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 ...

§. 110. Of Gods waies.

HItherto of the first part of Gods complaint, which was of their stubbornnesse, See §. 106. The other part is their ignorance, thus set down, And they have not known my waies.

This their ignorance, as it is a distinct sinne in itself, so it was the cause of the former sin: whereupon some turn this copulative a 1.1 AND (as it is in the Hebrew) and adversative b 1.2 BUT (as it is in Greek) into a causall FOR.

Here we are to consider two points.

• 1. What are the waies of God.
• 2. How their not knowing of them was an aggravation of their sin.

c 1.3 A way is that course wherein one walketh.

The Hebrew d 1.4 Verb whence this word way is derived, signifieth to tread upon, as Thou shalt tread the Olives, Mic. 6. 15. And I will tread them in min•…•… anger, Isa. 63. 3.

The * 1.5 Greek word translated Way, is derived from a Verb which signifieth to go. According to both these derivations, a Way is that whereon one treads; or wherein he goeth.

It is attributed unto God metaphorically; and that in two respects.* 1.6

• 1. Actively: setting out that way wherein God himself walks.
• 2. Relatively: intending that way wherein he would have us to walk.

Of the former kinde there are two sorts.

• 1. Gods secret way. This is his unsearchable counsell. Hereof saith the Apostle,* 1.7 How unsearchable are his judgements, and his waies past finding out! Rom. 11. 33. And God himself by his Prophet thus, My waies are higher then your waies, and my thoughts then your thoughts, Isa. 55. 9.
• 2. His manifest way. Under this in speciall are contained his works; whereby he* 1.8 declares himself and his Divine properties unto us, as power, wisdom, truth, mer∣cy, justice, wrath, &c. In reference hereunto thus saith Moses of God, He is the rock, his work is perfect: for all his waies are judgement: A God of truth, and with∣out iniquity, just and right is he, Deut. 32. 4. In reference also hereunto, the Psal∣mist thus saith, The Lord is righteous in all his waies, and holy in all his works, Psal. 145. 17.

The waies wherein God would have us to walk are his precepts, whereof thus* 1.9 saith the Psalmist, Shew me thy waies, O Lord, teach me thy path. The Lord will •…•…each sinners in the way: and the meek he will teach his way, Psal. 25. 4, 8, 9. Isa. 2. 3. And God himself thus saith, O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my waies, Psal. 81. 13.

The two later kindes of waies are here especially meant: namely his works and his precepts.

The works of God are styled his waies, because we may see him as it were walk∣ing therein. For by his works we may disc•…•…rn the footsteps of his properties and providence. They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, Psal. 68. 24. By the goings of God are meant the distinct acts of the Divine providence. Where it is said to God, Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, re∣ference is had to Gods manifestation of his power, wisdom, mercy and justice in dividing the red sea for the Israelites to pass through it, and overwhelming their enemies thereby, Psal. 77. 19.

In this respect that Gods works are waies wherein he may be seen walking, it is our duty,

• 1. To understand the waies of God, so farre as he is pleased to walk in the•…•…, and to make them known to us. Thereby he shews himself to be such a God, is none can be imagined to be like unto him: so as we may say unto him, How terri∣ble art thou in thy works? Psal. 66. 3. Among the Gods there is none like unto thee, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works, Psal. 86. 8.
• 2. To acknowledge the equity and righteousness of Gods waies. The L•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 righteous in all his wales, and holy in all his works, Psal. 145. 17. This is it whereabo•…•… God makes with the Israelites this vehement expostulation, and that again and again: Hear now O house of Israel: is not my way equàl? are not your waies unequall Ezek. 18. 25, 29. & 33. 17, 20. To impeach Gods waies of iniquity, is an high degree of blasphemy.
• 3. To admire and magnifie the Lord in his waies. All the Kings of the earth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praise thee, O Lord: yea they shall sing in the waies of the Lord, Psal. 138. 4, 5. M•…•… is this duty pressed in, and under the title of Gods works. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will shew forth all thy marvellous works, Psal. 9. 1. Ma•…•…y, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord, my God, are thy wonderfull works, which thou hast done, Psal. 40. 5.

Gods precepts are frequently styled his waies. To demonstrate this more •…•…∣ly, this Epithete Way, is oft joyned with Gods Precepts and Command•…•…▪ Thus prayeth David, Make me to understand the way of thy Precepts▪ Teach 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord, the way of thy statutes; make me to go in the path of thy Command•…•…▪ And thus he professeth, I will runne the way of thy Commandments, Psal. 119▪ •…•…▪ 32, 33, 35.

God by his Precepts doth declare unto men, how they should carry themsel•…•… towards him and towards one another: so as they are as a way for them to wal•…•… to observe and to do them.

Gods Precepts are not for meer speculation, but for practice. It is the peo•…•… use of a way to walk in it.

Of practising Gods Commandments, See the Saints Sacrifice on Psal. 116. •…•…. •…•…. §. 59.

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 〉 calca∣vit.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 derivatu•…•… ab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vado.
• * 1.6

  See Chap. 10. v. 20. §. 54.
• * 1.7

  Gods secret way.
• * 1.8

  Gods visible way.
• * 1.9

  Waies wherein God▪ would have us walk.