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 ...

§. 142. Of offering the Sacrifice of praise to God by Christ continually.

Verse 15.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually: that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his Name.

Verse 16.

But to do good, and to communicate forget▪ not: for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

THese two verses have an especiall reference to the tenth verse, where Christ is set forth to be the only true Altar in the Christian Church: there∣upon the Apostle exhorteth us to make use of that Altar; which is to of∣fer Sacrifice thereon. This Relative Particle a 1.1 Therefore, implieth as much.

A like Relative in the thirteenth verse did set out Christ as a pattern for our imitation: This sets him out as the object of our faith, and means of acceptance with God.

The word which the Apostle useth is of the first person and plurall number: and compriseth under it both the Apostle himself, as he was a professor of the true faith, and all other professors of the same faith; whereby he giveth us to under∣stand, that all sorts of beleevers, Ministers and others are sprirituall Priests: so they are expresly styled, Rev. 1. 6. and they are said to be an holy Priesthood to of∣fer up spirituall sacrifice, 1 Pet. 2. 5. It is the proper function of a Priest to offer sacrifice. In that respect therefore wherein they are required to offer sacrifice they are declared to be Priests. Of the severall kindes of Priests, See Chap. 2. vers. 17. §. 172.

Of b 1.2 the Verb translated, offer, See Chap. 5. v. 1. §. 6.

Of this Noun c 1.3 sacrifice, See Chap. 5. v. 1. §. 7.

These two, offer, sacrifice, are Legall terms: which are applied to Evangelicall duties, to shew

• 1. That in Legall rites there was, beside the type and truth, an Evangelicall equity, for christians to observe. Incense was a type; Christs, intercession the truth; Christians prayers the equity, Mal. 1. 11. So in other things.
• 2. That Christians should have as great care about Evangelicall ordinances as the Jews had about theirs.
• 3. That God will accept Evangelicall performances of duty, as much as he did the Legall.

Two Evangelicall duties are here set out by this Rite of offering sacrifice: One is praise: The other is beneficence, v. 16.

The Greek word translated d 1.4 praise, is here only used in the New Testament. e 1.5 Another like word is twice used, Mat. 21. 16. Luk. 18. 43. A Verb thence derived which signifieth f 1.6 to praise, is oft used, Luk. 19. 37. But g 1.7 a compound Noun of the same root is most frequently used, Rom. 2. 29. Eph. 1. 6, 12, 14.

By the express mention of praise, the Apostle giveth us to understand, that praise* 1.8 is an Evangelicall sacrifice, yea and one of the best sacrifices that can be offered up to God. See The Saints Sacrifice, on Psal. 116. 12. §. 85.

In what respect praise is styled a sacrifice, is shewed in The Saints Sacrifice, on Psal. 116. 17. §. 110, 111.

Of praise, what it is, and of motives thereto, See my Explanation on the Lords Prayer, entituled, A Guide to go to God, §. 238, 239.

God is in speciall the object of praise, as is here implied under this phrase, Offer* 1.9 h 1.10 to God. Hereof see the Guide to go to God, § 240▪ in the end. See also the whole Ar∣mour of God, on Eph. 6. Treat. 3. Of Prayer. Part. 2. §. 60, 61.

In offering praise to God the Apostle advi•…•…eth that it be done, by Christ. For* 1.11 this relative i 1.12 him, hath reference to Iesus, mentioned v. 12. Of the particle tran∣slated k 1.13 by, See Chap. 3. v. 16. §. 164. It may here also be translated through. It im∣plieth the mediation of Christ, and that betwixt him that praiseth, and God that is praised. Herein the Apostle continueth his resemblance to the legall custom of the people of God; for they were enjoyned to bring their sacrifice to the Priest, by whom it was to be offered to God, Lev. 1. 9. & 17. 5. Herein was the Priest an especiall type of Christ: For Christ is the only true Priest of the New Testament: and by his mediation are our services made acceptable to God. Of offering praise to God through the mediation of Christ, See the whole Armour of God, Treat. 3. Of Prayer. Part. 2. §. 62.

There is yet another point which the Apostle in•…•…erteth about praising God, which is the continuance of it, under this word l 1.14 continually.

The Greek word translated continually, is a kinde of a compound Adje∣ctive; which word for word signifieth m 1.15 through all. If hereunto we adde that which is understood, namely n 1.16 time, thus, through all time, the sense will be full.

This word is used of the Demoniack, who was alwaies, night and day in the mountains, Mark 5. 5. And of the Apostles, who were continually in the Temple, Luke 24. 53. and of Cornelius, who prayed to God alway, Act. 10. 2. and of Paul, who exercised himself to have alwaies a conscience void of offence, Act. 24. 16. and of the Priests, who went alwaies into the first Tabernacle, Heb. 9. 6. §. 38.

By these instances it is evident that this circumstance of time, continually, is not simply to be taken without any limitation or restriction; but respectively: as is in particular exemplified in the whole Armour of God, Treat. 3. Of Prayer. §. 72.

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 〉.
• e 1.5

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.7

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

  Praise a sa∣crifice.
• * 1.9

  God the ob∣ject of praise.
• h 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.11

  Praise through Christ.
• i 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• l 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• m 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪
• n 1.16

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