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 ...

§. 47. Of bastards being without correction. Heb. 12. 8.

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not Sons.

IT appears that this point of enduring chastisement, is of great concernment, in that the Apostle so long insisteth upon it, and returneth unto it again and again.

The former interrogative, What son, &c. carried great emphasis: yet behold here a more emphatical expression under the denial of the said point, If ye be without cha∣stisements,* 1.1 then are ye bastards, &c. This followeth as a necessary consequence from the former general point, and that by the rule of contraries. If all Sons are chasti∣sed, then they who are not chastised, are no Sons.

This particle of opposition, a 1.2 but, implieth the contrary consequence.

Of the word b 1.3 chastisement, see v. 5. §. 36. It implieth such correction as is for instruction, to prevent or redresse evill: so as if God let loose the raines to a pro∣fessor, and suffer him to run riot, and to follow his own carnal lust, and worldly de∣lights, and restrain him not by some afflictions, he is assuredly no child of God, but a bastard.

The c 1.4 Greek word is here only in the New Testament used. It implieth one that is not born in lawful wedlock. He h•…•…re m•…•…aneth one that is supposed to be a child, being in the house in appearance as a child, but not begotten of the Father of the house: thereupon not nurtured as a Son, nor estranged of any unlawful liberty; but suffered to run into all loosnesse and licentiousnesse.

The Greek word is by other Authors put, not only for one born in adultery: but also for a strange child; a child that is not a mans own; and thereupon the lesse care taken of it.

By some it is here taken for a changeling. They professe themselves, and an∣swerably* 1.5 are taken, to be Gods children, but never were put in by God.

This is here brought in to meet with an objection, thus, There are in the Church who are without chastisement.

Answ. It may b•…•… so: but then they are not of the Church; they are bastards or changelings.

To make this argument more full and clear, the Apostle inserteth the general point as in a parenthesis, thus, d 1.6 whereof all are partakers.

By way of explanation he addeth, not sons: as if he had said, Though they may be thought, by reason of some outward profession, to be sons, yet indeed they are none.

The main point here intended is, to shew that immunity from crosses is a ba∣stards prerogative. If it be a prerogative, it is of such an one as may be in the Church, partake of divine ordinances, professe himself to be a Saint, and be so sup∣posed by others; but not so accounted by God himself. Dives may be supposed to be such an one, Luk. 16. 25. So the rich fool, Luk. 12. 19.

Not correcting, when there is need (and who is he that liveth in the fl•…•…sh, and needeth not correction?) implieth a negl•…•…ct of him, as if he were not cared for. A child left to himself brings his Mother to shame, Prov. 29. 15. Thereupon Father and Mother are accounted carelesse of their duty. If two children be committing evill together, a wise Father will take his own child and correct him, but will let the other alone. Who more wise, who more righteous, who more mercifull th•…•…n God?

• 1. By just consequence, that false note of continuall peace and prosperity, or temporal felicity, as they call it, of the Church, is manifested. Surely, if this Text be true, as true it is, that cannot be a true note of a true Church. That hath hi∣therto been the true Church, which hath suffered for the truth, purity, and power of religion.
• 2. This sheweth their condition to be in truth a miserable condition, who so boast of all things, according to their hearts d•…•…sire, as they know not what pain is, or sicknesse, or losse, or restraint of liberty, or any other crosse. Such are to the life described, Iob 21. 8, 9, &c. By this Apostles verdict, if they live in the Church, they are bastards.

If any state give us just cause to question Gods Fatherly care over us, it is all man∣ner of external contentment to the fl•…•…sh, and freedome from all crosses. An hea∣then man, that had all his life time enjoyed much prosperity, being delivered from an accidentall calamity with which many others were destroyed, thus cryed out, O fortune, to what misfortune hast thou reserved me?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Contrariorum contraria consequentia.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.3

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Spurius.
• * 1.5

  Suppositisius.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.