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 ...

§. 95. Of Isaac's yielding to be offered up.

THere are about this offering up of Isaac sundry circumstances, which do much set out Isaac's patience, in yielding to be offered up.

• ...

  1. His age. Some say, that this was in the thirty seventh year of his age. That was the year of Sarah's death: for Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was* 1.1 born, and an hundred and seven and twenty, when she dyed.

  Others in the five and twentieth; others in the fifteenth year of his age.

  There are no certain proofs for any of these: but this is certain, that he was of a good growth and strength, in that he could carry up hill such a burchen of wood, as was enough to have burnt him to ashes. Gen. 22. 6.* 1.2

• 2. The age of his Father, who was an hundred year old when Isaac was born, Gen. 21. 5. So as he must at this time be much above an hundred years.
• 3. The solitariness of these two who were alone, and no body with them; for* 1.3 Abraham left the company that came with him and his Son, below the hill, and that afar off, Gen. 22. 4, 5. Thus there was none at all to assist Abrahams in doing what he was about.
• 4. Abraham bound Isaac, and laid him on the Altar upon the wood, Gen.* 1.4 22. 9. This could not be without Isaac's voluntary submitting of himself; for he was strong enough to have resisted his old Father, and to have kept himself from being a sacrifice. But it is more than probable, that when they came to the place where Isaac was to be offered up, Abraham made him acquainted with Gods charge; for no other motive could have made him yield himself so far as he did.

• Had it not been for that charge, Prudence, Piety, Justice, Charity, Humanity, and other like vertues had moved him, not only to disswade, but also to hinder his Father from such an unnatural act. That therefore which moved the Father to attempt such a fact, moved also the Son to yield unto it; which was Gods charge.

Hereby it appeareth that what God will must be endured. It is the Lord, let* 1.5 him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam 3. 18. Let the Lord do to me as seemeth good to him, 2 Sam. 15. 26. In this the pattern of Christ goes beyond all others, who in his bitter agony said to his Father, Not as I will, but as thou wilt, Matth. 26. 39.

This giveth instance of the extent of that obedience which we owe unto God;* 1.6 which is not only readily to do what he requireth: but also patiently to endure what his pleasure is to call us unto.

God hath a greater power over us, than the Potter over the clay, Isa. 64. 8. But the Potter may order the clay, as it pleaseth him, Ier. 18. 4, 5, 6. The Lord may beat, may bruise, may break us after his own pleasure. No man may open his mouth against God, Rom. 9. 20, 21.

But such is the wisdom of God, as he will not use his power further than may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He best knoweth when Peace, when Trouble, when Ease, when Pain, when L•…•…berty, when Restraint, when Life, when Death is fittest, Isa. 28. 24. &c.

Yea, such is the goodness of God, as that shall be an ingredient in all his dea∣lings with his children. We know that all things work together for good to them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love God. Rom. 8. 20.

In these and other like grounds, we see just cause to submit to the good plea∣sure of God, even in suffering. Hereof see more §. 88. in the end, and Chap. 5. v. 8. §. 48.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isaac's age when he was offered up.
• * 1.2

  Abraham's
• * 1.3

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  Isaac bound.
• * 1.5

  What God wills must be endured.
• * 1.6

  Extent of obe∣dience.