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.

THe first argument from the change is illustrated by the cause, and the manner thereof. The cause was, because per∣fection could not be obtained by it. If we had been justified, sanctified, delivered from sin and damnation, and brought to heaven by the Priest-hood of the Levites, then why did it not remaine still, why was another Priest-hood substituted in the roome of it?

For the manner of the change; the Priest-hood went not away alone, but the fall of it was the fall of the law too: and when I speake of the Priest-hood, I speake of the law too: for under it the people received the law.

Some translate the preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unto: for unto it; namely to put us in minde of perfection, that was to comeby the Priest-hood of CHRIST. The law was established to the people: but that is further fetched: and the preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doth signifie under, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The law, that is the ceremoniall law, touching sacrifices, washing, observations of times and meats, &c. the law was given together with the Priest-hood, it was an appen∣dix to the Priest-hood: therefore as perfection comes not by the one, no more doth it by the other.

The people were lawified, tied and bound with the fetters of the ceremoniall law.

If perfection had beene by them, what needed there a further supply? but there came another Priest-hood, and an other law too: therefore the former were imperfect.

1. For the Priest-hood; there arose another Priest of another order, then the Leviticall Priests were: they were of the order of Aaron, this of Melchizedec.

Rise: not by haphazard, but by Gods owne constitution.

Deus & natura nihil faciunt frustrà: the wise and omnipotent GOD doth nothing that is needlesse and unnecessary. If it had not beene needefull that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchizedec, the Priest-hood of Aaron might have remained still. If preaching had not beene necessary, GOD would never have instituted preaching. If the Sacraments had not beene neces∣sary helpes for the strengthning of our faith, God would never have ordained the Sacraments: if wee could have beene justified and made righteous by our owne fulfilling of the law, God would never have sent his Sonne into the world, made of a woman and under the law for our sakes: but God sent Christ into the world to fulfill the law for us; therefore all our righteousnes is not worth a straw. This is the Logick of the Holy Ghost, and all wrangling Sophisters in the Church of Rome must yeeld unto it. If Aarons Priest-hood could have perfected us, Christ's Priest-hood should never have ri∣sen up in the roome thereof.

Wherein wee may behold the supereminent dignity of Christ his Priest-hood above the Aaronicall and Leviticall Priest-hood. It cannot be denyed, but that Aarons Priest-hood was most glorious. As the Psalmist speaketh of the Church; so may wee of it: many glorious things are spoken of thee, thou City of God: many glorious things are recorded of the Leviticall Priest-hood. There was a costly tabernacle, a sumptuous Temple, the wonder of the whole world, there was an admirable Altar, many oblations and sacrifices, there were sundry Sabbaths and new Moones, diverse festivall dayes, the feast of unleavened bread, of the blowing of Trumpets, of Taber∣nacles, of Dedication, &c. which were kept with wonderfull so∣lemnity, there were many washings and purgings for the clensing of the people. Vid. Supra.

Therefore let us magnifie GOD for this our high Priest by

whom wee have an enterance into the kingdome of heaven. The high-Priest went into the Holy of Holies himselfe, but hee carryed none of the people with him, they stood without: our high-Priest is not only gone into heaven himselfe, but hee hath also brought us thither: that high-Priest offered Bulls, Calves, Lambes for the sinnes of the people; this high-Priest offered himselfe for us all. Therefore let us honour and reverence this our high-Priest, let us subject our selves to him in all things. He that would not obey the high-Priest in the time of the Law, was cut off.

And doe ye thinke we may lawfully contemne our high-Priest in the time of the Gospell? Let us say to him, as the people did to Iosua, whatsoever thou commandest us, that will wee doe—Hee hath made us all Priests to GOD his Father, that wee should offer up our selves, our soules and bodies, as an holy and acceptable sa∣crifice to him: therefore let us shew our selves to bee Priests, let us sacrifice the filthy Beast of uncleannesse, the ugly and de∣formed beast of drunkennesse, the insatiable Wolfe of covetous∣nesse, the crooked Serpent of Craft and divellish policy, the swel∣ling Toade of pride and loftinesse, the consuming beasts of envy, hatred and malice: let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to this our high-Priest all the dayes of our life in this present world, that wee may sing praises to him with Saints and Angels for ever in the world to come. As wee say Christ is our Priest, so let us make use of it to our selves.