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 ...

§. 66. Of the extent of this word All things.

Verse 8.

For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

THe Apostle having largely and faithfully cited the very words of a Divine testi∣mony to confirm the excellency of Christ, he proceedeth to declare the mean∣ing thereof, in such particulars as most concerned the party intended.

The first particle a FOR, implieth an explanation of that which goeth before: as if he had said, David there speaketh of Christ, FOR this is the meaning of his words.

Herein lieth the force of the Apostles argument, David saith All things are put under the feet of the man of whom he speaketh.

But all things are put under the feet of none but of Jesus:

Therefore none but Jesus can be the man of whom David speaketh.

If any creature at all be exempted from that generall, All things, Christ is not ab∣solutely supream.

To shew that the force of the argument lieth in this generall, All things, the Apostle resumes the word of the Psalmist, thus, In that he put all in subjection un∣der him.

In this repetition, in stead of under his feet, this indefinite phrase is used, under him: which is in effect as much as the former. For they who are absolutely put under one, are put under his feet. A mans feet are part of himself. The for∣mer is the more emphaticall: but it was sufficient once to expresse that emphasis.

It cannot be denied but that this generall All, hath in sundry places restraints or limitations.

• 1. It restrains to all kindes and sorts of things as in this phrase, All things conti∣nue as they were from the beginning of the creation, 2 Pet. 3. 4. Many millions of par∣ticulars

• have perished: as of men, beasts, fowls, fishes, plants, minerals, &c. but yet the kindes of them remain.
• 2. It is used Synecdochically, as where the woman of Samaria saith, He told me all things that ever I did, Joh. 4. 29. she means many secret things.

Where the word is taken in these or in any other respects improperly, it may be discerned either by some circumstance of the text (as where God saith, He will destroy all f•…•…esh, Gen. 6. 17. and that all flesh died, Gen. 7. 21. the context sheweth that such as were in the Ark must be excepted.) Or by some other Scripture: as this generall, The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sinne, (1 Joh. 1. 7.) hath an ex∣ception of totall apostacy, (Heb 6. 6.) of the sin against the holy Ghost, (Mat. 12. 32.) and of finall impenitency, Luke 13. 3. But where there is nothing in the text nor in any other part of Scripture: nor in common reason and understanding to limit this generall, it is to be taken in the largest extent, as Iohn 1. 3. Mat. 11. 27. and in this place.

Obj. The Psalmist seems to restrain this generall, to things living on the earth and in the waters: for he doth give instance in these particulars, All sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field: the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, Psal. 8. 7, 8.

Answ. He doth not restrain it to those creatures: but only exemplifieth it in them. Now for an exemplification it is sufficient to reckon up some particular in∣stances, though all be not mentioned. Where the Apostle reckoneth up seventeen fruits of the flesh, he addeth this clause, and such like, to shew, that there were ma∣ny other besides those seventeen, Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21.

Particular instances of some generals, are so many, as we may say of them what the Evangelist did of Christs works, There are also many other, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world it self could not contain th•…•… books that should be written, Joh. 21. 25.

• 2. The Psalmist alluding to Gen. 1. 26. & 9. 2. resteth in those particulars which are there mentioned.
• 3. As Moses, so the Psalmist thought it sufficient to exemplifie the dominion of man over such sensible creatures as were visible, and might be seen and experi∣mentally known to be put under man.
• 4. The Psalmist doth implicitely intend Christ: but the Apostle plainly, directly, and explicitely speaketh of him: and his main scope was to advance Christ above all invisible creatures: even Angels themselves. Therefore it concerned him to shew the uttermost extent of those all things: which he doth in this phrase, He left nothing that is not put under him, that is, he includeth and compriseth every creature, invisible or visible, above or below, celestiall or supercelestiall, terrestiall or subter∣restiall: not Angels, not devils excepted.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Limitations of this gene∣rall ALL. See §. 81.