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 ...

§. 129. Of Christs delivering the Law, together with the uses of the Law.

IN the foregoing Section I shewed, that by the voice that shooke the earth, is meant the Voice of Christ in the delivery of the Law upon Mount Sinai. So that the A∣postle by those words points out two things unto us,

• 1. That Christ delivered the Law.
• 2. That the delivery of the Law was terrible.

1. The first is further evident by the title Angel, which being applied to Iehovah, sets out the second person in sacred Trinity, even the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3. 1. That this Angel was Iehovah is evident, Exod. 3. 2, 4, 6. and 14. 19, 24. It was the Son that was sent of the Father, and by whom the Father declared his mind, Iohn 3. 34. and therefore stiled an Angel.

1. Obj. The Law was ordained by Angels in the plurall number, many of them, Gal. 3. 19.

Answ. Many Angels accompanied this Arch-Angel.

2. Obj. The Law was given by Moses, Iohn 1. 17.

Answ. As a Minister and Mediator, Gal. 3. 19. Moses did not first utter it on the Mount, Deut. 5. 22, 27.

3. Obj. Christ in opposition to the Law is made author of the Gospel, Iohn 1. 17. Heb. 12. 25. and 2. 2, 3.

Answ. Christ as God gave the Law, but as Emmanuel he gave the Gospel, oft called the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Thus Heb. 1. 2.

The reasons why the Law was delivered by Christ, were

• 1. That the Church might be the more assured of the infallible verity and cer∣tainty thereof, Prov. 8. 7, 8, 9. Psal. 19. 7, &c.
• 2. To work in people a better and higher esteem thereof, and a more carefull and conscionable observance thereof, Exod. 20. 1. Deut. 4. 6, 7, 8. and 6. 1, 2, 3.

• 1. This doth inform us of one main ground whereby David and others were moved so highly to account the Law as they did. They preferred it before the most pre∣cious things that were. No question but the very matter of the Law, being so true, so large, so perfect a rule as it was, made it worthy of all esteem: but yet the author thereof added much thereto.
• 2. Which doth exceedingly aggravate their contempt of the Law, who make a null of it. If we rightly distinguish, in many respects it is indeed abrogated, as I have shewed on Chap. 7. v. 12. §. 67, 68. But yet in sundry respects it is worthy of all high account.
• 3. Let us learn wisely to weigh in what respect the Law may yet be of use unto us, and for the Authors sake to have it in higher account.

Briefly to shew you the use of the Law.

There was a double use of the Law, one before the fall, the other after.

The use of the Law before the fall was to be a platform of the Covenant be∣tween

• God and
• Man.

On Gods part, what he

• required
• promised.

• 1. God required obedience.
  • 1. Personall, Rom. 10. 5.
  • 2. Perfect, Deut. 5. 32, 33. Matth. 22. 37, 39. Iam. 2. 10.
  • 3. Perpetuall, Deut. 5. 29. Psal. 119. 112.
  • 4. In the whole man, 1 Cor. 6. 20.
• 2. God promised life upon obedience, Lev. 18. 5.

On mans part,

• 1. To perform what God required, as God required, Luk. 10. 27.
• 2. To be justified thereby, Rom. 4. 4.
• ...

  3. To be blessed, Deut. 11. 26, 27.

  The use of the Law after the fall is,

  • Common
  • Proper to
    • Unregenerat
    • Regenerat,.

Common.

• 1. To instruct us in the will of God, Isa. 8. 20. which is an everlasting rule, as Matth. 5. 18.
• 2. To inform men in every duty, Micah 6. 8.
• 3. To declare sin, Rom. 3. 20. 7. 7.
• 4. To restrain from sin, Rom. 2. 9. and 4. 15.
• 5. To be a directory for examination.
• 6. To convince of the impossibility of justification by the Law, Gal. 3. 10.
• 7. To work humiliation, 2 King. 22. 11.
• 8. To cause abnegation, Rom. 3. 19
• 9. To stir us up to enquire after another remedy, Rom. 7. 24.

The use of the Law proper to the Regenerat,

• 1. To bring them to Christ, Gal. 3. 24.
• 2. To quicken them to more thankfullness, for,

• Christs fulfilling the Law for them.
• Christs enduring the curse of the Law, Rom. 7. 25. Luk. i. 68, &c.

Obj. Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not under the Law, but under grace, and againe, 1 Tim. 1. 9.

Answ. The Law is abrogated to the regenerat.

• 1. As a Covenant of works, Heb. 8. 8, 13.
• 2. In case of justification, Act▪ 13. 39.
• 3. In the exactnes•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Rom. 10. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
• 4. In regard of the ex•…•…iting power of it, Rom. 7. 8, 13.
• 5. In regard of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 1.

The use of the Law to the unregenerat, which are all by consequence.

• 1. To irritate corrupt nature, Rom. 7. 8.
• 2. To aggravate sin, Rom. 4. 15.
• 3. To leave them inexcusable, Rom. 2. 1, 15.
• 4. To make them accursed, Gal. 3. 10.

Of the other point here noted by the Apostle, namely, The terrible delivery of the Law, see v. 18. §. 99.