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 ...

§. 75. Of Gods knowledge of every creature.

Vers. 13.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

THis Verse may be taken either as a reason of the fore-named power and efficacy* 1.1 of the Word: which reason may be drawn from the nature of him whose word it is, namely, God: who being himself a searcher of the heart, and a dis∣cerner of all things, though never so close and secret, is pleased to exercise that power in and by the Ministry of his Word.

Or, to distinguish this Verse from the former, it may contain an other distinct Argument to presse the main point in hand, which is, to hear Christs voice, and not to harden our hearts, because our very heart, and the thoughts thereof are all ma∣nifest before God.

Neither of these do thwart the other: but both may stand very well together: for they both intend the same thing, namely, that we ought to hearken to Christ•…•… voice, because as God he is a searcher of hearts, and exerciseth that discerning pow∣er in and by his Word.

The Apostle here setteth dow•…•… the piercing sight of God, with such emphasis as* 1.2 he did the piercing power of the word of God.

The a 1.3 Copulative particle in the Greek intends some correspondency betwi•…•…t God and his Word.

The Greek word translated b 1.4 creature, is derived from a Verb that signifies •…•…o c 1.5 create or make, 1 Tim. 4. 3, 4. It is variously used.

For it is taken

• 1. For the Creation, Mar. 10. 6. Rom. 1. 20.* 1.6
• 2. For every thing that hath a being from God, R•…•…m. 8. 39.
• 3. For the fabrick of the visible world, Rom. 8. 19, &c.
• 4. For an earthly structure made with mans hands, Heb. 9. 11.
• 5. For reasonable creatures, which are the chiefest of Gods creatures here i•…•… this world, Mar. 16. 15.
• 6. For a Magistrate, who in regard of his Office bears the Image of Go•…•…, 1 Pet. 2. 13.
• 7. For a true Saint who is born again, and renewed after the Image of God▪ In this sense it hath this Epithete New, annexed to it: as a new creature, 2 C•…•…r. 5. 17. Gal. 6. 15.

Here it is especially taken in the fifth distinction; for reasonable creatures o•…•… earth, of what sex, age, condition or disposition soever they be.

I will not deny but that this word creature may here be indefinitely and general∣ly taken for every creature in heaven, earth, sea, or hell, visible or invisible, reasonable or unreasonable, living or without life. For he that made them 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and deputed to every one their several places and natures, cannot be ignorant of any of them. They must needs all of them without exception be manifest in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sight.

Yet questionlesse the reasonable creature is here especially meant. For

• 1. Man the Lord of other creatures is by an excellency Gods creature.
• 2. Other creatures were made for man; but man for God and his glory espe∣cially.
• 3. Man hath understanding above other creatures to conceive himself to be Gods creature, the work of his hands, and accordingly to respect God as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Creator.

To shew that there is not any one man excepted, he useth this indefinite phrase, There is not a creature. To make the emphasis more conspicuous, our English i•…•…∣serts this particle any. He that excepteth not any one, includeth every one, go•…•… or evil, upright or hypocrite, great or mean, learned or unlearned, wise or foolish▪

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cohe∣rence.
• * 1.2

  Exposition of the words.
• a 1.3

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

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

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

  Various acce∣ptions of the word creature.