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 ...

§. 27. Of Noah's Faith about things not seen upon Gods warning.

THE ground of Noah's giving that evidence of Faith, which is here set down, is thus expressed, a 1.1 being warned of God.

This phrase is the interpretation of one Greek word, whereof see Chap. 8. v. 5. §. 14. It sheweth that his faith was founded on the manifestation of Gods will.

Of the many waies of revealing Gods will, see Chap. 1. v. 1. §. 11.

Gods will revealed, hath ever put on Saints to give evidence of their Faith,* 1.2 for it is the proper ground of Divine Faith. This was the ground of Abraham's Faith, Gen. 15. 6. and of the Faith of the Israelites, Exod. 4. 31. and of the Gentiles, Act. 15. 7.

God himself is the supreme Lord over all, and his Word is the highest and surest truth that can be, whereunto all ought to subject themselves: and they who well know him, will upon his warning in Faith do any thing. Requis•…•…e it is that we should acquaint our selves with the Oracles of God: We have them established, printed, read, and preached unto us. Let us learn by this instance of Noah to act our Faiths according to the manifold warnings of God. See §. 37.

That whereof Noah is said to be warned, is thus expressed, b 1.3 Things not seen. The negative carries some Emphasis with it, and is oft translated c 1.4 Ne∣ver before, Luk. 23. 53. or not yet, Joh. 7. 39. Therefore these two particles, as yet, are here fitly added in our English.

The things not seen, here intended, were, the general Deluge, and the Ark* 1.5 for preservation of them that should enter thereinto. These were not seen when they were first revealed unto Noah, and when first he believed that they should be. Thus his Faith doth verifie that which was said in the first verse concerning Faith in general, It is the evidence of things not seen. The rest of the World

believed not; they scorned Noah's word, and laughed at his attempting to make an Ark. They are in that respect called the world of the ungodly, 2 Pet. 2. 7. There were a hundred and twenty years from the first giving of the warning to Noah 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto the bringing in of the Flood, Gen. 6. 3. Yet did not Noah •…•…gger in his Faith, but continued to believe till all was fully accomplished. Of Faith, as it is an evidence of things not seen, see v. 1. §. 4.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  God w•…•…ll •…•…s Saints rule.
• b 1.3

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

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

  How Flood not seen.