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 19.

THe effect of the promise is a sure hope; which is set forth by a similitude: where we have the qualities of the ancre, and the power of it: it entreth into heaven it selfe, whereof the legall sanctuary was a type.

The which hope, whereby we hold heaven; referre it not to con∣solation, though it be of the same case: for that is further removed, and it enters not into heaven, but to the vertue of hope.

An ancre; a spirituall and an heavenly ancre, not a temporall and earthly: for the preservation of the soule, not of the body.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: not slipperie, which cannot bee sup∣planted, or overthrowne.

Firme, stable, that cannot be removed: an ancre must neither bee too little nor too light.

An ancre goes downeward; this upward: anchora in imo; spes in summo.

Of this metaphor he made choyce, that so he might returne to the Priesthood of Christ, from whence he had digressed.

Into the inner of the vaile, that is the Sanctuary, which was se∣parated by a vaile from the rest of the tabernacle, Exod. 40.3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pando: because it was spread over with a vaile: this was a type of heaven, Heb. 9.12.10, 19. In this stood the Arke and other secrets, which were hid from the people. None came into the Holy of Holies, but the high Priest, and he no more than once a yeere: even so heaven is a secret place: there be joyes which eye hath not seene, eare heard, neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive: yet our hope as an ancre entereth into it.

As a Ship cannot be without an ancre, no more can we with out hope. The ship is the soule of a Christian, the ancre is hope: the Sea where it is tossed, is the world: the place whereinto the ancre is cast, is heaven.

These ancres are throwen into the bottome of the Sea: this in∣to the bottome of heaven, where it is more sure. As the ancre in a storme and tempest holdeth the ship fast, that it is not tossed up and downe, nor shaken with winds and waves: So doth hope the Ship of our soules, in the tempestuous Sea of this world.

It is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: quia 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it drawes all men to the expectation of future happinesse.

Wherein these things are briefly to be considered.

* 1.11. Wherof hope is: it is of future, not of present things. Hope that is seene, is not hope. 2. It is of some joyfull thing that is to come: if it bee an uncomfortable thing, we rather feare it, then hope for it: hope is of some joyfull thing that is to come. As wee that be Christians hope for heaven, where wee shall remaine with Christ for ever.

2. Where is hope? the answer is easie: it is in this life: there is no hope in the life to come: they that bee in Hell, are out of all hope of comming out, for there is no Gaole deliverie: and they that be in heaven have the end of their hope: they see, that is they feele the joyes of heaven, they hope no longer for them. There is use of hope only in this world, while we remaine in this vaile of misery: and let us desire God to nourish the lampe of our faith to our dying day.

3. In whom must our hope be fixed? In none but in God alone: thou art my hope, my castle, my tower, my refuge. Cursed bee hee that maketh flesh his arme. And it is good reason why God alone must be the subject of our hope: for hee only can simply and of himselfe give all things: creatures cannot doe it, but it must be God reconci∣led to us by Iesus Christ.

Here we must distinguish betweene (sperare in) and (sperare per) we must sperare in Deo solo, tanquam in autore & fonte bonorum om∣nium: sperare per aliquem, aut per aliquid, est tanquam per instrumenta à Deo ordinata, te à Deo bonum aliquod consequuturum; that is not un∣lawfull: as Philem. 22. but withall prepare mee also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall bee given unto you. Wee may hope for health by the Physitian: but wee must not put our trust in the Physitians, as Asa did: wee may hope by prayers, fa∣stings, reading of Scriptures, hearing of Sermons, by mortifying of sinne, as by instruments, to goe to heaven, but wee must not hope in these things.

4. What Pillars hath our hope to leane upon? The Schoole∣men make two: gratia Dei, & merita praecedentia. Peter Lombard. lib. 3. dist. 26. defines hope thus: est certa expectatio futurae beatitudinis, veniens ex Dei gratia, & meritis praecedentibus: he adds further, sine meritis aliquid sperare, non spes, sed praesumptio dici potest.

Blasphemous in my opinion!

As for good workes, as they be fruits of faith, and seales of our election, they may cause us in some sort to bee of good courage and to hope well; but we have no merits to put our trust in: we must not hope to goe to heaven for the merit and dignity of our workes: that is but a broken staffe to leane upon: our workes are full of imperfections; therefore let us set them aside. The only props that hope hath, to support it withall, must be derived from God in Christ: they be especially three, as S^t. Augustine speaketh, and of them he glorieth; Charitas adoptionis, veritas promissionis, po∣testas redditionis.

1. God hath adopted mee in CHRIST, to be a fellow heyre of his kingdome with him: therefore I hope for that kingdome: for once his Sonne and ever his Sonne: there is not a shadow of tur∣ning in him.

2. God of his free mercy hath promised heaven to mee, Tit. 1.2. and hath sworne that I shall have heaven: therefore I hope for it.

3. CHRIST hath purchased heaven for mee with a deere purchase, even with the shedding of his owne bloud: therefore I hope for heaven.

4. God, that hath promised it to mee in Christ, is able to fulfill his promise, he doth whatsoever he will in heaven and in earth: there∣fore though I be unworthy of it being a wretched sinner; though I have many strong enemies to wrastle withall by the way, even all the devills in hell against mee; though I meete with crosses, passe through a Sea of tribulations, yet I will hope for heaven, and I know I shal one day have it: this is the ancre that pierces the waters of troubles and entreth into that within the vaile. This is the hope of a Christian, which makes not ashamed, as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 5.5. this makes us with Abraham, Rom. 4.18. to believe under the hope of grace against the hope of nature and our owne worthi∣nesse. The hope of the hypocrite shall perish, Iob 8.13. Pro. 10.28. but the hope of a godly man that believeth in Christ shall never perish. There may be weakenesses in hope, as in faith, but it shall never be quite overthrowen. A man may bee sicke, yet not dye: the Sunne may be eclipsed, yet not extinguished: we have this as an ancre of the soule, and by vertue of it we arrive at the haven of hap∣pinesse in the life to come.

Therefore let us desire God to increase our hope, and to streng∣then it daily more and more. But this ancre being in heaven already may put us in an assured hope of heaven: and the Lord in mercy so fortifie this ancre, that no stormes of afflictions may bee ever able to prevaile against it. Lord increase our hope.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 8.24.