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. 10.

HItherto he hath wished her to avoyd their errors; now hee doth advise her to eschew their companie. 1. Non partici∣pando in facto, not participating with them in deeds. 2. Non participando in verbo, not participating with them in words verse 11.

If any come unto you they be shamelesse fellowes, they will not tarry till they be sent for, they will come of their owne accord, and intrude themselves.

What any without exception? nay, and bring not this doctrine, namely of Christ, but the contrary rather.

Receive him not into your house, why? this seemes too great inci∣vility, they might receive him, and when they perceived that by him, turne him out againe: I but, Turpiùs eiicitur, quam non ad∣mittitur hospes, ye shall have more adoe to eject him, than to keepe him out at the first, shut up the doores of your house against him. It seemes, that as Gajus was the Churches Host: so this Lady was the Churches Hostesse, her house was open to the Preachers and Professors of the Gospell, but he warneth her not to receive corrupt teachers. 1. It is a thing displeasing to God, to give en∣tertainment to his enemies. Iehu the seer reproved King Iehoshaphat for joyning with Achab: Wouldest thou helpe the wicked, and love them that hate the Lord?* 1.1 God gave us our houses, they must bee for his friends and not for his enemies.

2. The godly will be grieved at it, and shall we grieve them,* 1.2 for whom especially Christ died? 3. It may bring a bad report of our selves, that we like of them, and approve them, whereas we ought to abstaine from all appearance of evill, and provide things ho∣nest before God and men. 4. It may indanger our owne soules.* 1.3 For their word fretteth as a canker, It may over-run us and infect us, ere we be aware. 5. It may encourage them in their wicked∣nesse. 6. It may pull Gods wrath on us and our houses; God blessed the house of Potiphar for Iosephs sake,* 1.4 and the house of the Shunamitish woman for Elishaes sake. His curse will light on those houses where the adversaries of his Gospel are harboured. When Saint Iohn heard, that Cerinthus the Heretique was in the bathe, saith he, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Let us flie least the Bathe fall on our heads? Yet what a number be there,* 1.5 whose houses are receptacles for Seminaries, Priests, and Iesuites, and other Sectaries? Ahabs house was for Baals Priests: But Con∣stantines Pallace was for godly Bishops and Ministers,* 1.6 and hee thought their prayers to be the pillars of his house, and indeede they were.

Then for participation in words. Where 1. The prohibition. 2. The reason of it, verse 11. Neither bid him God speed. Be so farre in shewing him any kindnesse in deeds, as vouchsafe him not a kind word or greeting. The Grecians used two words in their salutations. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Rejoyce and doe well, celse gaudere, & benè rem gerere, Albin••vano, as the Poet said.

Here is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Wish him no joy, no comfort, vouchsafe him not a good word, or familiar speech, shew no token of familiarity to him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Paral. 19.2.
• * 1.2

  1 Thes. 5.22.
• * 1.3

  2 Cor. 8.21. 2. Tim. 2.17.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 39.5. 2 Reg. 4 17.
• * 1.5

  Euseb E••cles. Hist. l. 4. c. 14.
• * 1.6

  Euseb. de vita Constant. l. 4.