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 ...

§. 32. Of Abraham a Patriarch.

THe argument whereby the Apostle proves the greatnesse of Melchisedec, is Abra∣hams inferiority to him. The Jewes counted Abraham the greatest among men. If therefore there were one greater then Abraham, how great must he needs be?

Of Abrahams excellency. See Chap. 6. v. 13. §. 91, 92.

As an amplification of Abrahams greatnesse this title, Patriarch is attributed un∣to him.

a 1.1 Patriarch, is a noun compound. The first simple noun whereof it is com∣pounded signifieth, b 1.2 •…•…ather; and the other, c 1.3 beginning, or principality. Thus* 1.4 it implieth the first or chiefest father: or, the first and the chiefest of fathers.

In the New Testament it is attributed as to Abraham here, so to the twelve 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Iacob: Act. 7. 8, 9. and to David, Act. 3. 29.

Abraham is called Patriarch, because he was the first Father of the stock of the Jewes.

The twelve sons of Iaacob were so stiled, because they were the first heads and fa∣thers of the twelve severall tribes.

Da•…•…id had this title given him for excellency sake: because he was a prime and principall father: or because he was the head and father of that stock, whereof Christ as King should descend: or (some will have it) because the Sanhedrim, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Jewes were of his stock, and he the head thereof.

In the Church of Christ under the Gospell, which was a spirituall Family, Bi∣shops were called by a d 1.5 Greek name which signifieth fathers: and Arch-Bishops were called Patriarchs, the chief of those fathers.

But when the number of Bishops and Arch Bishops increased, this high title, Pa∣•…•…, was restrained to four chief Arch Bishops: one at Rome, another at Ierusalem, the third at Antioch, the fourth at Alexandria.

In processe of time when the Emperour had his seat at Constantinople, that City also had a Patriarch.

All these continued with a kind of equall dignity, till the pride of Rome grew so* 1.6 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as the Bishop thereof would endure no mate: and thereupon had a new stile, universall Pope.

To return to the point in hand, this title Patriarch, doth much illustrate the dig∣nity of Abraham: which much tendeth to the magnifying of Melchisedecs excellency, in that such a Patriarch as Abraham was inferiour to him.

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 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 imperium.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pa∣•…•….
• d 1.5

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

  Papa universa∣lis.