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 ...

§. 144. Of righteous, or just men.

OF the notation of the Greek word translated, a 1.1 just, see Chap. 1. v. 9. §. 114. We sometimes translate this same word righteous, Chap. 11. 4. And the sub∣stantive, b 1.2 righteousnesse, Chap. 11. 7. And the adverb, c 1.3 righteously, Tit. 2. 12. This taketh it for granted, that there are just and righteous men.

This is here to be taken of such as are so, before God and man: not of such as are so onely in their own conceit, as the Pharisee was, Luke 18. 9. or onely in mans ap∣prehension, as Saul was before his conversion, Phil. 3. 6. These are no more indeed and truth, just or righteous, then painted or carved men, are true men. Thereupon saith Christ, Except your righteousnesse shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shal in no case enter into the Kingdome of heaven, Matth. 5. 20. Almost as ma∣ny proofs might be brought for the point, as there are leaves in the Book of God.

Such as these.

• 1. This epithite, just, or righteous, is frequently attributed to sundry persons, as to Abel, Matth. 23. 35. Noah, Gen. 6. 9. and many others.
• 2. The mention of men approved under this epithite, Iob 12. 4. Psal. 37. 12. Prov. 20. 7.
• 3. Commendations of such as are righteous, Prov. 12. •…•…6.
• 4. Remuneration of those that are righteous, Ezek. 18. •…•…, &c.
• 5. Vengeance on such as are not righteous, Prov. 11. 7. 1 Cor. 6. 9.

The righteous are those that give to every one their due. They therefore

• 1. Are fittest in this world to honor God.
• 2. They especially will disperse, and give to the poor, Psal. 112. 9.
• 3. They will deal most fairly with all sorts of men, and be most helpfull to other•…•….

1. Quest. How is it then said, that there is none righteous, no not one? Rom. 3. 10. Psal. 14. 3.

Answ. That negative is true in four respects.

• 1. There is none originally righteous. This was Christs prerogative, Luk. 1. 35. All others are brought •…•…orth in sin, Psal. 51. 5. Iob 14. 4.
• 2. None are legally righteous: that is, so righteous as to be justified by the Law▪ Gal. 3. 11. This was Adams prerogative, in his entire estate, Eccl. 7. 29.
• 3. None are perfectly righteous, Isa. 64. 6. This is the prerogative of glorified Saints, Heb. 12. 23.
• 4. None are meritoriously righteous, Luk. 17. 10. This was Christs honour, and that by vertue of the union of his humane nature with the divine. In this respect God is said to have purchased his Church with his own blood, Acts 20. 28.

2. Quest. How then may any sons of Adam in this world be counted just, o•…•… righteous?

Answ.

• 1. Though not legally, yet Evangelically. The law requireth two things.
  • 1. Perfect righteousnesse, and that in every part, poynt, and degree, Gal. 5. 3.
  • 2. Personall righteousnesse, that the person himself that looks for acceptance by the law, do that which the law requireth, by himself, in his own person. The man (even the man himself) which doth these things, shall live by the law, Rom. 10. 5.

  But the Gospel limiteth, and mitigateth both these: For perfect righteousness, it accepteth a true and faithfull endeavour, Phil. 3. 14, 15. Instead of personall righteousnesse, it accepteth the righteousnesse of a Surety.

• 2. Though none be righteous by carnall generation, yet there are righteous men by spirituall regeneration.
• 3. Though none be perfectly righteous, yet there are such as are truely and sin∣cerely righteous. Now sincerity is accepted of God for perfection.
• 4. Though none are meritoriously righteous, yet they are so righteous in Gods account, as through his grace and favour he rewardeth their righteousnesse.

On these grounds, I may well use this Apostolical phrase, Follow after righteousnesse, 1 Tim. 6. 11. And presse this exhortation as the wise man doth his incitation unto wisedome, Prov. 4. 5, 6, 7. &c.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 There are just men.