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 14.

TO put it out of all doubt, hee sheweth to what Tribe this Priest appertaineth: he proves it by the common voice and testimony of all: it is a cleere case, all confesse it.

Of whom it is said; the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, &c.

As the Sunne dispelling the clouds and darknesse of the night, riseth in the morning and scattereth his beames over all the world: So the Sonne of righteousnesse rose, dispelling the foggie mists of the ceremoniall law, and spreading the light of the Gospell over all the world.

Iudah: both on his supposed fathers side, Luk. 2.4. and on his mothers side, Luk. 1.27.

It seemes that Christ pertained to the Tribe of Levi too.

1. Elizabeth was Maries Couzin: she was Wife to Zacharie, which was of the Tribe of Levi: now they were to marry in their owne Tribes.

Sol: They of the Tribe of Levi might take Wives out of other Tribes, so as the inheritance were not transported out of the Tribe, as 2 Chron. 22.11. yet the men, not the women, gave the denomination of the Tribe, and the child was not said to be of that Tribe whereof his mother was, but whereof his father was.

2. Nathan was of the Tribe of Levi: yet Christ came of him, Luk. 3.31.

It was not Nathan the Prophet, but one of David's sonnes of that name, 2 Sam. 5.14.

It is manifest, Christ was of the Tribe of Iudah, the Sonne of David, concerning which—Moses Gods Scribe and Pen-man of that, that was deputed to the Priest hood.

The Tribe is changed: ergo, the Priest-hood.

It pleased CHRIST to come of the Tribe of Iudah, not for any holinesse that was in Iudah above the rest of the twelve Patri∣archs. Iudah himselfe committed incest with his daughter, though unknowne to him; at the least hee tooke her to be an Whore, and

lay with her: but our Saviour made choice of this Tribe, of his owne gracious goodnesse.

Though CHRIST descended of the Tribe of Iudah, yet all of that Tribe were not sayed. There are seald as many thousands of all other Tribes as of that: and of that Tribe, as Kings and o∣thers, are noted to be wicked men. Therefore wee must not flatter our selves in any outward prerogatives, as the Papists doe. They have a part of the coate, wherein Christ went to be crucified, some of the nailes wherewith hee was fastned to the Crosse: they make pilgrimages to the Sepulchre of Christ, &c. All these are nothing to salvation.

Though thou couldest derive thy generation from Christ ac∣cording to the flesh: though thou haddest beene one of Christs bre∣thren, if possible, lien in the same wombe, yet that makes thee not the neerer to the kingdome of heaven. Lay hold on Christ with a lively faith, labour to say with Paul, I live, and yet not I, but the Son of God liveth in mee; then thou shalt be eternally saved.

Our LORD CHRIST is often honoured in Scripture with this title: it may worthily bee adscribed to him. He created us of nothing, preserveth and upholdeth us being created, hee bought us with his precious bloud, when we were worse than nothing: there∣fore justly is he our Lord. This we confesse in our Creede. And in Iesus Christ our Lord, this we professe in our prayers, which end thus, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Yet we use him not as our Lord: yee call mee Master and Lord, and yee doe well; but then yee ought to be∣have your selves as dutifull and obedient servants to me. Servants goe and come at the commandement of their Lord. I have servants under me, sayes the Centurion; I say to one, goe, and he goeth, doe this, and he doth it. Doe we deale so with Christ our Lord? hee sayes come not at the Ale-house, there to sit quaffing and swilling till reason be buried in you: yet we will be as drunken as Apes, as wee use to speake. Our Lord sayes, your bodies are mine, they bee my mem∣bers, and the temples of the Holy Ghost; doe not prostitute them to Whores and Harlots: yet we will do it. Our Lord sayes, one thing is necessary: preferre the hearing of my Word before all worldly businesses: yet if there be a Sermon in the Towne, and a paltry faire a little from the Towne, we will preferre the faire before the Ser∣mon, Christ shall speake to the walls for all us. Our Lord sayes, use my name reverently in all your talke; yet we will make it as com∣mon as a Tennis ball, and sweare by God and Christ at every word. Is this to call Christ Lord? Christ hath the name of our Lord, and the Devill hath our service; what a monstrous thing is this? As in word we call Christ Lord, so let our deeds shew us to be his servants: we are bought with a price, wee are not our owne, but Iesus Christs: therefore let us glorifie him in our Spirits and bodies, which be his.