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 ...

§. 118. Of the Apostles fit application of a Divine testimony to Christ.

Verse 13.

And again, I will put my trust in him: and again, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me.

IN this verse two other evidences of Christs propheticall Office, and of his hu∣mane nature are set down. The former is the ground of that encouragement, which Christ had to hold out in executing his Office: which was his confidence in God, declared in a Divine testimony. The later is an effect of that his Office.

Because the manner of bringing in this proof is like the former, both of them being taken out of the Old Testament, he thus joyneth them together, and again; Of this Transition see Chap. 1. §. 77.

In opening the former Scripture, four Questions are to be resolved.

• 1. Whence the testimony is taken?
• 2. How fitly it is applied to Christ?
• 3. How truly it proveth Christs humane nature?
• 4. How pertinently it is inferred on the execution of Christs Propheticall Office?

For the first, This phrase, I will put my trust in him, is in many places of the Old Testament, especially the Book of Psalms.

But there are two places, at either of which, or at both which, the Apostle may have an eye.

One is Psalm 18. 2. where the words of this Text are, according to the He∣brew.

Obj. * 1.1 The LXX have not in their Translation of that place the very words which the Apostle here useth.

Answ. Penmen of the New Testament do not alwayes tye themselves to the words of the LXX; instance Matth. 2. 6, 15, 18. No nor this Apostle, instance Chap. 3. v. 9. Evangelists and Apostles were not Translators of the Old Testament. They only took proofs out of the same: for which purpose it was enough to hold the true sense and meaning of the holy Ghost, though they exprest it in other words.

Answ. 2. The very words which the Apostle useth are also used by the LXX in the said Psalm, as it is registred 2 Sam. 22. 3.

The other place whereunto the Apostle may have an eye, is Isa. 8. 17. There the LXX. use the very same words which the Apostle here doth, though our english thus translate them, And I will look for him.

Quest. Can one proof be taken out of two places?

Answ. Yea, if they set down one and the same thing, and that in the very same words: The Evangelists in quoting a testimony, oft name Prophets in the plural number: as Matth. 2. 5, 23. Ioh. 6. 45. Acts 13. 40.

This duely weighed, taketh away the ground of that dispute which is betwixt Ex∣positors about the place, out of which this testimony should be taken. Some affirm that it is taken out of Psal. 18. 2. Others out of Isa. 8. 17. Arguments pro and con are brought on both sides. But I suppose that this dispute might have been spared. For, to come to the second Point.

2. Both the Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah may be fitly applied to Christ.

In that Psalm there are sundry points that can be applied to none properly but to Christ: as this, Thou hast made me the head of the Heathen, ver. 43. And this, As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves to me, ver. 44. And this, He sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David and to his seed for ever∣more, ver. 50.

Besides, these words, Therefore will I give thanks to thee among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy Name, ver. 49. are expresly applied to Christ, Rom. 15. 9.

Object. The Title of Psalm 18^th sheweth that in special manner it concerned Da∣vid, being his song when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And it is set in the history of Davids life (2 Sam. 22. 1, &c.) To shew that it concerned him.

Answ. It cannot be denied but that this Psalm concerned David, and is fitly p•…•…t among his acts. For he was the Author and enditer thereof. In this respect it might justly have been registred in the history of his life, though it had been wholly Pro∣pheticall; even a meer Prophecie of Christ. Neither can it be denied but that the Title intendeth it to be meant of David; For the Psalm is in part historicall, and concerneth David himself: yet to us he was a type of Christ. That which in the history concerned David, as a type, may in a mystery concern Christ, as the truth Besides, that Scripture which in some parts of it is only historicall (as Psal. •…•…. 12.) may in other parts be only Propheticall, and appliable to Christ, as Psal. 40. 6, 7. The like is observed in 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13, 14. As for the other place, namely * Isa. 8. 17. That Chapter also may be typicall; and concern the Prophet who* 1.2 wrote it, and Christ also the truth of the type. Sundry passages of that Chapter are in the new Testament applied to Christ, as that in ver. 13. Sanctifie the Lord, 1 Pet. 3. 15. And that in ver. 14. He shall be for a sanctuary, 1 Pet. 2. 4. And that is ver. 14, 15. He shall be for a stone of stumbling, &c. Mat. 21. 44. Luk. 2. 44. Rom. 9. 32. 1 Pet. 2. 8. And that in ver. 18. are for signes and wonders in Israel, Luk. 2. 34 Heb. 10. 33. And that in ver. 18. Behold, I, and the children, whom the Lord hath •…•…∣ven me, here in this Text. Seeing so many points of that Chapter are applied to Christ, why may not this also (I will put my trust in him,) which is in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them, be applied to him? Thus we see how fit a reference this testimony hath •…•…∣to Christ, as it is taken, both out of Psal. 18. 2. and also out of Isa. 8. 18.

3. It proves Christ to be a true man, in that as other men, he stood in need•…•… Gods aid; and thereupon as other sonnes of men, his brethren, he puts his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in God.

4. It's also pertinently inferred upon the execution of Christs Prophetical function, in that it shews the reason, why he declared Gods name to his brethre•…•… and why he would sing praises to God in the middest of the Church, and be neith•…•… ashamed nor afraid so to do, namely, because he put his trust in God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Chap. 1▪ v. 6. §. 72.
• * 1.2

  Sec §. 116.