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 ...

THE EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER

Christian Reader,

THou hast here at length that so much desi∣red, and long looked for Commentary of Doctor GOUGE on the Epistle to the Hebrews. The largeness whereof may be a sufficient plea for the long stay there∣of at the Press.

Though it be a Posthumus (a child brought into the world after the death of his Father) yet I do assure thee, it is his own. For though he set not upon this work for the fitting it to the Press, till the latter •…•…nd of his dayes, after he was seventy years of age, being kept from •…•… by other publick imployments as is well known; yet it pleased •…•…od so to lengthen out his life, that he lived to finish this Commen∣ta•…•…y upon the whole Epistle, excepting one half Chapter; the com∣pl•…•…ting whereof though it cost me some time and pains, that it might be answerable to the rest; yet in respect both of its form and matt•…•…r, it may well be accounted his own work. For as being his Amanuensis to a great part of the work, I observed his Me∣thod, so the matter and substance of that half Chapter I found in his own n•…•…tes: to which I have added no more, than I thought necessa∣ry to make it like the rest. So that I may truly say, thou hast here

Doct. GOUGES Commentary upon the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. And therein the substance of above a thousand Ser∣mons Preached at that famous Wednesday Lecture in Black∣fryers London, though now cast into a new mould by way of Secti∣on. Yea I am perswaded, and that upon good grounds, that there is scarce a point in Divinity which he handled upon any portion of Scripture in the whole course of his Ministery, but he hath brought the substance of it into this Commentary. Severall Ser∣mons which upon the first view, I thought fit to be published, and hereunto had designed them; I have since found fully handled in his Commentary; wherein I conceive, thou maist find as many points of Divinity, Cases of conscience, and Controversies, fully, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, though succinctly handled, as in any Commentary whatso∣ever yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

As he was ever acknowledged by all Scholars that heard him, or read any part of his works, to be most exact▪ and accurate, in the opening of the true sense of a Text, in the resolving thereof, and raising of genuine observations from the same: So in the giving of the naturall sense and meaning of the Apostle in this Epistle, and in the analysing, first of every Chapter, then of every Verse, and in raising of the proper deductions and conclusions from each word, and particle almost in this Epistle, he hath shewed his skill to the utmost; it being the fruit, as of his yonger, so of his elder years, a 1.1 when as he grew herein more and more acute and dexterous.

Though the Doctrines which he raised from each word and particle are not set down under the notions of Doctrines; nor the* 1.2 Reasons for the confirmation thereof under the terms of Reasons; yet in the Section where the Greek word or particle is opened, there are expressed, as the doctrines thence naturally arising, so the reasons for the confirmation thereof, and likewise many practicall inferences, ever holding it b 1.3 one part of his art to conceal his art especially in writing, though in Preaching, as none more slid and judicious, so scarce any more clear and perspicuous, corde∣scending to the capacity of the meanest; ever affecting c 1.4 thesim∣plicity of plain preaching, rather then obscure and lofty expres∣sions.

At the end of this Commentary, besides a large English Table of all the materiall points treated of by the Author, I have added an Alphabeticall Index of above seven hundred Greek words, which thou maist find learnedly and dexterously explicated, either

by their Etimologies, Synouimaes, or various acceptations, (if they be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,) or if not, yet thou hast the clearest and most fa∣miliar explication that each word is capable of. For it was one part of the Authors excellency, that constantly in the Course of his Ministery he did endeavour to instill into the heads of his Auditors the fullest sense of the Spirit in a familiar way, though veiled un∣der many significant simple, compound, or decomposite notions, Such was his depth of Iudgement, that after he had conferred place with place, he could suddainly methodize the different senses, and give forth the quintessence of all his Collations, so as the mea∣nest Capacity might be edified by him.

That I may not exceed the bounds of an Epistle, I shall only adde this word concerning the Narrative of my dear Fathers Life and Death. Though some things therein may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cre∣dible; as his indefagitable pains▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meekness, and the like; yet I do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there is not one particular expres∣sod in the whole, but upon mine own knowledge, I can avouch for truth, having observed most of them my self, and heard the rest often from his own month.

Though he be now dead, yet he still speaketh to us in this elaborate Commentary of his, of which he died in travell. Though it were his Benoni, yet to the heedfull Reader it may just∣ly become another Benjamin, a Son of the right hand, to lead him fully into the bowels of the whole Epistle: The Authors sole aim in all his Ministery being the same with d 1.5 Austins, and in this Commentary like that of e 1.6 Hierom, to hold out clearly the meaning of the Spirit, and not his own fancies and conceits.

And such was his happiness, that he had the incomes of the same Spirit in explaining the Epistle, as the Pen-man in writing, though not in the same measure. My Prayer unto the God and Father of mercy is, that it may do as much or rather more good in the perusall, then it did in the first Preaching, becomming a means of conversion to the unconverted, of edification, comfort, support and establishment to all that are already brought into Iesus Christ.

SEPU•…•…CHRES March. 26. 1655.

Thy Servant in the work of the Gospel, THO. GOUGE.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Discipulus est prioris po∣sterior dies. sene•…•….
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Solon.
• b 1.3

  Est c•…•…put artis artem dis∣si•…•…. E∣•…•…aym.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Greg. Nyss.
• d 1.5

  Sint castae delitiae meae, Scripturae tuae; nec fallar in eis, nec sallam ex eis. Confes: lib. 11. cap. 12.
• e 1.6

  Proposi∣tum mihi erat non ad meam Voluntatem Scripturas tra∣here, sed id dicere, quod Scripturas velle intellige∣bam. Com∣mentatoris officium est, non quid ipse velit, sed •…•…id sentiat ille quem interpretatur, exponere: alioqui si contraria dixerit, non tam interpres erit, quam adversarius ejus quem nititur explanare. Hieron. ad Pammach.