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 ...

§. 92. Of the meaning of v. 21.

THe Apostle, before he concludes the main point, setteth down, within a •…•…∣thesis, a proof of the argument: and that it may appear, that his main 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 advance Christ his Priest-hood above the Leviticall, he premiseth this, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 Priests were made without an oath: so as they were not instituted after so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 manner as Christ was.

Object. He bringeth no proof for it.

Answ. By alleadging an expresse testimony for the affirmative, concerning the manner of instituting Christs Priest-hood, he implyeth that there was no such mat∣ter concerning the Leviticall Priest-hood: and thereupon he might well conclude, that they were ordained without an oath. If we throughly search all those Scrip∣tures, where mention is made of instituting Priests, we shall find no hint of any oath.

The first institution of those Priests is set down, Exod. 28. 1, &c. The manner of consecrating them, Exod. 29. 1, &c. The confirmation of the High-Priests offcce to Phinehas and his seed for ever, Numb. 25. 13. Yet in none of those places is any mention of an oath.

Object. This is but a negative argument.* 1.2

Answ. In such things as the Holy-Ghost hath set down every particular that is requisite to be known, a negative argument holdeth good. See Chap. 1. v. 5. §. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

That which was taken for granted in the 20. v. is here expressed in these words, b 1.3 But this with an oath: and it is confirmed in the words following.

The confirmation is taken from a divine testimony. This testimony is,

• 1. In generall hinted, thus, c 1.4 by him that said to him.
• 2. Particularly expressed in the words following.

In the generall, this relative him is twice used.

The first in this phrase, d 1.5 by him, hath reference to God the Father. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in this phrase, e 1.6 to him, to God the Son. The Lord said to my Lord, saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 110. 1. See Chap. 5. v. 6. §. 28.

The particular testimony is in these words, The Lord sware, &c.

Of Gods swearing, see Chap. 6. v. 13. §. 97.

How God doth adde dignity and authority to that which by oath he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 See v. 20. §. 91.

It is further said of God, f 1.7 He will not repent. To repent in Greek and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth signifie, to change ones mind and counsell. That God doth not, that God* 1.8 will not repent, see Chap. 6. v. 18. §. 133. 136.

God is here said not to repent, to confirm the everlastingnesse of Christs Priest∣hood.

He addeth this clause, g 1.9 for ever: because God will never repent his establish∣ing his Son to be a Priest.

The gifts which God will continue in his Saints are stiled, gifts h 1.10 without repen∣•…•…, Rom. 11. 29. Repentance it self, which is true and sound, is stiled i 1.11 repen∣•…•… not to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7. 10. This clause therefore, and will not repent, be∣ing added to Gods swearing, giveth proof that Gods oath is immutable and invio∣lable. See Chap. 6. v. 18. §. 140.

Of this testimony, thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, see Chap. 5. v. 6. §. 28, 29, 30.

Notes

• * 1.1

  (a) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  How a nega∣tive con∣cludes.
• b 1.3

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.5

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.8

  God repents not.
• g 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• h 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• i 1.11

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