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 ...

§. 145. Of strong Comfort.

THe forementioned comfort is much illustrated by this Epithite, a 1.1 strong, Of the notation and emphasis of this Epithite, see Chap. 5. v. 7. §. 37. It is here opposed to that which is weak and wavering, and full of doubts and feares. Hereby then is shewed, that God would have our comfort to be steady; like the shining of the sun in a fair bright day: and not in a cloudy, gloomy day, when it may for a while shine forth, and then presently be obscured. Pauls comfort was a strong and steady comfort: for he saith, our consolation aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 5. And again, I am filled with comfort, 2 Cor. 7. 4. In this respect he stileth it, everlasting consolation, 2 Thes. 2. 16.

Strong comfort doth much commend the meanes which God hath afforded for* 1.2 that purpose: And it is exceeding usefull against the many, fierce and strong temp∣tations which will much impair our comfort unlesse it be strong. A foundation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the Sand will soon fail, when the rain falls, and the floods arise, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blow and beat upon the house that is built on that foundation, Matth. 7. 26, •…•…7. There will arise doubts and fears from the flesh: Satan also will adde his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and blusterings, and will do what lyeth in him, to bereave us of all comfort. It is therefore requisite, that our comfort be strong and stedfast: and that we be as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rooted, and a well grounded Oake which stands steady against all storms.

• 1. Let us not be content either with seeming or small comforts: lest we be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those, who dream that they eat, but when they awake, their soul is empty, &c. Isa. •…•…9. •…•…. Such are many who have been long trained up in Christs School, and lived under the Ministry of the word, by which Gods promises have been tendred unto them, and the infallible truth of those promises demonstrated, and yet remain as weak and wavering, as full of doubts and fears, as at the beginning. How can such be though•…•… to be of the Kingdome of God? the things of that Kingdome, though they be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in their beginning, yet will grow to an admirable greatnesse, Matth. 13. 31. &c.
• 2. For our parts let us do our best for attaining that which God would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 attain to, and for which God affordeth us immutable things: namely, strong •…•…∣lation. This may be attained by a diligent exercising our selves in Gods word publickly and privately: by a carefull observing his promises, and by a due •…•…∣deration of Gods faithfulnesse and immutability.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  Strong conso∣lation very usefull.