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 ...

§ 18. Of the Word of hearing.

BY this particle of opposition [BUT] the Apostle intends an unsutabl•…•… •…•…∣riage in the Israelites to Gods gracious dealing with them. God aff•…•… •…•…hem his Gospel, BUT they gave not that respect to it which was meet. 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 believed it not: So as the most gracious message, and powerfull means of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grace, nought wrought on the incredulous. Of peoples sinning under the G•…•… See Chap. 3 v. 16. §, 162.

The Word here intended is the Gospel before▪ mentioned. It is in Greek 〈◊〉〈◊〉 b 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of hearing, after the Hebrew manner, for the word heard.

The Word spoken is as no word if it be not heard. Our former English I•…•… slators thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it. The Word that they heard. It was a word which they did 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 or might, or should have heard.* 1.4

The Apostle thus s•…•…iles it in two especial respects:

• 1. To demonstrate the necessity of hearing the Word. The Word, if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 receive any benefit thereby, must be heard. For the Word spoken or preache•…•… do no good to him that hears it not: no more then the light to him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not. The Apostle saith of a word spoken in a strange language, that it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 profit him who understands it not, 1 Cor. 14. 9. Much less can any good be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ved by the Word if it be not heard. It is as a necessary requisite requ•…•… hear, Gen. •…•…9. 2. Deut. 5. 1. Acts 2. 22. Revel. 2. 7. Hearing is that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sense, whereby words spoken may enter into the soul. Hereby we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 That
  • 1. Deafnesse is a great calamity.
  • 2. It is a wretched disposition to refuse to come where the sound of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may be heard.
  • 3. To sleep at Church while the Word is preaching is a great evil. They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 asleep cannot hear the Word.
  • 4. A Preachers weak and low voice is a great discommodity.
  • 5. Shoutings, or any other loud noises, or loud sounds neer the place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Word is preached, or other Divine Service performed, and very •…•…∣venient.

• ...
  • The Word cannot be in these cases a Word of hearing.
• 2. To take away vain pretences and excuses from such as grumble at judgements inflicted on such as profit not by the Word.

The blame hereby appears to be in themselves, because it is a Word of hearing. For it it be demanded, (as Rom. 10. 18.) have they not heard? This phrase gives a ready answer: The Word afforded unto them is a word of hearing. It was heard, or might have been heard. It was not concealed, as the conference betwixt King Zedekiah and the Prophet Ie•…•…emiah was, Ier. 38. 27. It was not softly whispered in the ground, as the Word of them that had familiar spirits was, Isa. 8. 19. It was not uttered in a strange language, which could not be understood by the hearers, 1 Cor. 14. 2. But it was a word of hearing.

This doth not only take away all excuse from non▪ proficients, but it doth also much aggravate their sin.

It is said of the Israelites, that the Word of hearing profited them not, no though* 1.5 it were heard by them. For these last words, in them that heard it, take it for grant that the Israelites heard the Word: so as the Word heard may be without profit. Thus it is in most hearers. This Christ doth exemplifie and evidence in the Parable of the seed: wherein is shewed that of four sorts of hearers, only one sort proves profitable, Matth. 13. 23. In that Parable sundry reasons are rendred of hearers non▪ proficiency. It is therefore necessary to take heed how we hear, Luk. 8. 18. Hereof see more Chap. 3. v. 7. §. •…•…7.

The word translated c 1.6 profited, comprizeth under it all manner of good, Mat. 15. 5. But a negative added thereunto implieth no good at all, Gal. 5. 2. Such is the ex∣tent of the negative in this place: and of the d 1.7 privative compound translated un∣profitablenesse., Chap. 7. vers. 8. § 85.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

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

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  Why a Word o•…•… hearing •…•…o 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  The Word heard may be without profit.
• c 1.6

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.