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 ...

§. 18. Of Christ the Creator of the worlds.

THe Apostle goeth on in setting out the dignity of Christ; and to that excellen∣cy which appertained to him as Mediator betwixt God and man, he addeth a greater, being proper to him as he is God Almighty, in these words, By whom also he made the worlds.

Though this word * 1.1 Made, be a common work attributed in other places to mens works as well as to Gods; yet in this place it is taken for that divine work which is proper to God alone (create) as Acts 14. 15. and 17. 24. So as it pointeth at that first great work of God, which is mentioned Gen. 1. 1.

This is evident by the things made, comprised under this word, a 1.2 worlds.

The Greek word according to the proper notation, and most usual acceptation thereof signifieth Aeternity. It is oft put for an age.

The Hebrew hath b 1.3 a word which is every way taken in the same sense.* 1.4

The Root or Verb whence it cometh, signifieth to hide. Thereupon Time, the date whereof is hidden, is set out thereby, and that in these considerations following:

• 1. Aeternity, Psal. 90. 2.
• 2. A long date, the end whereof was not known, Deut. 13. 16.
• 3. Continuance of legal Rites till they ended in their truth, Exod. 12. 24.
• 4. Continuance of Rites till they determined in the Iubile, Exod. 21. 6. Lev. 25. 40.
• ...

• 5. The time of a mans life, 1 Sam. 12. 22.

By a metonymy, the same word setteth out the world that was made in the begin∣ning of time, and hath been continued throughout all times and ages.

And because the world (which compriseth under it all things that ever were made) is distinguished into three parts,

• 1. The invisible glorious world, of the blessed in Heaven called the highest world.* 1.5
• 2. The starry skie, wherein all that the Scripture stileth, the hoast of Heaven are contained; and this is called the middle world.* 1.6
• 3. The elements and all things compounded of them, or contained in them. Even all that space which is under the Moon, and whatsoever is comprised therein: this is* 1.7 called the inferiour world.

In regard of this distinction of parts, the plurall number, worlds, is used. Answe∣rably* 1.8 in Greek, a word of the same signification is used in the plurall number, He made the worlds.* 1.9

These three worlds are distinguished into two, namely Heaven and Earth, Col. 1. 16.* 1.10

Thus we see how under this word worlds, all things that ever were made, above* 1.11 and below, visible and invisible are comprised: So as the making of the worlds set∣teth out the divine power of Christ.

Where it is said, that God, by him, made the worlds; the Sonne is not set out as a meer instrument in this work; but as a primary and principal agent therein, to∣gether with the Father; for what thing soever the Father doth, these also doth the Sonne likewise, Joh. 5. 19. That particle c 1.12 likewise, is not to be taken of doing different things like to an other; for he there speaketh of d 1.13 the very same thing: but of doing them by the same power, authority, dignity, with the same minde and will, after the* 1.14 same manner, to the same end, and that jointly together the Father and the Sonne: Therefore what the Father is said to do by the Sonne, is in other places said to be done by the Sonne, simply considered in and by himself, without relation to the Father: as Ioh. 1. 3. All things were made by him. And Col. 1. 16. All things were created by him.

The Father is said to do this and that by the Sonne for these reasons:

• 1. To give proof of the distinction of Persons.
• 2. To •…•…et out the order of the Persons: the Father first, the Sonne second.
• 3. To declare their manner of working: the Father by the Sonne, and the Sonne from the Father, Gen. 19. 24.
• 4. To shew the consent of the distinct Persons Father and Sonne.
• 5. To demonstrate the identity of the essence of Father and Sonne; that both are one divine nature and essence; in that the same divine work is attributed to both. This consequence is inferred upon a like ground, Ioh. 5. 17, 18.

As the Father is here said to make the worlds by his Sonne; so of God in refe∣rence to the Sonne indefinitely it is said, By whom are all things, Chap. 2. v. 10.

The Sonne therefore is here declared to be true God.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Arist. •…•…. de coelo.
• b 1.3

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

  See my Expla∣nation of the Lords Prayer, entituled A Guide to go to God. §. 224..
• * 1.5

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

  Superior mun∣dus.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  Medius mun∣dus.
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  Inferior mun∣dus.
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. See chap. 2. §. 41.
• c 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.14

  Greg. Naz. Vide Aug. cont. Sero. Adrian. cap. •…•…4, & 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.