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 ...

§. 244. Of the Apostles quoting things out of humane Authors.

THe particular instances wherein, and whereby the trials of the Saints are* 1.1 exemplified, are such as are not registred in any part of the old Testament 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hereupon some infer, that the trials of Christians for the Gospel are here in∣tended. But that is not probable: for

• 1. This Epistle was written by an Apostle that lived in Christs time, see Chap. 2. vers. 3. §. 27.
• 2. It is said of all those that were brought to these trials, that they received not the promises, vers. 39. namely, the promise of Christ exhibited, and of the full Revelation of the Gospel by Christ.

If they, which received not the promises, endured so much, what should not we* 1.2 endure?

It is more than problable, that the Apostle doth in the suffering of Saints, set down in this, and the verses following, aim at the persecutions of the Church, after the Jews return from the Babylonish captivity.

Quest. How could the Apostle come to the knowledge of them?

Answ. He might have them, either out of humane records, or from traditions conveied from Fathers to Children, age after age. So had Paul the expresse names of Jannes and Jambres, 2 Tim. 3. 8. So had another Apostle the striving

of Michael with the Devil about the body of Moses, and the Prophesie of Enoch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vers. 9. 14. and our Apostle this of Moses, that he said, I fear and quake, Heb. 12. 21.

Quest. Doth not this make humane records as authentick as sacred Scripture?* 1.3 and Traditions equal to the written word?

Answ. In no wise. For though in humane records, there may be and are ma∣•…•… truths, yet we cannot absolutely rest upon them, because there may be false∣hood in them: but sacred Scripture is the word of truth, Jam. 1. 18. Yea, truth it self, Joh. 17. 17. and that in three respects.

• 1. In regard of the Author, who is the God of truth, (Psal. 31. 5.) from* 1.4 whom nothing but truth can come. He cannot lie, Tit. 1. 2.
• 2. In regard of the matter: there is nothing but truth in it, no falshood, no 〈◊〉〈◊〉, no uncertainty, Psal. 19. 8.
• 3. In regard of the effect: it perswades a man of the truth revealed in it. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what Gods word revealeth, may safely, and ought to be confidently believed. It is not so with humane writings.

Quest. Why then doth the Apostle produce matters to be believed out of humane writings.

Answ. The holy Ghost so assisted the Apostles, as they were able to discerne betwixt truth and falshood: so as what they took out of humane Writers was without question most true, and by their quoting the same, they have made them authentick.

The like may be said of those Testimonies, which the Apostle quoted out of Heathen Poets, as Aratus, Act. 17. 28. Menander, 1 Cor. 15. 33. Epimenides, Tit. 1. 12. The Apostles quoting these, hath now made them to be sacred. Thus can none do but they who have such a spirit.

The same judgement is to be given of Traditions. Apostles by the immediate assistance of Gods spirit could judge what Traditions were true and Divine: but we cannot. It sufficeth us that all things requisite to make us wise unto salva∣tion are in sacred Scripture, 2 Tim. 3. 15. &c.

Some say that those stories, whereunto our Apostle hath here relation, might* 1.5 be part of Canonical Scripture, but now lost.

Answ. That conceipt, that part of the Canonical Scripture is lost, is not to be admitted: For,

• 1. It impeacheth that Scripture which we have of imperfection, or else that which is lost of needlesnesse.
• 2. It impeacheth the providence of God in suffering Canonical Scripture to be lost.
• 3. It layeth a blemish on the fidelity of the Church, which is the pillar of truth.
• 4. It takes away some means of our learning, and grounds of our comfort and hope. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, &c. Rom. 15. 4.

As for the instances given of books of Scripture lost, they are either of poli∣tick records and Chronicles, as 1 King. 14. 19. or of Phylosophical discourses, 1 King. 4. 33. or of such books as are yet extant, but under other titles, as Chr. 29. 29.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What sufferers are here meant.
• * 1.2

  Sufferings of Jews here meant.
• * 1.3

  How humane Authors and Traditions u∣sed.
• * 1.4

  How Scripture the word of truth.
• * 1.5

  No part of S. Scripture lost.