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 ...

§. 69. Of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of such meanes as God ordain•…•…s.

THe argument drawn from legall cleansing, is laid down as a granted principle. as if he had positively said, The blood of buls, under the law, sanctified to th•…•… purifying of the flesh.

There are two particular instances of legal purging, which are blood and water.

The former is plainly expressed.

The latter is implyed under this phrase, the Ashes of an heifer.

The for•…•…er hath an especial reference to the Priests going into the most holy place on the solemn annuall day of expiation, Lev. 16. 14, 15. Yet the blood of all other sacrifices injoyned in the law are synecdochically comprised under the same. For they all had such a vertue, as is here set down, to the purifying of the flesh.

It hath been shewed that the blood of those sacrifices typified the blood of Christ: and that blood was necessary for the expiation of sin. See v. 7. §. 43.

Under this title, a 1.1 Buls, the same kind of sacrifice is meant, that was intended under the word, b 1.2 calves, v. 12. §. 56. For it was a yong bullock (Lev. 16. 3.) whose blood was carryed into the most holy place. The Apostle calleth it a calf (as the LXX did before him) because it was young, of the first year: and a Bull because it was of the male kind. Thus is this kind of sacrifice oft expressed under this title, as Psal. 50. 13. Heb. 10. 4.

These and other like sacrifices were of bruit beasts: yet had they a kind of vertue in them, as the Apostle here setteth down. Even this vertue they could not have of and by themselves: for there is no more natural vertue in the blood of bulls and goates, then in the blood of horses and swine. But God made choyce of these and other like creatures for that kind of cleansing, and to typifie the blood of Christ:

and thereupon they had the foresaid efficacy. For any thing is of force to 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 whereunto God ordaines it. This might further be exemplified in all other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rites: and in all the means, which by Gods appointment were used for working mi∣racles: •…•…s the rod, wherewith Moses stroke the Sea and the Rock. Exod. 14. 16. & 17. •…•….

All power and vertue is in God: He is the primary fountain of all, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forth as it pleaseth him: what he willeth to be done by such and such means shall be so done.

On this ground we ought carefully to observe what means God hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the effecting of any thing, and carefully use the same: and not suffer any seeming meanness in the means, to weaken our faith in the effecting of that for which God hath appointed the means. This was Naamans fault: and if he had not been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perswaded by his servants, he might have returned as foul a leper, as he came, 2 King. 5. 11, 13. We ought to lift up our eyes to God, and consider his power, and wisdome, and goodness, and subject our selves to his ordinance, and not rea∣son against the same.

This may fitly be applyed to the ordinances which God hath sanctified under the Gospel: as to reading and preaching the word, to Catechising, to administring the Sacraments, to prayer and thanks-giving, and other Christian ordinances.

Hereof see more Chap. 2. v. 4. §. 28.

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

  Things effe∣ctuall to what they are or∣dained. See Sect. •…•…5.