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 ...

§. 6. Of the meaning of Heb. 11. 2.

By it the Elders obtained a good report.

IN this and the other verses following, the foresaid definition of faith is am∣plified and exemplified, and that by the vertue and efficacy of faith, manifest∣ed in sundry particulars.

The first is a good report which it brought to Saints that lived in former* 1.1 times.

This relative, By it, or, a 1.2 in it, hath reference to that grace described in the former verse, which is Faith.

The persons whose faith is here commended, are stiled b 1.3 Elders. Both our English, and also the Greek word, is of the comparative degree: The c 1.4 po∣sitive signifieth an old man, Luk. 1. 18. Men in place of dignity or authority have d 1.5 this title given unto them in the plural number, and that in two especial respects.

• 1. Because old men were fittest to have dignity and authority, by reason of their experience, which teacheth wisdome, Iob 32. 7. 1 King. 12. 7.
• 2. Because such honour was done unto them, as useth to be done unto old men: for old men, carrying gravity in their faces, use to be reverenced; yea the Law requireth as much, Lev. 19. 32.

The comparative here translated, Elder, is attributed to men in regard of their age or office. In reference to age, both those that have attained to many years are so called, 1 Tim. 5. 1. 1 Pet. 5. 5. (in which sense e 1.6 antient women have this title in the feminine gender given unto them, 1 Tim. 5. 2.) and also they who are elder than others, in reference to the younger, are called elder, though they be not old in age, Luk. 15. 25. They also who have lived in former times are called Elders, in that the times wherein they lived were antienter than our times; especially such as were men of parts, of worth, of dignity, authority, or any other esteem. Thus is the word frequently used in the New Testament, Matth. 15. 2.

In regard of office, men were called Elders in reference to Civil and Eccle∣siastical matters. We read of Elders of the People, Exod. 19. 7. Matth. 21. 23▪ Elders of the Town, 1 Sam. 16. 4. Elders of the City, Deut. 21. 3. Elders of the Lands, 1 King. 20. 7. These were Elders for civil affairs.

The Elders of the Jews who in the Evangelists and Acts are said to meet

with Priests, Scribes, and other Rulers, were for Ecclesiastical affairs. For the Civil power was then taken from the Jews.

There were a number of these Elders, (which may be called Senators) that made up a Council, which the Jews called Sanhedrim. Their greatest Council consisted of LXXI Senators: which number is suppos'd to be order'd according to this direction which God gave to Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the Elders of Israel, &c. Numb. 11. 16. Moses being added to these, maketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seventy one. By Elders in this text are meant such as lived in former ages be∣fore the times wherein these Hebrews lived. We call such Ancestors, Pre∣decessors.

The Rhemists translate them old men: which is absurd, obscure, and untrue. For all those Elders, that obtained a good report, were not old men: witness Enoch, compared to the other Patriarchs before the Flood, Gen. 5. 23. Ionath•…•…, Saul's Son, 1 Sam. 31. 2. Iosiah, 2 Kings 22. 1. Ieroboam's Son, 1 Kings 14. 13. They might be therefore young men, as well as old men, that are com∣prised under this word, Elders.

The Apostle useth this indefinite word, which excludeth none that in former* 1.7 times believed, because there were many more, that manifested the truth and vi∣gour of their faith, besides those that are mentioned in the Catalogue following.

Of all of them it is said, they obtained a good report. This is the interpreta∣tion of one Greek word. The verb whence it is derived, signifieth to witness a thing. See Chap. 2. v. 4. §. 30. & Chap. 3. v. 5. §. 53.

It is here of the passive voyce, and may word for word be thus translated, c 1.8 were witnessed; that is, had witness or testimony given unto them: they were approved, and honoured with testimony. Testimony given is, under this passive word, frequently used in the New Testament, in the better part, for •…•… good and honourable testimony, as v. 4. Acts 6. 3. & 22. 12▪ 1 Tim. 5. 10.

Quest. By what kind of testimony were those Antients so honoured?* 1.9

Answ. Both by Gods testimony, and also by Mens.

God three waies gave good testimony unto them.

• 1. He enabled them to do things worthy of good report.
• 2. God gave inward testimony to their souls of his approving them, Acts 15. 8.
• 3. God caused their names and memorable acts to be registred in the ever∣lasting Record, the sacred Scriptures.

Men gave testimony of them, both while they lived, and after they were dead. Such as lived in their time, approved and commended them. Thus was witness given to Cornelius by those that lived with him, Acts 10. 22. and David had honourable testimony given to him by those that lived in succeeding ages.

The ground of this good report is here said to be faith; By it they obtained a good report. The Greek preposition d 1.10 IN (in faith) carryeth emphas•…•…s▪ it implyeth, that the ground of all that made them to have that good report which they had, was in their faith. I will not deny but that the preposition, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, may here be put for By, as our English doth translate it; and so makes it an∣swerable to the many evidences of faith which are set down without a preposi∣tion: but implying by the case in which it is used, as much as this preposition doth: By faith Abel, &c. By faith Enoch, &c. so in the rest.

The preposition e 1.11 IN, is in other Greek Authors also put for BY: It is oft joyned with an instrument, or means of effecting a thing. So in f 1.12 Hebrew.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Elders who are.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.3

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

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Principes qui∣bus ea reveren∣tia exhibetur quae senibus ex∣hiberi solet. Hesych.
• e 1.6

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

  Good testimo∣ny given to Elders.
• c 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Testimonio or∣nati sunt.
• * 1.9

  What testi∣mony ho∣noureth.
• d 1.10

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Telo percussus. Euryp.
• f 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉