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 ...

§. 73. Of believers disrespect of things below.

Heb. 11. 15.

And truly, if they had been mindfull of that Country from whence they came 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

THis Text may here be brought in, to prevent this objection, The Country which they sought, might be that whence they came. This the Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be most improbable, in that they had opportunity to have returned thither, if they had been mindful of it.

Of the Greek conjunction, translated, a 1.1 Truly, See Chapt. 7. v. 5. §. 37.

It is sometime translated, Verily. It is a word that doth somewhat heighten the thing affirmed.

This phrase, b 1.2 they had been mindfull, is the interpretation of one Greek word. Of the meaning whereof see Chap. 13. v. 3, 7. §. 24, 95. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here meant, is a remembrance of former things, with desire to enjoy them agai•…•….

The word Country is not expressed in the Greek, but understood in the relative particle, c 1.3 That: for it is of the same gender that the word Country is. And the verb, d 1.4 came out, is the same that was used of Abrahams comming out of his Country, v. 8.

This Country then was the place where they were born, and brought up; where their kindred, alliance, and other friends were; where they had, or might have had Houses, Lands, and Hereditaments, and many more external delights, profits, preferments and contents, than in the place where they were.

But this giveth proof that believers do not much respect the things here below. Like instances might be given of Lot, Gen. 19. 26. of Ruth, Ruth. 1. 16. and of the Disciples, Matth. 19. 27. and of these Hebrews, Chap. 10. 34. and of all sorts of Martyrs.

Faith perswades the soul of better things than this world affords, Heb. 10. 35. 2 Cor. 4. 17. No marvell then, that they do not much respect things below.

• 1. False therefore is that pretence which they make of Faith, whose hearts are wholy and only set upon this world, and the things thereof. They are contrary to things above, 1 Ioh. 2. 16. And can contraries stand together?
• 2. Surely, when the heart is once brought to contemn the world, •…•…ound saith is wrought therein; especially if it be upon perswasion of a better. Very reason makes a man choose that which he is perswaded is the better.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

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

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