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 ...

§. 79. Of the Heart.

Verse 8.

Harden not your hearts.—

TO prevent an hinderance of a right hearing Christs voice; The Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adviseth those to whom he wrote, Harden not your hearts.

Here just occasion is given to consider what the heart is: and what it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 harden.

The heart properly taken is a little fleshy piece, within the breast of the body,* 1.1 under the left pap, triangular, broad at the top, and sharp at the bottom. It is the fountain of life: the root whence all the spirits sprout forth: that which first 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and last dieth in man.

Heart metaphorically is attributed to the Creator, and to sundry creatures.* 1.2

• 1. To the Creator, to set out the greatness of his liking or disliking a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 David is said to be a man after Gods own heart, 1 Sam. 13. 14. Act. 13. 22. He* 1.3 was one whom God well liked and approved. On the other side, concerning the men of the old world, it is said, It grieved the Lord at his heart, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had made man, Gen. 6. 6. He much disliked and disapproved the men that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lived.
• ...

• 2. Heart is attributed to sensless creatures, to set out the innermost part, or* 1.4 midst of them; because the heart is within a mans body, even almost in the midst thereof. Thus it is said, The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea, Exod 15. 8. And Christ was three daies and three nights in the heart of the earth, Matth. 12. 40.
• 3. Heart is ascribed to reasonable creatures, to signifie sometimes the whole* 1.5 soul, and sometimes the severall faculties appertaining to the soul.
  • 1. It is frequently put for the whole soul, and that for the most part when it it is set alone: as where it is said, Serve the Lord with all your heart, 1 Sam. 12. 20.
  • 2. For that principall part of the soul which is called the minde or understand∣ing. I gave my heart to know wisdom, Eccles. 1. 17. In this respect darknesse and blindnesse are attributed to the heart, Eph. 4. 18. Rom. 1. 21.
  • 3. For the will: as when heart and soul are joyned together, the two essentiall faculties of the soul are meant, namely the minde and will. Soul put for the Minde: Heart for the Will. Serve the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, Deut. 11. 13.
  • 4. For the memory: I have hid thy word in my heart, saith the Prophet, Psal. 119. 11. The memory is that faculty wherein matters are laid up and hid.
  • 5. For the conscience: It is said that Davids heart smote him, that is, his consci∣ence, 1 Sam. 24. 5. 2 Sam. 24. 10. Thus is heart taken, 1 Ioh. 3. 20, 21.
  • 6. For the affections: as where it is said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy minde, Matth. 22. 37. By the minde is meant the understanding faculty: By the soul, the will: by the heart, the affections.

Here in this Text the heart is put for the whole soul, even for minde, will and affections. For blindness of minde, stubbornness of will, and stupidity of affections go together.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The heart pro∣perly taken.
• * 1.2

  The heart me∣taphorically taken.
• * 1.3

  Heart of God.
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.5

  Heart of man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taken.