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 ...

§. 37. Of Gods will in ordering works and gifts.

THe forementioned diversity of miracles and distribution of gifts, were ordered and disposed a 1.1 according to the will o•…•… God. This act of distributing is attributed to God (1 Cor. 7. 17.) to his Sonne (Ephes. 4. 7.) and to his Spirit, 1 Cor. 12. 11. And for kinde, number and measure of gifts, all are ordered by the will of this one God, according to his b 1.2 own will, not anothers: the Greek word intends as much.

The will of God is that rule, whereby all things are ordered, that he himself doth; and whereby all things ought to be ordered, that creatures do.

Hereupon Gods will is distinguished into his secret and revealed will. This distin∣ction is grounded on these words, The secret things belong unto the Lord our God▪ but those things that are revealed belong unto us, Deut. 29. 29.

The secret will of God is called his counsell, Isa. 46. 10. the counsell of his will, Eph. 1. 11.) his purpose (Rom. 8. 28.) his pleasure (Isa. 46. 10.) his good-pleasure (Ephes. 1. 9.) the good pleasure of his will (Ephes. 1. 5.)

The other is commonly called Gods Word, and that after the manner of men: because the ordinary means whereby men make known their mindes, is the word of their mouth, therefore the revelation of Gods will is called Gods word: whether it be by an audible voice from God himself, as Matth. 3. 17. or by the ministry of Angels, ver. 2. or by the ministry of men, Hos. 1. 2.

This is also called the good and acceptable, and perfect will of God, Rom. 12. 2.

This revealed will of God, is that which is principally intended in the second Peti∣tion of the Lords prayer.

Here Gods secret will is meant. This is that supreame and absolute will of God, by which all things are, and without which nothing can be, Psal. 115. 3. Ephes. 1. 11. Rom. 11. 34.

This is Gods only rule: He hath nothing else to regulate any purpose or act of his, but his own will. As therefore he disposeth all things▪ so in speciall the gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his will. See vers. 9. §. 78. and Chap. 6. vers. 17. §. 130.

The grounds following do demonstrate the equity herof.

• 1. God is the fountain whence all gifts flow: Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, James 1. 17. All are his. Hereupon he thus presseth his right against such as were not contented with that portion which he gave them, Is it not lawfull for me to do what I will with mine own? Matth. 20. 15.
• 2. God is the most supream Soveraign over all; He is the Lord and Master of all, He therefore hath power to order the places, and duties, and parts of all, as he pleaseth, according to his own will: In reference hereunto thus saith David, The Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my Father, to be King over Israel for ever: For he hath chosen Iudah to be the Ruler: and of the house of Iudah, the house of my Father: and among the sonnes of my Father, he liked me to make me King over all Israel: and of all my sonnes, he hath chosen Solomon my sonne to sit upon his Throne, &c. 1 Chron. 28. 4, 5.
• 3. God is the wisest of all. He is wise in heart (Job 9. 4.) yea mighty in wisdom▪ (Job 36. 5.) his understanding is infinite, Psal. 147. 5. He is onely wise, Rom. 16. 27. He therefore best knoweth what is fittest for every one; and he is fittest to order it according to his will.
• 4. Gods will is the rule of righteousnesse. Whatsoever is ordered thereby, and agreeable thereto is righteous: and whatsoever cometh from it, is altogether

• righteous. The Lord is righteous in all his wayes; His ordering therefore of matters must needs be according to right and equity.
• 5. The Lord fitteth gifts and functions one to another▪ Such gifts as are needfull for such a function; and such a function as is fittest for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Lord gave talents to every of his servants, according to his severall ability, Mattl. 25. 15. and ha∣ving called Bezaleel to the work of the Tabernacle, he filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workman∣ship, to devise cunning works, Exod. 31. 2, 3, &c.

This teacheth us every one to be content with our own measure which God hath* 1.3 proportioned to us, for we may be assured thereupon that it is the fittest and best for us. Hast thou a small measure? bear it patiently, that measure is fittest for thee. Hast thou a great measure? use it conscionably, that is fittest for thee. If thou grudgest, thou grudgest against the most high, wise, righteous God, the foun∣tain of all blessings. Remember Aarons and Miriams fault, and Gods answer thereto, Numb. 12. 2, 8. Let the consideration hereof, suppresse in thee all murmu∣ring and repining, against that measure which others have received.

Object. We are exhorted earnestly to covet the best gifts (1 Cor. 12. 31.) and to* 1.4 seek to excell (1 Cor. 14. 12.) and to grow up in all things, Ephes. 4. 15.

Answ. None of these, nor any such like exhortations are contrary to Christian contentednesse. For

• 1. Though a man covet a more excellent gift then God hath ordained for him, yet when he seeth that God hath bestowed such and such a gift upon him, lesse then his desire, he may quietly subject himself to Gods wise disposition, and rest con∣tented therewith: For the will of God being now made known unto him, he may perswade himself, that the gift he hath is best For him.
• 2. Seeking to excell, is not ambitiously to strive for the highest places and grea∣test offices in the Church (as Di•…•…trephes did, 3 Ioh. ver. 9.) but every one to strive in his one place, to do most good in Gods Church. This therefore is the full exhor∣tation, Seek that you may excell to the edifying of the Church, 1 Cor. 14. 12. So as this teacheth us how to make the best use of the place wherein God hath set us, and of the parts which he hath given us.
• 3. A Continuall growth in grace is no more opposite to Christian contentednesse, then the growth of the little finger is to the place wherein it is set. Growth and con∣tentednesse may well stand together: yea they alwayes go together. Growth in grace received, sheweth our good liking thereof: and that we think it the fittest for us: and are thereupon stirred up to nourish and cherish it, to keep it from decay, and to increase it more and more.

Notes

• a 1.1

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

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

  Content with our own gifts.
• * 1.4

  How best gifts covered.