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 ...

§. 6. Of the respects wherein love is styled a new Commandment.

LOve is styled a new Commandment, in that

• 1. It is renewed in the Gospel by Christ and his Apostles: and in that respect* 1.1 called the Law of Christ, Gal. 6. 2. Now an Act renewed is counted a new Act or Statute.
• 2. It is as a new thing frequently and fervently pressed in the New Testament by* 1.2 Christ and his Apostles, even more then by Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament.
• 3. It is cleared by Christ from many false glosses, which the ancient teachers of* 1.3 the Jews called Elders had brought upon it; as this, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thine enemy, Mat. 5. 43, 44. As silver-plate cleared is counted new, so this Commandment.
• 4. It is freed by the Gospel from many burdensome Rites, with which the Law* 1.4 •…•…ogged it: and thus it is accounted a new Commandment. It is said, That the E•…•…gles youth is renewed, Psal. 103. 5. which is thus; The beak of an Eagle in time grows so thick and hard as she is not able to eat her meat: she thereupon with •…•…iolence strikes her beak against a Rock, and breaks it all to pieces. That which remains under the shell, is counted a new beak. It is also said of a Snake, that her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grows so hard and rough, that she cannot well wind her self, and nimbly slide up and down. She useth thereupon to thrust her self thorow some narrow cleft, •…•…hereby that old skin is stripped off, and thus is she a new Snake. Thus the law of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is new.
• 5. This is a new Commandment in regard of the manner of delivering it. For* 1.5 it is by the Gospel delivered with such life and power, as it makes men to yield to it, Gods Spirit accompanying the Ministry of the Gospel, which is thereupon called, The ministration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3. 8, And God is said by the Gospel to put his Laws into our mindes, and to write them in our hearts, Heb. 8. 10. Concerning this particular, the Apostle saith, That we are taught of God to love one another, (1 Thess. 4. 9.) that is, God by his Gospel effectually perswades us to love one another.
• ...

• 6. The Commandment of brotherly-love is ever fresh, like a new thing: as the* 1.6 shoes and apparel of the Israelites in the wildernesse waxed not old, Deu. 8. 4. & 29. 5. In this respect the Prophet styleth the Covenant of Grace under the Gospel, a new Covenant, Jer. 31. 31. It is so styled in opposition to the former which waxed old, Heb. 8. 13,
• 7. The object of brotherly-love under the Gospel is new, in regard of the extent* 1.7 of it. For of old they of Israel only were counted Brethren. In this respect it is said (Deut. 23. 10.) unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury: but not unto thy brother, by whom he means an Israelite. But now under the Gospel, They who were then afarre off are made nigh, and both Iew and Gentile are made one, Eph•…•…s. 3. 13, 14. For there is neither Iew nor Greek, all are one in Christ Iesus, Gal. 3. 28.
• 8. Under the Gospel there is manifested a farther extent of brotherly-love:* 1.8 which may be accounted as a new rule. The Law saith, Thou shalt love thy neigh∣bour as thy self, Levit. 19. 18. But under the Gospel it is said, We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, 1 John 3. 16. Thereupon the Apostle saith, I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, 2 Cor. 12. 15. And again, If I be of∣fered upon the Sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoyce with you all, Phil. 2. 17.
• 9. There is under the Gospel a new patern of brotherly-love set before us, namely* 1.9 of Gods sending his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sins: Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, 1 John 4. 10, 11. We have also a new patern of Christ giving himself for his Church, Ephes. 5. 25. Now we ought to love one ano∣ther as Christ hath loved us, Joh. 15. 12.
• 10. It is called a new Commandment by an excellency: as a new Song (Psal. 149.* 1.10 1.) that is, a most excellent Song. And again, The Lord hath created a new thing, (Jer. 31. 22.) that is, a wonderfull thing. Thus also that which is called a better Covenant, is said to be a new Covenant, Heb. 8. 6, 8.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In and by the Gospel love is, 1. Renewed.
• * 1.2

  2. Much pres∣sed.
• * 1.3

  3. Cleansed from false glos•…•…es.
• * 1.4

  4. Freed from clogs.
• * 1.5

  5. Delivered with more efficacy.
• * 1.6

  6. Ever fresh.
• * 1.7

  7. It hath a new Object.
• * 1.8

  8. It hath a new Rule.
• * 1.9

  9. It hath a new Patern.
• * 1.10

  10. It is new in the excel∣lency of it.