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 ...

§. 26. Of Noah, and his Faith.

Hebr. 11. 7.

By Faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an •…•…rk to the saving of his house, by the which he con∣demned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by Faith.

THE third Worthy produced for exemplification of the vigour of Faith, is Noah, who lived in two ages of the world: before the Flood, and after the Flood. He lived six hundred years before the Flood, Gen. 7. 6. and three hundred and fifty after the Flood. Thus he lived in all nine hundred and fifty years, Gen. 9. 28, 29.

The name of a 1.1 Noah properly signifiest rest. A reason of the name is thus given, b 1.2 He shall comfort us, Gen. 5. 29. The name is taken out of the two first letters of that word, which signifieth c 1.3 to comfort.

Others read that phrase translated he shall comfort us, thus, d 1.4 he shall give* 1.5 us rest: both tend to the same end.

This name was given by a Spirit of Prophecy: for by building the Ark •…•…e brought refreshing, comfort, and rest to the world; and that in these respects.

• 1. Thereby was afforded a lively type of Christ, who is the comfort and rest of man.
• 2. By Noah was the Seminary of the World and Church preserved. This was a matter of great comfort and rest.
• 3. By the sacrifice which he offered up, God smelled a savour of rest, Gen. 8. 21.
• 4. To him God renewed a Covenant of rest and peace, no more to d•…•…own the World, Gen. 9. 9, 11.

Thus if ever any name were fit and answerable to the intent thereof, this was.

In setting out the Faith of this noble Patriarch, who was the last of the old World, and the first of the new World, many memorable Histories are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and elegantly couched in few words.

That Noah's Faith was a justifying and a saving Faith, is evident by producing it, as he did the faith of the Elders, of Abel and Enoch, for proof of the saith described in the first verse.

Obj. The main thing for which Noah's faith is commended, is but a tem∣porary deliverance.

Answ.

• 1. Justifying faith, even in temporal blessings, eyeth God as a Father in Christ: and receiveth the things of this world by a right from Christ, and as a pledge of heavenly things.
• 2. The Ark, in making whereof he testified his faith, was an especial type of Christ, and his preservation from the Flood a type of redemption from damna∣tion, and of eternal salvation. So as his faith was fixed on Christ, and on sal∣vation by Christ.
• 3. The Apostle inferreth, that he became heir of righteousness which is by faith: and that must needs be a justifying and saving faith.

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 〉 consolatus est.
• d 1.4

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

  [e] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quiev•…•…