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 ...

§. 129. Of the damages of Unbelief.

IT is a dangerous thing not to believe men, when they declare such truths as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for our good. Instance the case of Gedaliah: wherein his incredulity cost 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his own life, and the lives of all his friends with him, Ier. 40. 14, 16. & 41. 2, 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more dangerous must it needs be not to believe God, all whose words are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and for our good if we rightly use them.

Many and great are the damages which in Scripture are set down to ensue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unbelief. Such as these,

• 1. Unbelief hardens mens hearts against means afforded for their good, 2 King, 17. 14. Exod. 9. 19, 21.
• 2. It keeps them from being established in the way of God, Isa. 7. 9.
• 3. It makes them reject those whom God sends, Ioh. 5. 38. Mat. 21. 32.
• 4. It takes away the profit of Gods word, Heb. 4. 2.
• 5. It perverts the plainnest manner of teaching, Ioh. 3. 12. & 10. 25.
• 6. It makes miracles not to be regarded, Iohn 12. 37.
• 7. It enrageth mens mindes against the truth, Act. 17. 5.
• 8. It mov'd the Apostles to depart from people, Act. 19. 9.
• 9. It makes men unfit to call on God, Rom. 10. 4.
• 10. Unbelievers can in nothing please God, Heb. 11. 6.
• 11. They are no sheep of Christ, Ioh. 10. 26.
• 12. They are under Satans power, 2 Cor. 4. 4.
• 13. To unbelievers nothing is pure, Tit. 1. 15.
• 14. The gifts which Christ bestows upon them are fruitless and without power, Mat. 17. 20.
• 15. Christs own power is stinted to them, Mat. 13. 58.
• 16. Unbelief makes men do detestable acts, 1 Tim. 1. 13.
• 17. It was an especial cause of the rejection of the Jews, Rom. 11. 20.
• 18. It was the cause of many external Judgements, v. 19. Heb. 11. 31. For it makes men run headlong into danger, Exod. 14. 23.
• 19. It excludes from Heaven, Heb. 4. 11.
• 20. It thrusts down to hell, Luk. 12. 46. Mark 16. 16. Iohn 3. 18. 2 Thess. 2. 12. Rev. 21. 8.

Can that which is in it self so hainous a sinne, and which hath so many fearfull effects following upon it, be accounted an infirmity? Many do so account unbelief to be: and thereupon give too much way unto it, and nourish it too much. If we would judge it as indeed it is, a true, proper sinne, an hainous sinne, a cause of many other grosse sins: a sinne most dishonourable to God, and damageable to our own souls: we should take more heed of it, and be more watchfull against it.