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 ...

§. 63. Of true rejoycing what it is, and whence it ariseth.

THat Hope which giveth evidence that we are the house of Christ, is here 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 by an especial effect, which is rejoycing.

a 1.2 The Greek word imports an high degree of rejoycing, such an one as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a glorying or boasting in a thing; and so in other places it is translated: It were bet∣ter for me to die, then that any man should make my b 1.3 glorying void, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 9. 15. And again, Lest our c 1.4 boasting of ^r you should be in vain, 2 Cor. 9. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There is d 1.5 another like word, which signifieth the same thing, frequently use•…•…▪ The e 1.6 root whence the Greek words are derived, signifieth a neck. For they who glory in a thing will stretch forth their neck, Isa. 3. 16.

The word here used and applied to Hope, sheweth that true Christian Hope pro∣duceth a great degree of rejoycing: even such a degree, as cannot be abated by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fliction, Rom. 5. 2, 3.

This rejoycing is an expression of that joy which is in a man: and a •…•…∣tion* 1.7 of ones liking of, and delighting in the good which he hath.

Joy is a liking, dilating affection▪ Or more fully to expresse the nature of 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪* 1.8 Joy, is a liking affection which enlargeth the heart upon the apprehension of soo•…•… good thing.

Of the general nature of an affection, and of the difference betwixt liking and disliking affections, See The Saints Sacrifice on Psa. 116. 1. §. 4.

That whereby Joy is differenced is in this word Dilating, or in this phrase, who enlargeth. For Desire lifts up the heart after the thing desired: Love unites the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the thing loved: Ioy enlargeth the heart with a pleasing content in that which's apprehendeth to be good. Thus it is said of the Church, that in regard of the •…•…∣ence of people, her heart should be enlarged (Isa. 60. 5.) that is, she should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 joyce. Joy is contrary to Grief. Now Grief contracteth and streigthneth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and consumeth it, Psal. 31. 9, 10. But Joy enlargeth and reviveth it, Gen. 45. 27.

The proper object of true Christian rejoycing, is that which concerns our 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.9 happinesse. The Disciples who rejoyced in the power of their Ministry, in tha•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Devils were made subject to them, were somewhat checked by Christ, who said, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this rejoyce not, that the spirits are subject unto you: but rather rejoyce, because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 names are written in Heaven, Luk. 10. 17, 20. Common gifts are not the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ground of rejoycing. Now casting out of Devils was but a common gift, 〈◊〉〈◊〉

hypocrites had: but the writing of their names in Heaven tended to their eternal happinesse: therefore in this later they were to rejoyce.* 1.10

Hope is a saving grace, so as it properly produceth rejoycing: so doth Faith, Acts 16. 34. so do other like graces.

As for other things which do not make thereunto, they may be enjoyed by him on whom the guilt of sinne lieth: and who is himself under the dominion of sinne: who is a slave to Satan: over whom the wrath of God hangeth: who shall be ex∣cluded out of Heaven, and eternally damned. What matter of true rejoycing then can there be in such things?

Here by the way, we may be informed in the deceitfull rejoycing of most men.* 1.11 Take a view of the ordinary matters of rejoycing, and you shall finde cause to say, as the Wise-man doth, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, yea vexation of spirit, Eccles. 1. 2. & 2. 11. This we may finde from the cradle to the grave. The childe rejoyceth in bawbles: the young maid in her beauty: the young man in his pro∣pernesse: the strong man in his strength: the Scholar in his learning: the honou∣rable man in his dignities: the rich man in his wealth; the Counsellour in his great practice. So others in other like things. Are any of these like that power of the Disciples Ministry, concerning which Christ said, In this rejoyce not? Luk. 10. 20. In pangs of gout and stone, in sicknesse, in death, in the day of Judgement, what Joy and rejoycing can those produce? Have they not a sting in their tail? Note the issue of Nebuchadnezzars rejoycing in his great▪ Babel, and Belshazzars rejoy∣cing in his cups, Daniel 4. 27, 28. & 5. 5. I may therefore well say to him that spends his time in pleasure, In this rejoyce not. To him that Dives-like, is daily arai∣ed in glorious apparel, and fareth delicately, In this rejoyce not. And of such as have great successe in their undertakings, either in war or merchandizing, or any other like, In this rejoyce not.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The emphasis of the word.
• a 1.2

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

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

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 2 Cor. 1. 12.
• e 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cervix i•…•…de 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, gloriari. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, gloria•…•…io: per prothesin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  What rejoy∣cing is.
• * 1.8

  What joy is.
• * 1.9

  The object of rejoycing.
• * 1.10

  Why the things which tend not to happines can∣not produce rejoycing.
• * 1.11

  The vain re∣joycing of most.