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 ...

§. 41. Of instructions and directions arising from a divine covenant.

• 1. GOds covenant with man instructeth us in two especiall points.
  • 1. In Gods condescention to man.
  • 2. In the sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happinesse.
  • 1. Gods condescention to man is manifested four wayes.* 1.1
    • 1. In that God being the most high supreme Soveraign over all, vouchsafeth to enter into covenant with his servants. To suffer such a relation as con∣federates and covenanters betwixt so high a Soveraign and so mean ser∣vants, is a great condescention, Deut. 26. 17, 18.
    • 2. In that God being a Lord hath power to command what he pleaseth, so as he need not covenant, or capitulate with them, saying, do this and I will do that: yet doth he enter into covenant. This manifesteth a great con∣descention, Ma•…•…. 20. 14, 15.
    • 3. In that being most free, and wholly depending upon himself, he need not bind himself to any (for who shall say unto him what dost thou? Iob 9. 12. and 34. 19. Dan. 4. 35.) yet by covenant he binds himself to man.
    • 4. In that God being the Lord God of truth (Psal. 31. 5.) he binds himself to perform his promise, as if there might be some fear of his falling therein, Heb. 6. 17, 18.
  • 2. The sure prop that man hath to rest on God for happinesse by reason of his co∣venant* 1.2 is manifested two wayes.
    • 1. In that God who is good and doth good (Psal. 119. 68.) doth covenant to make man happy. God is as a deep, full, open, overflowing, everflow∣ing fountain: so as that might seem sufficient to make us go to him for every thing that may tend to blessednesse. But the covenant which God maketh to bring us unto happinesse, doth much more imbolden us to go to him, and make us confident of receiving from him, what he hath co∣venanted to give.
    • ...

      2. By covenant God hath caused a speciall relation to passe betwixt him and us. He and we are confederates. This is a sure prop.

      As God is faithfull in himself; so his covenant is most sure. It is a covenant of salt for ever, Numb. 18. 19. Gods confederates may thereupon have strong consola∣tion and confidence, Deut. 7. 9. Heb. 6. 18.

• 2. The covenant of God with man doth direct us in four speciall points.* 1.3
  • 1. To know what God expects of us: namely, whatsoever is in the covenant to* 1.4 be performed on our part: which we must be carefull to observe as we do desire to receive any benefit from the covenant.
  • ...

    2. To understand what we may expect from God: namely, whatsoever on* 1.5 Gods part is covenanted. God by his covenant binds himself, and he will not start from it. He is a faithfull God which keepeth covenant, Deut. 7. 9. Saints of old used to plead this for strengthning their faith, 1 Kings 8. 23. Neh. 1. 5. and 9. 32. Dan. 9. 4.

    The way whereby we may expect with confidence from God what he hath covenanted, is to be conscionable in observing what is cove∣nated on our part, Deut. 7. 12.

  • 3. To acquaint our selves with the covenant of God, that thereby we may* 1.6 know what priviledges and blessings belong unto us. For we have no∣thing whereby we can lay claim to any good thing, but Gods covenant. As this is a duty, so it will be our wisdome to do it. A wise heir will* 1.7 search after such evidences as give him a right to his lands and goods.
  • 4. To be carefull in observing our own undertakings: and as conscionable in per∣forming

• ...
  • the covenant on our part, as we are desirous to partake of the benefit of the covenant on Gods part. This is laid down as a ground of Levies blessing, that they kept Gods covenant, Deut. 33. 9. This God ex∣presly requireth, Exod. 19. 5. We cannot expect that God should keep co∣venant with us, unlesse we be carefull to keep covenant with him, Psal. 25. 10. Great is that losse which followeth upon breach of covenant: yet that is not all, Gods wrath and vengance will also follow thereupon. Sore vengance hath been executed on breach of covenant with man, 2 Kings 17. 4. &c. Ezek. 17. 15. How much sorer vengeance may be feared on breach of covenant with God, Ier. 22. 6, 9. and 34. 18, 19, 20. Hos. 8. 1. 1 Kings 11. 11.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gods conde∣scention to man in covenanting with him.
• * 1.2

  Gods covenant a prop to faith.
• * 1.3

  Gods Cove∣nant shewes.
• * 1.4

  1. What God expects of us.
• * 1.5

  2. What we may expect from God.
• * 1.6

  3. What pri∣viledges be∣long to us.
• * 1.7

  4 What is to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by us.