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 ...

§. 9. Of the word spoken by Angels.

BY the word spoken by Angels, is in generall meant that message or errand, as we* 1.1 speak, which Angels brought from God to men▪ even so much of Gods will, as he was pleased to reveal to men by the ministry of Angels.

Of Angels and their severall functions See Chap. 1. §. 70, 71, 82, &c.

Some restrain the word here intended to the Law delivered on mount Sinai: and foa that purpose alledge Acts 7. 53. and Gal. 3. 19.

Again, Some say that the Law is not here meant, and that upon these grounds:

• 1. That God himself delivered it. For it is expresly said in relation to the moral Law, God spake all these words, Exod. 20. 1. and in the preface of that Law, he that gave it, saith, I am the Lord thy God, &c. Exod. 20. 2.
• 2. That Christ the Sonne of God delivered it; for of him speaketh this Apostle in these words, whose voice then shook the earth, Heb. 12. 26. He there hath reference to the Law.
• 3. That Moses delivered it: for it is expresly said, The Law was given by Moses, Joh. 1. 17.

The seeming differences about the given of the Law, may easily be reconciled by a due observing of the different respect, wherein the one and the other is said to de∣liver the Law.

• 1. The Sonne of God is true God even Iehovah, as hath been shewed out of the former Chapter, §. 107, 128. So as what is done or said by the Sonne, is done or said by the true God. Besides the Father doth what he doth, and speaketh what he speaketh by the Sonne, and the Sonne doth and speaketh all from the Father. So

• as the Law may well be said to be delivered by God, and by the Sonne of God, with∣out any seeming contradiction at all.
• 2. As for that which is spoken of Moses, that the Law was given by him, it is to be taken ministerially and secondarily: God having published the Law on mount Sinai, afterwards wrote it in two Tables, which he gave to Moses: and Moses in his name gave it to the people. In like manner God made known all the other Laws, both Ceremonial and Judicial, to Moses first, and then Moses from the Lord declared them to the people.
• 3. Whatsoever can be said of Angels delivering the Law, it must needs be taken ministerially: This phrase, They received the Law by the disposition of Angels, may be thus taken, in the troops of Angels, or among the hosts of Angels. The Greek* 1.2 word translated disposition, is of the plurall number, and sometimes signifieth com∣panies disposed together, or set in order. It is said, that in delivering of the Law, the Lord came with ten thousands of Saints, Deut. 33. 2. These Saints were holy An∣gels, even those twenty thousand thousands of Angels, mentioned on the like occa∣sion, Psal. 68. 17. This phrase also, the Law was ordained by Angels, Gal. 3. 19. may be taken to be among Angels, who attended the Lord in delivering the Law; as they will attend him in his coming to judgment, Matth. 25. 31. Hereof see more on the first Chap. §. 96. The Apostle therefore may here have reference to the Law, and that may be one word of Angels here meant. But this must not be restrained only to the giving of the Law; but rather extended to other particulars also, which at other times Angels delivered from God to men. For before the Gospel was esta∣blished in the Christian Church, God frequently delivered his will to men by the ministry of Angels as we shewed in the first Chapter. §. 96. And wheresoever any judgment was executed upon any person, for any light esteem of that message which was brought by an Angel, the same may be here understood and applied to the point in hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in ordines dispo∣nere. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Herod.