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 ...

§. 113. Of the communion of Saints on earth with Saints in heaven.

THe principal point intended in these last words now followeth; intimated in this particle a 1.1 AND: which hath relation as to other particulars prece∣dent, so to that phrase b 1.2 ye are come, &c. viz. by the Gospel, to the spirits of just men made perfect. So that the Apostle doth hereby give us to understand, that by the Gospel Saints on earth have communion with Saints in heaven.

Here are two particulars.

• 1. The Communion it self.
• 2. The means thereof, viz. the Gospell.

• ...

  1. For the first, that there is a communion betwixt Saints on earth, and in hea∣ven, is evident from divers places of Scripture, as Eph. 1. 10. Col. 1. 20. especially, Eph. 2. 19. where we are said to be c 1.3 fellow-Citizens with the Saints, namely of all the Saints that having lived before on earth, were then glorified, as well as of those who then were, or after should live on earth, and in their time be glorified. Now fel∣low-Citizens have a mutual communion one with another, and are partakers of the same priviledges.

  That which is set down (Luk. 1. 17.) for an evidence of the power of the Baptists

• ...

  ministery, that he should turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, do th also prove the point; for by Fathers, he means the ancient Jewes deceased and glorified; and by Sons, such as living on earth were brought to believe in Christ. By turning their hearts to them, is meant an acknowledgement of them to be their genuin Children; in that they be of their faith, as Gal. 3. 7. Ioh. 8. 39.

• 2. That the Gospel is a means of this communion, whereby it comes to be a pri∣viledge of the new Testament, is evident by the forementioned proofs of the point.

Quest. Was there not a communion betwixt Saints on earth and in heaven, before Christ was exhibited?

Answ.

• 1. Not so cleerly and fully revealed. Now many things in sacred Scrip∣ture are appropriated to the Gospel, not simply and exclusively, but compara∣tively, in regard of the perspicuous manifestation of them, as Heb. 8. 10. and 9. 8.
• ...

  2. The Gospel preached, in regard of the substance of it, was under the Law, Heb. 4. 2. Unto us, saith the Apostle, was the Gospel preached as well as unto them.

  The first promise after mans fall (Gen. 3. 15.) contained the substance of the Gos∣pel, and that was the substance of the New Testament, by vertue whereof Saints of old had all the spiritual and celestial communion which they had.

• 3. The extent of this communion to all of all sorts, (as Eph. 1. 10. and Matth. 8. 11. from the east and west) is proper to the Christian Church after an espe∣ciall manner.

The grounds of this mutuall communion betwixt heaven and earth are these:

• 1. Their mutual relation to one Father, Eph. 4. 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, saith the Apostle. When Saints depart out of this world, this relation ceaseth not, Exod. 3. 6. Now children of the same Father have a mutual communion betwixt themselves.
• 2. Their mutual union with one head, which is Christ the Son of God, 1 Cor. 12. 12. That all Saints in heaven and earth are united to him, is evident, Eph. 1. 10. and 3. 15. And members of the same body have a mutual communion.
• 3. The mutual, spiritual animation by the same Spirit. That Spirit which is in Saints on earth accompanieth their spirits into heaven. That being ever one and the same Spirit, though in divers persons, draws all to a mutual communion, as the same soul animating many members.

Quest. In what particulars consisteth this communion?

Answ.

• 1. In Gods bringing us together.
• 2. In our mutual affection.

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  1. God who hath chosen a set and certain number to life, in his time gathers them together into that general assembly (whereof before) the true Catholick Church, Ioh. 10. 16. This he doth outwardly by the word, inwardly by the Spirit.

  Thus as some are translated into the triumphant Church, others are called into the Militant Church, which are but two parts of the Catholick Church. In this respect all that on earth are called, come to the spirits of just ones made perfect.

• 2. The mutuall affection of Saints is manifested, both by that which Saints in heaven do for Saints on earth: and also by that which Saints on earth do for Saints in heaven.

So little is in Scripture recorded of the affections of Saints in heaven, towards Saints on earth, as we have no warrant for any particular effects; only from the sympathy of fellow-members, and abundance of charity in them, we may very pro∣bably in•…•…er two generals.

• 1. Saints in heaven pray for them on earth, that God would support them, and deliver them out of all their miseries, and bring them to the rest and glory where they themselves are. Thus much is intended Rev. 6. 10. But it is to be taken of their •…•…ffection to the Church in generall, and not to particular members, which are unknown to them.
• 2. They rejoyce at Gods preservation of his Church on earth, so as many of their fellow-soldiers are daily translated and crowned; whereby their blessed society is increased. For love abideth, and aboundeth in heaven, 1 Cor. 13. 8. and this is one speciall fruit of love.

On the other side Saints on earth

• 1. Praise God for the rest and glory which they in heaven enjoy, and for their blessed departure out of this vaile of misery. Its prescribed as a form of praise, Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, &c.
• 2. They pray for the resurrection of the bodies of those Spirits, that so they may be fully both in body and soul consummate, which is the substance of the second pe∣tition in the Lords prayer.
• 3. They set them as a pattern before them, and tread in their steps: whereby they bring much honour to them.
• 4. They sigh, and earnestly long to be with them, as Phil. 1. 23.

• 1. This may informe us of the blessednesse of the time wherein we have been b•…•…ed and brought up, which is the time of the Gospel; wherein we Gentiles are brought to those blessed Spirits; to be children of their Father, members under their head, guided with their Spirit; redeemed by their Saviour, coheires of their inheritance. Note Eph. 3. 12.
• 2. This may stir us up to acquaint our selves with the histories of them recorded by the Holy Ghost, and to be provoked to an holy emulation, and imitation of them, according to that exhortation of the Apostle, (Heb. 6. 12.) to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Notes

• a 1.1

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• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉