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 ...

§ 16. Of the Priviledges of Saints calling,

THis Epithete heavenly implieth a great priviledge of the calling of Saints; For it implieth one speciall end thereof, which is to fit us for heaven. There 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also sundry ends noted in other places, which are as so many other priviledges, such as these that follow.

• 1. Spirituall life; This the Apostle intendeth where he joyneth these two toge∣ther, God quickneth the dead, and calleth. &c. Rom. 4. 17. Before men are called they are dead in sins, Eph. 2. 1. But when Christ effectually calleth any, his voice pierceth into their soul as powerfully as it did into the body of the damsell which was new dead. Mar. 5. 41, 42. Or of the young man that was carrying out on a Beer to be buried, Luke 7. 13, 14, 15. Or of Lazarus that had been dead four daies, Iohn 11, 43, 44. This is evident by this promise of Christ, The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5. 25. This is such a priviledge as scarce a greater can be desired; All that a man hath will he give for his temporall life, Job 2. 4. what then for spiritual life?
• 2. Light and sight: These I joyn together because one without the other is of no use. Of what use is light to a blinde man? And of what use is sight to him that hath no light to see by? Besides, by these two an effectuall calling is distin∣guished from a meer formal calling. They who are only outwardly called have light shining upon them, in that they have the Word preached unto them. In this respect it is said, The light shineth in darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not, Joh. 1. 5. But they who are inwardly called have also sight given unto them, the eyes of their understanding are opened, I have called thee saith the Lord to his Son to open his blinde eyes, Isa. 42. 6, 7. And the Apostle saith that he was sent to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darknesse to light, Act. 26. 19. That this is a priviledge of Saints calling, is evident by this phrase, God hath called you out of dark∣nesse into his marvelluus light, 1 Pet. 2. 9 Though this priviledge be not simply grea∣ter then the former, yet it addes much thereunto; For what is life to them that live in darknesse, but a kinde of death? It is very uncomfortable; Therefore dark∣nesse and death are oft joyned together, Isa. 9. 2. Iob 10. 21, 22. So on the coutra∣ry life and light are joyned together, Ioh. 1. 4. to shew that life is no life without light; Eternal death is in Scripture set out by darknesse, Mat. 8. 12.
• 3. Holinesse; God hath called us unto holinesse, 1 Thes. 4. 7. How great a priviledge this is hath been before shewed, §. 7.
• 4. Liberty; The Apostle expresly saith, that we are called unto liberty, Gal. 5. 13. Before we are called we are in bondage under Satan, sinne and death, Eph. 2. 2. Rom. 6. 17. Heb. 2. 5. yea, under the rigour and curse of the Law, Gal. 3. 10. and un∣der the infinite wrath of God, Eph. 2. 3. Now according to the Lords under whom we are in bondage is our bondage the more grievous; From all the aforesaid bon∣dage we are called and set at liberty. This priviledge much amplifieth the benefit of both the former. To bondslaves what is life? even worse then death; And light and sight are of little use to such as have no liberty to use them, but rather an aggravation of their misery.
• 5. Communion or fellowship of Iesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 9. By vertue of their effe∣ctuall calling Saints are engrafted or incorporated into Christ Jesus, and made members of his mystical body, 1 Cor. 12. 12. Hereby we come to be his and he to be ours, and we to have a right to all that is his, as our Mediatour, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. This is a greater priviledge then all the other; Without this the other are no pri∣viledges at all. Without Christ life is but a death, light but darknesse, sight but blindenesse, liberty but bondage: By vertue of this fellowship God is our Father, Ioh. 20. 17. Christ our head and husband, Eph. 5. 23, 32. yea, our brother, Heb. 2. 11, 12. The holy Ghost is our comforter and instructer. Ioh. 14. 26. Angels our attendants, Heb. 1. 14. Heaven our Inheritance, 1 Pet. 1. 4. All things are ours, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23,
• 6. Eternal life and salvation, Lay hold (saith the Apostle) on eternal life where∣unto thou art called, 1 Tim. 6. 12. God hath called you to salvation, 2 Thes. 2. 13, 14. This is stiled Gods kingdom and glory, 1 Thes. 2. 12. This in reference to our good is the main end of all that Christ did and suffered for us; It must needs therefore be a very great priviledge; The first priviledge was spiritual life, the last is eter∣nal life.