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 ...

§. 24. Of Christ upholding all things.

AS a further demonstration of Christs dignity and dominion, the Apostle at∣tributes another divine effect to him. One was in these words, made the worlds: The other in these, and upholding all things by the word of his power.

The copulative particle AND, sheweth, that as the forementioned resemblances of Brightness and express Image, set out a divine dignity (for copulatives are used to joyn together things of like nature:) so these words set out a divine dominion: they are all divine.

The word Upholding, is metaphoricall, and by way of resemblance applied to* 1.1 Christ. It signifieth to bear, carry or uphold a thing: as the friends, who took up and m 1.2 brought to Christ a palsey man: And also n 1.3 to move, carry, order and dispose a thing, as the windes drive and carry Ships hither and thither. The LXX use this word, to set out the Spirits moving upon the waters, at the first forming and crea∣ting things. And the Apostle useth it to set out the Spirits guiding and disposing* 1.4 the Prophets in penning the sacred Scriptures. The word may fitly be here taken in all these significations; for neither do cross the other, but all well and truly stand together.

It is most clear, that the divine providence is here described, being distinguished from the former work of creation. Now Gods providence is manifested in two things,

• 1. In sustaining all things that he made.
• 2. In governing them.

In that this divine work of providence is attributed to Christ, he is thereby decla∣red to be true God.

To shew that that phrase which the Apostle used before in a mutual relation be∣tween the Father and the Sonne, about making the worlds, thus; By whom he made, derogating nothing from Christs supream soveraignty, or absolute power in that work, as if he had been used for a Minister therein, here most simply without any such relation, he attributeth the divine work to him; and extendeth it to all things that were made, excepting nothing at all, in this general phrase, All things, whether* 1.5 visible or invisible, in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth, Col. 1. 16.

To give yet more evidence to Christs true deity, he further adds this clause, by the word of his power.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Mar. 2. 3.
• n 1.3

  Vide Erasm•…•… Annotat. in Act. 27. 15, 17.
• * 1.4

  ^o 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. •…•… Gen. 1. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 2 Pet. 1. 21.
• * 1.5

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