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 ...

§. 12. Of Directions to be Holy.

THat we may be such holy brethren as are here set down,

• 1. Be well informed in the nature of holiness: For superstition, hypocri∣ste, yea and idolatry it self make pretence of holiness. If the mark be mistaken, the more pains we take and diligence we use▪ the further we shall be off from it. The faster a traveller goes in a wrong way, the farther he may be from the place to which he desires to go. The Jews being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, were farthest off from true holi∣ness. See §. 6. of the holiness here meant.
• 2. Cleanse your selves fro•…•… all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Thus may you per∣fect

• ... holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. It is a course which all of all sorts observe for perfecting of a thing; namely, first to remove the impediments: thus Physi∣tians purge our peccant humours: Chirurgians draw out festring matter: Hus∣ban•…•…men s•…•…ack up broom, briars, thorns, and all noisom weeds: Every man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 striveth so the mastery, is temperate in all things, (1 Cor. 9. 25.) In this respect that which P•…•…sophers hold of privation, may prove true, that there must be a priva∣tion of one form, before there can be an induction of another. This is the con∣stant doctrine of the Scripture: Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns, Jer. 4. 3. Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings, Isa. 1. 16. Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts, Eph. 4. 22. Except we take this course, all our labour after holiness will be in vain.
• 3. Have speciall care of your company. Avoid the society of unholy ones: Associate thy self with holy ones, that in you may be accomplished this Proverb, Birds of a feather will fly together. Depart from me you evil doers; for I will keep the Commandments of my God (Psal. 119. 115.) he implies thereby that while he kept company with them, he could not keep Gods Commandments. All his delight was in the Saints, Psal. 16. 3. That this means is very powerfull, is evident by these Pro∣verbs, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, Prov. 13. 20. With an evil man thou shalt not go, least thou learn his waies, Prov. 22. 24, 25.
• ...

  4. Be conscionable and constant in using such means as God hath sanctified for attaining holiness. For God will be found in his own way. He communicated grace in and by the means which himself hath ordained for that end. He hath in much wisdom ordered them, and he will not suffer his wisdom to be crossed by mans foolish conceit.

  The means are

  • 1. Publique.
  • 2. Private.
  • 3. Secret.
  • ...

    1. Publique means are the Word and Sacraments.

    By the Word faith and repentance are wrought and increased. In these the two kindes of holiness, Justification and Sanctification consist.

    By the Sacraments, the same graces are ratified and sealed. Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness of the faith which Abraham had, Rom. 4. 11. Baptism was also a seal of repentance, Act. 2. 38.

  • 2. Private means are, Reading Gods Word (Deut. 17. 19. Act. 8. 28▪ & 17. 11.) and holy conference, Deut. 6. 7. 1 Thess. 5. 11. Luke 24. 32.
  • 3. Secret means are
    • 1. Examination of ones self, Psal. 4. 4. 1 Cor. 11. 28. By this one may know his spirituall estate.
    • 2. Meditation, Psal. 1. 2. & 119, 15, 97. This must be on Gods Word and Works of mercy and judgement, on our selves and others. This will keep out evil thoughts, and fill our minde with good thoughts.
• 5. Be instant and constant in Prayer, and that for the holy Spirit which is pro∣mised to those that ask him, Luke 11. 13. This Spirit it is which makes us Holy.
• 6. Be patient under crosses. For God doth chasten his that they might be •…•…∣takers of his holiness, Heb. 12. 10. See more hereof in that place.