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 ...

§. 78. Of Gods Presence presupposing help.

THe Profession which the Apostle putteth into Christians mouths, is expressed in the words of the Psalmist, thus, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. This Text is taken out of Psal. 118. 6. There is indeed some difference in the Apostles quoting the Text betwixt the Hebrew and the Greek. The Hebrew thus reads it, a The Lord is with me, or, for me: or as our English hath translated it, The Lord is on my side. The Greek thus, The Lord is my helper.

To this sundry Answers may be given:

• 1. Penmen of the New Testament were not Translators of the words and sen∣tences, but quoters of the sense and meaning of the Old Testament. See Chap. 1. v. 6. §. 72.
• 2. The word Helper is used by the Psalmist in the next verse, and from thence it may be taken by the Apostle.
• 3. The LXX Greek Translators (which was the Translation that the Church used in the Apostles time) read this Text word for word as the Apostle doth. The sense therefore being the same with the Hebrew, the Apostle would not alter that Tran∣slation.
• 4. The alteration which is in the Greek serves for an Exposition of the minde and meaning of the Psalmist. For Gods being with, or for us, or on our side, pre∣supposeth that he is our helper. So as there is no contradiction betwixt the Psalmist and Apostle; but a clear interpretation of the Psalmists minde; and a profitable instruction thence ariseth, namely, that upon Assurance of Gods being with us, for us, and on our side, we may rest upon it, that he will afford all needfull help and succour unto us. Hereupon the Psalmist himself making this inference: For having said, The Lord is on my side, he addeth, The Lord taketh my part with them that help me, Psal. 118. 6, 7. God himself having said to Ioshua, I will be with thee, maketh this further inference, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, Josh. 1. 5. And

• upon this Promise to the Church, When thou passest thorow the waters, I will be with thee; God further addeth, And they shall not overflow thee, (Isa. 43. 2.) that is, God would so help it, as it should not be overwhelmed and drowned. We have a reall and visible demonstration hereof in the example of those three faithfull ser∣•…•… of God, who yielded their bodies to be cast into an hot fiery fornace, then to worship any god except their own God. The Son of God was in the midst of the fire with them, thereupon they had no hurt, Dan. 3. 25.

God is not with his servants as a stranger, who only beholdeth the case wherein they are, but as a Master or Father, who takes an especial care of them, and there∣upon being with them, he cannot but help them.

Singular comfort hence ariseth from the Omnipresence of God, to his children especially, who place their confidence on him. All of us give assent to that which God thus saith of himself, Do not I fill heaven and earth? Jer. 23. 24. And to this, The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Prov. 15. 3. And to this, Thou hast beset me behinde and before: and laid thy hand upon me, Psal. 139. 5. How then can we doubt of help and succour in any place, or in any case?

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Of varying from the He∣brew text.
• See Chap. v. 6. §. 72.
• Assurance of Gods presence maketh confi∣dent.