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 ...

§. 94. Of God compared with Abraham, in offering up his Son.

THis instance of Abraham's offering up Isaac, doth lively set before us, Gods great and good respect to man, in offering up Christ Jesus for us.

For the further clearing hereof, I will first endeavour to shew the likeness be∣•…•… them, and then the infinite difference.

The likeness shall be exemplified, in the particular circumstances before men∣•…•…ed.* 1.1

• 1. Abraham offered up a child. So was Jesus Gods Child, Acts 4. 27.
• 2. Abraham a Son. So God, Luk 1. 35.
• 3. Abraham his own Son. So God, Rom. 8. 32.
• 4. Abraham his only begotten Son, So God, Iohn 3. 16.
• 5. Abraham had no hope of any more; there is no possibility that God •…•…uld have any more, Heb. 1. 5.
• 6. Abrahams son was a son of promise, much more Gods son, Gen. 3. 15.
• 7. Abrahams son, was a son of proof; So was Gods Son most of all, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 17. 4.
• 8. Abrahams son was a beloved one; so Gods Son, Matth. 3. 17.
• 9. Abrahams son was an Isaac; Christ a Iesus, Luk 2. 10.
• 10. Abrahams son was the stock of the blessed Seed; much more the Son of God, Matth. 21. 9.

The difference betwixt these was,

• 1. In the persons offering, and offered.
• 2. In the motive wherewith the one, and the other, was set on work.* 1.2
• 3. In the manner of doing the one and the other.
• 4. In the benefits that redound from the one and the other.

• ...

  1. The persons offering, were God, and Abraham; The Creator, and a Crea∣ture. There can be no such difference betwixt any one creature and other; not betwixt a man, and a worm; no, nor betwixt an Angell and a Man: yea, I may further add, not betwixt an Angell and a Devill.

  There was as great a disparity betwixt the persons offered, Iesus and Isaac. Isaac was a meer man, a sinfull man, a man that deserved death: death was a debt once to be paid, Heb. 9. 27. But Jesus was true God, Rom. 9. 5. He was God mani∣fest in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. He was perfectly pure, and that as God, 1 Iohn 1. 15. and as Man also, Heb. 7. 26. he was no wayes guilty of death in him∣self, nor subject to death, further than he voluntarily subjected himself, Iohn 10. 18.

  Isaac was indeed a begotten son, but begotten of man, and part of his sub∣stance. Jesus was the onely begotten of God, the same in substance with the Father, Iohn 10. 30.

  Isaac was a beloved son, whom his father loved, Gen. 22. 1. Iesus was infi∣nitly more beloved, and that of God, Matth. 17. 5.

  Isaac was a child of joy; of Iesus when he came into the world, an Angell thus saith, Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; and thereupon a multitude of heavenly host thus praised God, Glory to God in the highest, &c. Luk. 2. 10, 14.

  Isaac was a child of blessing. But why? even because Iesus was of his seed, Gal. 3. 16. Iesus is he in whom truly, and properly Abraham himself, Isaac and all others are blessed.

  Most of the excellencies of Isaac consist in this, that he was a type of Iesus: but Iesus is the truth of all types: and the truth far surpasseth the types.

• ...

• 2. The motive which put on God to offer up his Son, went far beyond that wherewith Abraham was moved to offer up his Son. Abraham was tried; he was tried by an express charge from God, Gen. 22. 2. He might not therefore forbear to do it; it was a bounden duty; necessity lay upon him; he had sinned, if he had refused it. But there was no such motive to put on God to offer his Son; he was under no such command; it was his own good pleasure, and superabun∣dant love that moved him, Iohn 3. 16. Besides, Abraham might expect approba∣tion, and remuneration from God. From whom could God expect any recom∣pence?
• 3. There was as great a difference in the manner of the one and the others of∣fering his Son. Abraham laid the wood to burn the sacrifice on Isaac to be sa∣crificed. The Cross whereon Christ was to be crucified, was laid on Jesus, Iohn 19. 17. Isaac was bound to be laid on the Altar, but Jesus was nailed to the Cross, Iohn 20. 25. Isaac was offered up only in his Fathers intent and pur∣pose, but Iesus was actually and really offered up. If Isaac had been offered up, it would have been but a speedy death: but Iesus was put to a torturing and cur∣sed death, Gal. 3. 13. What tongue can utter, what heart can conceive the bitter∣ness of the agony whereunto Iesus was brought? He was a surety for sinners: and as a surety, having all the sins of all the Elect laid on him, he was offered up.
• 4. The benefit of the oblation of the one, and of the other doe differ as much as the other points. The benefit of Isaac's being offered, was a proof of the Fathers obedience to God, and of the Sons patience. These were indeed ve∣ry acceptable to God, and they were abundantly rewarded by him, Gen. 22, 12, 16, 17. But by the offering up of Jesus an attonement is made for sin, Gods wrath is pacified, his Justice satisfied, his favour procured, and he that had the power of death, the Devill, vanquished; the Law, as an inditement against us, cancelled; the curse thereof removed; we freed from damnation, and made heirs of eternal salvation.

Nothing that ever was done in the world, gives such cause of admira∣tion.

There never was, nor can be the like matter of gratulation.

The offering up of Iesus is the onely true ground of all consolation.

This is such a pattern of imitation, as cannot possibly be paralled.

Of all things it most confirms this main point, Nothing is to be held too deer for God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  God and A∣braham com∣pared.
• * 1.2

  Difference between God and Abraham.