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 ...

§. 47. Of the meaning of these words, For every house is builded of some man.

Verse 4.

For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God.

THe Apostle here proveth that assumption which was set down in the former Section, namely, that Christ is the builder, and Moses a part of the house built. This causall particle a 1.1 FOR, whereby this verse is knit to the former, im∣plieth that this is a proof of that which went before.

Of this Assumption there are two parts.

One that Christ is the builder.

The other that Moses is part of the house built.

Both these parts are proved by two generall undeniable principles.

The later part concerning him that was built, is first proved, in these words, Every house is builded of some man.

The b 1.2 Greek Pronoun translated some man, is an indefinite particle; as that which in the former verse was translated c 1.3 this man, See §. 42. As there, so here the word Man is added by our English. It may have reference to any one of the masculine gender, not God himself excepted.

Mention being here made of * 1.4 every house, I will indeavour distinctly to set forth what kindes of houses are mentioned in Scripture.

An house hath reference to God or man.

To man Properly or Tropically.

An house is Properly put for a building made by man, and fitted for mans ha∣bitation:

as the house where Iobs children feasted together, and with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 winde fell upon them, Iob 1. 18, 19.

Tropically it is taken three waies.

• 1. By a Metonymy, for the inhabitants thereof, Act. 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. or for the goods and commodities therein, Matth. 23. 14.
• 2. By a Metaphor,
  • 1. For a Nation, as, The house of Israel, Josh. 21. 45. And the house of bondage, that is the Land of Egypt, Exod. 20. 2.
  • 2. For a Tribe, as, the tribe of Levi, Psal. 135. 20.
  • 3. For the grave, which as an house holdeth our body, Iob 30. 23.
  • 4. For our body, which as an house holdeth our soul, 2 Cor. 5. 1.
• ...

  3. By a Synecdoche, an house is put

  1. For Kindred: who though they be not in a mans family, yet •…•…∣tain thereunto. Abraham chargeth his servant to take a wise for his son, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his fathers house, Gen. 24. 40. Thus an house is put sometimes for •…•…∣sors; as Ioseph is said to be of the house of David, Luk. 1. 27. And some∣times for Posterity: Thus God promiseth to build Ieroboam a sure 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 1 King. 11. 38.

To God an house hath reference, either above, or below.

• 1. Above, Heaven is said to be his house, Ioh. 14. 2.
• 2. Below, Gods house hath reference to Places or to Persons.
  • ...

    1. For Place; Under the Law the Tabernacle was called Gods house, Iudg. 18 31. And the Temple, 1 King. 8. 10. and the Synagogues, Psal. 83. 12. and any place where God manifested his presence: As an open field, Gen. 28 17.

    Finally, Every place where Gods people assemble to worship him, is •…•…∣led and counted the House of God, Isa. 56. 7.

  • 2. For Persons: Gods house compriseth under it,
    • 1. The whole number of such as are called, even the universall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 throughout the world, Heb. 10. 21.
    • 2. Particular Assemblies or Congregations, 1 Tim. 3. 15.
    • 3. Individuall persons, 1 Cor. 6. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 16.

Here, in this text, House may be taken either for an earthly materiall house 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by man, or for a spirituall house built by God.

If this phrase, every house, be properly taken for an earthy house, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a resemblance and an experimentall proof: as if he had said, we see by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that all houses wherein men dwell, are built by some man or other: so Moses be∣ing of the spirituall house of God must needs be built.

If it be taken for a spirituall house, then it implieth that not only earthy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wherein men dwell, but also spirituall houses and Temples of the Holy Ghost, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 built by some.

Thus this generall particle e 1.5 every, may have reference to both kinds of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earthy and spirituall.

Both acceptions of the word house, in the proper and metaphoricall sense, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the same scope, namely to prove that Moses was brought to be of the house 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, which is the Church, not by himself, but by another. Who that other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is expressed in these words, He that hath built all things is God▪

The word f 1.6 builded, in Greek is the Verb of that participle which was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the former verse, and thus translated, g 1.7 Who hath builded. This and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the same thing.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The various acceptations of this word house.
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.