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 ...

§. 70. Of Gods Title given to Angels.

BEfore the testimony alledged, this copulative particle and is prefixed (thus, And worship him &c.) to shew that this is not the only argument whereby* 1.1 Christs divine excellency is proved; but it is as one added to others, with which it may be coupled, and it implieth that as all sorts of men, so AND all Angels also are to worship Christ.

The testimony it self is taken out of Psal. 97. 7. The last clause of which verse is, is, as our English, and sundry other Translators turn it, Worship him all ye Gods.

The a 1.2 Originall Hebrew word which the LXX Greek Translators turn Angels, is one of Gods Titles. The first Title that in sacred Scripture is attributed to God, is this, b 1.3 God created.

Among the ten Titles that in the Old Testament are given, as Names, to God,* 1.4 two of them are common to creatures, which are c 1.5 Adon and d 1.6 Elohim. The former* 1.7 of these is attrib•…•…ted to a Governour of a Family, or of a polity, and ordinarily translated Lord, as Gen. 18. 12. & 40. 1. Governours bare Gods Image, are in his place, and therefore have his stile given to them.

The latter, being of the plurall number is attributed to God, to set out the plu∣rality of persons; but oft joyned with a verb of the singular number, to note the unity of nature.* 1.8

• 2. It is applied to Idols, Judg. 17. 5. For worshipers of Idols do account them gods; and to set out their superstitious conceit of them, they are stiled gods.* 1.9
• 3. It is giuen to men of eminent place and excellent parts, Exo. 22. 28. Exo. 7. 1. Psa. 82. 6. For these after an especiall manner bear the Image of God.
• 4. It is ascribed to Angels, Psa. 8. 5. Because they are of all creatures the most ex∣cellent,* 1.10 and the fairest representation of Gods excellency. See §. 107.* 1.11

Therefore not without cause is the word by the ancient Greek Translators turn∣ed* 1.12 * 1.13 Angels; and the Apostle who was guided by the same Spirit that the Psalmist was,* 1.14 quoting it so, gives evident proof that Angels are there meant.* 1.15

So again is the very same Hebrew word by the same Greek Interpreters transla∣ted* 1.16 Angel, Psa. 8. 5. and justified by the Apostle, Heb. 2. 7.

* 1.17 The Chaldee Paraphrase doth in sundry other places so expound it.* 1.18

So much also will follow by just and necessary consequence; for if all Gods, that* 1.19 is, all creatures that in any respect may be called Gods, are to worship Christ, then* 1.20 Angels also.* 1.21

Notes

• * 1.1

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

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• b 1.3

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• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.5

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

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• * 1.7

  Gen. 1. 1. Vide Hieron epist. ad Marcel, De decem Dci nominibus.
• * 1.8

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• * 1.9

  Gen. 1. 3.
• * 1.10

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• * 1.11

  Targum.
• * 1.12

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• * 1.13

  Iob▪ 1. 6.
• * 1.14

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• * 1.15

  Targum.
• * 1.16

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• * 1.17

  Psa. 86. 8.
• * 1.18

  1 Sam. 28. 13.
• * 1.19

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• * 1.20

  Targum.
• * 1.21

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