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 ...

§. 98. Of Gods Word to be Preached.

THe subject matter to be preached is here styled the Word of God. Though that which is uttered by men as Ministers be properly the sound of a mans voice, yet that which true Ministers of God in exercising their ministeriall Function preach, is the Word of God. Thus it is said of the Apostles, They spake the Word of God, Act. 4. 31. and hereupon it is said of the people of An∣tioch, that almost the whole City came together to hear the Word of God, Acts 13. 44.

That which Ministers do or ought to preach is styled the Word of God in a four∣fold respect.

• 1. In regard of the primary Author thereof, which is God. God did immedi∣atly inspire extraordinary Ministers, and thereby informed them in his will. For the prophesie came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1. 21. Therefore they were wont to use these Prefaces, The Word of the Lord, Hos. 1. 1. Thus saith the Lord, Isa. 7. 7. And an Apostle thus, I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, 1 Cor. 11. 23. As for ordinary Ministers, they have Gods Word written, and left upon record for their use: For all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim. 3. 16. They therefore that ground what they preach upon the Scripture, and deliver nothing but what is agreeable thereunto, preach the Word of God.
• 2. In regard of the subject matter which they preach, which is the will of God: as the Apostle exhorteth, to understand what the will of the Lord is, (Eph. 5. 17.) and to prove what is that good, that acceptable, and perfect will of God, Rom. 12. 2.
• 3. In regard of the end of preaching; which is the glory of God, and making known the ma•…•…ifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3. 10.
• 4. In regard of the mighty effect and efficacy thereof: For preaching Gods Word is the power of God unto salvation, Rom. 1. 16. Preaching the Word of God, this is it which is mighty through God to bring every thought to the obe∣dience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. For the Word of God is quick and powerfull, &c. Heb. 4. 12.

So close ought Ministers to hold to Gods Word in their preaching, as not to dare to swerve in any thing from it. The Apostle denounceth a curse against him, whosoever he be, that shall preach any other word, Gal. 1. 8, 9.

Upon this we have just cause to avoid such teachers as preach contrary to this doctrine, Rom. 16. 17. 2 Ioh. v. 10. The whole mass of Popery is hereupon to be rejected. So are the manifold errours and heresies that in former ages, and in this

our age have been broached. Pretence of new light and immediate inspiration in these daies, is a meer pretence.

By this subject matter of preaching, the Word of God, we may receive a good direction to observe two caveats enjoyned by Christ concerning hearing.

The first is concerning the matter which we hear, Take heed what you hear, Matth. 4. 25. We must with approbation hear nothing but what we know to be the Word of God. We must therefore our selves be well acquainted with the Scriptures, and by them try the things which we hear, whether they be the Word of God, or no; as the men of Berea did, Act. 17. 11.

The second caveat is, concerning the manner of hearing, Take heed how you hear, Luke 8. 18. That which we know to be grounded upon the Scriptures we must receive not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, 1 Thess. 2. 13. We must with reverence attend unto it: we must in our hearts beleeve, and we must in our lives obey it.

It is Gods Word that doth convert, quicken, comfort and build up, or on the other side wound, and beat down. What is the reason that there was so great an alteration made by the Ministry of Christ and his Disciples, by the Apostles, and others after them: Yea by Luther and other Ministers of reformed Churches? They preached not Traditions of Elders, as the Scribes; nor mens inventions, as Papists, but the pure Word of God. The more purely Gods Word is preached, the more deeply it pierceth, the more kindly it worketh.