Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 20
A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the third Epiſtle of S. IOHN.
Verſe I. VntoUnto the well-beloved Gaius]
ARich Corinthian, rich in this world, and rich in good works: A rare bird, at Corinth eſpecially:Rom 16.23. 1 Cor. 1.14. where Saint Paul found them the richer the harder, and farre behinde the poor Macedonians in works of charity.
Verſe 2. That thou maist proſper] Gr.foreign That thou maist make a good voiage of it, and come-ſafe and ſound to thy journeys end.
Even as thy ſoul prospereth] By the bleſſing of him that dwelt in the buſh, Deut. 31.16. Now the ſoul proſpereth, when it hath cloſe communion with God, and enjoyes the light of his loving countenance, preferring his favour before the worlds warm Sunne.
Verſe 3. Teſtified of the truth] This was their ingenuity, thus, at leaſt, to requite their Hoſt, by giving teſtimony of his liberality.
Verſe 4. I have no greater joy] See the Note on 2 Ioh. 4.
Walk in truth] Not walk to the ale-houſe, walk about with tales to ſhed bloud, walk a…ter the fleſh, as too many of our hearers do, to our ſingular heart-break.
Verſe 5. Thou dost faithfully] That is, out of faith, and as beſeemeth a faithfull Chriſtian. They that give alms, &c. and not out of faith, they do worſe then loſe their labour: for they commit ſin.
Verſe 6.foreign After a godly ſort] Gr. Worthy of God, as ſeeing God in them, and as beſeemeth his ſervants, who are Princes in all lands, Pſal. 45.
Verſe 7. They went forth] To preach, and gain ſouls to God: And this they did gratis, as Paul, becauſe the falſe-apoſtles did ſo at Corinth, ſeeking occaſion againſt the true teachers, 2 Cor. 11, 12.
Verſe 8 That we might be fellow-helpers] And ſo receive a Prophets reward. See the Note on Mat. 10.41.
Verſe 9. Diotrephes, who loveth, &c.] Ambition is like the Crocodile, which groweth as long as it liveth. What ſtirs made proud Paulus Samoſatenus in the Primitive Church? What continuall quarrellings were there between the Biſhops of Couſtantinople and of Rome for the primacy? and between the Arch-biſhops of Canterbury, and of York for precedency? What a deal ſuffered learned Zanchy at Argentina from his ambitious colleagues, and divers of our Engliſh Divines and others, from the lordly Prelates? Pareus was wont to ſay, That the chief cauſe of all the Churches troubles was the Church-mens affectation of dominion. This trouble-town if we could caſt out of the Church, ſaid he, great hopes there were that we ſhould all, foreign, concur and conſent in one and the ſame truth.Iſidor. Peluſ. … 4.… 55. foreign
Verſe 10. Prating againſt us] One would wonder what he could prate againſt S. Iohn, and yet he did, and that maliciouſly. True it is, he did but trifle and play the fool (as the Greek word ſignifies) in that he prated: but he ſhewed his malice nevertheleſſe. So do the Jeſuites, as in many other their practices, ſo in this, that in their writings againſt us, they confirm that with glorious words and arguments, which weſtick not at; to make the world believe, that we deny all that which they ſo buſily, and ſo bravely prove, and ſo to make us odious: Whereas they leave the main matter in controverſie utterly unproved, thinking to carry it away with out-facing and great words.
Verſe 11. Follow not] Make not ſuch a man as Diotrephes your patern for imitation: though he ruſſle it amongſt you, and will needs be the only man.
Verſe 12. Of all men] Of all good men: for God reckons of men according to their goodneſſe. As a good name only is a name, Eccl. 7.1. and a good wife only a wife, Prov. 18.22.
And of the truth it ſelf] That's enough: Doth the truth report well of a man? then he needs not care, what the world can ſay.
Yea, and we alſo] Which we doe not uſe to do without ſpeciall caution. It is a fault to be too forward to teſtifie of any.
Verſe 13. I will not with inke] In vain is the word written in books, unleſſe it be alſo written in our hearts, ler 31.
Verſe 14. But I truſt] He could promiſe nothing peremptorily, but ſubmits to God. See the Note on I am. 4.15.
Face to face] As iron whets iron, ſo doth the face of a man his friend.