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 ...

§. 76. Of joyning holinesse with peace.

ANother grace which dependeth on the foresaid verb, a 1.1 follow, which is b 1.2 holinesse.

Of this grace, See Chap. 3. v. 1. § 5, 6, &c.

It is joyned with peace by this copulative c 1.3 AND: so as peace and holinesse must go together. He that was King of peace, was also King of righteousnesse, Chap. 7. v. 3. §. 22. Hezekiah thus joyneth them together, Peace and truth: by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meaneth purity of Religion; Peace and righteousnesse, are said to kisse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another. They are like two turtle Doves, which seldome part: but very oft are billing one another. The kingdome of God is said to be in righteousnesse and peace, Rom. 14. 17. And the wisdome that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, Jam. 3. 17.

Peace hath an especiall relation to man and his good; holinesse to God and his honour. These two may no more be severed, then the two Tables of the Law.

• 1. This union of these two graces discovereth the uncertainty of that note which Papists give of a true Church, namely Union, Concord, Peace. These simply in themselves cannot be a note of the true Church, because they may be without holinesse; but the true Church is an holy Catholick Church. There may be communion and peace amongst the most impious that be. If they could sh•…•…w ho∣linesse of doctrine, holinesse of order and discipline, holinesse of life and conversa∣tion, their union were to purpose. But their Idolatry, Heresie, manifold errors, and superstitious ordinances, their filthinesse, and licentiousnesse, take away the glory of their pretended union.
• 2. This sheweth, that the agreement of the common sort in disorderly courses, which they call good fellowship, is no true Christian peace, because it is without holinesse.
• 3. This manifesteth the folly of those, who upon pretence of peace neglect, if not reject holinesse; such as these.
  • 1. They who to keep their people the faster together, as they think, setup a re∣ligion of their own invention, and restrain them from Gods holy ordinances. So did Ieroboam, 2 King. 10. 31.
  • 2. They who suffer a toleration of Idolatry where the Gospell is professed, up∣on pretence of keeping peace. So Sid Solomon, 1 King. 11. 4, &c. And Ioash, 2 Chro. 24. 17.
  • 3. They who being in Idolatrous places, subject themselves to Idolatry, to keep peace, and avoid trouble, Ezek. 23. 5, 12.
  • 4. Governors, who to have the good will of their people, either yeeld to an unholy act, as Aaron did, Exod. 32. 24. Or suffer their people to do that which is unholy, as Zedekiah did, Ier. 38. 5.
  • ...

    5. Subjects, who to gain and retain peace with their governors, conform them∣selves to their unholy pleasure, Ioh. 12. 42. This may be applied to all sorts of in∣feriors; yea and to friends, and neighbors. A heathen man being moved by his friend to swear for him in a false cause, returned this answer, d 1.4 that a friend must accommodate his friend so far as the Altar, that is, so far as may stand with holinesse.

    Peace is a most precious thing: but, as gold, it may be bought too deare. And it is bought too deare, if holinesse be let go for it.

• 4. In all endeavours after peace, either of gaining or retaining the same, be sure* 1.5 that it want not this companion of holinesse. If peace and holinesse cannot in this or that case stand together, let peace depart, rather then holiness. These limitations, if it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, are not to be applyed to holiness. It is not in our power to let holinesse go away. Neither may it be presupposed that it is impossible to attaine holinesse, as peace: for peace consisteth in the agreement of others as well as of our selves; but holiness consisteth in a mans own disposition: all the men in the world cannot keep him that hath a mind to be holy from holinesse. Lot •…•…emained holy in the midst of Sodome, 2 Pet. 2. 8. Well therefore might the A∣postle presse his exhortation to holinesse with the same emphaticall e 1.6 verb.

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 〉.
• * 1.5

  Pericles.
• e 1.6

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