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 ...

§. 40. Of unbeliefs hindering the power of the Gospel.

FRom the notation of the a 1.1 Verb preached, which includeth the Gospel, we may infer, that unbelief takes away the power of the Gospel: but this not simply in regard of the Gospel it self: For the Gospel is the power of God unto sal•…•…∣tion, Rom. 1. 16. but in regard of the influence of the power thereof to them. It is with the power of Christs word as it was with the power of his works: He did not many works in his own countrey, because of their unbelief, Matth. 1•…•…. 58. Christs power was not abated or weakned: but the benefit thereof was restrained from un∣believers: It did not manifest it self to their good.

Unbelief is as a high strong dam against a flowing stream: it may hinder the flowing of water into those places where the dam is set: but it doth not dry up of diminish the water: that will finde a currant another way. See v. 2. §. 19.

If the benefit of the Gospel be duly weighed, this will be found to be a great ag∣gravation of unbelief. See Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 128, 129.

Of the notation of the b 1.2 Greek word here translated unbelief, See c. 3. 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 〉.