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 ...

§. 11. Of the damage of coming short of the promise.

THe damage like to follow upon leaving the promise of rest, is comprized •…•…∣der this Verb a 1.1 come short. The Verb is derived from a b 1.2 root, which signifi∣eth afterwards: and that many times when it is too late: as the foolish Virgins, the door being shut, afterwards came, Matth. 25. 11. Answerably this Verb signifieth to come after, or behinde, or short, c 1.3 Ye come behinde in no gift (saith the Apo∣stle, 1 Cor. 1. 7.) that is, ye come not behinde them that have attained such and such gifts: but ye also have your part and portion therein.

It is sometimes taken to want or lack a thing, as, What d 1.4 lack I yet? Mat. 19. 20. And he began e 1.5 to be in want, Luk. 15. 14.

It is likewise taken to fail of a thing: as, Lest any man f 1.6 fail, Heb. 12. 15.

Men want, lack, fail, or come short of a thing two wayes:

• 1. When that which they had is exhausted and clean gone. Thus it is said, wh•…•… the wine which was prepared for a wedding feast was all drunk up, They wanted wi•…•…, Joh. 2. 3.
• 2. When men have not attained to that which is set before them. Th•…•… it is said of all unregenerate persons, They come short of the glory of God, Rom. 3. 23.

The word used by the Apostle is taken from runners in a race: who if they be idle, secure, carelesse, heavy, lazie, come behinde or short of the prize, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of obtaining it. So secure Christians, that fear not lest they leave the promise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 entring into Gods rest, will assuredly come short of it, and fail of the be•…•… thereof. Such, among others, are unbelievers. These shall never enter i•…•… Gods rest.

This demonstrateth the wrong that unbelievers, and all carelesse, idle and se∣cure* 1.7 Professours do to themselves. They come short of the glorious prize that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set before them, and so bring shame, disgrace, and irreparable damage to th•…•…∣selves. For lazy runners are shouted at, and that in scorn and derision by all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spectators, and judged most unworthy of any approbation or remuneration. T•…•… doom is expresly set down, Luke 13. 27, 28. Matth. 25. 11, 12, 28, 29, 30. Of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 damage of unbelief, See more Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 129. & v. 18. §. 171.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• e 1.5

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

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

  Unbelievers fail of the prize