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 ...

§. 121. Of the resolution of Heb. 12. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

Heb. 12.

Vers. 18.

For we are not come unto the Mount which might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blacknesse, darknesse, and tempest,

Vers. 19.

And the sound of a Trumpet, and the voyce of words, which voyce they which heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken to the many more.

Vers. 20.

For they could not endure that which was commanded: And if so much as a beast touch the Mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart.

Vers. 21.

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.

Vers. 22.

But ye are come to Mount Sion, and to the City of the living God, the hea∣venly Ierusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels,

Vers. 23.

To the generall assembly, and Church of the first-born, 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 Iesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprink∣ling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel.

THe sum of these verses, is, The Christians priviledges.

Whereof are these two generall parts.

• 1. The kind of priviledges.
• 2. The use thereof, v. 25.

The kind thereof is set forth in the difference betwixt the Law and the Gospel.

In this difference we may observe

• 1. The manner of setting down both.
• 2. The matter whereof each consisteth.

For the first.

• 1. The things of the Law were earthly. This is principally intended in this phrase, the Mount that might be touched, because it was an earthly Mountain, which might be felt and seen.
• 2. They were terrible, the terror whereof is set out,
  • 1. By externall signes.
  • 2. By fearfull effects.

The terrible signes which appeared at the delivery of the Law were,

• 1. A Mount touched.
• 2. Burning with fire.
• 3. Blacknesse and darknesse.
• ...

  4. Tempest.

  Vers. 19.

• 5. Sound of Trumpet.
• 6. Voyce of words.
• 7. Stoning of beasts.

Vers. 20. The effects concerned both men and beasts.

• ...

  1. Beasts might not, yea durst not come neer the Mount.

  Vers. 21.

• 2. Men both of the common sort, and also the most eminent a∣mongst them, even Moses himself, was affrighted at the delive∣ry of the Law.

Vers. 22. Secondly, the priviledges of the Gospel are spiritual and heavenly, they consist of ten distinct branches, which may be brought to two heads.

• 1. The places whereunto under the Gospel we are brought.
• 2. The Persons to whom we are joyned.

The places are described by three Metaphors,

• 1. Mount Sion.
• 2. The City of the living God.
• 3. Heavenly Ierusalem.

The persons are

• 1. Creatures, or
• 2. Creator, and
• 3. He that is betwixt both.

• Vers. 23. The Creatures are
  • 1. Angels, amplified by their number, said to be in∣numerable.
  • 2. Holy men. And these are
    • 1. Generally propounded, in this phrase, Generall assembly.
    • 2. Particularly exemplified,
      • 1. By the name, First-born.
      • 2. By this phrase, which are written in hea∣ven.
      • 3. By this clause, the spirits of just men made perfect.
• 2. The Creator, set out by his jurisdiction, Iudge of all; wherein we may observe,
  • 1. The kind of function which he undertaketh, Iudge.
  • 2. The extent thereof, in these words, Of all.
• Vers. 24. 3. The person that is between both, is expressed in these words, And to Iesus the Mediator of the new Covenant. In which we may observe,
  • 1. A description of the person from whom the priviledges of the Gospel arise, and that
    • 1. By his title, Iesus.
    • 2. By his office, Mediator of the New Covenant. Wherein is ex∣pressed,
      • 1. The kind of his office, in this word, Mediator.
      • 2. The object whereabouts it is exercised, in this word, Co∣venant; which is illustrated by the excellency thereof, in this word, New.