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 ...

§. 131. Of the Earth being a Foundation.

THE Creation of the Earth is thus set out, Thou hast laid the foundation thereof; This is the Interpretation of onea 1.1 Greek word: A b 1.2 Foundation, from whence the Verb is derived, signifieth that which is put under other things to support and bear them up. It useth therefore to be sound, solid, strong, and laid on firm and sure ground, Luk. 6. 48. It is most frequently put for the foundation of an house, which beareth up all the rest of the building, 1 Cor. 3. 10, 11, 12. A foundation re∣maineth firm, stable, unmoveable: The word here used is also translated thus c 1.3 grounded, Eph. 3. 17. and setled, 1 Pet. 5. 10. It is there joyned with two o∣ther words which signifie a fast fixing of a thing, d 1.4 stablish, strengthen, and settle.

This phrase laid the foundation, applied to the earth, implieth two things.

• 1. That the earth is the lowest part of the world; It being the Center whatsoe∣ver is about it is over it: Hereupon this word beareth is oft attributed to the earth, as Deut. 4. 39. Iosh. 2. 11. 1 King. 8. 23. Isa. 51. 6. Ier. 31. 37. Act. 2. 19.
• 2. That the earth is immoveable; This inference is thus made upon this very* 1.5 phrase, Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed, Psal. 104. 5.

In these and other like respects is this metaphor foundation oft attributed to the earth, as Iob 38. 4. Psa. 82. 5. And the earth is said to be established, and thereupon to abide, Psal. 119. 90. & 78. 69. By the stability of the earth sundry benefits accrew to the Inhabitants thereof.

• 1. The constancy of the motions of the Heavens, and of the host thereof is better observed, and the admirable effects arising from thence, are the better dis∣cerned.
• 2. The stability of the earth is very usefull to Plants, Beasts, and Men that abide thereon: The damages and mischiefs that fall out upon earthquakes give further proof hereof▪

It is a grosse errour of Aristarchus, Samius, Copernicus, and other Philosophers* 1.6 who imagine that the earth continually moveth, and that the heaven and the host thereof do but seem to our sight to move, as the banks and trees thereon do to such as are in a Boat rowed with oars, or in a Ship under Sai•…•…▪ This conceit cannot stand with the metaphor of a Foundation here, and in other places applied to the earth.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ponere. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, solent 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 suppeni, seu imo loco poni, ut cae∣tera strues possit eis superstrui.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.4

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

  The earth is immoveable.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Arist. de Calo. l. 2. c. 13.