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 ...

§. 129. Of the meaning of Heb. 13. 12.

THe truth of the legal types is here styled Iesus: for all of them did in something* 1.1 or other prefigure Christ. So many were the Offices which Christ undertook: so many were the things that he did: so many were his sufferings in soul and body: so many are the benefits that we reap by Christ; as it is not possible for one type to set them all out. Therefore there were very many; some to set forth one thing, others to set forth other things. See Ch. 7. v. 3. §. 22.

Of this title Iesus, See Ch. 2 v 9. §. 73. & Ch. 3. v. 1. §. 29.

a 1.2 The particle translated Also, is the ordinary copulative Conjunction, AND. In this place it carrieth emphasis, and implieth, that not only the type, but the truth

also was carried without; even Jesus himself. Though he were Iesus, the Saviour of man, yet was he so basely dealt withall, as to be carried out of the City.

The end of Christs suffering, and that according to the Type, is thus expressed, That he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud. Of this word b 1.3 Sanctifie, See Ch. 2. v. 11. §. 101.

Christ is said to sanctifie, both by purging them from their sins (Ch. 1. v. 3. §. 27.)* 1.4 and also by conferring grace upon them, Iohn 1. 16.

Both these joyned together under this phrase, Purge your conscience from, dead works to serve the living God (Chap. 9. v. 14.) For there is a merit and a vertue that issueth from the death of Christ. By the merit sins are purged: by the vertue grace is conferred. So as both Justification and Sanctification are here com∣prized under this word sanctifie.

They who partake of this benefit are styled, c 1.5 The people. Of the notation of the Greek word, See Chap. 4. v. 9. §. 57. Of the reasons of using this title, See Ch. 2. v. 17. §. 181.

The means whereby the foresaid blessing was obtained, is said to be bloud, name∣ly,* 1.6 bloud shed; which implieth death: for life is in the bloud, Gen. 6. 9. So as Christ died to sanctifie us. See Ch. 9. v. 12.

The bloud wherewith he sanctified us, is said to be his own; even that which came out of his own body. This is here expresly set down to put a difference between the type and the truth; and that in two respects,

• 1. In that the Priests used other bloud then their own.
• 2. In that, that other bloud was the bloud of beasts.

But Christs bloud was his own, and that was the bloud of God, Act. 20. 28. Of this difference, See Ch. 9. v. 12, 13, 14. Thus is this phrase, his own bloud, answerable to this, himself, whereof see Ch. 1. v. 3. §. 20.

This word d 1.7 suffered, being spoken of Christs death, sheweth, that it was a suffer∣ing death, See Ch. 2. v. 9. § 76.

The place where Christ suffered, is said to be without the gate.

A Gate is taken for that which affords a passage for ingress into, and egress out* 1.8 of a place, which is compassed about with wals or other fences.

It is taken,

• 1. Properly, for a material Gate, Luke 7. 12.
• 2. Metaphorically. Thus a Gate is applied to Heaven and hell, Matthew 7. 13, 14.
• 3. Metonymically for such as passe thorow a Gate, Mat. 16. 18.
• 4. Synecdochically. For that whole place whereof it is a Gate: So here, for the City Ierusalem. For Christ suffered without that City.

The visible occasion of Christs suffering without the City, was the Jews malice* 1.9 against him: who accused him of high-Treason against Caesar, and would give Pilat the Judge no rest till he had adjudged him to be crucified. By this means it was that Christ suffered without the Gate. For all notorious malefactors (as they judged Christ to be) were put to death without the City, instance the two thieves that were crucified with Christ, Mat. 27. 38.

The Jews themselves did use to put to death notorious malefactors without their Tents before they dwelt in walled Cities; and without their Cities when they, dwelt* 1.10 in them. God himself commanded that a blasphemer should be stoned without the Camp, Levit. 24. 14. Ac•…•…an was put to death in the valley of Achor, which was without the Camp, Iosh. 7. 24. So Naboth, 1 King. 21. 13. So Stephan, Acts 7. 58.

As for Christ, the Evangelist expresly notes, that they brought him unto a place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull, Matth. 27. 53. Mark 15. 22. But though those malicious Jews did what they did in spite, yet God so over-ruled their practices, as he thereby brought his own Councel to passe: as it is said of the Jews crucifying▪ Him being delivered by the determinate Councel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, an•…•… by wicked hands have crucified and slain, Acts 2. 23. And, as here in this Text is implied, an especial type concerning him, was fulfilled.

Thus we see how God can turn the malicious and mischievous plots and practices of Satan and his Instruments to the accomplishment of his own bles∣sed will.

This gives us good ground to support our spirits against secret plots, and open practices of the enemies of God and his Church; and to rest upon the Divine Providence, and believe that God hath a work to be effected even by them, for his own glory and Churches good.

This suffering of Christ without the Gate, was in the worlds eye a matter* 1.11 of ignominy and reproach, which is evident by the Apostles explication thereof, in this phrase, Bearing his reproach, ver. 13. Hereby is verified that which the Apo∣stle hath affirmed concerning Christ, That he éndured the Crosse, despising the shame, Chap. 12. 2.

Of the shame whereunto Christ was put. See Ch. 6. v. 6. §. 42.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jesus the truth of types.
• a 1.2

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  How Christ sanctifieth.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Christ sancti∣fied people by his own bloud.
• d 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.8

  What a Gate signifieth.
• * 1.9

  Jews malice occasioned Christs suffer∣ing without the Gate.
• * 1.10

  God turns mans malice to the accom∣plishment of his own pur∣pose.
• * 1.11

  Christs death reproachful.