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 ...

§. 148. Of the 110 Psalm applied to Christ.

HEB. 1. 13, 14.

But unto which of the Angels said •…•…e at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

THE Apostle further proceedeth in setting out Christs excellency above An∣gels. This here he doth by declaring the dignity whereunto his Father advan∣ced him above Angels.

This he here bringeth in by way of opposition, as the first particle BUT impli∣eth.* 1.1 This opposition may have reference to that meannesse which he had before said of the creatures about their perishing. But here a farre greater matter is said of Christ: Or it may have reference to that which follows after, as if it had been thus expressed, he said to Christ, Sit on my right hand; But to which of the An∣gels did he say any such thing? Or this particle of opposition, BUT, may be here put for the copulative And, and so have reference to the former proofs of Christs excellency above Angels; for it is a seventh proof of that point. See §. 64.

The Apostle bringeth in this proof after the same manner that he did a former, ver. 5. To which of the Angels said he at any time? Hereof See §. 46.

The proof is taken from a different degree betwixt Christ and Angels. The Ar∣gument may be thus framed.

He that sitteth at Gods right hand is farre more excellent then Ministers.

But Christ sitteth at Gods right hand, and Angels are Ministers.

Therefore Christ is farre more excellent then Angels.

The former part of the assumption is in ver. 13.

The latter part in ver. 14.

This proof is set out by a divine testimony taken out of Psa. 110. 1. That Psalm is wholly propheticall. The Prophecy therein contained is of Christ, especially of his Kingly and Priestly Functions; for proof of them it is oft quoted in the New Testament, as Mat. 22. 44. Heb. 5. 6, 10. & 7. 17, 21.

There is also in this Psalm an expresse Prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, ver. 6. which manifesteth the enlargement of Christs Kingdom.

Concerning the Point in hand the Psalmist expresly sheweth the Persons by whom and to whom that which in the Text is set down, was first spoken, in these words, Th•…•… Lord said unto my Lord.

The former title Lord, which is in Hebrew Iehovah, is spoken of the Father, the* 1.2 latter of the Sonne, who was that Messiah whom the Jews expected. It was God the Father that said to God the Sonne, Sit at my right hand: Indeed the latter word translated Lord is sometimes applied to men, as Gen. 32. 4. But it is in this place ut∣tered* 1.3 by a King who was under no man as to his Lord; Therefore it must be meant of him that was God.

Christ by this Argument proveth himself to be the Sonne of God, in that David who was his Father after the flesh, giveth him this Title, My Lord, Mat. 22. 43.

It appears that the Teachers of the Jews held this Psalm to be a Prophecy of Christ, in that they denied not this testimony to be meant of Christ, when Christ produced it to prove the Messiah to be more then a Sonne of man. Otherwise they would rea∣dily have denied the proof, and said, That David did not there speak of his Sonne, rather then be put to silence as they were, Mat. 22. 46.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 See Cha. •…•…. ver. 6. §. 50.
• * 1.2

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

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