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 ...

§. 30. Of the tables of the Covenant.

THe fift holy type in the most holy place was the Tables of the covenant.* 1.1

a 1.2 The Greek word properly signifieth a broad thing and that which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stone. The French word plague seemes to be derived from the Greek. The b 1.3 •…•…∣tine have a word derived from thence, which our English according to the notation of it calleth a planck: it signifieth a plain table. The LXX use the word which the Apostle doth in setting forth the tables whereon the Law was written, Exod. 31. 18. There they are expresly said to be tables of stone. So much doth the Apostle express and saith, that the law was engraven in stones, 2 Cor. 3. 3, 7.

The plural number, tables, is here used, because there were two of them, Exod. 31. 18. and 34. 1.

Two tables of stone were twice made.

Once by God himself. Of these it is said, the tables were the work of God, Exod. 32. 16. And again, G•…•…d gave •…•…unto Moses two tables of stone, Exod. 31. 18. These were never brought into the most holy place. For Moses cast them out of his hands and brake them, Exod. 32. 19.

The other upon Gods commandement were made by Moses like unto the first, Exod. 3•…•…. 1, 4. On these latter the Lord himself wrote the words that were upon the former tables: even the words of the cove•…•…tant, the ten commandements, Exod. 34. 1, 28. These were they that are here meant: for these were not only brought into the most holy place, but also put into the Ark, Deut. 10. 1, 2.

They are called tables of the covenant, because the ten commandements, ingraven* 1.4 upon them, contained the covenant of God which he made with his people. Of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the word covenant, and how it differeth from a testament, see Chap. 7. •…•…. 22. §. 94.

The matter of these tables being stone signifie three things,* 1.5

• 1. Their hardnesse.
• 2. Their firmnesse.
• 3. Their lastingnesse.

• 1. The hardnesse of those tables of stone, signified the natural disposition of mans 〈◊〉〈◊〉: which is hard, inflexible, not easie to be wrought upon. I knew, saith God, that thou art hard, and thy neck is an Iron sinew, and thy brow brasse, Isa. 48. 4. There∣fore when God converts a man, he takes the stony heart out of him, Eze. 11. 19 As a stone will sooner be broken all to pieces, yea, and beaten to powder then made soft; So a naturall mans heart will sooner be confounded with Gods judgements, then mollifi∣ed with his word.
• ...

  2. Stones are firm, they will not, as boards laid in the sun, warp, or cleave, or split asunder. This sheweth the firmnesse of the law ingraved on them. The testi∣mony of the Lord is sure, Psal. 19. 7. It is easier for heaven and earth to passe, then one title of the law to fail, Luk. 16. 17.

  The very heathen to shew the stability of their lawes, had them ingraven'd in brasse.

  A strong motive this is to have Gods lawes in high account.

  This use doth David make thereof, Psal. 19. 10.

• 3. Stones last: they do not decay as wood doth. So doth Gods law endure for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 19. 9.

The foresaid tables of stone were polished and made fit by Moses, but the cove∣nant was written and engraven thereon by God himself, Exod. 34. 1.

Thus it is God himself that writes his lawes in mens hearts.

We read of Gods writing his law four times.

• 1. In the tables that himself prepared, Exod. 31. 18.
• 2. In the tables which Moses prepared, Exod. 34. 1.
• ...

  3. In Adams heart, Gen. 1. 27.

  This writing was defaced by Adams sin, as Gods first ingraving, by Moses casting the Tables out of his hands, Exod. 32. 19. Some remainder thereof continueth in the heart of a naturall man, Rom. 2. 15.

• 4. In the heart of those that are regenerate. For the new man is after God created 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and holinesse of truth, Eph. 4. 24.

This is it that was typified by Gods second writing of the law in the two latter tables.

As Gods law was a perfect plat-form of Gods will: so it was a lively represen∣tation of the Image of God renewed in man, Col. 3. 10.

The tables were a type of Christ. In Christ the whole will and counsell of God is as it were ingraven, Ioh. 1. 18. In this respect Christ is stiled the Image of God, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Col. 1. 15. Yea the expresse image of his person, Heb. 1. 3. This is further typified by putting the law into the Ark: for it hath been shewed (§. 20.) that the Ark was an especial type of Christ. It is in this respect fitly said, that in Christ are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge, Col. 2. 3.

As these tables are stiled, the Tables of the Covenant. So is Christ the mediator of the covenant, Chap. 8. v. 6. §. 23, 24.

In and by Christ we must look to receive the benefit of the covenant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What tables are here meant.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Tabula.
• b 1.3

  Pla•…•…ca.
• * 1.4

  why Tables of covenant.
• * 1.5

  Why Tables of stone.