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 ...

§. 136. Of reward upon doing Gods will.

THe gift of patience is here pressed as a meanes of obtaining a reward of God: Thus much is intended by the manner of inferring the promise with a particle that setteth out the finall cause, a 1.1 that; ye have need of patience, THAT you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 receive. Hereupon saith Christ, he that endureth, or b 1.2 hath patience to the end, •…•…e shall be saved. Matth. 10. 22. On this ground it is said of ancient Saints, that through patience, they inherit the promises. See chap. 6. v. 12. §. 88. 111, 112.

One special ground of patience is thus laid down, done the will of God. We •…•…ust therefore patiently hold out in our Christian course, because therein the will of* 1.3 God is done; for it is the will of God we should so do. This ground sheweth, that Gods will is mans rule; and that Gods will must be practised. See chap. 10. v. 7. §. 20. and chap. 13. v. 21. §. 173. Of Gods secret and revealed will, see chap. 9. v. 28. §. 141. Gods revealed will is that which is our rule, Deut. 29. 29. And this is not only to be known, but also to be done, and practised by us. See the Saints sa∣crifice on Psal. 116. 9. §. 59.

Upon doing the will of God the reward is promised; and thereupon it may be

expected. See v. 35. §. 132. The word, c 1.4 done, is a participle of the time past, and may be word for word thus translated, having done. The sense of it is thus fitly and fully expressed, after we have done: so as reward is to be expected, after the work is* 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Not before, to incite us to continue working: yet after, to testifie Gods truth, faithfulnesse, and bounty, that we may know, it shall not be in vain to hold out in doing his will. 1 Cor. 15. 58.

This demonstrateth a double folly.

• 1. Of those who work not, yet expect a reward, like the foolish Virgins, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 servant, Mat. 25. 11, 18.
• 2. Of those who think it is in vain to work, Mal. 3. 14.

Both these conceits make men dissolute and carelesse: but this order of expect∣ing reward after the work is done, is an antidote against both those poy∣sons.

The reward is expressed under this word, d 1.6 promise: promise is here metonymi∣cally put for the reward promised.

To shew that Gods promise is the ground of reward. See chap. 6. v. 12. §. 87, 88.

Of the greek word translated, e 1.7 receive, see chap. 10. v. 19. §. 100.

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

  Gods will is mans rule.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 1. a•…•…rist.
• * 1.5

  Reward after work.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• e 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉