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 ...

§. 94. Of the knowledge of the Scriptures.

THe Apostle, to convince them of Esaus punishment, appealeth to their own knowledge & understanding which they had out of the sacred Scriptures, where∣in that History is recorded, saying unto them, a 1.1 ye know. Whereby the Apostle implieth, That the Sacred Scriptures ought to be well known by us: which our Saviour implieth in Iohn 5. 39. Where he expresly commandeth us, to search the Scriptures: saith he, Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think yee have eternall life, and they are they which testifie of me. And saith the Apostle Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisedome.

All inducements that may be of force to move us to be acquainted with any wri∣tings, concurr in sacred Scripture.

• 1. Many take great delight in antiquity, and thereupon take great paines in searching ancient records: But none comparable to sacred Scripture in antiquity. It beginneth with the beginning of the world, yea it revealeth what God decreed before the world, even from eternity.
• 2. Others are much taken with rare and extraordinary matters; and even herein doth the Scripture surpasse all other writings. Witnesse the story of the Crea∣tion, of the deluge, of the destruction of Sodom, of Gods bringing his people out of Egypt, and governing them in the wildernesse, and se•…•…ling them in Canaan, and the many miracles therein recorded, &c.
• 3. Many seek after profound mysteries; and what books herein comparable to the sacred Scriptures? for instance, the great mysteries of Religion, as of the Trinity of Persons, incarnation of the Son of God, his Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, As∣cension, Intercession &c.
• 4. Many prudently study the things that are most profitable; but there are no wri∣tings that make more thereto, then the Scriptures. They both declare what is truly

• profitable, and most advantagious. They make known true riches, and true ho∣nour. They shew the way how to attain thereto. Among other books, Solomons Pro∣verbs are of singular use to that end. Note 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17.
• 5. None but fooles would spend their time and study about fables and lies; but would be informed in the truth of matters.

Now no booke can better do that, then the sacred Scriptures. For it is the word of the Lord God of truth; all whose words are most true▪ Psal. 119. 160. Iohn 17. 17. This, among other excellencies of the word, is not the least. As it is an excellen∣cy in it self, so it is the excellency of all other excellencies. For what is antiquity, rarity, profundity, or any other seeming excellency, without truth, but as so many p•…•…arles in a blind eye, which make it the more deformed? The more ancient, the more seemingly rare, profound and profitable, falshood is, the more detestable and pernicious it is.

How blame worthy then are they who neglect the reading of the word, and there∣by deprive themselves of the means of knowledge? How many be there who never in their lives read thorow the Scripture? How far short do they come of these He∣brewes, whose knowledge in the Scriptures the Apostle doth here grant.

And how should the consideration of the forementioned excellencies of the sa∣cred Scripture stir up all to be frequent and diligent in reading and searching the Scriptures, whereof the Hebrewes here are a worthy patterne unto us?

Notes

• a 1.1

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