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 ...

§. 128. Of the Title Lord applied to Christ.

THe Greek word translated a 1.1 LORD, being applied to God, is ordinarily put for Iehovah, which is the most proper name of God, and b 1.2 never attributed to any but to the true God. True it is that in the Hebrew there is c 1.3 another name of God which is translated Lord, and ofttimes attributed to man, as Gen. 18. 12. and 45. 8. yet usually this name when it is put for God is d 1.4 pointed with such pricks or vowels, as Iehovah is, and with these points it is never attributed to any but to God.

In this Text the Title Lord is without question the interpretation of Iehovah. For the Title Iehovah is in that Psalm seven times used, as v. 1. 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23. and once Iah V. 18. which is an abbreviation of Iehovah.

Wherefore the Title Lord doth here intend Iehovah; and being applied to Christ setteth out his divine nature, and declareth him to be true God, even that God who hath his being of himself, and ever continueth of and by himself; the eternall and immutable God, even He, which is, which was, and which is to come, Rev. 1. 4. The* 1.5 Lord that changeth not, Mal. 3. 6. Who in regard of his self-existency giveth to him∣self this Title, I am that I am, and also this, I am, Exod. 3. 14. Thus this Title Lord* 1.6 in relation to Iehovah giveth further proof of the true and proper Divinity of Christ.

To Christ by an excellency and property is this Title Lord, frequently attributed. David long before Christs incarnation in the Spirit called him Lord, Mat. 22. 43. The Angel that brought the first news of his birth, stiles him, Christ the Lord, Luk. 2. 11. Both his Disciples and others in his life so called him. After his resurrection, when he was discerned by Iohn, Iohn said to Peter of him, It is the Lord, Joh. 21. 7. Christ himself thus saith, Ye call me Lord, and ye say well, for so I am, Joh. 13. 13. It was usuall with the Apostles in their Epistles thus to stile him, the Lord Iesus, Rom. 1. 8. And he is said to be the one Lord Iesus Christ, 1 Cor. 8. 6. A Prophetesse called him Lord, anon after he was conceived, even while he was in his mothers womb, Luke 1. 43.

Christ is Lord in sundry respects.

• 1. As God, In regard of his divine nature. God said, I am the Lord, Exo▪ 6. 2.
• 2. As the Sonne of God, In regard of his Person; For of the Sonne in relation to the Father, it is said, The Lord rained fire from the Lord, Gen. 19. 24.
• 3. As God-man, In regard of the hypostaticall union of Christs two Natures in one person; Thus saith Thomas to Christ on earth, My Lord and my God, Joh. 20. 28.
• 4. As King of the Church; In regard of that authority and dignity whereunto God hath advanced him; I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion, saith the Father to his Sonne, Psa. 2. 6. God hath made him both Lord and Christ, Act. 2. 36.

On these grounds divine worship hath been yeelded unto him on earth as unto the Lord: In his Infancy, Mat. 1. 11. In his Man-age, Mat. 8. 2. After his Resurre∣ction, Mat. 28. 9. In the time of his Ascention, Luke 24. 52. And now also Christ be∣ing in heaven, and sitting as Lord on his Throne, is worshiped, Rev. 4. 10. & 5. 14. Thus he is still and ever shall be worshipped as the true Lord by his Church.

Answerably all other divine respect is to be yeelded to him; He is to loved with all the soul, with all the heart, with all the minde, and with all the strength. Accor∣dingly is he to be feared, admired, adored, called upon, beleeved in, served, obeyed, subjected unto, praised for all things, in all things glorified, preferred before all, advanced above all, and every way esteemed as a Lord, even our Lord, the most high supream Soveraign over all.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  See the Churches Con∣quest on Exod. 17. 15. §. 72.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Exo. 23. 17, Josh. 3. 11.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉