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 4.

HOw doth that appeare? For He, that is, God.

He is not curious in the naming of the place, it was well knowne to the Hebrewes, being daily exercised in the Scriptures.

Now by that was prefigured that rest, when we shall rest with God in his kingdome. As God for our capacity laboured in the creation of the world, rested afterwards, delighting himselfe in the contemplation of the workes that he had made: So when this life is ended, we shall rest from all our labours, and enjoy eternall quiet∣nesse

with him. Therefore, this shewes that it is not a carnall but a spirituall; not a temporall, but an eternall rest, that is here entrea∣ted of.

* 1.1Did God rest from all his workes? How is it then that our Sa∣viour saith, my father worketh hitherto?

There be the workes of preservation and of creation. The high and eternall God is not idle, since he made the world. His eyes are over all the ends of it, beholding the evill and the good. He is the Rector of the Vniversity of the whole world, nothing comes to passe without him. A Sparrow fals not to the ground without his will. He disposeth still of all things, and doth whatsoever he will in heaven and earth, and in all deepe places: but as for the workes of creation, he hath rested from them all: nothing now is created new.

Then all things throughout the wide compasse of the world, are the workmanship of God. He spread the heavens above our heads as a Curtaine, he laid the foundation of the earth, he made the roaring sea; the birds that flie in the ayre, the beasts that walke on the earth, the fish that play in the Sea, the Angels in heaven, and men on the earth are his creatures.

* 1.2O how wonderfully am I made! sayes the Psalmist. Therefore let us all glorifie our Creator, in whom we have our life, breath, be∣ing and moving. We especially that are Lords over GODS crea∣tures, let us magnifie him above them all. Neverthelesse, (a lamen∣table thing to consider) we dishonour him above all: the Birds of the ayre, the Beasts of the field, the Sunne, Moone, and Stars, are more dutifull in their kinde than we be. O the unthankfulnesse of sinfull Man!

This place againe, which we have in hand, doth intimate so much unto us.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iohn 5.17.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 139.14.