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 9.

THe second argument whereby the Apostle proves that Mel∣chizedec is greater than the Levites: the Levites payd tithes to him, ergo he is greater than they: therefore Melchizedec must needs be a great man.

Because this might seeme to bee too acute, more subtile than solid, the Apostle mollifies it, If I may so speake, if I may use so light a reason (as it may seeme) in so weighty a matter.

The reason is pregnant, and needeth no excuse: therefore tran∣slate it, and to say as the thing is.

The tithe-taker, was a tithe-giver.

Which was wont to receive tithes. A participle of the present tense imports an use and custome, as Matth. 17.24.25.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may bee put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: yet here it hath his force: by Abra∣ham, as a meane betweene them both, as one, that came betweene them.

Here wee see, wee may doe many things before we are borne.

All wee sinned in Adam. When hee eate of the forbidden Tree, we eat of it: when he was banished out of Paradise, we were banished: when he pulled the wrath of GOD upon him by his dis∣obedience, we pulled the wrath of God on us: when he gave place to the suggestions of the Devill, we gave place to them: when he rebelled against God, wee rebelled against him, because hee was not to bee considered as a private man, but as the roote and fountaine of all mankinde. When Adam was created in righteousnesse and true holinesse, after the Image of God; wee were then created as glorious Creatures as hee. When Adams body was framed out of the dust of the earth, our bodies were taken out of the earth: when Adam received a dominion over the beasts of the field, the birds of the ayre, the fishes of the Sea; we received a Lordship over all creatures: when Abraham payd tithes, the tribe of Levi payd tithes.

So we that be Christians may be affirmed to have done many things in Christ; when hee did undergoe the burden of his fathers wrath, wee sustained it: when he fulfilled the law, we fulfilled it: when hee was crucified on the Crosse, wee were crucified to sinne: when he dyed, we dyed: his death was a token of our dying to sin.

When hee rose againe and ascended into heaven, we his mem∣bers rose againe and ascended into heaven. When he payd the debt of sinne, we payd it, namely by him, as by our surety.

Let us not then think much of the punishments inflicted on us for sinne: that we have sicknesses and diseases, yea that even poore tender infants of a weeke old are sicke—Besides our owne sinnes wherein wee were conceived, wherein wee grow up continually, wee all sinned in Adam, and when the sentence of death was pro∣nounced against him, it was pronounced against us all: we were all guilty of damnation, save that God in mercy hath saved many by his Sonne Christ Iesus.

CHRIST's doings are our doings; his obedience, is our obe∣dience; his satisfaction, is ours; his merits are ours, his righteous∣nesse is ours: therefore though we bee poore in our selves, yet wee are rich in him; though we have nothing of our selves, yet in him we possesse all things.