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 ...

§ 3. Of the divers acceptations of Brother, and of brotherly-love.

BRother in Scripture is divers wayes used.

• 1. In a Civil respect.
• 2. In a sacred respect.

The Civil respect is Natural or Political.

Natural is proper or common.

Brothers in a natural, proper respect, are, first Neer, as a 1.1 uterini, children of the s•…•…me mother, as Cain and Abel, Gen. 4. 2. Secondly, Remote, as consanguinei of the same bloud, as Cain and Abel, Gen. 13. 8. or Affines, by marriage, as Ruth and Orpha, Ruth 1. 4, 15.

Brothers in a common natural respect are such as descend from the first stock, namely Adam, 1 John 3. 15. or from the head of the same Nation, Exed. 2. 11.

The Political respect, whereby any are called brothers, is of such as are of the same Calling, as Kings, 1 Kings 20. 32. Captains, 2 King. 9. 2, 5. Priests, 2 King. 23. 9.

The sacred respect is in reference to profession of the true faith; and that spe o•…•… re; according to the rule of charity (so all Professors are brethren, Psal. 22. 22. Matth. 18. 15.) or according to the Rule of certainty, as the Elect of God. Thus Ananias cals Saul a chosen vessel, Brother, Act. 9. 15, 17. and Peter cals the same Paul, 2 Pet. 3. 17.

There is further a joynt acception of this relative Brother, which is partly natu∣ral, partly mysticall or spiritual; and that betwixt the Sonne of God, and sons of men. Hereof see Ch. 2. §. 106.

The word Brother is here to be taken in the sacred or spiritual respect; and that according to the Rule of charity.* 1.2

Brotherly-love then here required, is, Such a liking affection as knits the hearts of Professours of the true faith one to another. In this respect Professors are said to be of one heart, Act. 4. 32. And they are exhorted to be perfectly joyned together in the same minde, and in the same judgement, 1 Cor. 1. 10. And God hath promised to give unto his one heart, Jer. 32. 39. Ezek. 11. 19.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ut•…•…rus inde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 frater: ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 uterus, quòd fra∣tres 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in codem utero. Sic uxor dicitur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lectus, a bed-fellow.
• * 1.2

  What brother∣ly-love is.