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 ...

§. 178. Of the Resolution of Heb. 13. 20, 21.

20.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Co∣venant,

21.

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Iesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

THe Summe of these two verses is in one word, Prayer.

Wherein we have,

• 1. An Expression of the Prayer.
• 2. A Ratification thereof, in this word, Amen.

Of the Prayer there are two parts,

• 1. Petition.
• 2. Praise.

In the Petition there is,

• 1. A Description of the Person to whom it is made, v. 20.
• 2. A Declaration of the substance thereof.

The Person called upon is described,

• 1. By his Goodnesse, in this phrase, The God of Peace.
• 2. By his Greatnesse.

This is set out by an act of his Almighty Power. Herein is noted,

• 1. The Kinde of Act, Brought again from the dead.
• 2. The Object on whom it was wrought.

He is described,

• 1. By his Dominion over us, Our Lord.
• 2. By his Name, Iesus, which setteth him out, a Saviour.
• 3. By a special function.

This is set out,

• 1. By the Kinde of it.
• 2. By the Ground of it.
  • 1. The Kinde of function is,
    • 1. Set out by a Metaphor of a Shepherd.
    • 2. It is illustrated by the correlative Sheep, and by the Excellency of it, Great.
  • 2. The Ground of the foresaid function is a Covenant;

  Which is amplified,

  • 1. By the means of ratifying it, Bloud.
  • 2. By the continuance of it, Everlasting.

The Substance of the Prayer, setteth out,

• 1. The Matter desired.* 1.1
• 2. The Means of effecting it.
  • 1. The Matter is propounded.
  • 2. Expounded.

In propounding the Matter is expressed

• 1. The main thing desired, Make you perfect.
• 2. The object thereof, in this word, work, amplified,
  • 1. By the quality, good.
  • 2. By the extent, every.

In expounding the matter is set down,

• 1. The Rule, Gods will.
• 2. Obedience thereto, to do.

In setting down the means of effecting what is desired, is declared,

• 1. The Kinde of means, Gods working in them.
• 2. The Subject matter which he worketh, That which is well-pleasing. Am∣plified,
  • 1. By the Sincerity thereof, In his sight.
  • 2. By the Mediator in whom it is effected, Through Iesus Christ.

In the form of Praise is noted,

• 1. The Kinde of praise, Glory.
• 2. The Person to whom given, To whom.
• 3. The Continuance, For ever and ever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers•…•… 21.