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 ...

§. 57. Of Gods people to whom Rest is reserved.

THe persons to whom the celestiall rest is reserved, are styled The people of God. The a 1.1 Greek Noun translated people, may have a notation from the b 1.2 Verb 〈◊〉〈◊〉 signifieth to enjoy: For people are such as enjoy society and communion one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another.

As this word hath reference to God, it implieth such as are Gods confederates:* 1.3 such as are in league and Covenant with him. For b•…•… vertue of the new Covenant,* 1.4 God thus saith to his confederates, I will be their God, and they shall be my people, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 31. 33.

This people of God are such as God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Salvation, 2 Thess. 2. 13. Whom Christ hath redeemed to God by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blood, Rev. 5. 9. and whom the holy Ghost hath sa•…•…ctified, Rom. 15. 16. This is their right, and thus they are •…•…itted to this Rest.

By vertue of this relation betwixt God and them, God takes them to be in spe∣ciall

manner a peculiar people to himself, (Deut. 14. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 9.) and they take the Lord in speciall manner to be their God, Iosh. 24. 24.

Both these are to the life thus expressed, in relation to God and Israel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hast avouched the Lord to be thy God, and the Lord hath avouched thee to be his •…•…∣liar people, Deut. 26. 17, 18. Hereupon saith the Lord to them, I will say, It 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God, Zach. 13. 9.

The former implies a great dignity, in that God vouchsafeth to take us to be his peculiar people. The later a bounden duty, whereby we tie our selves to carry our selves to God as becomes his peculiar people, who have taken him for our Lord.

This description of the persons is set down by way of restraint: and shews, 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 the rest here spoken of, is only for them. None but Gods people shall parta•…•…e thereof. In this respect it is said of Jesus, He shall save his people from their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Matth. 1. 21. And he is the Saviour of the body, Eph. 5. 23. Of a righteous man i•…•… is said, He shall enter into peace, Isa. 57 2. These are they that di•…•… in the Lord, and thereupon rest from their labours. Such are they of whom this Apostle thus saith, We which have beleeved do enter into rest, v. 3.

This is further manifest by the contrary end of such as are of a contrary dispo∣sition. To them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, &c. •…•…∣nall life shall be given: but unto them who obey unrighteousnesse, shall be indigna∣tion and wrath, Rom. 2. 7, 8. The like is noted, 2 Thess. 1. 9. Matth. 25. 41▪ Luke 16. 23.

The ground of that rest which the former sort of people have, is Gods free grace and rich mercy, together with the merit of Christ, Luke 12. 32. 1 Peter 1. 3, 19.

The ground of the contrary end that others attain unto, is their just 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Rom. 6. 23.

None can justly rest upon attaining this rest, till he have some assurance that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is of the number of Gods people: justified by faith (for we which have beleeved •…•…o enter into rest, v. 3.) and sanctified by the Spirit: for the unrighteous shall not in∣herit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9.

Excellent and glorious is this rest: but not fit for every one. There is a qualifi∣cation required for such as enter thereinto. It becomes Gods people to take God for their Lord, and accordingly to yield all holy obedience unto him. If through infidelity and impenitency God be provoked to say to any Lo-ammi, ye are not my* 1.6 people, what can be expected, but that God should swear that they shall not enter into his rest, as he did to the Israelites, Psal. 95. 11.

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 are Gods people.
• * 1.4

  See Ch 2 v 17. §. 180 in the end. & Ch. 8. v. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. §▪ 68, 69.
• * 1.5

  Rest proper to Saints.
• * 1.6

  Hos. 1. 9.