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 ...

§. 125. Of the resolution of v. 8, 9.

Verse 8.

But unto the Sonne, he saith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdom.

Verse 9.

Thou hast loved righteousnesse, and hated iniquity; Therefore God even thy God hath annointed thee with the oyl of gladnesse above thy fellows.

TWo proofs are here couched together of Christs excellency above Angels.* 1.1

One is taken from his Divine nature.

The other from his Royall dignity.

The Summe of this verse is a testimony of Christs excellency. Therein observe two Points.

• 1. The proof produced.
• 2. The Points proved.

In the proof is observable.

• 1. The manner of producing it.
• 2. The kinde of proof.

The manner of producing it is by way of opposition, implied in the particle BUT; The opposition is to that which he had said before of Angels, that they are Ministers. BUT to the Sonne, He is a King.

The kinde of proof is a testimony; Hereof See §. 46. & 65.

In the testimony are to be considered both the Persons and the Point.

The Persons are of two sorts.

• 1. The Authour that giveth the testimony.
• 2. The object to whom the testimony is given.

The Authour is not expressed in the originall, but yet necessarily implied; and our English hath made a good supply in this phrase, He saith.

The object to whom the testimony is given, is expressed under this word of rela∣tion, Sonne, Unto the Sonne.

The Points proved are,

• 1. Christs divine nature, O God.
• 2. His Royall dignity. This is first propounded, then amplified.

• 1. It is propounded, implicitely, under two Signs, a Throne, a Scepter; and ex∣presly under this word Kingdom.
• 2. It is amplified by two properties,
  • 1. Eternity, for ever and ever.
  • 2. Equity, righteousnesse.

In the ninth verse is an illustration of the foresaid righteousnesse.* 1.2

In this illustration are two branches.

• 1. The cause of Christs righteous dealing.
• 2. A consequence following thereupon.

The cause is double; Each cause is set out by a distinct affection, and a distinct object.

The former affection is Love, the latter Hatred.

The object of the former is Righteousnesse, Of the latter Iniquity; As the Affe∣ctions Love and Hatred are contrary, so the objects, Righteousnesse and Iniquity. In this respect they may well stand together, and that as two causes: For love of righ∣teousnesse moves a man to deal righteously, so also doth hatred of Iniquity.

In the consequence we are to observe.

• 1. The manner of expressing it.
• 2. The matter whereof it consisteth.

The manner is by an Apostrophe to Christ, O God.

The matter consists of an honour done to Christ: This is set out,

• 1. By the Authour that doth him that hononr.
• 2. By the kinde of honour done to him.

The Authour is God: Amplified by a speciall relation to Christ, His God.

The kinde of honour consisteth of two parts.

• 1. Deputing Christ to a Royall Function.
• 2. Enabling him well to manage it.

Both these are implied under this Metaphor Annointed with Oyl.

They are also both amplified by the quality and quantity of them.

The Quality is gladnesse.

The Quantity is beyond all others, Above thy Fellows.

All these Points are amplified by an Apostrophe which runneth through the whole Testimony, and is seven times expressed in these notes, O, Thy, Thou, Thee: Thy is four times expressed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See §. 64▪ Verse 8.
• * 1.2

  Verse 9.