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 ...

§. 131. Of the meaning of verse 27.

Vers. 27.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot b•…•… shaken may remain.

A Consequence is here noted by the Apostle out of the forementioned prophecie, which maketh much to the main scope, which is the excellency of the Gospel above the Law.

The consequence is, that the Law is alterable: The Gospel most firm and stable. This consequence is gathered out of this phrase, a 1.1 •…•…et once more.

The particle b 1.2 yet having relation to the verb c 1.3 shake, or move, importeth a moveable and transitory condition of things.

The other particle d 1.4 ONCE, taken exclusively for only once, once for all, once and but once, once and no more, importeth an immoveable, and permanent condi∣tion, never to be abrogated, or altered.

The word in the original translated here e 1.5 a removing, is as much as f 1.6 a dis∣anulling, or taking away, whereof we read Chap. 7. v. 18.

By g 1.7 things shaken, he means all the legal types, and rites, which were in their very nature alterable, and in their end to be abrogated, by the accomplishment of them in their substance; and therefore by way of explanation, and more clear expression of his meaning, he addeth, h 1.8 As of things made.

The particle i 1.9 As, is not here used for a note of similitude, as if they were only like to things made, but as a causal particle, shewing the reason why they were alterable, and subject to be shaken, even because they were k 1.10 things made, viz. by the hand of man, as the Tabernacle, Tables, Altars, Ark, Candlesticks, &c.

Herein things spiritual and celestial are opposed to legal and terrestrial things. They are said not to be made with hands (as spiritual Col. 2. 11. and celestial 2 Cor. 5. 1.) But these to be made with hands, (as legal Eph. 2. 11. and terrestrial, Act. 19. 26.) To shew the end of removing those legal types, he addeth, l 1.11 That the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

By the things which cannot be shaken, he means the substances and truths of the le∣gal types, which are Christ himself, the offices which he undertook, and things which he did and endured for us, the merit and efficacy of them all, the Gospel whereby they are made known unto us, the benefits which come to us thereby, and those heavenly mansions, and glory, which Christ hath purchased for us.

These are said m 1.12 to remain, and that firm and stable, inviolable, and immuta∣ble. In this sense, is this word oft used, as 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Its therefore opposed to pe∣rishing, Heb. 1. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 24, 25. and everlastingnesse is joyned with it, Heb. 7. 3, 24.

This is the priviledge of the Gospel, and of the good things revealed thereby. They remain.

So that in this verse is set down a third difference betwixt the Law and the Gos∣pel, namely in respect of continuance, the Law being alterable, and the Gospel un∣changeable: whereby the Apostle giveth us to understand two points.

• 1. The alterablenesse of the Law, that the Law was alterable.
• 2. The unchangeablenesse of the Gospel, that the Gospel is unchangeable.

Of the alterablenesse of the Law; see Chap. 7. v. 12. §. 67, 68, &c. Before I come to shew the unchangeablenesse of the Gospel, we may from the Apostles expression here observe, That that which is made by man is subject to decay. The Apostle here renders it as a Reason why the things of the Law were alterable, because they were made, viz. by man.

If n 1.13 AS be taken as a resemblance, it also proves the point. Thus Ier. 10. 9, 11. The Prophet proveth that the Idols of the Gentiles shall perish, because they are the work of men. And the Apostle in 2 Cor. 5. 1. rendreth this as the reason why our habitation in heaven is eternal, namely, because it is not made with hands; doth he not thence infer that that which is made with hands cannot be eternal?

Experience proves as much. Where is that Tower which anon after the flood, all the world conspired to build? was it not justly stiled Babel? Gen. 11. 9. Where is Noahs Ark? Where is Solomons Temple? Or Zerobabels Temple? Where are the Se∣pulchres of David, and other Kings of Iudah and Israel? Indeed somethings made by men, are of longer continuance then others: but yet all without exception of a∣ny, are subject to decay. The most lasting materials, whereof they make their most durable things, are none of them everlasting: Not Marbels, nor Iron, Brasse, Sil∣ver, Gold, and other Metal; some subject to mouldring, some to rust, some to melt; all as framed, fashioned, and set out by men, to be defaced, destroyed, and brought to nought.

• 1. This may inform us in a main difference betwixt the things of God and man. As there is a difference between the divine and humane essence; so betwixt their works. The divine essence is eternall, and immutable, but humane, mutable: and momentary. So the counsell and work of God stands for ever; but mans al∣terable, tending to decay. This disserence is oft noted and much pressed in sacred Scripture, Prov. 19. 21. Acts 5. 38. and 7. 48.
• ...

  2. This may instruct us in the difference betwixt things earthly and heavenly. They are made by mans hands, these without hands, 2 Cor. 5. 1. Heb. 9. 24. So be∣twixt corporall and spirituall, Eph. 2. 11. Col. 2. 11. Yea and betwixt legall and Evan∣gelical, Heb. 8. 2. So in this text.

  By this difference the excellency of the ministry of the Gospel is cleerly set forth. For as things heavenly are more excellent then earthly; as spirituall then corpo∣rall; as things made by God, then things made by man: So the ministry of the Gos∣pel, then the ministry of the Law.

• 3. This discovers the folly of many who too much dote on things made by man, or invented by him. See more hereof Chap. 9. v. 24. §. 121.
• 4. Pray for wisedome, whereby you may approve of those things which are most excellent, duely distinguishing the things that diff•…•…r, and chuse that good part which shall not be taken away, Luk. 10. 42.

Notes

• a 1.1

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• b 1.2

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• c 1.3

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• d 1.4

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• e 1.5

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• f 1.6

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• g 1.7

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• h 1.8

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• i 1.9

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• k 1.10

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• l 1.11

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• m 1.12

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• n 1.13

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