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 ...

§. 23. Of preaching the Gospel.

THe relation of the foresaid Salvation is expressed in this word a 1.1 spoken: name∣ly by voice or word of mouth. b 1.2 The mouth speaketh, saith Christ, Matth. 12. 34. And of God it is said; c 1.3 He spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, Luk. 1. 70. So men are said d 1.4 to speake with the tongue, 1 Cor. 13. 1. And e 1.5 words are said to be spo∣ken, Joh. 3. 34. & 14. 10.

The correlative to speaking is hearing: We do hear them speak, Acts 2. 11. For by hearing, that which is spoken by one, is best understood by another: and by a right understanding of the truth and good of that which is spoken, it comes to be belee∣ved. Hence is it that God hath appointed speaking of his Word to be the ordinary means of salvation, 1 Cor. 1. 21.

Speaking the Word is oft put for preaching it, and so translated: as Acts 8. 25. f 1.6 When they had preached the word of God. And Acts 13. 42. The Gentiles besought that these words might g 1.7 be preached.

Thus by our former English and others, 'tis translated in this Text, which at the first began to be preached, &c. Without all question so much is here intended by the Apostle: For he must needs mean such a speaking of the Word as might make it powerfull to that great salvation which he mentioned before. For that pur∣pose no speaking is comparable to preaching.

Preaching is a cleer revelation of the Mystery of Salvation by a lawfull Minister.* 1.8

No man can attain salvation except he know the way thereto. People are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos. 4. 6. But what good doth any reaply knowledge, unlesse he beleeve what he knoweth? The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4. 2. But how shall any beleeve in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? Rom. 10. 14, 15.

He who is sent of God, that is, set a part, according to the rule of Gods Word, to be a Minister of the Gospel, doth himself understand the mysteries thereof, and is enabled to make them known to others: he also standeth in Gods room, and in Gods Name makes offer of salvation, 2 Cor. 5. 20. This moves men to beleeve and to be saved. This is the ordinary way appointed of God for attaining salvation. This course Christ, who was sent of God, took; He went throughout every City and village preaching, and shewing the glad tydings of the Kingdom of God, Luk. 8. 1. He commanded those, whom he sent, so to do, Luk 9. 2. Mar. 16. 15.* 1.9

So did they whom he immediatly sent, Acts 5. 42. So have done others after them: and so will do all true and faithfull Ministers of Christ to the worlds end.

Preaching being a means sanctified of God unto salvation, how diligent and faithfull ought Ministers of the Gospel to be in preaching the same! Thereby they may save themselves and them that hear them, 1 Tim. 4. 16. But Idol and idle Mi∣nisters, such as cannot or care not to preach the word, do much hinder men from this great salvation.

How beautifull ought the feet of them to be that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring* 1.10 glad tydings of Good things? Rom. 10. 15.

If this great salvation, the effect of preaching, were duly weighed, Ministers would be diligent in preaching, and people patient in hearing the same. For this is a strong motive to enforce the one and the other. Both preaching and hearing have need to be pressed upon mens consciences.

See more of preaching Gods Word, Chap. 13. §. 97.

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 〉.
• e 1.5

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  What preach∣ing is. By preaching knowledge. By preaching Faith.
• * 1.9

  Ministers dili∣gent in preach∣ing.
• * 1.10

  Ministers preaching to be respected.