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 ...

§. 182. Of Christs suffering being tempted.

Verse 18.

For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

THis causall particle a 1.1 FOR, sheweth that this verse is added as a reason of that which went before. It hath reference to the qualification which made Christ a fit Highpriest. That was a conformity to his brethren. For he is said to be in all things made like to his brethren: Not only in nature, but also in infirmities and sufferings; and in all manner of trials and temptations.

Now if a reason be demanded why Christ should this way be qualified to his Priesthood, a direct answer is given in this verse: namely because thereby he might better succour such as are tempted.

The Proposition is set down in this verse, thus, He that suffered being tempted, is able to succour them that are tempted.

The Assumption may be raised out of the former verse thus, But Christ being in all things made like unto his brethren, suffered, being tempted.

Therefore Christ in all things being like his brethren was able to succour them that are tempted.

This phrase, b 1.2 In that, hath especiall reference to this word, suffered. It was not simply this that he was tempted, that made him able to succour: for God him∣self may be tempted, Numb. 14. 22. And man may be so tempted as to be very little or nothing at all moved therewith. But such temptations as make one suffer▪ do so work on him, as he is thereby put on to pity others that are so tempted: and to succour them in what he can.

Here then is set out the extent and extremity of Christs temptations. They were such as made him suffer.

This leadeth us to consider both the kindes and also the degrees of Christs tem∣ptations.

Of tempting in generall: and of persons tempting and tempted, See The Guide to go to God, or The Explanation of the Lords Prayer, on Petit. 6. §. 170.

c 1.3 The Verb here used is of the passive voice: and setteth out such temptations at Christ was assaulted withall. Of the distinct kindes of those temptations See §. 96.

Here we will further consider, how d 1.4 he suffered under them.

• 1. Being led by the Spirit into the wildernesse he there continued fourty daies fasting and was thereupon an hungred, Matth. 4. 1, 2. Hunger is a suffering: so also is wearisomnesse, and other like infirmities, under which Christ suf∣fered.
• 2. Satan in tempting him hurried him from the wildernesse to a pinacle of the Temple▪ from thence into an exceeding high mountain, Matth. 4. 5, 8. This must also needs be a suffering, besides Satans temptations so troubled him as they forced him to say, Get thee hence Satan▪ Matth. 4. 10.
• 3. The temptations of the Pharisees and others like to them, made him angry; and they grieved him, Mark 3. 5.
• 4. Peters tempting him made him say unto him, Get thee behind me Satan, thou art an effence unto me, Matth. 16. 23.
• 5. All his sufferings in his body were effects of his adversaries tempting him. Of those sufferings See §. 96.
• 6. His greatest sufferings were upon his Fathers tempting, proving and trying him▪ These made him complain and say, Now is my soul troubled, &c. Ioh. 12. 27.

• And again, My soul is exceeding sorrowfull, even unto death: and thus to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Oh my Father, if it be possible let this cup passe from me, Matth. 26. 38, 39. These cast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into an agony, and made his sweat as it were great drops of blood fall down to the ground, Luk. 22 44. These made him cry out upon the Cross, My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me? Matth. 27. 46. These made him offer up prayers and sup∣plications with strong crying and tears, Heb. 5. 7.

On these grounds might the Apostle well say that He suffered being tempted. Ne∣ver any upon any temptation suffered more.

It is observable that the Apostle addeth this reciprocall relative, * 1.5 Himself: which sheweth that that which he suffered was not by a sympathy in reference to others sufferings: but he suffered all those things in his own person. He his own self bare our sins in his own body, &c. 1 Pet. 2 24. and this was it which made him the more to sympathize with the sufferings of others, and to be the more ready to succour them in their sufferings.

The ends of Christ being made like unto his brethren, set down §. 171. may in particular be applied to the point in hand Of his sufferings being tempted.

By Christs sufferings being tempted,* 1.6

• 1. He comes to have experience of our sufferings in like cases: in that he hath felt the weight of them himself.
• 2. In his own experience, he knows the danger whereunto we are subject by such temptations.
• 3. By his suffering he hath pulled out the sting of those temptations: So as we, though we be assaulted, shall not be vanquished thereby.
• 4. He hath made himself a pattern to direct us how to stand against such tempta∣tions. For he did not withstand them by his Divine power, but answered them with Scriptures and reasons, and such like weapons as he hath put into our hands to re∣sist temptations withall.

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 〉.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. How Christ suffered by his temptations.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christ himself 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Why Christ was tempted.