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 ...

§. 254. Of stoning Professors of the Truth.

Hebr. 11. 37.

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword they wandred about in Sheep-skins, and Goates-skins, being destitute, affli∣cted, tormented.

THERE are in this verse other sorts of persecutions set down: three of them such as brought Professors to seal up their Faith with their blood. So as those were the sufferings of Martyrs.

a 1.1 The first of these, and the sixth kind of persecution is thus expressed, they were stoned. The Greek verb here used is derived from a noun that signifieth, b 1.2 a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Joh. 8. 7. for they were wont to throw stones at men, and thereby slay them.

This kind of death was of old more in use than now, and more common among the Jewes than among other Nations.

It was a kind of death appointed by God himself, to be inflicted upon noto∣•…•…ious malefactors, Lev. 20. 2.

That this kind of death may be the better conceived, I will distinctly shew.

• 1. How men were stoned.
• 2. Why this kind of death was used.

For the first, the manner of stoning was this.

A malefactor being condemned, heapes of stones were prepared and brought* 1.3 to the place of execution; where the malefactor was fast bound to a stake, and then all the people took up stones, and threw at him till he was dead. In setting cut this kind of death. It is said, the people shall stone them to death. Lev. 20. 2. Let all the congregation stone him. Lev. 24. 14. For exemplification hereof, read▪ Iosh. 7. 24, 25.

For the second, these Reasons may be given of this kind of death.

• 1. That all the people might testifie their zeal and indignation against the* 1.4 crime so punished. For in throwing stones against a malefactor, they strived who should be the forwardest.
• 2. That the blame of condemning the malefactor, might not lye wholy upon the Judge. For all the people executing the sentence of the Judge, thereby gave approbation of it.
• 3. That there might be a more thorow exp•…•…ation of the land from that crime, for which the malefactor was stoned. As many mens conspiracy in sin, and ma∣king themselves accessary thereto, doth defile a land the more: so the zeal of

• many in punishing a publick sin, doth more clense the land, Iosh. 7. 26.

This kind of death inflicted by persecutors or Professors of the truth, giveth evidence of two points.

• 1. That they accounted professors of the truth, as notorious malefactors: or at least, that they would have the people so to account them. Hereof see §. 253.
• 2. That many were brought to have their hands in the death of Martyrs. For stoning was by the hands of many. The people were almost ready to stone Moses, Exod. 17. 4. Nay, they did stone Zachariah, 2 Chro. 24. 21.

The multitude cryed to Pilate, and said of Jesus, Let him be crucified, Matth. 27. 22. It was the multitude that stoned Stephen. Act. 7. 57, 58. So the people stoned Paul. Act. 14. 19. And the multitude of them at another time were ready to have torn him in pieces; Act. 21. 30, &c.

Experience of all ages have given too wofull proof hereof.

• 1. The greater sort of people remain in their natural condition, and cannot endure the light of truth, which discovereth their darkness.
• 2. They are of a foolish disposition, ready to sway with the times, and to do as their guides do: though with them they run blind-fold to their destruction. As silly sheep will follow one another, though it be into the water, where they may be all drowned: so the common people will follow one another even to hell.

• 1. Learne hereby to take heed of judging persons or matters according to the Judgment, and censure of that multitude. This is a caveat, which God in his Law doth give, Exod. 23. 2. A multitude is prone to run down-hill, as all evill is.
• 2. This may be a good Item to pray for good guides, in Church and Common∣wealth, that thereby the common people may be brought into the right way.

Where guides are Idolaters, or otherwise corrupt, a pretence may be of taking away the life of Gods Saints by way of Justice, though it be most unjustly, as in the case of Zachariah, and others before mentioned. And likewise in the case of Naboth. 1 King. 21. 12, 13.

Or otherwise heady people may tumultuously rise against Gods servants, as in Davids case, 1 Sam. 30. 6. And in Christs case, Iohn 8. 59. & 10. 31.

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

  How men sto∣ned.
• * 1.4

  Why men sto∣ned.