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 ...

§. 196. Of the Apostles Conclusion of his Epistle.

Verse 25.

Grace be with you all, Amen.

THis verse sets down the Conclusion of this Epistle. It is a Conclusion which S^t Paul constantly useth in every Epistle. Hereupon he himself thus saith, The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every Epistle: so I write, The grace of our Lord, &c. Sometimes it is set down more •…•…uccinctly, as thus, Grace be with you, Col. 4. 18. 1 Tim. 6. 21. 2 Tim. 4. 22. And Grace be with you all, as here, and Tit. 3. 15. Sometimes more largely, as The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you, 1 Thess. 5. 28. and The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all, Rom. 16. 24. The grace our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Gal. 6. 18. Philem. v. 25. And Grace be with all them that love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity, Eph. 6. 24. The fullest expression hereof is this, The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all, Amen, 2 Cor. 13. 14. This form therefore of salutation or benediction is for the most part used by Ministers in dismissing their people from publique As∣semblies.

By Grace is here meant the free favour of God which compriseth under it all manner of blessings, as hath been shewed, Chap. 2. vers. 9. §. 78. & Chap. 4. v. 16. §. 96, 97.

Under this word Grace, he compriseth all manner of blessing which may be a fruit of the free favour of God towards them. As he desireth all good that may be needfull for them and usefull to them, so he desireth that it may flow out to them from the originall fountain which indeed will make every blessing sweet and comfortable unto them: and will make all redownd to their eternall happiness. This is the grace here especially meant.

Grace is also put for every gift freely wrought in us by the Spirit of God. The Apostle doth thus expresly distinguish these two, The grace of God, and the gift by grace, Rom. 5. 15.

The former is in God: the later is wrought in us. The former is the fountain and root of all good: the later is the fruit and stream that sprouteth out and flow∣eth forth from the said root and fountain. The former is styled by the Schools a 1.1 Grace which makes us accepted: the later b 1.2 Grace freely given: under which all those graces which fit and qualifie us for glory are comprised.

This later kinde of grace may also by consequence be implied as flowing from the former.

Thus this salutation or benediction is very comprehensive: It containeth what∣soever may make to their true happiness, and it giveth evidence of his ample and large desire of their good.

This phrase, with you, intendeth their participation of the foresaid grace: and* 1.3 also a continuance thereof. That is with one, which he hath and enjoyeth: yea that which abideth with him and is never from him: so as this is a great amplification of his foresaid good-will towards them, and desire of their good.

Yet further is this illustrated by this universall particle All, which giveth further evidence of his impartiall respect to every one of them: whereof see vers. 24. §. 193.

Of Amen, See vers. 21. §. 177.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gratia gra∣tum faciens.
• b 1.2

  Gratia gratis data.
• * 1.3

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