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.

HE renders a reason of it. For he that biddeth him God speede, is partaker of his evill deeds.* 1.1 And if wee be partakers of their sinnes, we shall be partakers of their plagues.

Salutation is a signe of love. We may not love them. Therefore not so much as salute them. Marcion asked Saint Iohn, if he knew him. Yes saith he, agnosco te primogenitum Satanae.* 1.2 I know thee to be the first borne of the devill. They are the devils broode. Therefore salute them not.

Dyonisius Bishop of Alexandria, would not vouchsafe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to Samosatenus the Heretique.

Some more nise than wise, more rigid than solid, will not bid any God speed in the high way side, least they be partakers of their evill deeds, not knowing where about they goe.

1. In doubtfull matters, it is the propertie of love to interpret

the best: for love is not suspitious; it thinketh not evill. 2. We may bid the man God speede, though not that where about hee goes, unlesse we certainely know that he goes about some mis∣chiefe.

These are not much unlike them, that except against the Le∣tanie, in the booke of Common prayer, because wee pray for all women labouring of childe, all that travell by land or water; then we pray for Harlots, for Pyrates, for Theeves. Touching harlots, we pray for the seede, not for the sinne. The sonne of an harlot may prove a good man,* 1.3 and a great man, as Iephthah did; as for Pyrats and Theeves, we pray not that God would prosper them in their Pyracie and theeving, but that God would give them repentance for their sinnes.

But Saint Iohns meaning is that we should not salute them fa∣miliarly, as we use to doe the Saints of God, and the brethren in Christ, but rather shew a detestation of them and their doctrine, as they be our enemies, we ought to love them, and may salute them; but as they be Gods enemies, we must hate them; Doe not I bate them,* 1.4 O Lord, that hate thee? yes, I hate them with a per∣fect hatred.* 1.5 Yet wee must alwayes distinguish, inter creaturam Dei, & creaturam diaboli: inter id quod Deus fecit, & quod diabo∣lus fecit.* 1.6 Owe nothing to any man save love. We must love the na∣ture which God made, hate the evill which the devill made.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apocal. 18.4.
• * 1.2

  Euseb. l. 4. c. 14▪ Euseb. l. 7. c. 3.
• * 1.3

  Iudg. 11.1.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 129. 21.
• * 1.5

  Aug.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 13.