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 ...

§. 60. Of hyperbolical expressions.

THE extent of Gods blessing is set out to the life; first, by resemblances, to Stars and Sand; and then simply, in this word, innumerable.

The two metaphors are proverbial, and hyperbolical, used to set out such things as cannot by man be numbred.

These two kinds, Stars and Sand, are innumerable to men (hereupon God taking Abraham out in a starry night, bid him number the Stars, if he were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Gen. 15. 5.) but to God they are not; For God telleth the number of the Stars, Psal. 147. 4.

Obj. Astronomers and Philosophers set out the number of Stars by the distinct* 1.1 Constellations, and particular Stars in their several Constellations.

Answ. Though they may by observation set out many of the most conspicu∣ous Stars, yet there are many more which may be hid from their sight; or by reason of their closeness together, in mans appearance, cannot be set forth, or numbred. Much less can the several Sands of the Sea be numbred. Wherefore to make a Nation as many as the Stars of Heaven, and the Sand of the Sea, is hyperbolical.

Some onely make a general resemblance betwixt Abraham's Seed, and the S•…•…ars of the Skye and Sands by the Sea-shore, thus, as those two are innu∣merable, so should Abraham's Posterity be innumerable. Neither of those senses do directly cross the other, but both may stand with the intent and scope of the Apostle.* 1.2

These two comparisons, Stars of the Skye, and Sand by the Sea-shore, are frequently used to set forth innumerable things. Thou hast multiplyed thy Mer∣chants above the Stars of Heaven, saith the Lord, Nah. 3. 16. It is said of Io∣seph, that he gathered Corn as the Sand of the Sea, Gen. 41. 49. It is said of the Quails which God gave in the Wilderness, that they were like as the Sand of the Sea, Psal. 78. 27. Gods mercies are said to be more than the Sand, Psal. 139. 18. The Armies of the Canaanites are said to be as the Sand that is upon the Sea-shore in multitude, Josh. 11. 4. So the Army of the Philistins, 1 Sam. 13. 5. Hushai advised Absolon to gather all Israel as the Sand that is by the Sea, 2 Sam. 17. 11. Thus the multitudes of Widows are said to be in∣creased above the Sand of the Sea, Jer. 15. 8. The Babylonians are said to gather the Captivity as the Sands, Hab. 1. 9. And Salomon's wisdome is said to be as the Sand that is by the Sea-shore, 1 King. 4. 24.

As for the number of Abraham's Of-spring, it is set forth by resemblance to the Stars eleven times; Thrice by way of promise, Gen. 15. 5. & 23. 17.

& 26. 4. Twice by rehearsing that promise, Exod. 31. 13. 1 Chron. 27. 23. Six times by manifestation of the performance thereof, Deut. 1. 10. & 10. 22. & 28. 62. Neh. 9. 23. Ier. 33. 22. and in this place.

It is also set forth by resemblance of Sands nine times. Thrice by promise, Gen. 22. 17. & 32. 12. Hos. 1. 10. Thrice by performance, 1 King. 4. 20. Ier. 33. 22. And in this place, thrice by supposition, Isa. 10. 22. & 48. 19. Rom. 9. 27.

Quest. Was Abraham's Seed indeed as many as Stars and Sand?

Answ.

• 1. Proverbial and hyperbolical phrases art not simply to be taken▪ and therefore it is not necessary that the things compared should in the letter be answerable unto them. They are used to set out an exceeding great number, Deut. 1. 10.
• 2. If all that have descended from Abraham, and shall descend from him, be duely weighed, they will be found exceeding many.
• 3. All that profess the faith of Abraham, that is, all Christians in all gene∣rations are comprized under the Seed of Abraham, Gal. 3. 29. Hos. 1. 10.
• 4. The Apostle here sheweth, that he intends no more but that they were innumerable, as he expresseth in the last word of this verse.

The foresaid Hyperbolies, and other like unto them, are used to make things worthy of all observations, to be the more heeded, and better regarded.

• 1. It appears hereby, that to tax all hyperbolical speeches of falshood, and lying, savoureth too much of ignorance of the arts, which the Word of God approveth. Hyperbolical speeches are to move men not to believe untruths, but to make them the better to conceive the depth of truth in weighty matters.
• 2. That hyperbolies may not be perverted and abused, these rules that follow,* 1.3 and others like unto them, are to be observed.

• 1. Hyperbolies must be used of such things as are indeed true in the substance of them. To say of things that are in number but small, and of the increase of them, there is no great admiration, they are as Stars and Sands, is an abuse▪ So to say of an Army that is a little discomfited (as the Army of the Israelites was before Ai, Iosh. 7. 4, 5.) they are beaten as small as the dust of the earth, 2 Sam. 22. 43.
• 2. They must be used in weighty truths, which are worthy of a more than ordinary consideration. Such are all the hyperbolies used in Scripture▪ other∣wise they fail of their main and principal end.
• 3. They must, so near as may, be set out in proverbial sentences. Proverbs are by common use and experience well known, and the meaning of them well understood. Such are the hyperbolies of this Text.
• 4. Men must therein shew, that they aim more at the sense and meaning of the matter, than at the sound and measure of words. This will be discerned by an indefinite expressing of them, without words of infallible certainty: such as these, just as many as Stars▪ full as high as Heaven, every way as small as dust. Hyperbolies are set forth by words of similitude and dissimilitude, rather than by words of equality and inequality.
• 5. The end of them must be to inform, not to flatter▪ as they did who said of Herod's Oration, It is the voyce of God, and not of a Man, Act. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Herein Cicero much failed in his hyperbolical phrases of Pompey and Cisar.
• 6. They must be kept in measure. Though they have a far reach, yet there is a decorum to be kept. The tales of Garamantus are in this respect most absurd.
• 7. They may not be brought in comparison with God, thus, as true as God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How Astrono∣mers number the Stars.
• * 1.2

  Stars and Sand innu∣merable.
• * 1.3

  Rules for hy∣perbolies.