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 ...

§. 142. Of Christs conspicuous appearing.

A Consequence of Christs once offering himself, is set down in these words, unto them that look for him shall he appear, &c. The consequence is that, he shal ap∣pear again. The word translated, a 1.1 appear, is of the same verb that is translated, b 1.2 we see, Chap. 2. v. 8. §. 68. It implyeth so clear a manifestation, as may visi∣bly be seen and discerned. It is here used in the passive voyce and future tense: as if it had been translated, he shall be seen.

It is spoken of Christ, in reference to his descent from heaven at the last and great* 1.3 day of judgement: when he shall be seen not only of the Spirits now in heaven, but of all Angels and men, good and bad: yea, even of the damned men, and devils in hell. For all shall be cited before him. The Spirits in heaven shall from thence accompany him, Matth. 25. 31. The dead shall arise out of the places where they lie, Rev. 20. 12, 13. The then living shall suddainly be rapt up to meet the Lord in the Aire, 1 Thes. 4. 17. The damned in hell shall also be drawn before him to hear their final, woful doom, solemnly and irrevocably ratified, Rev. 20. 10. Hereby it appeareth, that the Lord Jesus shall conspicuously manifest himself, namely, at the day of judgement: The word of the Text doth intend as much. The word tran∣slated c 1.4 comming (1 Thes. 3. 13.) spoken of this appearance, implyeth a personal presence of the Lord. There is another word used, 1 Tim. 6. 14. which is translated d 1.5 appearing, which, according to the notation of the word, signifieth an appea∣rance above others: such an appearance as shall shew him to be above others: and so make him conspicuous to all: The simple noun importeth a cleer, or bright ap∣pearance. This word is six times used in the New Testament, and in every place applyed to the appearing here intended, 2 Thes. 2. 8. 1 Tim. 6. 14. 2 Tim. 1. 10. and 4. 1, 8. and 2. 13. e 1.6 Both these latter words that set out a personal presence, and a conspicuous appearance of Christ, are joyned together, 2 Thes. 2. 8. and glory is ad∣ded to his bright appearance thus, f 1.7 the glorious appearing, or the appearing of glo∣ry, Titus 2. 14. This is that appearing, whereof Enoch prophesied, Iud. v. 14. And whereof Christ himself and his Apostles makes frequent mention. If the manner of Christs comming be duly weighed, we shall discern that it will be a most conspicu∣ous appearing. Among other evidences these are some.

• 1. He shall descend from heaven, (1 Thes. 4. 16.) not as at first invisibly: but visi∣bly* 1.8 in his humane nature, Act. 1. 11. Heaven being on high, the opening of it, and his comming out of it, must needs be conspicuous.
• 2. He shall come with an innumerable company of Angels attending him, Matth. 24. 31. This troop must needs make him conspicuous.
• 3. There shal be then a loud shril sound of an Arch-Angel, which shall pierce tho∣row all corners of the world; yea, even to the deph of the earth, and of the Sea, and of hell it self: which not only the then living, but the dead also shall hear▪ for it shall raise them: and withall a great shout of the inhabitants of heaven, that shall make all the world to ring again with the noyse thereof, 2 Thes. 4. 16.
• 4. He shall sit upon a throne, and that throne shall be a throne of glory, Matth. 25. 31. Thrones are set on high, that all may behold him that sitteth thereon.
• 5. All nations shall be gathered before him, Matth. 25. 32. Not only the righ∣teous, but the wicked also shall see him: The righteous shall rejoyce to see him: the wicked shall wish that the rocks and mountains might fall upon them, and hide them from him whom they see.
• 6. He shall judge every one. For that end every one is to appear before his judge∣ment seat, Rom. 14. 10. Do not all these, yea, every of them shew that he shall con∣spicuously appear.

Thus will Christ appear both in regard of believers and others.

• 1. Among believers, many never saw him: and many who saw him, saw him as a man despised, Isa. 53. 3. That they might now see that their faith was not misplaced, but set upon one that was worthy to be believed on, to be loved, and to be obeyed, he will so conspicuously appear.
• 2. Wicked ones took occasion of despising him: either because while he was on

• earth, he appeared in a mean condition, or because in heaven, he doth not visibly •…•…nifest himself. Thus as they regarded not his person, so they despised his ordi∣•…•…ces, derided his members, oppressed such as professed him. That such might be the more affrighted and confounded, when they behold him, he appeareth con∣•…•…uously in glory, and with power. Hereupon it is said that he will come in fla∣•…•… fire, taking vengeance on them, that know not God, and▪ that he will come to be •…•…fied in his Saints, and to he admired in all them that believe, 2 Thes. 1. 8, 10.

• 1. This cannot but minister singular comfort and encouragement to the faithfull. Though their confidence be placed on him whom they never saw, yet at length, then the day of recompence commeth, they shall conspicuously see him. In the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 while, as their faith is manifested to be more sound, so will it be more accep∣•…•… to him. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed, Ioh. 20. 29. This was the excellency of Abrahams faith, Ioh. 8. 56. Rom. 4. 18.
• 2. On the other side, this cannot be but terrible to the wicked, who like the evil 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (Matth. 24. 48.) take advantage from the Lords absence, to live in all loose∣•…•…, and licentiousnesse. Fearful is the doom, that is denounced against such an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Matth. 24. 50, 51.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  Christ at the last day shall be seen of all.
• 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

  The manner of Christs comming to judgement.