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 ...

§. 93. Of the Wildernesse as a place wherein the Israelites were brought to great straits.

AS the wildernesse was considered in the former §, a place of Gods extraor∣dinary providence and goodness: So it may be also considered as a place wherein the Israelites were oft brought to great straits: and yet that did not excuse their sinne in tempting God. For by their tempting God in the Wildernesse, they provoked him: So as straits and distresses are not sufficient excuses of tempting God. We ought not to doubt of Gods Providence, or of his Power, or of his Good∣nesse, or of any of his Divine Attributes, because we are in want, or in any other strait. The Devil took an oceasion from Christs being fourty dayes in the wilder∣nesse, to sollicit him to use an indirect course for providing sustenance to himself: but Christ refused so to do, Matth. 4. 3, 4. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small, Prov. 24. 10. The day of adversity is the time for a man to mani∣fest his courage: to faint then, when he should shew most courage, argues little or no courage.

Gods Power and Providence is not straitned by mens straits: He can work as it pleaseth him, without means, as in creating all things; or with means, and those ordinary, which are comprized under daily bread, Mat. 6. 11. or extraordinary: And that

• 1. In the kinde, Exod. 16. 15.
• 2. In the quantity, as the little meal in the barel, and oyl in the cruse nourished Elijah, a widow, and her family a long time, 1 Kin. 17. 16.
• 3. In the quality: as course pulse nourished Daniel, and his companions, as well as the daintiest meat that a King could afford, Dan. 1. 12, &c.
• 4. In the manner of getting: as a Raven was Elijahs cater to provide him bread and meat morning and evening, 1 King. 17. 6.

Yea God can preserve by contrary means: for Ionah was preserved

from being drowned in the belly of a Whale, Ionah 1. 17.

We ought in this respect to arm our selves against tryal: and before-hand to meditate on Gods Power, Wisdom, Goodnesse, Providence, Presence, Truth and Faithfulness: and to be of his minde, who said, Though I walk thorow the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, Psal. 23. 4.

How doth this aggravate their incredulity who in time of peace, plenty and all needfull prosperity, thorow distrust fulnesse tempt God! How many covetous rich men upon fear of future want, treasure up all that they can any way get? How many timorous persons living where the Gospel is maintained, upon fear of a change, yeeld to Superstition and Idolatry? If being in the straits of a wildernesse excuse not a man from tempting God, can such as tempt God in a plentifull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 secure Canaan think to be excused?

Notes

• Distresse no sufficient cause of distrust.
• Gods manifold waies of pro∣viding.
• To tempt God In the midst of blessings how great a sin.