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 ...

§ 91. Of the concurrence of Faith in God, and courage against man.

THis invincible Resolution, I will not fear what man shall do to me, being infer∣red upon the former confident profession, The Lord is my helper: and both joyned together by this copulative particle [AND] giveth us to understand, that these two, Confidence in God, and Courage against man do go toge∣ther. They who in truth professe the one, will be resolute against the o∣ther. Confidence in God, and Courage against man, are as twins which are born together, live together, and will die together. David oft joyneth them together, as in that Psalm which the Apostle here quoteth twice or thrice together, Psal. 118. 6, 7, &c. & 56. 4. 11. So doth the Prophet, Isa. 12. 2.

The former is the cause of the later. Confidence in God is that which pro∣duceth and preserveth Courage against man: as the Sunne causeth light, and fire heat.

They who desire proof of their Confidence in God, let them make triall of their Courage against man. If they can go on cheerfully in their Christian course, and stedfastly hold their holy Profession, and resolutely continue in Gods work, notwithstanding the envy, fury, plotting, threatning, rage, ra∣ving, fretting, fuming, oppression, and persecution of men, they hereby give evidence of their true Confidence in God. So did Moses (Exod. 10. 25, 26.) Zerubbabel, and Ieshuah (Ezra 4. 3.) And Ezra (Ezra 10. 22.) And Ne∣hemiah (Neh. 4. 14.) And the Prophets and Apostles. So will all whose Confidence is in God.

It is hereby manifested, That they who in time of persecution renounce their Profession, or forsake those who stand stoutly to their Profession (Like those who forsook Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 16.) or forbear any duty which their conscience tels them they are bound to, or commit any sinne against their knowledge for fear of man, have not attained to that Confidence in God, which becomes true Professors.

The Apostle that sets down a believers profession in the Lord affirmatively, thus, We may boldly say,▪ The Lord is my helper, expresseth his esteem of man negatively, thus, I will not fear what man shall do to me, doth hereby make faith in God, and fear of man so opposite, as they cannot stand together; no more then light and darknesse. Therefore where we are exhorted to the former, we are dehorted from the latter.

Object. Examples were before given (§. 89.) of sundry Worthies who were in∣dued with a great measure of faith, and yet feared men.

Answ.

• 1. Their faith then lay asleep, and did not exercise it self as it should: a man, while he is asleep, though he be living, yet in regard of sundry acts of life, is as if he had no life.
• 2. Opposites, which in the extreams cannot stand together, may be together in their remiss degrees, as light and darknesse in twilight.
• 3. These may be in the same Person as enemies fighting one against ano∣ther:

• as in Israel the house of Saul, and the house of David for a time stood in opposition. But faith in God, and fear of man (as other fruits of the Spirit and flesh) have such an antipathy, and contrary affection one unto another, that they will never be reconciled. Now faith being the stronger, will get the upper∣hand: and at length subdue fear, as the house of David subdued the house of Saul, 2 Sam. 3. 1.

This is a strong inducement to use all means, as to get faith in God, so to nourish, strengthen, and increase the same.