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 ...

§. 120. Of Observations collected out of Heb 3. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

I. CHrists faithfulness must make Christians heedfull in attending to him. The •…•…∣ticle of inference, Wherefore, intends thus much. See §. 73.

II. The Apostle delivered what was agreeable to the minde of the Spirit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wrote as the holy Ghost spake. This particle AS sheweth the agreeablen•…•… See §. 74.

III. The holy Ghost is the Authour of the Old Testament. He therein spake. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 §. 74.

IV. The Word written is as a Sermon spoken. The testimony here alleadged is taken out of the Word written: yet of it this Verb, saith, is used. See §. 74.

V. The first opportunity for grace is to be taken. This is intended under this word Today. See §. 76.

VI. Gods Word is mans rule. Gods word is implied under this phrase, His voice, which is here set down as our rule. See §. 78.

VII. Gods Word is to be heeded. We must hear it. See §. 77.

VIII. Hearing Gods Word is a means to prevent hardnesse of heart. The manner of premising this duty with this conditionall particle, IF, intends thus much. See §. 77.

IX. Mans heart may be hardened. This is here taken for grant in that he admo∣nisheth them not to harden their hearts. See §. 80, &c.

X. Man may harden his own heart. This Relative Your hath reference to those that are admonished not to harden their hearts. See §. 85.

XI. Hardnesse of heart is an hindrance to profitable hearing. In that he inferres this admonition, not to harden their heart, upon the duty of hearing, he sheweth that they whose hearts are hardened cannot well hear Gods Word. See §. 77.

XII. Sinnes of Predecessours are to be avoided. This note of resemblance AS, hath reference to their Predecessours to whom they must not be like. See §. 89.

XIII. Notice is to be taken of the sinnes of former ages. These two titles, Provo∣cation, Temptation, are records of former sinnes; that so succeeding persons may take notice thereof. See §. 90.

XIV. Mans continuing in sinne is a day of sinning. For this end is the Israelites continuing to tempt God called the day of temptation. See §. 91.

XV. Kindnesse works not o•…•… incredulous. Many and great were the kindnesse•…•… which God shewed to the Israelies in the wildernesse: yet in the wildernesse they remained obstinate. See §. 92.

XVI. Straits are no just cause of distrust. The Israelites are blamed for their unbelief in the wildernesse, though therein they were brought to many straits. See §. 93.

XVII. Sinnes of forefathers are no warrant to successors. The children that came from the Israelites in the wildernesse are here warned to take heed of their fathers sins. See §. 95.

XVIII. It is a great sinne to tempt God. Tempting of God is here set down as an high provocation of God. See §. 96.

XIX. God is kinde to the ungratefull. This word proved being added to tempted, sheweth that they who tempted God had sundry proofs of his goodnesse. See §. 97, 98.

XX. Extraordinary works work not on incredulous. Who ever saw greater works of God then the Israelites in the wildernesse? They saw these works and yet belie∣ved not. See §. 99.

XXI. Mans unbelief straitneth not Gods power. Though the Israelites in the wil∣dernesse believed not, yet God all that time, even fourty years continued to do wonders, they saw his works. See §. 100.

XXII. God is of long suffering. He continued to be grieved fourty years together. See §. 101.

XXIII. Continuance in sinne much aggravates sinne. This particle of inference Wherefore having reference to Gods swearing vengeance upon their fourty years provocation, proveth as much. See §. 102, 109.

XXIV. Mans obstinacy grieves God. It was Israels obstinacy that provoked God to say, I was grieved. See §. 103▪

XXV. Conspiracy of many in sinne is one aggravation.

XXVI. Continuance after others in the like sinne, is another aggravation. These two Observations arise from the meaning of this word Generation. See §. 104.

XXVII. God is oft forced to complain of his people. This word said, as here used, is a word of complaint. See §. 105.

XXVIII. Wilfulnesse aggravateth sin. Erring in heart is a kinde of wilfulnesse. This is here set down as an aggravation. See §. 106, 107.

XXIX. Gods works are his waies. Therein he makes himself to be seen as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 walking before us. Therefore they are here called his waies. See §. 110.

XXX. Some ignorance aggravateth sin. Their not knowing is here set down as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aggravation. See §. 111.

XXXI. Gods patience may be turned into just vengeance. This particle so, sheweth that by abuse of patience God was brought to swear judgement▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 §. 113.

XXXII. God may be brought to swear vengeance. This is here plainly expressed▪ See §. 114.

XXXIII. God may be incensed to wrath. For here he saith of himself, I sware 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wrath. See §. 114.

XXXIV. Men must be tender of imprecations. The manner of Gods o•…•… whereby the imprecation is left to be understood, intendeth as much. See §. 11•…•….

XXXV. There is a rest prepared for Gods people. This is implied under this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rest. See §. 116.

XXXVI. The rest of Gods people is in speciall manner Gods rest. For thus Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leth it, My rest. See §. 117.

XXXVII. Men may deprive themselves of the benefit of Gods promises. God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 promised this rest to the children of Israel, yet these Israelites deprived themsel•…•… thereof. See §. 118.

Notes

• Vers. 7.
• Vers. 8.
• Vers. 9.
• Vers. 10.
• Vers. 11.