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 ...

§. 57. Of childrens being in their parents condition.

IN that Levi payed tithes in Abraham, it appears that children are in the same com∣mon condition that their parents are. I say common condition, to exempt such particular priviledges, as God by his providence may, and oft doth con•…•…er upon children above their parents. These priviledges may be outward and inward.

Outward, in worldly dignities: as Saul and David, were both advanced above their Fathers, in that they were made Kings.

Inward, in spirituall graces. Herein Hezekiah and Iosiah were much advanced a∣bove their Fathers: So are all pious children that are born of impious Fathers.

The inferiority of Abraham, and, in him, of Levi, here mentioned was a com∣mon condition. None of their sons were exempted from it. Parents are them∣selves by nature unclean, so are all their children. Who can bring a clean thing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of an unclean? Job 14. 4. In this respect Bildad having said that man is a worm: ad∣deth, and the son of man, is a worm (Job. 25. 6.) As man is, so is a son of man. In this

respect this phrase is oft used: we are as all our Fathers were, 1 Chro. 29. 15. Psal. 33. 12. And this, I am not better then my Fathers, 1 Kings 19. 4.

This the Lord so ordereth

• 1. That the same lawes, and ordinances, instructions, and directions, exhortations and consolations, promises and threatnings might be of force and use to all of all ages.
• 2. That none might presume above others.
• 3. That none might be too much debased.

• 1. This gives a check to their pride, who for some outward priviledge advance themselves above the common condition of man: as if they were gods and not men: from heaven and not from earth. Such were they who said, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, Psal. 2. 3. and such as said of Christ, we will not have this man to reign over us, Luk. 19. 14. Pharaoh was such an one, Exod. 5. 2. And Nebuch adnezzar, Dan. 3. 15. And Haman, Hester 3. 2. And Tyrus, Ezek. 28. 2. Now mark the end of all these.
• 2. This puts us in mind to consider what our fathers have been: and to what they have been subject: and from thence to gather what we are subject unto: to what inferiority, infirmity, pains, diseases, distresses, and other calamities. A* 1.1 heathen man could say, I am a man, and find my self exempted from no humane frailty. We can better discern weaknesses and infirmities in others that have been before us, then in our selves. We can speak much of our Fathers infirmities, imper∣fections, troubles and mortalities: but self-love so blindeth our eyes, as we cannot so well discern the same things in our selves. The like may be applied to duties. In our Fathers we may observe what duties we our selves are bound unto.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum sentio.