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 ...

§. 238. Of turning to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

THE ninth effect of Faith, is in these words, Turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

The word translated, a 1.1 Armies, signifieth a setting in order, or ranking Souldiers: or pitching their tents: or Armies set in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Of the notation and divers acceptions of the word, See Chap. 13. v. 3. §. 127. Here it setteth out such Armies as are incamped, very strong and well fenced: so as it is an amplification of the valour of Believers: who are here said to b 1.2 put to •…•…ight such Armies. The Greek c 1.3 verb, properly signifieth to lay. Luk. 9. 58. and to •…•…ow down. Luk. 24. 5. Or to weare away. Luk. 9. 12. It is here used af∣ter the manner of the d 1.4 last conjugation in Hebrew, to make one depart: and ap∣plyed to Souldiers in battell array, to make them give ground, or turn the back, which is to run, or fly away. Thus the word is here fitly translated, Turned to •…•…ight.

The persons against whom they so prevailed, are here stiled e 1.5 Aliens, in op∣position to the people of God. Of the notation, and divers acceptions of the* 1.6 Greek word. See Chap. 9. v. 25. §. 127.

Aliens are properly opposed to free Denizons, or Citizens: they are other∣wise called Strangers, or Forreiners; Christ opposeth these to Children. Matth. 17. 25. All the time of the Law till Christ was offered up, all that were not of the Commonwealth of Israel, were counted Aliens. (Ephes. 2. 12.) because they •…•…ad no right to the priviledges of Israel, who were then the onely visible Church of God. This is here noted to shew the ground of their overthrow: even because they were not of the people of God. God protected his people against Aliens, who were not his people.

This, and the former effect of faith do much commend it. They shew that faith* 1.7 is of force, not onely to keep men from danger, (as these instances, Stopping 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Lions, quenching fire, escaping the Sword, freeing from weakness, im∣port) but also to enable men to subdue others, in that it maketh valiant in fight, and putte•…•…h to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

The former of these two noteth out valour, the other victory. So as this later i•…•… an effect of the former: Victory is an effect of valour: Faith works valour, and valour produceth victory. Hereby it is evident, that valour arising from Faith, proves victorious. All the victories of believing Saints give proof hereunto; as of Abraham. Gen. 14. 15. Of Moses Num. 21. 24, 35. and 35. 7, 8. of Ioshua, and of the Iudges, and Kings after him.

Faith brings God to be a party; Believers will enterprize nothing without God. In effect they say to God, as to Barak did Deborah.—If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wil•…•… not go with me, I will not go, Judg. 4. 8. So said Moses to God, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Exod. 33. 15▪ 16▪

〈◊〉〈◊〉 God goeth with them. As a visible evidence hereof; The Lord ap∣peared to Ioshua, and told him, that as Captain of the host of the Lord, he was c•…•…me. Josh. 5. 14. Hence is it, that God is oft stiled the Lord of Hosts: he go∣•…•…th out with the Armies of his people, he ordereth them; He giveth victory to them. Psal. 98. 1. Thus is God himself, and his honour engaged in his Saints battells, which are stiled, the battels of the Lord. 1 Sam. 25. 28.

This therefore doth Ioshua thus plead, O Lord, What shall I say, When Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? What wilt thou do unto thy great Name? Josh. 7. 8. 9.

Hence may be inferred, one reason of the ill success, which many that profess* 1.8 the true Faith, have in war. In generall this is it; They do not well exercise their Faith.

Particulars to prove this are these that follow.

• 1. Israel, in Ioshua's time, fled before their enemies. Josh. 7. 4. For it is an especiall fruit of faith to make men search into themselves, and into them who joyne with them, whether there be any thing that might keep off God from them, which they did not at that time; yet had they just cause to do so, because of the strict charge that was given them, and that upon pain of a curse. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. 18.
• 2. The eleven Tribes that fought against Benjamin in a good cause were twice overthrown. Iudg. 20. 21, 25. For,
  • 1. It is probable, that they were too confident in the number of their men, so as they fought not in faith.
  • 2. They took upon them to punish other mens sins before they had re∣pented of their own, which is not to fight in Faith. After they had lost two and twenty thousand in one battell, and eighteen thousand in ano∣ther, and thorowly repented, with fasting, and weeping (Iudg. 20. 26.) they prevailed.
• ...

  3. Ionathan a true Believer perished in War. 1 Sam. 31. 2. For,

  Though Ionathan did in generall believe, to the salvation of his Soul, yet could he not in Faith enter into that war whereby he perished. For he could not be ignorant of Gods refusing to answer his Father; and he might also be privy to his Fathers consulting with a Witch. 1 Sam. 28. 6, 7.

  But concerning Ionathan's cause,

  • 1. God may suffer an Army to be overthrown for the sinns of some, and in that overthrow, suffer Believers to be slain for their good: as to free them from the evill to come. This was the case of Ionathan. God would not suffer him, who was Heir apparent to the Crown, see ano∣ther sit upon the Throne.
  • 2. God translates his Saints in such overthrows from earth to Heaven, where they triumph over all their enemies.
• 4. Believing Iosiah was slain in war, because he enterprized not that war in faith, but against Gods Will. 2 Chro. 35, 21, 22. Saints may in their general course walk by Faith, and yet in some particulars swerve from it, and God for that justly punish them: so he dealt with Moses. Numb. 20. 12.

To conclude, if thorow examination be made of such battels, as believing Saints have lost, or wherein they have been slain, it will be found, that their enterprises have been without warrant, or unwarrantably prosecuted. In such cases God makes enemies his rod to scourge his children. But what do enemies get thereby? what do Gods children lose thereby? When Gods work is done, the rod is cast into the fire: They who were scourged bettered thereby, received into grace and fa∣vour, and in case they dye, crowned with an incorruptible Crown. They are judged in this world, that they might not be condemned in the world to come. 1 Cor. 11. 32.

A good direction hence ariseth for making war prosperous: which is to get Faith, and rightly to use and exercise it. For this end observe these rules.

• 1. Acquaint thy self with Gods Word and Promises. Thereby thou maist learn what warrs are lawfull; how lawfull warrs are to be waged; to what warrs God hath made a promise of victory. 2 Sam. 5. 19.
• Secondly, Be sure of peace with God: and take heed, that he have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quarrell against thee. Deut. 23. 14.
• 3. Renew thy Covenant with God: renew thy repentance, Iudg. 20. 26. for we are all prone to fall from our former stedfastness.
• 4. In the best manner that thou canst, seek help of God. Humble thy Soul: sharpen thy prayer by fasting. 2 Chro. 20. 3.
• 5. Let thy soul remain steady with God, and fai•…•…t not. Exo. 17. 11.
• 6. The greater the danger is, the more confidently rest upon God. 2 Chro. 13. 14.

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 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inclino.
• d 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  Who are Aliens.
• * 1.7

  Faith make•…•… victorious.
• * 1.8

  Want of faith cause of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 success.