< Previous | Contents | Next >
(5.) A director, i.e., helmsman; Lat. gubernator, (James 3:4).
•GOZAN a region in Central Asia to which the Israelites were carried away captive (2 Kings 17:6; 1 Chronicles 5:26; 2 Kings 19:12; Isaiah 37:12). It was situated in Mesopotamia, on the river Habor (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11), the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates. The “river of Gozan” (1 Chronicles 5:26) is probably the upper part of the river flowing through the province of Gozan, now Kizzel-Ozan.
•GRACE (1.) Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2). (2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9). (3.) God’s forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5). (4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12). (5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8). (6.) Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18). (7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).
(1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.
(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.