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 ...

§. 24. Of mysteries spoken of Melchisedec applyed to Christ.

THe first three Greek words translated a 1.1 without Father, b 1.2 without Mother, c 1.3 without descent, are here only used in the New Testament. They are all compound words, and that with the d 1.4 privative preposition, that implyeth a plain negation of a thing.

• 1. This without Father, must needs be applyed to the humane nature of Christ. For as God the second Person in sacred Trinity, he is the Son of the first Person, which is his Father; Ioh. 5. 17. But as man he had no proper Father, he was born of a pure Virgin, Isa. 7. 14. Matth. 1. 23. Luk. 1. 35. As for Ioseph the husband of his Mother, it is said, That he was supposed to be his Father (Luk. 3. 23.) and that to hide this great mystery from such as were obstinately malitious.
• 2. This Epithite, without Mother, must needs have reference to Christs divine •…•…∣ture: for we shewed before, that as man, he had a Mother, he was born of the Vir∣gin Mary. The History of his birth is distinctly set down by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But it is blasphemy to think that, as God, he should have a Mother. The great Lord of heaven and earth, is not like the gods of the heathen, who were imagined to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their wives, and some of them to be born of Mothers.

Object. The Virgin Mary is stiled the e 1.5 Mother of God.

Answ. That is, by reason of the hypostaticall union of his two natures, in which respect, that which is proper to one nature, is attributed to the other. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Son of man, is said to be in heaven, Joh. 3. 13. because the divine Nature, to which Christ humane Nature was united, was in heaven. So God is said to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Church with his own bloud, (Act. 20. 28.) because the blood of that humane Na∣ture, which was united to the divine, was shed to that end.

3. This Epithite, without descent, or without pedigree, or without kindred, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also be meant of his divine nature, in reference whereunto he had no ancestors, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 posterity. In reference to his humane nature, both Matthew and Luke set down his

distinct Genealogie, Matt. 1. 1. &c. Luke 3. 23. &c. In regard of his divine nature he was begotten of his Father, by an eternal, unalterable, unconceivable genera∣tion.

4. The last mystery consisteth of two branches. One that he had no beginning of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The other, Nor end of life. These two set down a true proper eternity without beginning, and end. See hereof The Explanation of the Lords Prayer, §. 224.

This most properly and principally is to be taken of his divine nature. As God he is Alpha and Omega, Rev. 1. 8.

Of Christs Eternity, see Chap. 1. §. 129. 143. 145.

Christ as man had his beginning in the Virgins wombe, after many hundred Ge∣nerations had passed in the world, even in the 3928 year of the world: and about 34. yeares after, there was an end of his mortall life in this world; for he was cruci∣•…•…, dead and buried. Indeed he arose again from the dead, ascended into hea∣ven, and there ever liveth, and abideth in his humane nature: so as in heaven he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no end of life, but on earth he had. From the foresaid mysteries applyed to Christ, we may infer these orthodox positions.

• 1. Christ is true God: without Mother, &c.
• 2. This true God was not a made God, but eternall without beginning; He had neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life.
• 3. Christ was true man, a son of man.
• 4. This true God and true man is one Person: even as the type Melchisedec was one. For the same Person that, as God, was without mother, was also, as man, without father.
• 5. This Person God-man, is High-Priest in both his natures. For Melchisedec that High-Hriest, was in reference to Christs humane nature, without father: and in reference to his divine nature, without mother.

Most of their heresies which are mentioned, Chap. 2. v. 14. §. 140. are by these mysteries apparently refuted.

The foresaid mysteries, as in the truth and properties of them, they belong unto Christ who is our true High-Priest, are of singular use to strengthen our faith in and about his Priest-hood. For,

• 1. Knowledge of his man-hood, maketh us the more boldly and confidently to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto him: he being such an one, as hath experience of our infirmities and neces∣•…•… in himself.
• 2. Knowledge of his God-head, makes us more perfectly to relie upon him, and to trust u•…•…to him. For hereby we are assured, that he is able to help.
• 3. Union of his two natures in one person, strengthneth our faith in his obedi∣ence, death, sacrifice, resurrection and merit of all: for hereby we are assured that he is of infinite power: and that what he did and endured for us, is of infinite va∣l•…•…w and worth.
• 4. His exercising of his Priest-hood in both natures, as he was God-man, maketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with greater confidence to go to him, and to rest upon him: and to prefer him before all others, and to account him the only sufficient mediator.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Deipara.