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 ...

§. 169. Of the Resolution and Observations of Heb. 3. 17.

17.

But with whom was he grieved fourty years? Was it not with them that had sin∣ned, whose carkasses fell in the wilderness?

THe Summe of this verse is, The issue of them who grieve God. Herein we may observe two points,

• 1. The manner of propounding the thing, interrogatively: and that by Que∣stion upon Question.
• 2. The matter. Whereabout we have,
  • 1. A thing taken for grant.
  • 2. A consequence following thereupon.

The thing taken for grant is,

• 1. Generally propounded, God was grieved.
• 2. In special amplified by the time how long, fourty years.

The consequence is a judgement that followed thereupon. In it are set down,

• 1. The Persons that were punished, They that had sinned.
• 2. The Kinde of Judgement. This was an extraordinary death, Their car∣kasses fell.
• 3. The place where, In the wilderness.

Doctrines.

• I. Discussing of points by interrogations is emphatical. The Apostles manner of handling his matters so, gives proof hereunto. See § 166.
• II. God may be grieved. This is here taken for grant. See v. 10. §. 103.
• III. The Lord is a God of long-suffering. To continue to be grieved fourty years implieth much patience. See v. 9. §. 101.
• IV. Sinne grieveth God. It is here said, that he was grieved with them that sinned. See §. 167.
• V. Sore vengeance follows upon grieving God. The judgement whereunto the Apo∣stle hath reference, proveth as much. See §. 168.
• VI. God can suddenly destroy men. So much is intended under this phrase, Whose carkasses fell. See §. 168.
• VII. By sin men deprive themselves of blessings promised. All that fell in the wil∣derness deprived themselves of the promised Canaan. See v. 11. §. 118.