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 ...

§. 69. Of Motives to Perseverance.

IF divine exhortations to a grace, and earnest disswasions from the contrary: if earnest supplications for obtaining a grace, and hearty gratulations for en∣joying it: If gracious promises made to a grace, and fearfull denunciations against the want of it: If a blessed recompence of those who have attained it, and wofull revenge on those that have failed therein, be motives of force to enforce a point, forceable motives are not wanting to presse this point of Perseverance.

Many instances might be given out of Gods Word to exemplifie every of these, Of each take one instance.

• 1. For Exhortation, 1 Cor. 15. 58.
• 2. For Disswasion, Heb. 3. 12.
• 3. For Supplication, 1 Thess. 5. 23.
• 4. For Gratulation, 1 Thess. 3. 8, 9.
• 5. For Promise, Mat. 10. 22.
• 6. For Threatning, Heb. 10. 38.
• 7. For Recompence, Rev. 12. 11.
• 8. For Revenge, Act. 1. 17, 18.

Just and great Reason there is thus to presse this Point of Perseverance. For

• 1. All the benefits that we can expect from any grace dependeth upon perseve∣ring* 1.1 therein. Thereby the prize is obtained. It is constancy that sets the Crown up∣on all good endeavours, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8.
• 2. All Christian priviledges, and divine promises are limited therewith: as here in this Text, If we hold fast. If ye abide in me, saith Christ, Ioh. 15. 7. If y•…•… continue in the faith, Col. 1. 23.
• 3. All the benefit of what hath formerly been done, is lost, if he hold not out to the end, Ezek. 18. 24. As a man in a race, who runs swiftly at first, if he hold not out, gets nothing by his former swiftnesse.
• 4. Not the benefit only is lost, but great damage ensueth thereupon, The last* 1.2 state of that man is worse then the first, Luk. 11. 26. As a man in ascending a Ladder, if after he have got up many steps, he let go his hold and fall down, he doth not only lose the benefit of his former pains, but also gets a bruised body, and it may be broken bones, whereby he is made lesse able to climb up again, then he was be∣fore. Hereupon it is said, It had been better for them, not to have known the way of righteousnesse, then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment.

How requisite it is for Saints to proceed and persist in grace, Se•…•… The Saints Sa∣crifice on Psal. 116. 9. §. 60.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Benefits of perseverance.
• * 1.2

  Damage of not perseve∣ring.