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 ...

§. 65. Of the resolution of Heb. Chap. 12. v. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Vers. 5.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Children, My Son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

Vers. 6.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom •…•…e re∣ceiveth.

Vers. 7.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with Sons: for what Son is he whom the Father Chasteneth not?

Vers. 8.

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

Vers. 9.

Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and life?

Vers. 10.

For they verily for a few daies chastened us after their own pleasure, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holinesse.

Vers. 11.

Non no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: Never∣thelesse, afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, unto them which are exercised thereby.

IN these seven verses is set down comfort for the afflicted.

Two points are herein to be considered.

• 1. The manner of propunding the comfort.
• 2. The matter whereof it consisteth.

The manner is by a preface, whereof there are two parts.

• 1. A mild reprehension.
• ...

  2. A sweet insinuation.

  In the reprehension we have

  • 1. The act blamed, ye have forgotten.
  • 2. The subject, The exhortation.
• 3. The insinuation noteth out two points.
  • 1. A relation betwixt God, and such as he afflicteth. They are his children.
  • 2. A manifestation thereof, in this phrase, which speaketh unto you.

The matter of the comfort is

• 1. Propounded in a Text of Scripture, v. 5, 6.
• 2. Amplified by an exposition of that Scripture.

In the Text of Scripture we have

• 1. A mild compellation, My Son.
• 2. A wise direction.: wherein is declared,
  • 1. The matter enjoyned, v. 5.
  • 2. A motive to en•…•…orce it, v. 6.

The matter discovers two extremes to be avoided.

• One of the excesse.
• The other in the defect.

In both of them the fault is propounded and aggravated.

• The first fault in the excesse, is to despise.
• ...

  The second in the defect, is to faint.

  The aggravation of both is set down two wayes.

  • 1. In the kind of afflictions, in two words, Chastisements, rebukes.
  • 2. In the author and orderer thereof, the Lord.

Vers. 6. The motive to enforce the foresaid direction, is taken from the procuring cause of Gods correcting his.

Herein are two points.

• 1. The distinct kinds of motives, which are two.
  • 1. Love, whom the Lord loveth.
  • 2. Care, whom he receiveth.
• 2. Distinct kinds of afflictions.
  • 1. Chastising.
  • 2. Scourging.

Vers. 7. In the exposition of the foresaid Text, there is,

• 1. A clearing of the sense thereof.
• 2. A removing of an objection from it, v. 11.

The Text is cleared two wayes.

• 1. Simply, v. 7, 8:
• 2. Comparatively, v. 9, 10.

The simple consideration of the point is set down,

• 1. Affirmatively, v. 7.
• 2. Negatively, v. 8.

The affirmative part is,

• 1. Propounded.
• 2. Proved.
  • 1. A restraint of the main point.
  • ...

    2. An extent thereof.

    The restraint declares a supposition of a duty to be performed on our part, If ye endure chastisement.

  • 2▪ An illation, or inference of Gods dealing with us. He dealeth with us as with Sons.

The proof is taken from Gods impartiall and constant dealing with all his Sons: where is manifested the extent of the fore-named restraint.

In this proof observe,

• 1. The manner of propounding it, interrogatively.
• ...

• 2. The matter whereof it consisteth. And that in four particulars.
  • 1. The author of afflictions, The Father.
  • 2. The patient afflicted, Son.
  • 3. The kind of affliction, Chastisement.
  • 4. The universality, What Son not.

The negative consideration of the point, sets down the condition of such as arenot chastened: which is a condition clean contrary to the former. This is,

Vers. 8.

• 1. Propounded.
• 2. Proved.

It is propounded,

• 1. Affirmatively, Ye are bastards.
• ...

  2. Negatively, Not Sons.

  In the proof of it is laid down,

  • 1. The ground of that condition, set down conditionally, If ye be without cha∣stisement.
  • 2. The kind of proof, Gods constant dealing with all: Whereof all are parta∣kers.

Vers. 9. The comparison whereby the Apostle doth further illustrate the foresaid point of Gods chastening his children in love, is taken from earthly Parents. It is propounded, v. 9. and illustrated, v. 10.

The comparison propounded, consisteth of two parts.

• 1. A Proposition.
• 2. An application.

In the proposition there is

• 1. A description of the persons, with whom the comparison is made, Fathers of our flesh.
• 2. Their act, which corrected us.
• 3. Our respect to them notwithstanding that correction. We gave them reve∣rence.

In the application we are to consider.

• 1. The manner of applying it, with this emphaticall interrogation, Shall we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much rather.
• 2. The matter whereof it consisteth. Herein are expressed
  • 1. A description of God, the Father of spirits.
  • 2. The duty of believers to God, be in subjection.
  • 3. An effect following thereupon, and live.

Vers. 10. The illustration of the forementioned comparison, is, by the difference of earthly Fathers, and our heavenly Fathers correcting: which are these.

• 1. The time of their nurture. They for a few dayes. The contrary intended of God, is, that he doth it so long as there is need.
• 2. The end. They after their own pleasure. But God for our profit: This latter is amplified by the particular benefit that thence redoundeth: which is
  • 1. Expressed in this word, holinesse.
  • 2. Illustrated two wayes.
    • 1. By the excellency of it, in this relative particle his▪ that is Gods.
    • 2. In our participation thereof. That we might be partakers of it.

Vers. 11. In removing the objection against the foresaid direction about endu∣ring afflictions, there is

• 1. The objection propounded.
• 2. A solution added.

In propounding the objection there is

• 1. A concession or grant.
• ...

  2. A limitation thereof.

  The concession is set down two wayes.

  • 1. Negatively. No chastening is joyous.
  • 2. Affirmatively. But grievous.

The limitation is do•…•…ble.

• 1. In reference to outward sense, seemeth, namely to sense.
• 2. In reference to the time. For the present.

The solution is taken from the future benefit. Here note,

• 1. The intimation of the answer. Neverthelesse.
• 2. The expression thereof. Wherein is set down
  • 1. The time, when the benefit is received. Afterwards.
  • 2. The kind of benefit. Righteousnesse. Amplified by the effect thereof, peaceable.
  • 3. The means of obtaining it. It yeeldeth the fruit.
  • 4. The persons that partake thereof. Them that are exercised thereby.