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 ...

§. 138. Of the resolution of Heb. 12. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

Vers. 25.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh; for if they escaped not, who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.

Vers. 26.

Whose voyce then shook the earth, but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Vers. 27.

And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Vers. 28.

Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God▪ acceptably, with reverence & godly fear.

Vers. 29.

For our God is a consuming fire.

THe sum of these words is, The general use of the forementioned divine privi∣ledges; which is

• 1. Propounded in these words, See that ye refuse not him that speaketh,
• 2. Confirmed, in the words following.

The confirmation is raised from the danger and dammage of neglecting his ad∣monition. Which dammage is amplified comparatively, v. 25, 26, &c.

The comparison is of unequals, inforced from the lesse to the greater, wherein is noted

• 1. The substance of them, v. 25, 26, 27.
• 2. An inference thence raised, v. 28, 29.

In the comparison two sorts, or kinds of unequals, are noted,

• 1. One of the Person, v. 25.
• 2. The other of the priviledges, v. 26, 27. This latter is
  • 1. Propounded, v. 26.
  • 2. Expounded, v. 27.

Vers. 2•…•…. In the substance of the comparison we may observe

• 1. The duty enjoyned,
• 2. The Reason whereby its enforced.

In the expressing of the duty note,

• 1. The manner, in this word, See, which implies great circum∣spection.
• 2. The matter, set down Negatively. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. Where we may observe
  • 1. The Act forbidden, refuse not.
  • 2. The object, him that speaketh.

In the Reason whereby its enforced, there is a four-fold difference noted betwixt the

• Law and
• Gospel.

• 1. One, in a different dignity.
• 2. The second, in a different penalty.
• 3. The third, in a different power.
• 4. The fourth, in a different continuance.

• 1. The difference in dignity is manifested by the different persons that declared the one and the other.
  • 1. He that declared the Law, spake on earth.
  • 2. He that delivered the Gospel, spake from heaven.
• 2. In setting down the penalty, there is
  • 1. An agreement in the general, that neither the transgressors of the one, nor of the other escaped.
  • 2. The difference is in the certainty and severity of the latter, ex∣pressed in these words, Much more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not we escape, if we turn away, &c.
• ...

• ...

  Vers. 26. 3. The different power of the Law and Gospel, was manifested by the different effects.

  The effect at the delivery of the Law, was shaking of the earth, amplified by the cause thereof, viz. The voyce of Christ.

  The effect at the delivery of the Gospel, was the shaking both of earth and heaven.

  The power of the Gospel is

  • 1. Propounded, v. 26.
  • 2. Expounded, v. 27.

  In the proposition we may observe

  • 1. The proof, in these words, He that promised,
  • 2. The point or thing promised, wherein
    • 1. The extent of power, in that upon comming in of the Gospel, heaven and earth were moved.
    • 2. The time when, manifested in these words, yet once more.
• Vers. 27. 4. The fourth difference betwixt the Law and the Gospel, is in respect of continuance.
  • 1. The Law was alterable.
  • 2. The Gospel was firm and stable, and so unchangeable.

The alterablenesse of the Law is implied in this word, removing, which is ratified by the cause thereof, they were things made, viz. by the hands of men.

The unchangeablenesse of the Gospel is expressed in these words, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. In which we may observe

• 1. The main substance of the point, in this phrase, things which cannot be shaken.
• 2. The inference, in the words following.

Vers. 28. The inference which the Apostle maketh, upon the difference be∣tween the Law and the Gospel, is expressed, v. 28, 29.

Whereof we may observe

• 1. The matter thereof, v. 28.
• 2. The motive, v. 29.

In the matter note

• 1. The ground of duty.
• ...

  2. The kind of duty.

  In the ground observe

  • 1. The subject, what we have.
  • 2. The means how, we have it.

The subject is

• 1. Expressed in the excellency of it, Kingdome.
• 2. Amplified by the stability of it, A Kingdome which cannot be moved.

In the kind of duty note,

• 1. The spring whence it ariseth, viz. Grace.
• 2. The stream that flowes from thence, where note
  • 1. The matter.
  • 2. The manner.

  The matter is, to serve God.

  The manner

  • 1. Acceptably.
  • 2. With reverence.
  • 3. With godly fear.

Vers. 29. In the motive we may observe,

• 1. The substance, in these words, Our God is a confuming fire.
• 2. An inference, in this particle, FOR.

In the substance the motive is double,

• 1. Implied.
• 2. Expressed.

The implied motive is taken from the relation between God and the Church, in these words, Our God.

The expressed motive is taken from the terror of God, which is

• 1. Propounded in a metaphor, Fire.
• 2. Aggravated by an effect, Consuming.

The inference is in this particle FOR; For our God is a consuming fire.