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 ...

§. 36. Of the difference betwixt the wonders under the Law and under the Gospel.

THere were indeed at the delivery of the Law, thunder and lightning, and other great signs, distinctly set down, Exod. 19. 16, &c. & Heb. 12. 18, &c. Moses also did very great wonders, Deut. 34. 11, 12. Psal. 78. 12, &c. Acts 7. 36. So did other Prophets; especially Elijah and Elisha. But the Gospel was confirmed with more and greater miracles, Ioh. 7. 31. & 9. 32. & 15. 24.

The miracles which Christ did, excelled all the miracles done before him, in five especiall respects.

• 1. In the ground or power of doing them: For Christ did what he did by his own power, in his own name, Mark 1. 27. & 2. 5, 6, &c. but others did their great works by power received from God, and in the name of the Lord. The Lord sent Moses to do all the signes and wonders which he did, Deut. 34. 11.
• 2. In the very matter and kinde of works which Christ did. Never any restored sight to one that was born blinde, but Christ, Ioh. 9. 32. This very work was greater then all the works that Moses did in Egypt, the red Sea and wildernesse: and then the standing still of the Sunne and Moon upon Ioshuas prayer, Iosh. 10. 12, 13. Or then the Sunnes going back at Isaiahs prayer, 2 King. 20. 11. Or then the miracles done by the ministry of Elijah and Elisha. For in these and other miracles recor∣ded before Christs time, there was but an alteration of the ordinary course of na∣ture: but in giving sight to a man that never had sight before, was a new creation▪ Besides we never read of any devils disposessed before Christs time. This is most certain, that never any raised himself from the dead by his own power, before Christ; but herein Christ declared himself to be the Sonne of God with power, Rom. 1. 4.
• 3. In the manner of working his great works. Christ did what he did with autho∣rity and command, Mark 1. 27. & 2. 11. & 5. 41. others did what they did with prayer and submission to Gods will, 1 King. 17. 20. 2 King. 4. 33. & 5. 11.
• 4. In the end. Christs end in working miracles, was to set out his own glory, to∣gether with his Fathers: to shew that he was the Sonne of God, true God, Mark 2. 10. and that men might be brought to beleeve in him. This is evident by the question which Christ propounded to the man that was born blinde and had sight given him by Christ. The question was this, Doest thou beleeve on the Sonne of God? Joh. 9. 35. The Prophets did what they did with respect to God alone; and to

• shew, that what they did or spake, was by commission from the Lord, 1 King. 18. 36. 37.
• ...

  5. In the extent. Christs cures of many mens bodies extended also to the cure of their souls: This is evident by the pardon of sinne which he gave to the man whom he cured of his Palsie, Matth. 9. 2. and also by this exhortation to another man whom he cured, Behold, thou art made whole; sinne no more, Joh. 5. 14.

  But the gifts of the holy Ghost which are here mentioned, do beyond all exce∣ption demonstrate, that the Gospel had a greater confirmation then the Law, be∣cause never were such gifts given before Christs time. Of these gifts see §. 35.