Celestiall Canaan too, for despising Moses, and for murmuring against him and grieving him: how shall we escape that contemne Christ, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, which is so farre greater than Moses, as the Sonne and heire of the house, is a∣bove the servant in the house?* 1.1 Christ spake by Saint Paul and the rest of the Apostles in their time, and he speaketh by us, which are His Ambassadours at this day: therefore harden not your hearts a∣gainst his preaching, least he shut you out of his rest, but reverently embrace his preaching, let Christ enter into your hearts by His Word and Spirit; that ye may have rest and peace of conscience in this life; and be received up into his everlasting rest where ye shall never be molested any more, in the life to come.

Now followes the application of the former testimony: where∣in. 1. A naration of the use, that we are to make of it. 2. A further declaration or exposition of it, à 16. to the end. In the use. 1. An admonition. 2. A reason. In the admonition. 1. A disswasion from the poyson of infidelity, that was the bane and destruction of the Israelites. 2. A perswasion to a mutuall exhorting and stirring up one of an other: which may be a counter-poyson against infide∣lity. In the disswasion, the manner, and the matter of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Cor. 13.3.