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 ...

§. 259. Of flying in time of persecution.

THE third kinde of sufferings here set down, are such as befell Confessors.

Confessors were such as professed the truth, and stood constantly to it; but* 1.1 having a •…•…air way made by the Divine providence for escaping death, made use thereof: yet shrunk no whit at all from their holy profession.

All their sufferings may be comprised under this word, wandred about: but aggravated by many circumstances, which we shall note in order.

This phrase, a 1.2 they wandred about, is the interpretation of one Greek com∣pound word. The b 1.3 simple verb signifieth to come, or go.

The preposition, c 1.4 about. It is very well according to the meaning of the word, d 1.5 wandred about. They could not with safety abide in their own house, or home, and thereupon went into other places, and not knowing where to abide securely, they wandred up and down, as those that fled from persecution to save their lives: Hereupon a question is raised, whether a professor of the truth may fly from persecution.

Answ. Yes, he may. The Prophets have so done, 1 King. 19. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 18. 13.* 1.6 Yea, God is said to hide his servants from persecutors, Ier. 36. 19•…•…▪ 6. Many Christians fled from Ierusalem by reason of the persecution there, Act. 8. 1. Paul also fled from persecution, Act. 9. 25. yea, an Angel was sent to free 〈◊〉〈◊〉

out of prison, Act. 12. 7. Christ conveyed himself from persecutors, Luke 4. 30. Joh. 4. 3. and 8. 59. Yea, Christ adviseth his Disciples so to do, Matth. 10. 23.

Times may alter, and more good may afterwards be done.

The Valiantest Captain that is may see a fit occasion of leaving the Field. That which the Apostle said of his continuing to live, may be fitly applied to this case: To abide in the flesh is more needfull for you, Phil. 1. 24.

Obj. Christ pronounceth them blessed that are persecuted, Matth. 5. 10. &c. And Martyrdom procureth a Crown.

Answ. These are grounds to move Christians to stand stoutly to their cause, when they are called, though it be by suffering death, the case so standing, as they must die, or deny the truth.

But as there is a season for all things, (Eccles. 3. 1.) There is a time to fly, and a time to die. Christ, who oft avoided the danger of persecution, in the season of suffering, would not be disswaded from it, (Matth. 16. 23. Luke 9. 51.) But offered himself thereunto, Joh. 18. 4.

That we may the better apply this, we must duely way, and well distinguish* 1.7 these circumstances following.

• 1. The persons. Private persons have more liberty than they, who have a charge. These latter must stand to the utmost, even for their charge sake. This Christ exemplifieth in a good shepheard, Joh. 10. 11.
• 2. The kinde of persecution. There may be a personal persecution against one particular person. In this case Paul escaped from those that went about to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, Act. 9. 29, 30. There are also publick persecutions: In which profes∣sors by standing maintain the cause that is persecuted.
• 3. The condition of persecutors. If sheep prove Wolves & people that are un∣der good Governors, or Ministers prove persecutors of them, such shepheards, Governours, or Ministers by flying do no wrong to their flock and people, but good to themselves. Thus the Jews, even the common sort, proved persecutors of Christ, therefore he oft avoided their persecution.
• 4. The time. Before a professor be taken, his hour of suffering is not come. In that case he may prudently avoid: but being apprehended, as a prof•…•…ssor, he must then stand to it, for that event sheweth that then is his hour, Luke 22. 53.
• 5. The means of escaping. They must be lawfull: such as by the Divine pro∣vidence are afforded. If we use not such means, we may seem to neglect Gods providence: But to use unlawfull means, as breaking Bars of the Prison win∣dow, foreing open of the doors, bribing the keepers, or any other like indirect means, is to make our selves trespassers of the Law, and male•…•…actors. Thus the cause, for which we are first apprehended, is lost, and such suffer as evil doers, which is expresly forbidden, 1 Pet. 4. 15.

Considering that there are cases wherein Professors may avoid persecution, and cases wherein they must stand to it,

• 1. Professors are to pray for wisedom, and also for a good conscience. Both are joyned together by Christ. Matth. 10. 16. By wisedom they may be kept from giving advantage to the adversaries of the Gospel. By a good Conscience, they will be kept from giving offence to their brethren. They must be sure that the mark, at which they aim, be good, whether they stand, or fly. The marke in generall must be Gods glory, and the Churches good; for these two are inseparably linked.
• 2. Charity is to be used in judging Professors, whether they fly, or dy. As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are not to be condemned for rashnes: So, nor Confessors for timorous∣•…•…. Prophets, Apostles, yea, and Christ himself saw a time when to escape dan∣ger, and when to stand to the uttermost danger.

This Land hath a great benefit, both by the courage of Martyrs, in Queen M•…•…∣ries time, and also of Confessors, that fled beyond the Seas in her dayes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Who are con∣•…•….
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, circumeo.
• * 1.6

  We may fly from persecu∣tion.
• * 1.7

  When Profes∣sors may fly, when not.