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 ...

§. 14. Of Gods speaking by his Sonne.

IN these last d•…•…yes, that is, all the dayes of the Gospel, it is said, He hath spoken. No limitation is here added, as before, in these phrases, at divers times and in sundry manners: So as Gods speaking is here to be taken simply, for a full revelation of his

whole will: not one part by one messenger, and another by another. These words, at divers times and in sundry manners, are extenuating words. God did once, fully, cleerly, without such types, visions and other obscure means, which were used in the time of the Law, declare his whole counsel, so far as is requisite to be known by man in this world.

Quest. Hath not God also spoken in these last dayes by men, as Apostles and others?

Answ.

• 1. Till these last dayes, God spake not all by his Sonne incarnate.
• 2. This Sonne of God, first made known to his Apostles all things that he had heard of his Father, Ioh. 15. 15. Acts 1. 7.
• 3. This Sonne sent his Spirit to instruct them, and that Spirit brought to their minde all things that Christ had said to them before, Ioh. 14. 26.
• 4. Whereas S^t Paul had heard nothing of Christ on earth, he was rapt into Hea∣ven, and there was by Christ himself instructed in the counsel of God, Gal. 1. 1, 12. Acts 26. 16. 2 Cor. 12. 2. Hence is it that S^t Paul and others prefix this title before their Epistles, An Apostle of Iesus Christ.
• 5. Other Ministers declare what the Apostles have revealed to them from Christ, 2 Tim. 2. 2. Heb. 2. 3. so as now God hath made known all by his Sonne.

This is a very great commendation of the Gospel: For never was there such a Minister as the Sonne of God; never shall there be, nor can be the like. The de∣scription of the Sonne of God here following proveth as much. The Use hereof is distinctly set down by this Apostle, Chap. 2. v. 1, 2, 3. See in particular, Chap. 2. §. 22, 112.

Quest. Why doth he not say, The Sonne spake: But God spake by the Sonne?

Answ.

• 1. To add the more authority, for their sake who were not well instructed* 1.1 in the Deity of the Sonne.
• 2. Because he speaks of his Sonne incarnate.

This he did m 1.2 to us, who have, do, and shall live in the last dayes; who are the children and successors of the Fathers: being now in our time, as they were in their times of the true Church: So as the best things are reserved for us Christians, who are in that respect greater then they. The Gospel is further commended to us, by the immediate Author thereof, the Sonne, even the Sonne of God, who became alio a Sonne of man, by assuming our nature; and so shewed himself to be the true Im∣manuel,* 1.3 God with us. So is this Name expounded, Matth. 1 23.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Non dixit, Christus locut•…•… est, quo•…•…iam ad∣huc animae co∣rum debiles e∣rant, &c Chrys. in loc.
• m 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  Nobiscum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Deu•…•….