A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein…

§. 147. Of all the Devils combined in one.

1. Devil is a collective word, and compriseth under it all the evil spirits; as Jew, Gentile, Turk, &c. 2. They are all under one head; for we read of a Prince of Devils, Mark 3. 22. and the name Devil is given to this one head, as is clear by this phrase, The Devil and his Angels, Matth. 25. 41. Under the head all the members are comprised; as under Israel all that descended from Israel. 3. All the evil spirits concur in one mind, and aim at the same end; and thereupon are all counted as one Devil. 4. Their forces are so united and combined, as if they were all but one. Thus it is said, That all the children of Israel went out, and the Congregation was gathered together as one man, Judg. 20. 1.

1. Devil is a collective word, and compriseth under it all the evil spirits; as Jew, Gentile, Turk, &c. 2. They are all under one head; for we read of a Prince of Devils, Mark 3. 22. and the name Devil is given to this one head, as is clear by this phrase, The Devil and his Angels, Matth. 25. 41. Under the head all the members are comprised; as under Israel all that descended from Israel. 3. All the evil spirits concur in one minde, and aime at the same end; and thereupon are all counted as one Devil. 4. Their forces are so united and combined, as if they were all but one. Thus it is said, That all the children of Israel went out, and the Congregation was gathered together as one man, Judg. 20. 1.

This word Devil, being here thus comprehensively taken, doth much amplify the power of Christ in subduing all the power of hell: And it giveth evidence of our freedom from all our spiritual enemies: And it is a strong ground of confidence to rest on Christ and not to fear any fiend of hell.

This word Devil, being here thus comprehensively taken, doth much amplifie the power of Christ in subduing all the power of hell: And it giveth evidence of our freedom from all our spirituall enemies: And it is a strong ground of confidence to rest on Christ and not to fear any fiend of hell.

§. 148. Of Christs vanquishing the Devil for our deliverance.

Verse 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage.

Both the Copulative particle ^aAnd, and also the setting down of this verb ^bdeliver, in the same mood and tense that the other verb ^cdestroy in the former verse was, showeth, that that act of destroying the devil, and this of delivering us, do both tend in general to the same purpose; namely to declare the ends of Christs assuming our nature, and subjecting himself therein to death: One was to destroy the devil; the other to deliver us.

BOth the Copulative particle ^aAnd, and also the setting down of this verb ^bdeliver, in the same mood and tense that the other verb ^cdestroy in the former verse was, sheweth, that that act of destroying the devil, and this of delivering us, do both tend in generall to the same purpose; namely to declare the ends of Christs assuming our nature, and subjecting himself therein to death: One was to destroy the devil; the other to deliver us.

1. a[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
2. b[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
3. c[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

This latter is set down in the latter place, because it is also an end of the former: For this end did Christ destroy the Devil, that he might rescue and free us from the power of the devil: as Abraham destroyed those enemies that had taken Lot captive with the rest that dwelt in Sodom, that he might deliver Lot and the rest of the people from those enemies, Gen. 14. 14. And as David destroyed the Amalekites, that he might deliver his wives and children, and others that were taken by them out¹ of their hands, 1 Sam. 30. 9, &c. Man by yielding to the devils temptations (Gen. 3. 6.) became his slave and was in bondage under him, as the Apostle showeth in the words following. It was therefore for our liberty that Christ vanquished the devil, in the manner that he did, rather then for his own glory.

This latter is set down in the latter place, because it is also an end of the former: For this end did Christ destroy the Devil, that he might rescue and free us from the power of the devil: as Abraham destroyed those enemies that had taken Lot captive with the rest that dwelt in Sodom, that he might deliver Lot and the rest of the people from those enemies, Gen. 14. 14. And as David destroyed the Amalekites, that he might deliver his wives and children, and others that were taken by them out¹ of their hands, 1 Sam. 30. 9, &c. Man by yeelding to the devils temptations (Gen. 3. 6.) became his slave and was in bondage under him, as the Apostle sheweth in the words following. It was therefore for our liberty that Christ vanquished the devil, in the manner that he did, rather then for his own glory.

1. 1Grati•s tibi Christe Salvator, quod tam potentem adversarium nostrum dumb occideris accidisti, Hier. ad Heliod. Epitaph. Nepot.Grati•s tibi Christe Salvator, quod tam potentem adversarium nostrum dum occideris accidisti, Hier. ad Heliod. Epitaph. Nepot.

So implacable and unsatiable an enemy was the devil, as he would not let us go but per force. Christ therefore thought it not enough to satisfy Gods justice, and pacify his wrath; but he would also vanquish that implacable enemy, and so deliver us out of his hands. This therefore was an end of the former end. Our deliverance was the end of destroying the devil, Christs death was for us and our good (See §. 83.) Thanks therefore to thee O Saviour that hast destroyed so mighty an adversary of ours by thine own death.

So implacable and unsatiable an enemy was the devil, as he would not let us go but per force. Christ therefore thought it not enough to satisfie Gods justice, and pacifie his wrath; but he would also vanquish that implacable enemy, and so deliver us out of his hands. This therefore was an end of the former end. Our deliverance was the end of destroying the devil, Christs death was for us and our good (See §. 83.) Thanks therefore to thee O Saviour that hast destroyed so mighty an adversary of ours by thine own death.

§. 149. Of natural mens fear of death.

The miserable condition here intended, is said to be fear of death: Death here is taken in as large an extent as it was §. 142. namely for temporal, spiritual and eternal death. Death, even death of the body, ^dwhich is a separation of the soul from the body, is by the Heathen counted ^ethe most terrible of all things, and ^fthe ⟨p. 126⟩greatest of all evils; ^gevery living thing shunneth death: this they do nature upon a desire of preserving their being and love of life. On this ground it was […] Satan said to the Lord, Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his […] Job 2. 4. This works in men a fear of death.

THe miserable condition here intended, is said to be fear of death: Death here is taken in as large an extent as it was §. 142. namely for temporal, spiritual and eternal death. Death, even death of the body, ^dwhich is a separation of the soul from the body, is by the Heathen counted ^ethe most terrible of all things, and ^fthe ⟨p. 126⟩greatest of all evils; ^gevery living thing shunneth death: this they do natur• upon a desire of preserving their being and love of life. On this ground it was 〈…〉 Satan said to the Lord, Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his 〈…〉 Iob 2. 4. This works in men a fear of death.

1. d[Greek or Hebrew]. Plot. in Ph•.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Plat. in Ph•.
2. e[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
3. f[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
4. gOmnes res viven• •ugit mortem. Aug. de lib. arbit. l. 2. c. 4. What is fear. [Greek or Hebrew] fugio prae•er. Med. [Greek or Hebrew]. Jude [Greek or Hebrew] suga, timor. [Greek or Hebrew] terribilis. Heb. 10. 27, 31.Omnes res viven• •ugit mortem. Aug. de lib. arbit. l. 2. c. 4. What is fear. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 fugio prae•er. Med. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Iude 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 suga, timor. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 terribilis. Heb. 10. 27, 31.

Fear is a disturbed passion, arising from the expectation of some evil which […] would shun: For the Greek word cometh from a Verb that signifieth to flee free and this word here used by the Apostle, is sometimes put for flight. Men use to […] from such things as they fear; and if men could, they would flee from and […] death. Death therefore being taken to be the greatest of evils, and man continu• expecting it, must needs fill mans heart with fear, even fear of a bodily death. ( • fear of man, See Chap. 13. §. 84.) But to such as are instructed in the nature of […] (which addeth a sting to death,) and in the resurrection of the body, and the intolerable and everlasting torment of body and soul in hell, death must needs be a […] greater fear, till they have some assurance of their deliverance from it: For […] as it was first inflicted for sin, is the very entrance into eternal damnation; […] then can the thought and remembrance of death be but very dreadful? It was […] of death that made Adam and Eve to hide themselves from Gods presence […] they heard his voice in the garden, Gen. 3. 8. This was it that made Cain say, […] punishment is greater then I can bear, Gen. 4. 13. This made Nabals heart to die […] in him, 1 Sam. 25. 37. And it made Saul to fall along on the earth as a man […] swoon, 1 Sam. 28. 20. This made Faelix to tremble when he heard Paul preach• the judgement to come, Acts 24. 25. Fear of the second death makes Kings are great men, yea and bond-men too, cry to the mountains to fall on them and […] hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath […] the Lamb, Rev. 6. 15, 16. Surely there is ^hnothing more difficult then not to […] death. The conscience of men unregenerate doth bring in a bill of […] against them, and convince them of rebellion against the great Lord: they are […] that respect as a malefactor who is arraigned and condemned, and liveth in fear […] the gallows, and is much disquieted therewith, taking no joy or comfort in […] ²fo•d, sleep, or any way else. An evil conscience to the soul is as the Gout or […] in the body, which tortureth it in the midst of feasts, pastimes, and greatest m• ments; yea it is like the hand-writing that appeared to Belshazzar, Dan. 5. 5, 6.

Fear is a disturbed passion, arising from the expectation of some evil which 〈…〉 would shun: For the Greek word cometh from a Verb that signifieth to flee free and this word here used by the Apostle, is sometimes put for flight. Men use to 〈…〉 from such things as they fear; and if men could, they would flee from and 〈…〉 death. Death therefore being taken to be the greatest of evils, and man continu• expecting it, must needs fill mans heart with fear, even fear of a bodily death. ( • fear of man, See Chap. 13. §. 84.) But to such as are instructed in the nature of 〈…〉 (which addeth a sting to death,) and in the resurrection of the body, and the intolerable and everlasting torment of body and soul in hell, death must needs be a 〈…〉 greater fear, till they have some assurance of their deliverance from it: For 〈…〉 as it was first inflicted for sinne, is the very entrance into eternal damnation; 〈…〉 then can the thought and remembrance of death be but very dreadfull? It was 〈…〉 of death that made Adam and Eve to hide themselves from Gods presence 〈…〉 they heard his voice in the garden, Gen. 3. 8. This was it that made Cain say, 〈…〉 punishment is greater then I can bear, Gen. 4. 13. This made Nabals heart to die 〈…〉 in him, 1 Sam. 25. 37. And it made Saul to fall along on the earth as a man 〈…〉 swoon, 1 Sam. 28. 20. This made Faelix to tremble when he heard Paul preach• the judgement to come, Acts 24. 25. Fear of the second death makes Kings are great men, yea and bond-men too, cry to the mountains to fall on them and 〈…〉 hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath 〈…〉 the Lamb, Rev. 6. 15, 16. Surely there is ^hnothing more difficult then not to 〈…〉 death. The conscience of men unregenerate doth bring in a bill of 〈…〉 against them, and convince them of rebellion against the great Lord: they are 〈…〉 that respect as a malefactor who is arraigned and condemned, and liveth in fear 〈…〉 the gallowes, and is much disquieted therewith, taking no joy or comfort in 〈…〉 ²fo•d, sleep, or any way else. An evil conscience to the soul is as the Gout or 〈…〉 in the body, which tortureth it in the midst of feasts, pastimes, and greatest m• ments; yea it is like the hand-writing that appeared to Belshazzar, Dan. 5. 5, 6.

1. hNihil difficilius quam & non metuere mortem. Aug. de Quan. animae c. 33.
2. 2Vain joys of the evil

Obj. It is said that the houses of the wicked are safe from fear, and that they die […] strength, being wholly at ease and quiet, Job 21. 9, 23.

Obj. It is said that the houses of the wicked are safe from fear, and that they die 〈…〉 strength, being wholly at ease and quiet, Job 21. 9, 23.

Answ.