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 ...

§. 14. Of Strangers who they are.

THe word stranger is opposed to ones own: and it is used either in way of resem∣blance, or in reality.

By way of resemblance a stranger is so called in two respects.

• 1. Actively, when one carrieth himself as a stranger. Thus God is said to be as a stranger, when he seems either to take no care of his people: or not to abide with them, Ier. 14. 8.
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• 2. Passively, when men that are no strangers, are dealt withall as strangers. Iob complaineth that they who dwelt in his house counted him for a stranger, Job 19. 15. The like complaint doth David make in regard of his brethrens carriage towards him, Psal. 69. 8.

In reality, strangers are so counted and called in reference

• 1. To a mans own person: in opposition to whom all other persons are stran∣gers. In this large extent the wise man thus useth this word, Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger, and not thine own lips, Pro. 27. 2. A stran∣ger is the very same here that another man is.
• 2. To a mans wife: Thus every woman besides a mans own wife, is called a stranger, Pro. 5. 20. Why wilt thou be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
• 3. To a mans function: Thus they who are of other functions to men of a select function are called strangers; as to the Levites all the Israelites of other Tribes were strangers, Numb. 1. 51.
• 4. To stock from whence one doth descend. Thus they who descended not from Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, though they dwelt among the Israelites were counted strangers, 2 Chron. 2. 17.
• 5. To the place of ones abode, and that in sundry respects:
  • 1. All that dwell on earth are counted strangers in reference to our eternall house in heaven. In this respect David, without any limitation, We are strangers as were all our fathers, 1 Chro. 29. 15.
  • 2. All that are of another house are counted strangers to one particular house. Thus doth Solomon oppose a mans own house and the house of a stranger one to another, Prov. 5. 10.
  • 3. All that are of another City, or company, or society are counted strangers. Thus I•…•…tai the Gittite was counted a stranger to them that were of Ierusalem, 2 Sam. 15. 19.
  • 4. All that are of another Country. In this sense is this phrase used, A stranger that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a farre Country, &c. 1 King. 8. 41.

The word stranger in my Text is used in this last respect especially. So as such an one as cometh from another Country to a Country where he hath no kindred nor friends, is by Christians to be entertained. This is the hospitality here in∣tended.