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 ...

§. 90. Of registring Predecessors sins.

THe sinne against which Gods people are here fore-warned, is generally 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 down in these two words ^a Provocation, ^b Temptation. The later shews 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.2 reason of the former. For if the Question be asked, How they provoked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The Answer is, They tempted him. Of tempting God, see §. 96.* 1.3

The former word is a ^c compound. It is compounded of a simple Noun 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.4 signifieth d 1.5 bitter, Jam. 3. 11, 14. Thence a ^e Verb, which signifieth to imbitter, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to make bitter, Rev. 8. 11. & 10. 9, 10. The ^f Preposition addes an aggrava•…•…* 1.6 and the ^g Verb compounded therewith signifieth to provoke to bitter anger: grea•…•…* 1.7 to provoke, much to imbitter. It is used v. 16. thence is this word h 1.8 provocation •…•…∣rived. It is twice used in this Chapter, here and v. 15.

The i 1.9 Hebrew word which is used by the Psalmist signifieth strife or contenti•…•…▪* 1.10 or contradiction. It is translated strife, Numb. 27. 14. and k 1.11 chiding, Exod. 17. •…•…▪* 1.12 For chiding is a striving or contending by words, or a contradicting. The Israeli•…•… did chide with Moses (Exod. 17. 7.) and thereby provoked the Lord, whose serv•…•… Moses was.

These two words Provocation and Temptation are used in the abstract to agg•…•…∣vate the hainousnesse of their sin.

Many learned Expositors of the 95. Psalm retain the Hebrew wordsl 1.13 Meri•…•…

andm 1.14 Massah, as names of that place where the Israclites provoked God. For upon that occasion those names were given to that particular place where the Is∣raclites in an high degree provoked and tempted God, Exod. 17. 8. But the words used by the Apostle in this place are taken appellatively, and fitly translated provoca∣tion and temptation.

In these two words (whether they be taken as particular names, Meribah and Massah, or as two expressions of their sinne, provocation and temptation) doe plainly expresse the hainousnesse of the sinne; in that as it was a tempting of God, so it was a provoking him to great wrath: and the manner of expressing them, gi∣veth us to understand, that it is behovefull for succeeding generations, that notori∣ous sins of predecessours be kept on record.* 1.15

These very titles provocation, temptation, are a kinde of record, whereby the sins comprised under them are brought to minde and kept in memory.

The many names given to places occasioned by a sinne, gives further proof here∣unto, as Es•…•…k, strife, Gen. 26. 20. Sitnah, hatred, Gen. 26▪ 21. Kibrothhattaavah, Graves of lust, Numb. 11. 34. Bethaven, the house of iniquity, Hos. 4. 15. Yea the registring of all those notorious sinnes which are recorded in Scripture do further confirm the point.

When sinne is beheld in others, specially as provoking Gods wrath and pulling judgement upon the sinner, it appears in its own colours, horrible and detestable, and so is an occasion for them who so behold it, more carefully to avoid it. This is the main drift of the Apostle in this place.

It is therefore an especial point of wisdom, to take due and thorow notice of the* 1.16 sinnes of former Ages: of the kindes of them: of the causes of them: and of the effects that have followed thereupon: especially if God have executed any re∣markable judgement and vengeance thereupon: as here, the kinde of sinne, tem∣ptation: the cause thereof, hardnesse of heart: the effect that followed thereupon, provocation of Gods wrath: and the judgement, which was, excluding from rest, v. 11. are distinctly set down.

This is to be done not for approbation, or imitation of the sinne recorded: in that respect no sinne ought to be once named amongst us, Ephes. 5. 3. but for great∣er detestation thereof, to make us more abhor it. Indeed if there were not in us a pronenesse of nature to rush into sinne of our own accord without example, the memory of sin were better be clean blotted out. But there is no sinne where∣into others before us have fallen, whereof the seed is not in us. Therefore for sup∣pressing of sinne, the infamy that hath followed such as have fallen thereinto, and Gods judgements thereupon, may be, and ought to be oft called to minde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What provoca∣tion is.
• * 1.2

  ^• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  ^• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  ^• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  ^• Acerbare▪ amaritud•…•…, •…•…fferre.
• h 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• i 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  ^• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lis jurgium. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & jurgavit.
• * 1.12

  ^• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Acerbare, exasperare, ad amaritudi•…•…em, seu amara•…•… i∣ram c•…•…cita∣re.
• l 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• m 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.15

  Sins of former ages to be ob∣served.
• * 1.16

  Take notice of the sins of former ages.