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 ...

§. 100. Of Mount Sion a type of the Church of Christ.

Vers. 22.

But yee are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels.

Vers. 23.

To the generall assembly, and Church of the first borne, which are written in heaven, and to God the Iudge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Vers. 24.

And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprink∣ling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel.

HEre beginneth the second part of the Comparison which concernes the Gospel.

The summe whereof is, A description of the Evangellicall discipline.

It consists of ten distinct branches, which may be brought to two distinct heads.

• 1. The places whereunto under that discipline we are brought.
• 2. The persons to whom we are joyned.

The places are described by three metaphors: Mount Sion, the City of the living God, the heavenly Ierusalem.

The first metaphor whereby the place where unto we are brought, is here said to be Mount Sion▪

Here consider

• 1. What Mount Sion was,
• 2. How fitly the Church is set out by it.

For the first, Mount Sion was situate in the best part of the world, which was Ca∣naan, the land which flowed with milke and honey, Exod. 13. 5. and it was in the best part of that land, which was the tribe of Iudah, and in the best part of that tribe, even in Ierusalem, and in the best part of that City, which moved David to build a City there, which was called the City of David, 2 Sam. 5. 9. On it was a very strong fort, which the Iebusites held till Davids time, and thought it to be impreg∣nable,

and thereupon scoft at David when he went about to take it, 2 Sam. 5. 8. Af∣ter that David had built this faire City, called Sion, he placed the Arke there, 2 Sam. 6. 12. 1 King. 8. 1.

This Mount Sion is opposed to Mount Sinai, which was situated in the driest, bar∣rennest, and most parching place of the world; even in a wildernesse, where was no water to drink, and therefore God caused water to flow out of a rock, and to follow the people, Exod. 17. 6. Psal. 105. 41. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cor. 10. 4. Nor did the ground bring forth corn, (they had Manna from heaven, Exod. 16. 3, 14, 15.) Nor trees to shelter them from the heat of the Sun, Psal. 105. 39. They had an extraordinary cloud to cover them.

Fitly therefore doth the Mount Sinai set out the Law; which can afford no suc∣cour, no refreshing: and as fitly doth the Mount Sion set out the Gospel, which is simply the best estate that possibly can be.

Because the Arke (which was the most lively representation of Gods presence) was set in Sion, it was made a choise type of the Evangelicall Church where the Lord dwelleth. Therefore the Prophets frequently set out the Christian Church, under the name of Sion, as Psal. 2. 6. Isa. 28. 16. Ioel. 3. 21.

2. In sundry respects is the Church of Christ set out by Sion.

• 1. Sion, before David took it and built it, was the habitation of Iebusites, 2 Sam. 5. 6. So the Christian Church, of Gentiles, before Christ dwelt in it, Eph. 2. 2, 11.
• 2. Sion was an high Mountain, Psal. 133. 3. so the Church, Isa. 2. 2.
• 3. Sion was a strong Fort, 2 Sam. 5. 7, 8. and Psal. 125. 1. So the Church, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail, as our Saviour expresseth, Matth. 16. 18.
• 4. The Ark was in Sion, 2 Sam. 6. 12. So in the Church are Gods ordinances.
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  5. It was in sundry respects the most excellent of all Cities, Psal. 48. 1, 2. there∣fore called the Mountain of Gods holinesse, in the forementioned Psalm. whereof glorious things are spoken, as the Psalmist expresseth, Psal. 87. 3. It is stiled the per∣fection of beauty, out of which God hath shined, Psal. 50. 2.

  So is the Church of Christ the most excellent place of all the world. Such is the excellency thereof, as Saint Iohn maketh choyce of the most choyce things of the world to set it out, Rev. 21. 10, 11, &c. Could the beauty and glory of the Christi∣an Church be discerned by us, all pearls, and precious stones, would seem more to obscure, then illustrate it. This is she that is all glorious within, Psal. 45. 13.

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  6. God himself chose Sion for the place of his habitation, Psal. 9. 11. and 76. 2. and 132▪ 13, 14. In this respect its stiled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the City of God, Psal. 48. 1, 2. and 87. 2, 3. On this ground all the excellent things that are spoken of the City of God, are to be applied to Sion.

  Thus the Church is the house of God, 1 Tim. 3. 15. And God is said to dwell a∣mong the members of the Church, 2 Cor. 6. 16. And Christ to walk in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks, which are the Churches, Rev. 2. 1.

• 7. God r•…•…igned in Sion more conspicuously, then in all the world beside, Isa. 24. 23. There was the throne of David, who was an especiall type of Christ. So the Church is in an especiall manner the Kingdome of Christ. See my Guide to go to God, in 2 Petit. §. 35, 36.
• 8. Out of Sion came the Law, Isa. 2. 3. There's the blessing and life for evermore, Psal. 133. 3. So in the •…•…hurch is Salvation. Out of it is no Salvation. From it proceed all the means of Salvation.
• 9. Gods love was most set on Sion, Psal. 87. 2. So on his Church, Eph. 5. 25.

• 1. This affords ground of contentment to such as are of the Church. They are in the most excellent, the most sure and safe estate that can be, there where God dwelleth and reigneth, there where the brightnesse of his favour most shineth, there where is the bread of life, and the water of life; where is peace, joy, and all happi∣nesse. So as they who are in the true Church, and of it, may well say (as Psal. 16. 6.) The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea I have a goodly heritage.
• 2. This may ex•…•…ite us to abide in the Church, our selves, and to draw others in∣to it. Peters resolution (Iohn 6. 68.) becomes us all for our selves. And the Churches •…•…ind for other, Cant. 8. 1, 2, 8.) Every one to do what he can to bring in others. Note Matth. 23. 15.
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• 3. This may stir us up to pray for the good of the Church. So did the Psalmist 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sion, in Psal. 122. 6, 7, 8. Note Isa. 62. 1. Our Church far excelleth Sion, there∣•…•… we ought to be the more earnest.
• 4. This may afford ground of humiliation for the distresses and desolations of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Churches. So the Jewes of old for Sion, note Psal. 137. and the Book of La∣•…•…. If we cast our eyes abroad, we shall find great cause of humiliation in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 respect.
• 5. This may afford ground of gratulation to praise God for the prosperity of the Church. We especially that are of the Church ought to do it, as the Psalmist in∣•…•… in Psal. 65. 1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion, and Psal. 147. 12. Praise the Lord O Ierusalem, praise thy God, O Sion.
• 6. It affords an use of direction to walk as becometh a Citizen of Sion.