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 ...

§. 38. Of the place out of which Abraham was called.

THE word translated a 1.1 go out, is a compound; whereof see Chap. 3. v. 16. §. 163. It here implyeth an utter leaving, and departing from, a t•…•…ing.

Here are two terms intended: One from which he departed; The other to which.

The former is said to be his own Country and his Kindred, Act. 7. 3.* 1.2

The other was a place that he knew not.

It could not but seem to him an hard matter to leave the place of his nativity, and as it is probable, a place wherein he had a fair inheritance: But God oft calls 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to leave the dearest outward things that they have. He called his Disciples 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leave their Father and their calling, Matth. 4. 21. He called Levi from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of custome, Matth. 8. 9.

This he doth to try whether they respect him and his will, more than external things, Ioh. 21. 15. He that prefer•…•…eth any thing before God, is not worthy of God, Matth. 10. 37.

Let us herein shew our selves to be of Abraham's faith, ready to let go any thing upon Gods call.

One special reason of Gods calling Abraham out of his own Country, may* 1.3 be gathered from Iosh. 24. 2. where it is said, that the Fathers of Abraham saved other Gods: So as God hereby called him from an Idolatrous place, le•…•…t be should be infected therewith. Herein we have an instance that Idolaters •…•…nd Idolatrous places must be left.

The very notation of the word, Idolatry, giveth sufficient ground of aban∣doning communion with Idolaters.

This word, Idolatry, is taken from the b 1.4 Latin, and the Latin from the c 1.5 Greek, which is a compound of two nouns. One signifieth an d 1.6 Idol, the other e 1.7 service.

The former is again compounder of a substantive that signifieth g 1.8 a shew, a phantasie, a ghost, or, as the Vulgar speak, an Hobgoblin: and an adjective that signifieth h 1.9 whole, or every whit, or nothing but. So as Idol is but a meet shew: an Idol is nothing.

The latter, which is i 1.10 service, from a verb (k 1.11 to serve) which hath a notation from l 1.12 an increasing particle, and a verb that signifieth to [f] fear or tremble. This notation setteth out an Idolater in his proper co∣lours. He is kept in a we by that which is indeed nothing: onely a meer shew* 1.13 and phant•…•…sie.

The Lord who meant to make Abraham a Root out of which his Church should sprout and grow, would not suffer him to be in danger of Idolatry. Idolatry, in reference to that relation which is between God and Professers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most heinous and hatefull sin. God to them is an Husband, Ioh. 31. 32. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 latry is a spiritual Adultery, Ezek. 23. 37. Adultery breaks the b•…•…nd of Wed∣lock, and gives cause of Divorce, Ier. 3. 8. On this ground Ammi is called Lo-ammi, Hos. 1. 9. They who were the People of God in profession, are ac∣counted no People.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

  Abraham cal∣led out of his Country.
• * 1.3

  Abraham's Country an idolatrous place.
• b 1.4

  Idolola∣tria.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• e 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, species, spe∣ctrum.
• h 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, totum.
• i 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• l 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. parti∣cula intensiva.
• * 1.13

  [m] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, trento.