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 ...

§. 85. Of mans hardning himself.

III. MAn hardneth himself two waies.

• 1. Privatively.
• 2. Positively.

• ...

  1. Privatively: by refusing or rejecting means whereby his 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 might be softned.

  Means of softning a mans heart are Publique, Private, and Secret.

  • 1. Publique means are publique Ordinances of God: as the Word read 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preached, the Sacraments, Praying and Praising God: yea also God works, and those both of merey and judgement, whether ordinary or extra∣ordinary.
  • 2. Private means are, Reading and expounding Gods Word in private places private praying and praising God, repeating Sermons, private instruction, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 holy conference, and such like.
  • 3. Secret means, Reading the Word and other good books alone, praying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praising God alone, meditation and examination of ones self.* 1.2

  The Jews in the Apostles time hardned their hearts by putting away from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Word of God, Act. 13. 46. and in Iohn Baptists time, they rejected the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

• ...

  sell of God against themselves, being not baptized of Iohn, Luk. 7. 30. They refu∣sed to subject themselves to that Ordinance. In Christs time they hardned their hearts by opposing against his miraculous works, Matth. 12. 24. Ioh. 15. 24.

  About means which are to soften mens hearts, men divers waies beguile them∣selves,* 1.3 so as they harden their hearts thereby: As

  • 1. By putting off for the present such means as might soften them, to another time, as he that said to Paul, Go thy way for this time, when I have a con∣venient season, I will call for thee, (Act. 24. 25.) But that season never came.
  • 2. By thinking they have done enough, when it is but little that they have done: yet can say, Behold what a wearinesse is it? Mal. 1. 13.
  • 3. By resting in the outward work, as they who said, Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not? Isa. 58. 3.
  • 4. By doting upon humane ordinances, as they who in vain worshipped God, teach∣ing for doctrines the commandments of men, Matth. 15. 9.
• 2. Positively: Men harden themselves by a slavish yielding to the causes of hard∣ning* 1.4 mens hearts, mentioned §. 84. This they do by nourishing their naturall hardnesse: by opposing against Gods truth in his promises and threatnings, by hiding their sinne, by pride, by presumption, by long lying in sin, by returning to sin after repentance, by setting their hearts too much on the things of this world, by perverting Gods chastisements.

In that hardnesse of heart ariseth from ones self, even from his own wilfulnesse,* 1.5 it nearly concerns us to be the more watchfull over our selves, and to withstand the very beginning of hardnesse: For Satan is very subtle, and seeks to beguile a man by degrees, and sinne is deceitfull, and of a bewitching nature. It soaks into a man insensibly: and we of our selves are very foolish: like the silly fish that with a fair ba•…•…t is soon taken. Hence it is that from small beginnings many come to this high pitch, even to be hardned in heart.

When men are tempted to sinne,* 1.6

• 1. There is a thought of committing it, Gen. 38. 15.
• 2. A plain consent to yield to it, Psal. 50. 18.
• 3. An actuall committing of it, 2 Sam. 11. 4.
• 4. An iteration of it, Iudg. 16. 1, 4.
• 5. A custom therein, 1 Sam. 2. 13.
• 6. An excusing of it, 1 Sam. 15. 15.
• 7. A justifying it, Isa. 5. 23. Luk. 16. 15.
• 8. A glorying in it. Psal. 52. 1.
• 9. An habit that they can scarce do otherwise, Ier. 13. 23.
• 10. Hardnesse of heart, Rom. 2. 5.

By these degrees it cometh to passe that sinne which upon the first temptation seemed horrible, and upon the first committing thereof much perplexed the soul, and seemed to be an insupportable burden, making the sinner thus to complain, Mine iniquities are gone over my head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me, (Psal. 38. 4.) appears in time not to be so burdensom, but rather light and easie: yea so unsensible as they can scarce perceive it: like him that saith, They have stricken me, and I was not sick: they have beaten me, and I felt it not: I will seek it yet again, Prov. 23. 35. Yea further, it comes by degrees to be pleasing and delightfull: So sweet in his mouth as he hides it under his tongue, Job 20. 12.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Means of soft∣ning mens hearts.
• * 1.2

  Jews rejected means of soft∣ning.
• * 1.3

  How men fall about means.
• * 1.4

  How men po∣sitively harden their own hearts.
• * 1.5

  Withstand be∣ginnings.
• * 1.6

  Degrees of sin.