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 ...

§. 25. Of Psal. 2. 7. applied to Christs Priesthood.

THese words, He that said unto him, Thou art my Sonne, to day have I begotten thee, are taken out of Psal. 2. 7. and most fitly applied to God the Father in reference to his begotten Son, as we have shewed, Chap. 1. v. 5. §. 48, &c. where the •…•…hole text is expounded.

The Apostle doth here again alleadge it, to prove that the Father ordained Christ to be the Highpriest for his Church.

Obj. In this testimony there is no mention of a Priesthood.

Answ.

• 1. This testimony is an express description of the Father: and it being i•…•…serted upon the question of Christs Priesthood, it implieth that the Father made him Highpriest.
• 2. This word, begotten, may be extended to conferring dignity, or an honou∣rable Function upon one, as well as communicating essence.
• 3. It being taken for grant that Christ was an Highpriest, for the Father to acknowledge him to be his Sonne, ratifieth that Function, and implieth that it was his Fathers pleasure that he should be the Highpriest. Thus Christ being come a Prophet into the world, his Father ratified that Function by this testimony, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: and thereupon he inferreth this duty, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, Matth. 17. 5.
• 4. The Psalmist immediatly after this testimony, expresseth a branch of Christs Priesthood, in these words, Ask of me, &c. Psal. 2. 8. Now in quoting a Text it is not unusuall to expresse only a part of it: because the remainder may be found in the place out of which it is quoted.
• 5. It was the purpose of the Apostle to set out the dignity of the Office, as well as the Office it self. That this was his purpose is evident by these two words, ho∣•…•…, glorified, applied thereunto. Now that God the Father should glorifie his begotten Son by making him an Highpriest, much amplifieth the dignity of that Function.

Thus is this testimony a most pertinent testimony. It is a testimony taken out of sacred Scripture, and in that respect the more sound, as was shewed Chap. 1. ver. 5. § 46.

Of quoting the very words of Scripture, See Chap. 3. ver. 7. §. 74.

Of quoting neither Book nor verse, See Chap. 2. ver. 6. § 50.