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 ...

§. 42. Of Christs Name.

A Name is that whereby a thing is made known and distinguished from others, Gen. 2. 19, 20. It is sometimes taken for a meer titular distinction, as where the degenerate and apostate Jews are called the people of God, the children of Is∣rael▪ God expresly saith, They are not my people (Hos. 1. 9.) and Christ proveth that that they are not Abrahams Children, Joh. 8. 39. Where it is said (Micha. 2. 7.) O thou that art named the house of Iacob, a meer titular name is meant. And where

Christ saith of Sardis, Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead, Rev. 3. •…•….

But the Name here spoken of containeth a reality in it, Christ being indeed what he is named and said to be. It is not simply any of his Titles, but that true relation which is betwixt God the Father and him: such a relation as no meer creature is capable of. What it is, is expresly set down in the next verse, namely to be the Sonne of God. True it is that through grace and favour God vouchsafed this name to sun∣dry creatures; but not so properly as unto Christ. See §. 15.

This is that Name which is above every Name, at which every knee should bow, Phil. 2. 9, 10. By vertue of this Name he became a fit Mediator between God and man, a fit Saviour and Redeemer of man, a fit King, Priest and Prophet of his Church: yea and by vertue of this Name, supream Soveraignty and absolute Dominion over all creatures, infinite Majesty, divine Dignity, and all Honour and Glory is His; all Worship, Service, Subjection and Duty is due unto Him. This Name therefore must needs be beyond all comparison a most excellent Name: and in this respect Christ may well be said to have a 1.1 a more excellent Name then Angels; because there is no comparison between them. The comparative epithete, translated more excel∣lent, is derived from b 1.2 a compound verb that signifieth to differ in excellency, or to excell, 1 Cor. 15. 41. It is translated to be better, Matth. 6. 26▪ or, to be of more value, Matth. 10. 31. The c 1.3 positive of this comparative, signifieth divers or different, Rom. 12. 6. Of Gods Name, See Chap. 2. §. 112.

This word of comparison more excellent, is not to be taken of an exceeding in the same nature and kinde, as one man is more excellent then another; but in different natures and kindes (the notation of the word imports as much) for Christ, as the Sonne of god, is of a divine nature, even the creator of all, and preferred before all created spirits: which though they be the most excellent of created substances, yet not to be compared with the Sonne of God. His Name is infinitely more excellent then theirs: for by reason of this Name he is the Lord of Angels.

Notes

• a 1.1

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• b 1.2

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• c 1.3

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