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 ...

§. 44. Of offering sacrifice for errors.

THe blood which the Priests carried into the most holy place was that which he 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Of the Priests offering to God. See Chap. 5. v. 1. §. 6.

The persons for whom he offered, are first said to be for himself. Of a Priests offering for himself. See Chap. 5. v. 3. §. 14.

It is further added, that he offered for the errours of the people: so as he offered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only for himself, but also for others. For an high high Priest was for men, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for other men, as hath been shewed, Chap. 5. v. 1. §. 4. Of this word people. See Chap. 4. v. 9. §. 57.

Thus it is also said of the true great high Priest Jesus Christ, that he made recon∣ciliation for the sins of the people. Hereof see Chap. 2. v. 18. §. 181.

The word here translated a 1.1 errour is a noun derived from the same verb that the participle is, which is translated b 1.2 the ignorant, Chap. 5. v. 2. §. 10.

The Apostle useth this word not to extenuate their sin, or to restrain the high Priests offering to lesser sins, even such as are extenuated with ignorance of mind, or errour of judgement; but to shew that not onely for great and hainous sins, but al∣so for the lesser kind of sins, offerings were made. Besides, this phrase may fitly be used of all manner of sins; because there is an errour of judgement in every one. When the Apostle spake of the very same thing which here he doth, he useth c 1.3 a word that signifieth all manner of sins, Heb. 7. 27. d 1.4 The Hebrew word, whereun∣to, that which the Apostle here useth, doth answer, signifieth errours: yet is it also put for all manner of sin. And in the law whereunto this of the Apostle hath relati∣on, indefinite words, which signifie all manner of sins, are used. The like is implyed by those general phrases, all their iniquities, all their transgressions, all their sins (Lev. 16. 21.)

I will not deny, but that this phrase may also be used in opposition to such wil∣full,* 1.5 obstinate, and presumptuous sins, as caused the committers of them to be ut∣terly cut off. For such an opposition is made, Numb. 15. 22, 27, 30. And by that opposition it is implyed, that the Priest was not to offer Sacrifice for such.

Quest. Was that sin then the sin against the holy Ghost?* 1.6

Answ. Though the presumption there meant, were a most heynous sin, yet have we not sufficient ground to imagin it to be the sin against the Holy Ghost?

Five things are alledged to prove it to be the sin against the Holy Ghost.

• 1. That it was committed with an high hand, Numb. 15. 30.
• 2. That no Sacrifice was to be offered for it.
• 3. That the committers thereof were utterly to be cut off.
• 4. That the iniquitie of him that committed it should be upon him, Numb. 15. 31.
• 5. That the Apostle resembleth the sin against the Holy Ghost to that sin, Heb. 10. •…•…, 29.

Answ. To the first. A man might sin presumptuously with an high hand, and yet r•…•…pent and find mercy. Instance Manasseth, 2 Chro. 33. 13. But so cannot he that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against the Holy Ghost.

To the second. The deniall of the benefit of a Sacrifice, doth not prove the sin to

be unpardonable. The deniall of a Sacrifice was no more then the deniall of the Churches prayers under the Gospel, which are denyed to such as are excommuni∣cared, though they have not sinned against the Holy Ghost. Instance the inces•…•… person, whom the Apostle delivered to Satan, 1 Cor. 5. 5. Suppose that such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 never pardoned, but that they perish in their sin, and are damned; yet doth it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 follow that they sinned against the holy Ghost.

Many sins are not in the event pardoned, which in their nature are pardonable.

To the third. Cutting off, implyed a kind of Capitall crime, for which some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put to death, Ex. 31. 14. But this did not necessarily imply that they were damned▪ It were hard to think that all that were cut off by a bodily death in the wildernesse, though it were for some presumptuous sin, were damned in hell. Nadabard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 committed a presumptuous sin, for which they were cut off, Lev. 10. 2. Yet to show that in that judgement God remembred mercy, though a fire from the Lord took away their life, yet neither their bodies, nor their cloathes were consumed, Let. 10. 5. A like instance of Mercy remembred in judgement was given in that Pro∣phet who was slain, but not devoured by a Lyon, 1 King. 13. 24.

To the fourth. This phrase, his iniquity is upon him, implyeth that he himself was the cause of the judgement: he justly deserved it. It implyeth the same thing th•…•… this phrase doth, he shall bear his iniquity, which is spoken of him that onely makes himself accessary to anothers sin by not making it known, Lev. 5. 1.

To the fift. The Apostles resemblance is of unequals; his argument is drawn e 1.7 from the lesse, so as that place rather maketh against them then for them. It is as if he had said, If a sin lesse then the sin against the Holy Ghost, escaped not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how much sorer punishment, &c.

This by the way I have noted to keep some weak ones from despaire, who from the forenamed Text, Numb. 15. 30, have inferred, that every presumptuous sin is un∣pardonable.

But to return to the main point, the Apostle useth such f 1.8 a word, as compri∣seth under it all manner of sins: and that both in the nature of the word (because every sin proceedeth from errour in judgement) and also by just consequence: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sins, which may seem to have some extenuation, by reason of errour of judgement, must be expiated by blood, much more, more haynous sins, Heb. 10. 28, 29.

Thus it appeareth that all sins must be expiated by blood, even the least of them, as a sin thorow ignorance, Lev. 4. 2. &c. Numb. 15. 27. On this ground it is said, that Christ was delivered to death g 1.9 for our slips, Rom. 4. 25.

The least slip is against the law, which is so strict, as it denounceth a curse against every transgression, Gal. 3. 10.

• 1. This discovereth the vain distinction betwixt mortall and veniall sins. Here∣of* 1.10 see Chap. 5. v. 2. §. 10.
• 2. This manifesteth their deceit, who think to excuse themselves, because they* 1.11 sinned on ignorance and errour. See Chap. 5. v. 2. §. 10.
• 3. A like conceit, or rather deceit is theirs, who count it a point of puritanis•…•…* 1.12 to make conscience of every small sin. Christ saith that every idle word that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement, Matth. 12. 36.
• 4. We may hence learn, throughly to examine our selves, that if it be possible,* 1.13 we may finde out our errors, and acknowledge them, and crave pardon for them, and apply the blood of Christ to them. Who can understand his errours? Psal. 19. 12.
• 5. This should make us very watchful against all manner of sins, even errors.
• 6. Ministers on this ground ought so to instruct their people, as they may be kept from errors.
• 7. It concerns people to use all means for attaining such knowledge, as may keep them from errors.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Why offerings for errours.
• c 1.3

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

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.5

  Errours op∣posed to pre∣sumptuous sins.
• * 1.6

  Numb. 16. 22. and expoun∣ded. The sin there meant, not the sin against the Holy Ghost.
• e 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• f 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.9

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

  No sin veniall.
• * 1.11

  Ignorance a vain plea.
• * 1.12

  Conscience of every sin.
• * 1.13

  Search after errours.