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 ...

§. 89. Of these phrases, For whom, By whom are all things.

THese phrases, a 1.1 For whom are all things, and b 1.2 by whom are all things, have reference to God, who gave his Sonne to death; and by them is he described. These two prepositions c 1.3 FOR, BY, are the interpretation of one Greek word; which is the same that in the former verse is translated d 1.4 FOR (for the suffering.) The variation of the e 1.5 cases joyned to the preposition, varieth the interpretation. Hereof see §. 74. Of the greek Noun See §. 76.

f 1.6 The former sets out God, as the finall cause, for whose glory all things are. In this sense it is said, The Lord hath made all things for himself (Prov. 16. 4.) namely for his own glory. To this very purpose saith the Apostle; All things are g 1.7 to him, Rom. 11. 36. These prepositions h 1.8 FOR, and i 1.9 TO, intimate one, and the same thing, which is the End. Thus the woman is said to be made k 1.10 for the man (1 Cor. 11. 9.) which is for the mans sake, for his good, Gen. 2. 18. The Greek phrase which signifieth l 1.11 To him, is translated FOR him, ca. 1. 16. To make this more cleer, our english often addeth this particle, Sake, which is a note of the finall cause: As m 1.12 for the kingdom of heavens sake, Matth. 19. 12. n 1.13 For my Names sake,

saith Christ, Luk. 21. 17. o 1.14 For the Gospels sake, 1 Cor. 9. 23.

The latter phrase p 1.15 By whom, sets out God as the Efficient, and Creator of all. In this sense this phrase is applied to Christ, By him were all things created, Col. 1. 16.

It is also applied to his blood as to the procuring cause of redemption: He hath purchased the Church with his own blood, Acts 20. 28.

This generallq 1.16 all things, is to be taken in the largest extent that can be, nothing at all excepted: so it is taken Ioh. 1. 3. Col. 1. 16. Heb. 1. 3. and in other places where mention is made of creation, and providence. (See more of this generall, §▪ 66.) Here it is expresly mentioned, to shew the ground of Gods putting all things in subjection under Christs feet: even because all things were for him and by him. God had power to dispose all things as he would, because all things were By him: He made all. And he had a right so to do, because all were made For him: even for him to dispose them as he would. See §. 37.

These phrases for him, and by him, have reference both to Creation, and also to Providence. For God worketh hitherto (Joh. 5. 17.) namely by his providence: and thereby all things are preserved (Psal. 147. 8, 9.) and ordered, Psal. 33. 13, &c.

In the foresaid description of God, the finall cause (for whom) is set before the efficient (by whom,) to shew what it was that put God on, to make, preserve, and govern all things. Surely he put himself on; he aymed at himself; even at his ow•…•… glory: That all things might be For him, all things were By him.

All things being for God, we also, all we have, and all we can do, ought to be for him. Glorifie God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods, 1 Cor. 6. 20. Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. See more hereof in my Explanat. of the Lords Prayer, entituled A Guide to go to God, Petit. 1. §. 30, 31.

All things being by God, it is our duty to acknowledge, that in him we live, move, a•…•…d have our being, Acts 6. 28. and that as all things were created, so they are pre∣served, and governed by him, Iob 38. 4, &c. Psal. 104. 2, &c. and thereupon to fly to him in all our needs, distresses and dangers: to call upon him, and depend on him for every good thing: to commit our souls, bodies, states, endeavours, even all that we have to him: to be content with every event: to submit all our purposes to his will: and for all things to blesse him, Iob 1. 21.

We ought the rather to be thus minded, because God doth nothing but what be∣cometh him. This description of God, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, is added to this motive, it became him; to shew that there is a comelinesse in all things done by him. He hath made every thing beautifull in his time, Eccles. 3. 11. Wherefore, though we can see no reason of Gods doings, yet we may see good reason to account them them the best.

This title, by whom, having reference to God (as also Rom. 11. 36.) giveth a full answer to the Arrians, who from this phrase, All things were made by him, Joh. 1. 3. Inferre, that the Sonne is inferiour to the Father; and his instrument in making the world.

Notes

• a 1.1

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• b 1.2

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• c 1.3

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• d 1.4

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• e 1.5

  Accusative, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Genitive, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.6

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• g 1.7

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• h 1.8

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• i 1.9

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• k 1.10

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• l 1.11

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• m 1.12

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• n 1.13

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• o 1.14

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• p 1.15

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• q 1.16

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