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 ...

§. 152. Of deliverance from spirituall bondage.

FRom the foresaid evils, fear of death and bondage, deliverance is procured by the Lord Jesus.

a 1.1 The Verb translated deliver is a Compound. b 1.2 The simple Verb signifieth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 change, 1 Cor. 23. 51. Gal. 4. 20, The c 1.3 Compound signifieth to change from, namely, from one state or condition to another; They who having been in bondage, are delivered, are changed from one state to another, from a miserable condition to •…•… happy.

Three times is this Compound word used in the New Testament, and in every of them it intendeth such a change or deliverance, as here, and Luk. 12. 58. & Act▪ 19. 1, 2.

This deliverance presupposeth a former miserable condition; Men are not sail to be delivered from a good and happy condition; They are willing to continue and abide therein; But from a bad and miserable condition to be delivered is ac∣ceptable to any one: As when the Israelites were delivered from the Egyptian•…•…, Exod. 18. 10. and men from their spirituall enemies, Luk. 1. 74. Such a deliverance is that which the Apostle here speaketh of; a deliverance from the worst bondage that any can fall into. Where the Apostle in reference to this bondage thus com∣plaineth, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death▪ He himself gives this satisfaction, I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord, R•…•…. 7. 24, 25. That for which he thanks God is, that Christ had delivered him from the foresaid bondage; which he further confirmeth in these words, There is now no c•…•…∣demnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, Rom. 8. 1. That redemption which is fre∣quently attributed to Christ intendeth this deliverance.

* 1.4 The word which most usually setteth out that redemption, is derived from •…•… Verb which signifieth * 1.5 to loose or unbinde one. Now there is a double bond whereby

men may be said to be bound: One is the bond of Law, as an obligation, where∣by* 1.6 a man stands bound to pay a debt. The other is a bond of violence: as when a man is bound by cords, chains, or other like means, Act. 22. 30.

In the former sense men are redeemed by payment of the debt, which is a point* 1.7 of justice: Thus Christ is said to redeem us by a price, which was his own precious blood, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. In this respect another word is used which signifieth * 1.8 to buy, and we are said * 1.9 to be bought, 1 Cor. 6▪ 20▪ & 7. 23. Thus Christ bought us of his Father: and by giving his blood for our Redemption, satisfied the justice of his Father.

In the later sense men are redeemed by might and force. This is an act of power.* 1.10 Thus Christ overcame that Tyrant that held us in bondage, and so delivered us. Hereof see §. 141.

This deliverance is here amplified by the extent of it: for the benefit thereof ex∣tended to all of all sorts. This is implied under these indefinite relatives, g 1.11 them, who. The h 1.12 correllative in Greek implieth a generality. It is translated sometimes, as many as, Matth. 14. 36. Sometimes, all they that, Luk. 4. 40. Sometimes, whoso∣ever, Luk. 9. 5.

This indefinite particle doth not intend that every one that was subject to the foresaid bondage, was delivered: but that there were none so deeply implunged therein, and so fast held thereby, but might be delivered by Christ. Of Christs dying for every man, See §. 81, 82.

Of all deliverances, this here spoken of is the most admirable in the kinde, and most beneficiall to us that partake of the benefit thereof. Was the Israelites deli∣verance from the Egyptian bondage, or from the Babylonish captivity a benefit worthy to be kept in perpetuall memory? Surely then much more this. There is as great a difference betwixt them and this, as betwixt a tyrant that is but flesh and blood, and Principalities and powers: as betwixt earth and hell: as betwixt tem∣porary and everlasting. The difference is greater then can be expressed, whether we consider the bondage, from which, or the means, by which we are delivered. This deliverance was it which made that good old Priest which had been dumb, when his mouth was opened, thus to praise God, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, &c. Luk. 1. 68, &c.

How ill doth it become those who think and professe that they are delivered, to walk as slaves who are not delivered. With great vehemency thus doth the Apostle protest to such, This I say, and testifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles, &c. Eph. 4. 17. Having changed our Master, it is most meet that we should change our service: The Law of nature and of Nations requireth as much. Ye were sometime darknesse, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light, Eph. 5. 8. This was the principall end for which Christ delivered us out of the hand of our enemies: namely that we might serve him without fear, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of our life * 1.13. We may not therefore any longer be servants of sin (Rom. 6. 12.) nor of Satan (1 Pet. 5. 9.) nor of men, 1 Cor. 7. 23. They who so do, make void that for which Christ hath taken flesh and blood, and therein by death destroyed the devil.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  See Chap▪ 3. •…•…. 12. §. 62.
• * 1.7

  Redemption by price.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.10

  Redemption by force.
• g 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• h 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.13

  Luk. 1. 14, 15