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 17.

Ἐφ' ᾧ: wherein, in the which thing, or, in the which oath, or for the which cause.

God did it willingly, not by constraint, none could enforce him to it.

More abundantly: then was necessary: for his bare word had beene enough, save that the weake∣nesse of man required it. See here GODS dealing with us after the manner of men.

To shew: that is, to make a lively and evident demonstration.

Vnto the heyres of promise: not to Abraham alone,* 1.1 but to all the faithfull.

The immutability, which cannot be transposed or altered.

Not of his promise, but counsell: arguing that it was no sud∣den or fickle promise, but such as proceeded from wise and de∣liberate

counsell:* 1.2 and the counsell or decree of God standeth for ever. That of Hezekiahs, and the Ninevites, had a secret condition: un∣lesse he had prayed earnestly for life, and the others repented, Ier. 18.7, 8. or it was rather a commination, then the pronuntiation of a decree or counsell.

Interposuit se: as if CHRIST the Mediatour had made this oath, and interposed himselfe in it betweene the father and us, for the greater ratifying of it. Oecumen.

Annexed to his promise.

Here we have the dignity of the godly: they are heyres: not of a Knight, of a Lord, a Duke, &c. but of God, and the promises, that is, of the joyes of heaven which GOD hath promised to them in his word. The kingdome of heaven belongs to Children, not to servants:* 1.3 the faithfull are the Children of God and joynt heires with Christ: so that the inheritance of the celestiall Canaan pertaines to them: how then dare you despise the lest of the heyres of promise?

2. This may comfort us against the crosses of this life. Art thou a poore man, hast no money in thy purse, to relieve thy selfe and thy family withall, as Peter and Iohn had not? hast thou not a bed to rest thy weary body on, nor an house to hide thine head in, as Christ had not? the foxes have holes, and the birds of the ayre have nests, but the Sonne of man hath not whereon to lay his head: yet faint not, neither be discouraged, for thou art an heyre of promise; and shalt one day have a full fruition of the heavenly inheritance prepared from before the foundations of the world were laid. The heyre of a Gentleman is kept under Tutors and Governours in the time of his nonage; but as soone as that is expired, he is at liberty, and free from all: so though we be the heyres of God, yet in the time of our minority and nonage in this world we are kept under many austere masters: yet the day of our redemption drawes nigh, when as all teares shall be wiped from our eyes, and we shall have full fruition of Gods presence, at whose right hand is fulnesse of joy, and pleasures for evermore.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 9.8.
• * 1.2

  Isai. 46.10.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 8.