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 ...

§. 25. Of being weary and fainting in our Christian course.

THat Christs pattern in enduring such contradictions as he did, may be the more deeply weighed, the Apostle declareth the dammage that may follow upon neg∣lect of that means.

The dammage is in generall hinted in this particle, lest, which is the interpretati∣on of two Greek words, (a) that not: that ye faint not. It is a word of caution, and* 1.1 prevention: implying, that such a dammage of mischief is like to follow upon neg∣lect of the foresaid duty.

The dammage consisteth of two branches. The first is thus translated, b 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wearied.

The Metaphor is taken from runners in a race: or from such as labour and toy•…•… in any hard work, and with the difficulty thereof, or rather through their own slug∣gishnesse, and lazinesse, wax weary, and give over the former course.

I find this word used in two other places, as where it is said, the prayer of faith shall save him that is weary, and ready to faint; we translate it sick, Jam. 5. 15. and where Christ saith, thou hast laboured, and hast not fainted, Rev. 2. 3.

Here is added the subject c 1.3 your minds) wherein such may be wearied, or faint. In the Greek it is so placed between two verbs, as it may be referred to either of them. Thereupon some thus translate it, lest ye be wearied in your minds, and faint▪ Others, thus, lest you be wearied, and faint in your minds. There is no great difference

in referring it to the one, or the other; It hath reference to both, and is fitly fixed betwixt them. They who be wearied in their minds, faint in their minds. And they who faint in their minds, are wearied in their minds.

The latter word translated, d 1.4 faint, signifieth to be loosed; it is used of things fast knit, whereby they remain strong, and steady, as a mans joynts, and limbs. But if they be loosed, they lose their strength, and become feeble and weak. It is used of the fainting of the spirit, or soul of man, for want of food, Matth. 9. 36. and 15. 32. And to such a fainting under affliction, v. 5. Here it is taken in a spiritual sense, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appears by joyning it with this phrase, in your minds. And thus it is taken, Gal. 6. 9.

By the inference of this danger, the Apostle giveth us to understand, that virulent* 1.5 contradictions, and strong oppositions, may make men weary of good courses, Psal. 73. 13, 14. Ier. 20. 7, 8, 9.

As those crosses are in their kind grievous, so humane frailty is much perplexed therewith. And because good courses are occasions of such contradictions, many wax weary of their good courses.

Well therefore did the Apostle premise this note of caution, and prevention, lest. We have cause to be circumspect over our selves herein, and carefully use all means to encourage our selves against those temptations.

Hereof see more Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 122.

This last clause, and faint in your minds, is added as the reason of their weari∣somenesse* 1.6 in good courses. Howsoever the bitternesse of contradiction may give occasion of being weary, yet the proper cause thereof resteth in our selves, even in our own faint spirits. Hereupon, saith the wise man, If thou faint in the day of ad∣•…•…, thy strength is small, Prov. 24. 10. David acknowledgeth thus much of him∣self, I said, this is my infirmity, Psal. 77. 10. It was inward fainting, that made many of them who believed in Christ, to be afraid to confesse him, Ioh. 12. 42.

That wearinesse ariseth from fainting in mens minds, is evident by the different disposition of men diversly minded. For where there is the same occasion of wea∣•…•…inesse in all, there is not the same effect. In the time of the captivity, many Le∣vi•…•…es went away from the Lord: but the Sons of Zadock remained faithful, Ezek. 44. 10, 15. And in the time of the primitive persecution, many forsook Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 16. yet not all.

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, Prov. 18. 14. Nothing dismaieth a man of courage: instance Moses, David, Iob, the Prophets, the Apostles, and Martyrs, in all ages. It is not simply contradiction, but pusillanimity, which causeth wearisome∣•…•…esse. It is an undue plea, to pretend the grievousnesse of contradiction for excuse of mens wearisomnesse in their Christian course. it becometh men, rather to take notice of themselves, and of their own faint-heartednesse, that they may be the more humbled, and brought to repentance for the same; that so the Lord may be the more merciful unto them. When men duly load themselves, God will be ready to •…•…ase them; but if men by laying the blame elsewhere think to ease themselves, the Lord will load them the more. Now whether it be safe for a man to ease himself, and the Lord load him; or to load himself, and the Lord ease him, judge yee.

This further sheweth, how needfull and usefull it is to get an undainted spirit, and* 1.7 an invincible resolution to go on in our Christian course, though all the world should contradict us. Courage, and resolution, doth much in temporall, and earth∣ly matters: yet they may in their bodies, notwithstanding all their courage, wax weary; as in war, in running a race, in travelling, in undertaking any other task: but spiritual courage will so enable us, as we shall not only well begin, and hold out a good while, but go on to the end of our Christian race.

Notes

• * 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 〉.
• * 1.5

  Contradicti∣ons make men weary.
• * 1.6

  A fainting spi∣rit soon weary
• * 1.7

  Spirituall courage need∣full.