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 ...

§. 53. Of Moses and other Ministers for a testimony.

AN especiall end why Moses was made a servant in Gods house, is thus set down, For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. The word a 1.1 testimony signifieth a witnesse-bearing; It comes from the same root that that word did which is used, chap. 3. vers. 4. §. 30. and spoken of Gods b 1.2 witnesse.

It here intendeth two things.

• 1. A confirmation of the truth of a thing.
• 2. An evidence against such as beleeved not.

In both these senses Christ thus useth this word, Shew thy self to the Priest for a testimony unto them, Mat. 8. 4. This he speaks to a Leper whom he had cleansed, that he should go to the Priest, that by the Priest the truth of the miracle might be confirmed: (For the Priest could judge of a leprosie whether it were through∣ly cleansed or no:) and that the unbeleeving Jews might be convinced about the power of Christ.

The manner of expressing this clause thus, c 1.3 For a testimony, pointeth at the end of Moses Ministry, which was to bear witnesse unto and to confirm Gods truth.

Of confirming the truth of God See ch. 2. v. 3. §. 25.

That whereof Moses was to be for a testimony is thus expressed, Of those things which were to be spoken after. All this is the interpretation of one d 1.4 Greek word, which is of the future tense. To expresse the emphasis thereof more fully, this particle after is added.

The future things whereof Moses was to be for a testimony, were,

• 1. Such as Moses himself was to deliver to the people; For Moses bare re∣cord* 1.5 of, and gave witnesse to such things as God would have the people take notice of. Thus it is said of Iohn, He bare record of the Word of God, Rev. 1. 2, 3.
• 2. Such things as Christ and his Apostles in their time preached; For thus saith Christ, These are the words which I spake unto you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses concerning me, Luk. 24. 44. To the like purpose Saint Paul perswaded the Iews concerning Iesus out of the Law of Moses, Act. 28. 23. Hence is it that Christ said to the Jews, Had ye beleeved Moses you would also have beleeved me, For he wrote of me, Joh 5. 46.
• 3. Such things as this Apostle hereafter sets down in this Epistle, which are, Types that prefigured Chr•…•…st, of which he saith, This is the sum, We have such an High-Priest, &c. Heh. 8, 1. Thus the word may be translated, which shall be spoken after.

Neither of the foresaid interpretations do crosse the other; But all in substance agree: For the things which were in the Types which Moses delivered to the peo∣ple were by Christ and the Apostles revealed in their truth, and in this Epistle the types and truth are both declared.

That which is here said of the end of Moses his Ministry, that it was for a testi∣mony of Gods truth, is in the generall true of all Ministers, All the Prophets ga•…•… witnesse of such things, Act. 4. 43. Iohn the Baptist came for a witness to bear wit•…•…* 1.6 of the light, Joh. 1. 7. Iesus Christ himself was a faithfull witnesse, Rev. 1. 5. The Apostles were to be witnesses unto Christ, Act. 1. 8.

God had these witnesses both to make known his will to his Church, and also to confirm and ratifie the same by evidence out of Gods Word; yea, also by the•…•… answerable practise, and by their suffering for what they preached.

Herein we have an evidence of Gods good Providence to his Church, who neve•…•… left it without witnesse; Moses was for a testimony in his time, Prophets succeed∣ed him, Iohn them, Apostles him, and ordinary Ministers in all ages since the A∣postles daies succeeded them.

Happy are they who give such heed thereunto as they reap the benefit thereof; But their judgement is the greater who having witnesse given to the light walk in darknesse, and remain ignorant and obstinate; But whether men regard this wit∣nesse or no, it shall not be in vain; The truth of God is more justified thereby, and unbeleevers made more inexcusable.

As Moses and the Prophets gave witnesse to the things which were to be done •…•…t Christs first coming, So Ministers, who live in these latter daies give witnesse to the things which shall be done at his last coming.

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 〉. The end of Moses Ministry
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  The things of which Moses was for a te∣stimony.
• * 1.6

  All Ministers are Gods wit∣nesses.