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 ...

§. 1. Of the Authority of this Epistle.

1. THAT we may with the better warrant collect Articles of Faith, and Rules for Life out of this Epistle, it is requi∣site that we be well informed in the Divine Authority thereof: and also well weigh the excellency of it.

These Evidences following make clear the Divine Au∣thority of this Epistle.

• 1. The Matter of it, which is beyond the reach of hu∣mane invention. So profound Mysteries are revealed therein, as could not be known but by divine Revelation.
• 2. The Manner of unfolding those Mysteries: which is with such Majesty and Gravity, as argueth a divine Spirit.
• 3. The Congruity of it with other Canonical Scriptures: so as, if all Scripture be* 1.1 given by inspiration of God, then this also.
• 4. The direct Refutation of pernicious heresies, which since the writing of this Epistle have been forged: so as it must needs be inspired by a fore-knowing Spirit.
• 5. The whole Tenour of this Epistle; and manner of expressing the legal Ordi∣nances therein, shew that this Epistle was written while the Temple stood, and Le∣vitical Rites were in use: which was in the Apostles time: so as if it had not been Canonical, it would questionless have been discovered by them.
• 6. The Pen-man of it, whom we shall shew hereafter▪ to be Paul the Apostle.
• 7. The express Approbation which S^t Peter gives of it, for he makes mention of an Epistle which S^t Paul wrote a 1.2 to them, to whom he himself wrote his Epistles: who were Hebrews, 1 Pet. 1. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 1.

These proofs of the Divine Authority of this Epistle, shew how justly it is ac∣counted Canonical: as it hath been in all ages of the Church; for where Catalogues of Canonical Scriptures have been made b 1.3▪ this Epistle hath been put into the num∣ber: and c 1.4 they have been accounted Hereticks, that have denied it to be Canonical.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ 2 Tim. 3. 16.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 2 Pet. 3. 15, 16.
• b 1.3

  Athanas. in Synops. S. S•…•…rip. Aug. de Doctr. Christ. l▪ 2. c. 8. Damasc. de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 l. 4. c. 18.
• c 1.4

  Epiph. l. 1. har. 42.