A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 106. Of the meaning of these words, They do alway erre in their heart.

THe matter of Gods complaint is set out in two particulars,

• 1. Their stubborn∣ness.
• 2. Their ignorance.

The former is thus expressed, a 1.1 They do alway erre in their hearts. The Hebrew thus, b 1.2 It is a people that do erre in their heart.

Though there be some difference in words betwixt the Hebrew and Greek, yet the sense is the same in both. For this Hebraism, c 1.3 a people erring, signifieth a con∣tinuance in a thing. It is a d 1.4 Participle of the present tense, and intendeth a present being to be so and so, as it hath been before.

The Greek Translators to express the emphasis of that Hebraism in their own dialect, adde this Adverb e 1.5 alwaies.

The word translated f 1.6 people is of the singular number: but it is a colle∣ctive word, and compriseth many under it. It signifieth a multitude of per∣sons. Therefore the Greek Translators use the Plural number g 1.7, They doe erre.

The Apostle in both these diversities followeth the Septuagint. Of the LXX. See Chap. 1. v. 6. §. 72.

The Verb translated erre is of the passive voice.

h 1.8 The active signifieth to seduce or deceive, as Matth. 24. 4, 5, 11.

* 1.9 The passive signifieth to erre, k 1.10 Mat. 22. 29. For they that erre are deceived by themselves or others.

Both the l 1.11 Hebrew and m 1.12 Greek words are applied to silly sheep, which go astray from the rest of the flock, and from their shepherd, and so fall into many dangers, Isa. 53. 6. Mat. 18. 12, 13.

The folly of those who go astray out of the wayes of God, and wander in the wayes of wickedness, is set out to the life.

To aggravate their sin the more, the ground thereof is thus declared, n 1.13 in heart: This relative [their] is not unfitly added by our English, to shew, that their own evil disposition caused them to go astray.

Of the Heart, and of the divers significations thereof, See v. 8. §. 79.

Heart is here put for the Will.

Men may be said to erre three wayes:

• 1. In the minde or understanding, so did they of whom the Prophet saith, They that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, Isa. 29. 24. The later clause declares the meaning of the former, and shews that by erring in spirit, he means erring in understanding. And Christ where he saith, Ye do erre not knowing the Scriptures, Mat. 22. 29. sheweth that he meaneth erring in knowledge.
• 2. In Will or heart: for the Scripture doth oft put these one for another; This is liere especially meant, and of it we shall speak more in the next §.
• 3. In the life and actions of men; To this purpose, saith the Wise-man, He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof, erreth, Prov. 10. 17.

The former clause sheweth, that the erring which he speaketh of, is in the way

and course of a mans life. To this purpose saith the Apostle, They have forsak•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right way, and are gone astray (2 Pet. 2. 15.) or erred, viz. out of the right way▪

The first kinde of error, is ignorance.

The second, wilfulness.

The third, rebellion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be∣noni. Participium praesens medium inter perfectum & faturum.
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• h 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, se∣duco.
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, erratis.
• l 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• m 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• n 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.