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 ...

§. 134. Of serving God.

THe Apostle here in setting down the kind of duty, first notes the spring thereof, in these words, a 1.1 let us have grace.

Some difference there is in copies, for some read it with o b 1.2, as if it were of the in∣dicative present tense, we have, which importeth an effect of receiving the kingdome, which is, grace to serve God.

But most copies read it in the c 1.3 subjunctive mood, and so it implies a duty. The reason taken from Gods terror in v. 29. shews that this is laid down as a duty.

By grace then must here needs be meant, a free gift of God, whereby we are enabled to do what is acceptable to him.

Quest. How can this be pressed as a duty on our part, if it be a gift of God?

Answ. Because God in his unsearchable wisedome hath sanctified means on our part to be used, for enabling us to accomplish that which by his grace he enableth us to do. He gives the gift, but so as we put out that ability which he giveth us.

The stream that is here noted to flow from grace followes. The matter where∣of is to serve God, which is thus expressed by the Evangelist, d 1.4 whereby we may serve God.

The word e 1.5 to serve, sets forth the duty of him that is in subjection, and to ano∣ther. In Hebrew and Latin it hath relation as to God, so also to man. But this Greek word in the New Testament is appropriated to God, or to such as are (though fausly) accounted God, as Acts 7. 42. He gave them f 1.6 up to serve the host of Heaven, g 1.7 and Rom. 1. 25. Here its expresly applied unto God. In this sense,

• 1. Its restrained to externall service, as when its joyned with another word that sets out the inward service, as Deut. 6. 13.
• 2. I•…•…s restrained to the inward man, when a word of restriction is added thereto, as Phil. 3. 3. For we are the Circumcision h 1.8 which worship God in the Spirit.

And sometimes its extended to all that service we owe to God, whether inward or outward, as where its set alone, and not limited to any particular, as Luk. 1. 74. Acts 27. 23. So here.

Thus it containes the summe of the first table, which is here fitly premised, for in the next Chapter sundry duties of the second table are set down.

So that in the generall the Apostle hereby giveth us to understand, That God is to be served.

If expresse precepts, pithy exhortations, precious promises, approved patterns, high commendations, gracious acceptation, bountifull remunerations, be of force to enforce a duty, there want not enforcements to enforce this of serving God.

The Law giver gives this in expresse charge, Ex. 23. 25. Psal. 2. 11. The sweet singer of Israel sweetly exhorts hereunto, Psal. 100. 2. For promises, to omit many in the Law which may seem to be of temporall good things, note what a precious one the Evangelicall Prophet makes, Isa. 56. 6. Yea and Christ himself, Ioh. 12. 26.

Take for an approved pattern, Iosh. 24. 15. and Paul, Acts 27. 23.

Mark the commendation given to Daniel, in this respect, Dan. 6. 20.

See an evidnece of Gods gracious accepting such as served him, Iudg. 10. 16.

Behold what a bountifull remuneration is given to faithfull service, Matth. 25. 21.

To these may be added Judgements on such as did not serve God, Neh. 9. 35. Deut. 28. 47, 48. 2 Chron. 12. 8.

• 1. It makes much to Gods honour to serve him, and that in these two respects* 1.9
  • 1. Its an acknowledgement of his high supream soveraignty. For all use to serve him whom they acknowledge their Soveraign. Hereby the Soveraignty of Solomon over the nations round about him was testified, 1 King. 4. 21.
  • 2. It is an evidence both of fear and love: both which make much to Gods honour. For proof of that, that its an evidence of them two, we may oft find it joyned to them both, as Deut. 10. 20. and 11. 13.
• 2. Its a good evidence of that right we have to the foresaid kingdome. True sub∣jects of a kingdome will do due service to the King thereof. Though subjects of earthly kingdomes may be rebellious, yet there is such a spirit in•…•…used into such as

• are of this kingdome, and such grace they receive from the King thereof, as they will serve him, Psal. 22. 28, 30. and 110. 3.

• 1. This may serve for demonstration of that undue and undutifull respect which* 1.10 many, who lay claim to the forementioned kingdome, bear and shew to the King thereof. They have no grace to serve him. We heard that they cannot be account∣ed true subjects of this kingdome, who serve not the King thereof. Service is the best and surest evidence of subjects that can be. But he that yeeldeth not due sub∣jection, may not be accounted a true subject of this kingdome, though he may have a name that he is: like Sardis that had a name that she lived, but was dead, Rev. 3. 1. Of this sort are such as follow.
  • 1. Atheists, who (according to the notation of the word) are without God, and so are in our English translated, Eph. 2. 12. These serve no God at all.
  • 2. Id•…•…laters, who though they do service, yet they observe not the Apostles rule; for they do not serve God, namely the true God; for an Idol is nothing, 1 Cor. 8. 4. It hath no deity at all in it. Such were Baalim, and Ashtoreth, whom the Israelites served, Iudg. 2. 13.
  • 3. Epicures, who make their belly their God, Phil. 3. 19. They do so give them∣selves over to satisfie their delights, and so glut themselves in their pleasures, as they have neither time, nor mind to serv•…•… God.
  • 4. All sorts of worldlings, who so subject themselves to the world, as they make it their Master, and in serving it, cannot serve God.
  • 5. Politicians, who serve the time, called in that respect, time-servers.
  • 6. Flatterers, who addict themselves wholy to serve men; called men-pleasers, Eph. 6. 6. Of these note, Gal. 1. 10. The like may be said of time-servers.
  • 7. Profane Persons. Profanesse is the great sin of the first table, which compri∣seth all the rest. But to serve God is the summe of all the duties of the first table; therefore profane persons must needs be far from serving God.
  • 8. Hypocrites. These make a great shew of serving God, but in truth are as far from it as the former. Such shew of service is abominable in the sight of God, Isa. 1. 13, 14. Note Isa. 66. 3.
  • 9. Superstitious persons, who think to serve God by other mens traditions, which is no other then that will-worship expresly condemned Col. 2. 23. v. 18. he calls it voluntary humility. Note Matth. 15. 9.
  • 2. Let us be exhorted to two points,* 1.11
    • 1. To be well instructed in this duty of serving God.
    • 2. To be quickned thereto.

For the former, note Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 5. 17. By the word of God maist thou be fully instructed therein, 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17.

In this respect its stiled a lamp, a light, (Psal. 119. 105.) to shew us the way; and a Counsellor, (v. 24.) to advise us thereabouts; We ought the rather to use this help, because without it all our own, or others inventions will be in vaine, (Matth. 15. 9.) None can tell what service is to be done to God, but God himself.

For the latter, which is to quicken up our spirits to serve God, we have great need thereof, because we are by nature exceeding dull hereunto. The more excel∣lent a duty is, the more heavenly, the more divine, the more nearely it concerneth God, the more dull and backward we are thereto. Yea and Sathan will be the more busie to hinder us. We ought therefore to quicken up our spirits thereunto, by a due, serious, frequent meditation on the excellency, necessity, utility, equity, and other like commendations of the duty.

What work in the kind of it can be imagined to be more excellent, then to serve God? To what can we be more bound? what more just and equal? to what are there more precious and gracious promises made? from what can there be ex∣pected a greater reward? Gods service consisteth in keeping his commandements, and therein is great reward, Psal. 19. 11. Reason with your souls hereabouts, and say (as the Psalmist in other cases) O our souls! why are ye so dull, and heavy to such a du∣ty? Awake, awake our spirits, rise up and make no longer delay: enter upon the work speedily, cheerfully. Thus may we put life into our spirits; and bring them to do what is here required of them to do.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.2

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 serv•…•…s.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• h 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  Why God ought to be served.
• * 1.10

  1. Demonstra∣tion.
• * 1.11

  2. Exhortati∣on.