His purpose here is to give men admonition to beware of suretyship: which he doth infer by two reasons, first, from the hurt and danger which they run into that be not well advised therein: and secondly, from the peace and safety which they enjoy that heedfully avoid the peril thereof. Now he doth not absolutely condemn all suretyship (for then would Paul have 1never undertaken for Onesimus) but rashness only therein, is that which is here, and in other places reproved. For it may sometimes be a work of mercy to become surety, as well as to lend or give. By stranger, is not meant all, or only unknown persons. For it may fall out to be a duty of Christian love, that way to help and relieve some such as we were never before acquainted with, and a near neighbour, a familiar friend, a kinsman, a brother may in this case be a stranger to us, when it is not safe to undertake for him. As first, if there be like to grow detriment to the borrower, as taking money, or any other commodities upon hard conditions, and at unreasonable rates, or for needless expenses, and unthriftiness, or any way to the hurt of his state or conscience. Secondly, if it tend to the hurt and damage of the lender that he is in danger to be defeated of his own, and to sustain loss by our means. If we our selves are to be entangled by it, the sum and value of the debt being more then we are able either to pay, or well to spare: when ones own creditors by that occasion, must be defrauded of their due, when our wives, children, and families which have also an interest in our substance, shall be robbed of their portion and maintenance, and bereaved of the fruit of their own labours. Then he showeth a remedy against it, to hate such as clap hands, that is, to hate and fear to be clappers of hands our selves, for the ratifying and confirmation of promises in this unadvised suretyship, and so we shall be ⟨p. 46⟩safe and sure in this behalf. Provided yet, that we take not other courses that be cousin-germans to it, & as dangerous and hurtful as that is: as negligently without all care and regard to run into debts and arrearages, or venturously without due consideration of mens faithfulness, and ability, to lend forth our money, wares, or cattle, and so to put our state into the hands of strangers.
HIs purpose here is to giue men admonition to beware of suretiship: which he doth inferre by two reasons, first, from the hurt and danger which they runne into that be not well aduised therein: and secondly, from the peace and safetie which they inioy that heedefully auoyd the perill thereof. Now he doth not absolutely condemne all suretiship (for then would Paul haue 1neuer vndertaken for Onesimus) but rashnes onely therein, is that which is here, and in other places reprooued. For it may sometimes be a worke of mercie to become surety, as well as to lende or giue. By stranger, is not meant all, or onely vnknowne persons. For it may fall out to be a dutie of Christian loue, that way to helpe and relieue some such as we were neuer before acquainted with, and a neere neighbour, a familiar friend, a kinsman, a brother may in this case be a stranger to vs, when it is not safe to vndertake for him. As first, if there be like to grow detriment to the borrower, as taking mony, or any other commodities vpon hard conditions, and at vnreasonable rates, or for needelesse expences, and vnthriftines, or any way to the hurt of his state or conscience. Secondly, if it tend to the hurt and damage of the lender that he is in danger to be defeated of his owne, and to sustaine losse by our meanes. If wee our selues are to bee intangled by it, the summe and valew of the debt beeing more then we are able either to pay, or well to spare: when ones owne creditours by that occasion, must be defrauded of their due, when our wiues, children, and families which haue also an interest in our substance, shall be robbed of their portion and maintenance, and bereaued of the fruit of their owne labours. Then hee sheweth a remedie against it, to hate such as clappe hands, that is, to hate and feare to be clappers of hands our selues, for the ratifying and confirmation of promises in this vnaduised suretiship, and so we shall be ⟨p. 46⟩safe and sure in this behalfe. Prouided yet, that we take not other courses that be cousen-germanes to it, & as dangerous and hurtfull as that is: as negligently without all care and regard to run into debts and arrerages, or ventrously without due consideration of mens faithfulnesse, and abilitie, to lend foorth our monie, wares, or cattell, and so to put our state into the hands of strangers.
- 1Philem. ver. 18
