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 ...

§. 6. Of Christ the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.

CHrists body is here stiled the a 1.1 true Tabernacle: not in opposition to that which is false or feigned: but to that which is typicall and ceremoniall. Thus the law and truth are opposed, Ioh. 1. 17. as the shadow and the substance. Thus the Father is said to seek such worshippers as shall worship him in truth, John 4. 23. Christs body then is that Tabernacle which was shadowed at by the Jewish Taber∣nacle. It is that Tabernacle wherein, and whereby we and all our services are sancti∣fied and made acceptable to God. From this that Christ said, he came to do Gods will, this inference is made, by this will we are sanctified, through offering of the body of Iesus, Heb. 10. 7, 10.

This shewes the prehemenency of the Christian Church above the Jewish Church. We have the truth of their types: the substance of their shadow. Should not we have this truth in higher account then the•…•… had the type? and should not we be more carefull to make a right use of this true Tabernacle. The zeal of the Jewes about their Tabernacle will be witnesse against our light esteem of the true Tabernacle.

Yet further to commend this Tabernacle unto us, the immediate answer thereof is set down both affirmatively and negatively.

Affirmatively thus, which the Lord pitched. This word pitched in Greek signifieth* 1.2 to set a thing fast. A Tabernacle being made of linnen cloth, and stretched out with cords, was by pegs fast fixed in the ground. This doth our English comprize under this word pitch. Here both making and setting up of this Tabernacle is intended.

This negative phrase, and c 1.3 not man, is added to shew a difference betwixt this Tabernacle and the Tabernacle under the Law, which was made by the hands, and art of man, Exod. 36. 1. &c.

The affirmative and negative phrases (which the Lord pitched and not man) being applyed to Christs body, have reference to his conception: which was not as the con∣ception of others, by any act of man: but wonderously above the course of nature: he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost, Matth. 1. 10. When the Virgin Mary upon* 1.4 the first message of conceiving in her womb, and bringing forth this Son, said, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? this answer was returned by an Angell, The Holy Ghost shall come upon the•…•…, and the power of the highest shall over shadow th•…•…e, Luk. 1. 31, 3, 35.

This negative clause, and not man, is added by way of illustration and any •…•…∣tion: implying that this true Tabernacle was a work above humane strain: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that which God doth immediatly by himself, is far more excellent then that which is done by the ministry of man, Psal. 8. 3. and 19. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Heb. 9. 11.

This immediate author and maker of Christs body, set down affirmatively and negatively, manifesteth a great difference betwixt the typicall Tabernacle and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 true one: even as great as betwixt the immediate workmanship of God, and of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yea, as great as betwixt God himself and man.

This doth much amplifie all the forementioned duties about this true Taberna∣cle.

See more hereof Chap. 9. v. 24. §. 121.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ True opposed to typicall.
• * 1.2

  (b) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fixit. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. com∣pingo
• c 1.3

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

  Christs con∣ception.