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 ...

§. 85. Of Abrahams receiving the promises about Isaac.

TO amplify this evidence of Abrahams faith, both Abraham himself is de∣scribed, and also his Son about whom he was tempted.

Abraham is described in this phrase, He that had received the promis•…•…. This description is joyned to Abrahams name by the copulative a 1.1 AND, which doth not here joyn different persons, but distinct properties of the same person: as his name, and his privilege. His name, Abraham; and this privilege, he received the promises. In this respect the copulative AND is emphatical: and to express the emphasis, it may be translated even: even he that had re∣ceaved &c.

This phrase, received the promises, is the same in our English that is set down negatively v. 13. §. 65. But the Greek verb receive is b 1.2 one in one place, and c 1.3 an other in the other. In this place the Greek word is a compound. The d 1.4 simple verb signifieth to take or receive. This e 1.5 compound hath a further em∣phasis. It intendeth a receiving to ones self, and a good entertaining of a thing. It is but once more used in the new Testament, and applyed to Publius his enter∣taining Paul and his company: and thus translated, who received us, Acts 28. 7.

The promises here intended were made by God immediatly to Abraham him∣self.* 1.6 Abraham heard them with his own ears, from Gods own mouth. They were not brought to him by an uncertain messenger, or by common report, but by the surest evidence that could be: in which respect (as he had just cause) he ap∣plyed them to himself, and stedfastly believed the truth of them, that they should be assuredly accomplished. Thus he received them to himself.

Of the composition and meaning of the word translated promises, See Chap. •…•….* 1.7 v. 1. §. 6. Here under the word promises are comprised, not only general pro∣mises made to all believers, that God will be their God, and that God would bless them, and provide for them (which were likewise in special made to Abraham, Gen. 12. 7. & 15. 1. and 17. 7.) but also such particular promises as this act of offering Isaac seemed to cross: namely this, that God would establish his covenant with Isaac for an everlasting Covenant, and with his seed after him, Gen. 17. 19. Isaac was that seed which God intended, in whose posterity Ca∣naan should be possessed, Gen. 12. 7. and whose posterity should be for number as the starrs, Gen. 15. 5. and that seed with whom God would establish his Co∣venant, and in whom all Nations should be blessed, Gen. 17. 7. The accom∣plishment of these and other like promises, depended upon the preservation of

Isaac's life, at least till Isaac should have a child in whom the hope of the said promises might be continued till they should be fully accomplished. For Abra∣ham then, who in special received these promises, to offer up him by whom they should be accomplished, must needs be an evidence of more than ordinary faith: and this privilege of receiving the promises, a great amplification hereof. It •…•…reth instance that no obstacle can hinder the vigor of true faith.* 1.8

I suppose that a greater instance cannot be given than this of Abrahams re∣ceiving the promises; and yet doing that which seemed to take away the effect and f•…•…uit of all the promises. Though the act in it self had been a matter of great •…•…dmiration, yet had it not been so great for any other to have done it, as for him who had received the aforesaid promises.

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 〉. Luk. 16. 6, 7.
• e 1.5

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

  How Abraham received the promises.
• * 1.7

  What pro∣mises here meant.
• * 1.8

  No obstacle hinders the vigor of faith