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 ...

§. 23. Of considering weighty Matters.

Heb. 12. 3.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of Sinners, against himself, l•…•…st ye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wearied, and faint in your minds.

THis causall particle a 1.1 FOR, sheweth, that this verse is inferred upon the former as a reason thereof: The reason may be taken from the dignity of the per∣son that was put to shame, implied in this emphatical particle, b 1.2 Him, & in the kind of contradiction against him, in this relative c 1.3 Such, and it thus lieth, We ough•…•… the more throughly to consider the shame whereunto Christ was put, because he was so excellent a person, and yet the shame so great.

The word translated, d 1.4 consider, is a compound. The e 1.5 simple verb signifieth to think, (1 Cor. 13. 5.) To reason, (Mark. 11. 31.) To conclude, (Rom. 3. 28.) The f 1.6 preposition with which this word is compounded, in composition signifieth again•…•…▪ So as this g 1.7 compound signifieth to reveiw, or to think againe and againe upon a thing; to ponder upon it: this is to consider. It is in other Authors attributed to mens casting up, and to their reviewing of their accounts.

Of considering weighty matters, and of Christ above all to be considered, See Chap. 3. v. 1. §. 21, 22, 23.

The word here used, which importeth a thinking on a thing again and again, de∣•…•…, that it is not sufficient advisedly to heed a weighty matter, at the first hearing, or reading thereof, but that it must be pondred on again, and again.

For this end two especiall duties are requisite.* 1.8

• 1. Meditation with our selves thereupon:
• 2. Conference with others there abouts.

Meditation is an especiall part of consideration: whereby men call to mind what they have learned, & so come to conceive the same. For that which is not throughly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at first, will be by meditation more throughly understood. Medita∣tion to mans mind, is as chewing the cud to beasts: that meat which is not at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eating well digested, by the beast, through chewing the cud is throghly conco∣•…•…. It will therefore be useful to meditate on such weighty poynts as men hear and 〈◊〉〈◊〉: yea and if they have time, to write down their meditations.

Conference about what we have heard may be more usefull then meditation, in* 1.9 that thereby we have not only our own help, but also the help of others: yea we may also thereby bring much help to others.

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 〉.
• f 1.6

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

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

  Of Meditation see Chap. 11. v. 19. §. 96.
• * 1.9

  Conference.