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 ...

§. 78. Of Gods being the special God of Believers.

THE evidence whereby it is manifested, that God was not ashamed of them, was this, a 1.1 to be called their God. The Greek is a compound. Of the simple verb, which signifieth, to call, See Chap. 3. v. 1. §. 13. The preposition with which it is here compounded, signifieth to, or upon. This compound word is oft used to set out the Surname, or some title added to a mans name, as Ioses who was surnamed Barnabas, Act. 4. 36. and Iudas surnamed Iscariot, Luk. 22. 3. Thus this title, their God, is a kind of Surname.

It implyeth that the Lord is in special manner the God of believers, such are the members of his Church. This special relation is applyed to God in all persons of both numbers, as

• ...b 1.2 My God, Psal. 22. 1.
• ...c 1.3 Thy God, Psal. 50. 7.
• ...d 1.4 His God, Num. 25. 13.
• ...e 1.5 Our God, Psal. 48. 14.
• ...f 1.6 Your God, Gen. 43. 23.
• ...g 1.7 Their God, Lev. 21. 6.
• The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Exod. 3. 6.
• The God of Eliah, 2 King. 2. 14.
• The God of Daniel, Dan. 6. 26.
• The God of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, Dan. 3. 28.
• The God of Israel, Exod. 5. 1.
• The God of the Hebrews, Exod. 5. 3.
• The God of the Iews, Rom. 3. 29.
• The God of the Gentiles, Rom. 3. 29.
• The God of Iesurun, or, of the Righteous, Deut. 33. 26.
• The God of the living, Matth. 22. 32.

Of the special relation, See Chap. 8. v. 10. §. 67.

This affords matter of admiration, exhortation, direction, and consolation.* 1.8

• 1. If the Psalmist had cause to admire Gods goodness, in regard of that dig∣nity which God conferred on man at his first creation, Psal. 8. 1. how much more ought we to admire this dignity? In this respect, said the Disciple of Christ, How is it, th•…•… thou wilt manifest thy self unto us, and not unto the world? Joh.

• 14. 22. In us, as we are of our selves, there is no more than in others, it is Gods grace which makes the difference.
• 2. Just cause there is of exhorting one another to get assurance of this dignity. It is a matter worthy our best diligence.
  • 1. It distinguisheth a true justifying Faith from all other Kinds of Faith.
  • 2. It emboldneth us to go to God in all our needs. I will go to my Father, saith the Prodigal, Luk 15. 18.
  • 3. It makes us rest upon God for all needful provision and protection, Psal. 91. 2, 3.
  • 4. It enlargeth the heart in prayer and praise, Psal. 18. 2, 3.
  • 5. I•…•… makes us cleave to God, when others fly from him, Psal. 46. 5, 6, 7.
• 3. For direction. Take notice of the fruits of Gods special favour to thee.* 1.9 For God bestoweth common favours upon all of all sorts, Matth. 5. 45. Yet he hath special favours for those whose God in peculiar he is, as,
  • 1. All spiritual blessings, Eph. 1. 3.
  • 2. Sundry particular graces, as,
    • 1. Understanding of Gods will, Col. 1. 9.
    • 2. Justifying faith, Rom. 5. 1.
    • 3. Saving hope, Rom. 8. 24.
    • 4. Brotherly love, 1 Ioh. 4. 18.
    • 5. Repentance, Act. 2. 38.
    • 6. New Obedience.
    • 7. Patience, Iam. 5. 11.
  • ...

    3. The effects of these, as, Peace of Conscience, Joy in the Holy Ghost, Comfort in spirit.

    All these, and others like unto them, proceed from the Spirit, whereby we are united to Christ, and so may be assured that God is our God in special.

• 4. Nothing can minister unto a man sounder and greater comfort than this* 1.10 prerogative, that God is his God. What can such an one want? What danger need he fear? What good may not be expected? What can more be desir'd? Wherein may a man more solace himself? Whereon may he be more confident? On this ground we may well say, Our lines are fallen to us in a fair place, Psal. 16. 5, 6.

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 〉
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  Admiration▪
• * 1.9

  Speciall fa∣vours to Gods peculiar peo∣ple.
• * 1.10

  Consolation.