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 ...

§. Of the Word of Salvation.

THat precious thing which is here said to be neglected, is * 1.1 salvation. Hereof see Chap. 1. §. 159.

The eternal salvation of the soul, is the salvation here aimed at. But by a meto∣nomy, the Gospel that revealeth that salvation is here meant.

As here * 1.2 by an excellency it is called salvation, so more especially it is stiled the Gospel of salvation, Eph. 1. 13. The word of salvation, Acts 13. 26. The power of God to salvation, Rom. 1. 16. The grace of God which bringeth salvation, Tit. 2. 11. The time of the Gospel is also called The day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 2. Ministers of the Go∣spel are they which shew unto us the way of salvation, Acts 16. 17.

That under this word Salvation, the Gospel is here meant, is evident, by the op∣position thereof to the word spoken by Angels, ver. 2. That word was before the time of the Gospel, and it is comprised under this title, Law. Now here he prefer∣reth the Gospel before the Law; therefore the Gospel must needs be here meant.

Fitly may the Gospel be stiled salvation in sundry respects, as,* 1.3

• 1. In opposition to the Law, which was a ministration of condemnation, 2 Cor. 3. 9. But this of salvation, Eph. 1. 13.
• 2. In regard of the Author of the Gospel, Jesus Christ, who is salvation it self, Luk. 2. 30.
• 3. In regard of the matter of the Gospel, Acts 28. 28. Whatsoever is needfull to salvation, is contained in the Gospel; and whatsoever is contained in the Gospel, maketh to salvation.
• 4. In regard of Gods appointing the Gospel to be the means of salvation: For it pleased God by preaching the Gospel to save those that beleeve, 1 Cor. 1. 21.
• 5. In regard of the end of the Gospel, which is to give knowledge of salvation, Luk. 1. 77. 1 Pet. 1. 9.
• 6. In regard of the powerfull effects of the Gospel: It is the power of God to sal∣vation, Rom. 1. 16.

Quest. If salvation be appropriated to the Gospel, how were any of the Jews, that lived before the time of the Gospel, saved?

Answ. They had the Gospel, Heb. 4. 2. Gal. 3. 6. In this respect Christ is said to* 1.4 be slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13. 8. to be ever the same, Heb. 13. 8.

The first Promise made to man, in the judgment denounced against the devil im∣mediatly after mans fall (Gen. 3. 15.) contained the summe of the Gospel. Abels sacrifice, Gen. 4. 4. and Noahs, Gen. 8. 20, 21. and others: and the sundry Types of the Ceremonial Law, and sundry Prophecies and Promises in the Prophets, set out Christ, the substance of the Gospel: but not so clearly, so fully, so powerfully as the ministry of the Gospel.

In this respect, not simply, but comparatively, salvation is appropriated to the mi∣nistry* 1.5 of the Gospel: and a main difference made betwixt it and the ministry of the Law, 2 Cor. 3. 6, 7.

Oh how blinde are they who trust to any other means of salvation, then the Go∣spel! Such blinde beetles were Jews, who would be justified and saved by the Law: and Papists, by their works: and Enthusiasts, by the inspirations of their own brains: and the vulgar sort, by their good meaning.

It will be our wisdom to give good entertaintment to the Gospel: to be well in∣structed therein: to beleeve in it: to subject our selves thereto: and to be confor∣mable to it in the whole man.

Our labour herein is not lost. Salvation is a sufficient recompence. I sup∣pose there is none so desperate, but like Balaam, he could wish to die the death of the righteous, and that his last end might be like his, Numb. 23. 10. Let our care be to use the means, as well as to desire the end. To us is the word of this salvation sent, Acts 13. 26. If we neglect the Gospel, we put away salvation, and judge our selves unworthy of eternal life, Acts 13. 46.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  In what re∣spects the Go∣spel is stiled Salvation.
• * 1.4

  The Jews had the Gospel. See Chap. 4. v. 2.
• * 1.5

  How Salva∣tion appropri∣ated to the Gospel. See▪ §. 24.