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 ...

§. 272. Of the resolution of Hebr. 11. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.

33.

Who through Faith subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousnes, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of Lions.

34.

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

35.

Women received their dead, raised to life again: and others were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better Resurrection.

36.

And others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

37.

They were stoned, they were sawed asunder, were tempted, were stain with the sword; they wandred about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skins, being desti∣tute, afflicted, tormented.

38.

Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandred in Desarts, and in Mountains, and in Dens, and Caves of the earth.

THE summe of these six verses, is an enumeration of sundry effects of Faith. All which may be brought to two heads,

• 1. Great Acts, v. 33, 34, 35.
• 2. Great sufferings, v. 35, 36, 37, 38.

Great acts are in number ten. Of them nine concern men, and one concemeth women.

The nine concerning men are these in order,

• 1. They subdued Kingdoms.* 1.1
• 2. They wrought righteousness.
• ...

• 3. Obtained promises.
• 4. Stopped the mouths of Lions.* 1.2
• 5. Quenched the violence of fire.
• ...

  6. Escaped the edge of the sword.

  In these six, there is a distinct mention, both of the several acts, and also of the subject whereon the distinct acts were exercised.

• 7. Out of weakness were made strong. Here one thing is presupposed, namely, that Believers were weak. Another expressed, that they were made strong.
• 8. They waxed valiant in fight. Here we have an especial property of a Believer, Valiant; And the extent thereof, in fight.
• 9. Turned to flight the Army of the Aliens. Here we have,
  • 1. The act, put to flight.
  • 2. The subject whereupon it was exercised, Armies.
  • 3. The kind, persons, whose Armies they were, Aliens.
• 10. That effect of Faith, which concerned women, is thus expressed, wo∣men* 1.3 received their dead raised to life again. Here observe,
  • 1. The persons whose act is was, women.
  • 2. The act it self, received.
  • 3. The subject, or thing which they received, their dead.
  • 4. The great alteration of that subject, which was, to life again.

The other head of fruits of Faith are, great Sufferings, which are ten in num∣ber. Those may be reduced to three heads,

• 1. The sufferings of Professors.
• 2. The sufferings of Martyrs.
• 3. The sufferings of Confessors. §. 259.

Of the sufferings of Professors five distinct heads are set down.

Of the sufferings of Martyrs four heads.

Of the sufferings of Confessors, one general one.

The five effects of Professors sufferings, were these,

• 1. They were tortured. This is amplified,
  • 1. By their willing undergoing their tortures, thus, not accepting de∣liverance.
  • 2. By the end of their enduring, that they might obtain a better Re∣surrection.
• 2. They had trial of cruel mockings. Here observe,* 1.4
  • 1. The reality of the thing, they had trial.
  • 2. The kind of suffering, mockings.
  • 3. The extent of that kind, In this epithete, cruel.
• 3. They were scourged.
• 4. They were cast into bonds.
• 5. They were imprisoned.

Three effects of Martyrs were these,* 1.5

• 1. They were stoned.
• 2. They were sawen asunder.
• 3. They were slain with the sword.
• 4. Before this last, this which was as dangerous as the other three is in∣serted thus, were tempted.

The effect of Confessors is expressed in this phrase, wandred about. And it is aggravated,

• 1. By the places whether they wandred.
• 2. By the reason of their wandring.

The places whether they wandred, were of two sorts,

• 1. Habitable by men.
• 2. Habitable by beasts for the most part.

The former sort of places is implyed under other mens neglect of them. This is set down four ways.

• 1. By their mean apparel; Sheep-skins, and Goate-skins.
• ...

• 2. By their want, being destitute.
• 3. By their affliction, afflicted.
• 4. By mens evill entreating them, in this word, tormented.

The reason of the wandring of Confessors is taken from the worlds unworthi∣ness* 1.6 of them, thus expressed, (of whom the world was not worthy.)

The places not inhabited by men, are expressed in these four kinds.

• 1. Desarts.
• 2. Mountains.
• 3. Denns.
• 4. Caves of the earth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 33.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 34.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 35.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 36.
• * 1.5

  Vers, 37.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 38.