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 ...

§. 12. Of the meaning of this phrase, Forget not.

Verse 2.

Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares.

THe generall duty of brotherly love is exemplified in sundry particulars. The first whereof is hospitality.

The substance of the duty is comprised under this negative, a 1.1 Be not forgetfull. The Greek Verb is a compound. The b 1.2 simple signifieth to forget. The c 1.3 com∣pound intendeth some speciall emphasis; as clean to forget, or utterly to forget, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way to forget.

To forget and to remember are opposite terms. Not to remember is to forget. Not to forget is to remember. Negative injunctions have an emphasis in them: They alwaies binde to all times. There is no time wherein they may be for∣gotten.

To remember importeth two things especially.

• 1. To keep and hold fast in minde and memory what is once known. In this respect Moses addeth the negative to the affirmative, thus, Remember and forget not, Deut. 9. 7. Which intendeth that they would fast hold it, and not let it s•…•…ip away.
• 2. To call again to minde and memory what was once known, but after for∣gotten. Thus Pharaohs butler saith, I do remember my faults this day, &c. Gen. 41. 9. Under his faults he compriseth all things that had passed betwixt his imprisonment for his faults and his advancement again to his former office: among other things Iosephs interpreting his dream was an especiall one. But it is said that he forgat Io∣seph, Gen. 40 23. In that therefore he saith thereof, I do remember, he meaneth thereby a calling to minde again, that which he had forgotten.

In both these senses may this negative, be not forgetfull, be taken, and imply these two things.

• 1. That knowing this to be a Christian duty they should be mindfull of it, and carefull to observe it, so oft as occasion should be offered. In this sense saith the wise man, Forget not my law, Prov. 3. 1.
• 2. That they having formerly done the duty, but afterwards intermitted it, they should return to it again, and not forget their good beginnings. In this sense saith Moses, Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, Deut. 8. 11.

In the former sense it is an incitation to hold on in a good course.

In the later sense it is a secret taxation of neglect of duty: Which the Apostle more expresly thus sets down, Ye have forgotten the exhortation, Heb. 12. 5. It is withall an admonition to return to the good course again. It is very likely that these Hebrews having been spoyled of their goods, (Heb. 10. 34.) thought themselves to be exempted from such duties of courtesie and charity, as formerly they had been

carefull to perform. Hereupon the Apostle cals upon them to return to it again, and not to forget it by intermitting it.

Men are prone to neglect strangers as is evident by the many prohibitions there∣abouts, (as, Thou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppresse him, Exod. 22. 21. & 23. 9. Lev. 19. 33.) and by the many complaints which the Prophets make thereabout, as Ezek. 22. 7, 29. And Christs doom against each, Mat. 25. 43.

There are no outward worldly motives to induce men to be kind to strangers; especially such strangers as are here intended. For strangers use to have no wealth or other like means to recompence such courtesies as are afforded unto them: and therefore they are oft joyned with such as are poor, and widows, and orphanes, Lev. 19. 10. & 23. 22. Deut. 14. 29. Ier. 7. 6.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, obliviscor.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, omnino ob∣liviscor.