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 ...

§. 95. Of avoiding the sinful courses of forefathers.

THE Persons whose ill example is to be shunned, are here set down under th•…•… relative, a 1.1 Fathers.

The Hebrews came from Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and by a lineall des•…•… from those Israelites that were in the wildernesse. Hereupon this correlative b 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is here used.

In relation to the Jews, both Abraham and also all others descending from 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 and living under the Law are called Fathers in the New Testament. See Chap. •…•…. v. 1. §. 11. But here it is restrained to such Israelites as lived in the Wildernesse▪ So in sundry other places, as, Ioh. 6. 31, 49, 58. Act. 3. 22. & 7. 38, 39. 1 Cor. 10▪ •…•…. These Fathers therefore were they whom the Lord delivered out of the Egyp•…•… bondage, and brought with a mighty hand by great wonders into a place of free∣dom, where after an especiall manner he nurtured them, as was shewed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 §. 92.

The Apostle sets them out under this Title Fathers, because people use to 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.4 much opinionated with an high conceit of their Fathers; So were the Jews esp•…•…∣ally, and in that respect prone to imitate them in every thing, even in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 courses: Therefore to root out that conceit, the holy Ghost in the 95 Ps•…•… and in this place, expresseth their Fathers, and sets them out to be notorious •…•…∣bels, and as rebels severely punished by God.

Can we now think that the practice of Ancestors who are called Fathers i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 it self a sufficient warrant for their posterity, who come after them, to do as 〈◊〉〈◊〉

did, and to tread in their paths? It is exptesly said that God gave Laws, which should be made known to the generation to come, that they might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation, &c. Psa. 76. 5, 6, 8. This charge is expre∣sly given by the Lord, Be ye not as your Fathers, Zec. 1. 4. Steven doth thus ag∣gravate the sinnes of the Israelites; As your Fathers did so do ye: Acts 7. 51.

Our Fathers were of the same mould as we are, all sprouting out of the same cursed stock. They ignorant of Gods will as well as we, they of a rebellious dis∣position as well as we; They prone to all manner of sinne as well as we. What sin might not be justified if the practice of Ancients were a sufficient warrant?

This is a Point to be the rather observed in these daies, because the patern of Fathers and Ancestors is much stood upon, It is a common plea, when an evil practice is spoken against, to say, Our Fathers did so, Many superstitious and ido∣latrous courses are hereby patronized. The Lord in his Law makes this an aggra∣vation of sinne, that children walk in the evil courses of their Fathers: I am a jealous God, saith the Lord, visiting the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, Exo. 20. 5. namely, such Children as tread in their Fathers steps.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

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

  Who meant by Fathers.
• * 1.4

  Why ancient Jews called Fathers.
• * 1.5

  Practise of Fa∣thers no war∣rant for sin.