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A Short ' ! XPLANATION,!
Of the Epis t le of Pav 2. To The Heb&evves.
Preacher of Gods Werd> At iRiriN.
i
Pi
4 Imprinted by Edvv. Raban. gj^
<^f$ERDENE,
^##4 1635,
53
•3*
ca
TO THE READER,
CHRISTIAN READER,
Efore the tyme
due fomethingof niync did paffc the
P r e s s e 3 without ti;y knowledge, or allo- wance, I did not rnynde to come abroad m this Learned Age , where* tn manic, mo:e able Men than I arn? doe keepe filence ; my Furniture beeing fitter for my prefent Charge, than for more pub* licke Edification, in my judgement j and my E.inploymentes fo ireqoent, as my fparctyme is liule, for farther extent of what the LO^JD Inch bellowed vpon mee. But, fince that ty nae, my juft Feares,from apparent grounds, c- 3 -: that
TO THE READER.
that numbers of my vS E ^MO H S, which Were rudelic, and popuiariie, delivered, (as fhryfe, or fourc cymes Preaching a-wceke, might yecide) and taken from my Mouth, asicwas poffibleto ovc-cake the current of running (peach ; the judicious Wryter ma- Icing what hee had over-taken, to cohcare, the beft het could $ and Copies going froTT him,to manie, with numbers of Paulres, and stiilltakinges of the Transcribers ; I beeing vnablc to revife, (for ftraytnclfe of cyme) anie thing which was written by them, firft, or lad. My juft Feares, J faye, that theft fhouldcomc to thy Handes, rude and fan!, tie, as they are, mads mee willing rather, when G 04© fhm!d gnunt nice leafur^ heere-aftcr, to draw vp,in (lior^thepoyn&s of Ooftrine delivered bymeeinthefe S E j£ MOl^S'j thacrhoti mighreft haue a rwen« tie,or thircic of them, or moe, p^ilible, in theboundesand pr^ceof 0neac large.
With this pafTage of G 0 ©' S providence, another hath concurred , to draive foorth tills piece vnto thy view in the meane tyme, which is this: When I confidered, howe largelie GOD hath provyded Help s,for vnderftanding of holie Scriptvre, by large Commentaries, ar.d fvveerc Sermons,
cfpccialtif
TO THE READER:
Jlfpemllie from His Church in Engeanbj vvhcre-by incrcafcof Knowledge is given to the Learned, and fuch whofe meaoes co buy, and leafure from their calling to rcade , and vittorie over their ownc layfinefle, for ta« king paynes* doeth concurre with their ca- pacities making vfeof this the 1 0 ^D*S Liberalitie 5 1 haue often requeued the Fa- thcr of Lightes,To helpe fuch as eyther could nor, or elfe would not, profice themfelucs by that, which is alreadie graunted in His Bountie, by fome fliort, and plaync manner of wryting; vvherc-by the weaker judge- mentes might beefupported,and allExcufe taken away from the wittie Sluggard , and fuch whofe worldlie Employmentes , and great EfFayres, haue fecmed fufficient Reg- ions, to excufe their negligence, and the fmall and naughcie matters of their owne Salva- tion, and the Kingdome of HE AVEH% and Evidences thereof in S C %t f TV^B.
And, to this purpofe, I haue beene verie inflant, with the Godlie-Learned of mync acquayntance, to tike this matter in handj and,todivyde,among(l them,thehard parts of SC^If ZV^F, at leaftj that this vvorke might bee done by the handes of manie , which could not bet done by one. I found ^ 4 thoir
TO THE READER]
iheir approbation of my dcfirei and inch* pablc willingneflfe, to put hand to worke al- ' fo# But , fome of them , for the weyght of their ordinarie Charge, fome of them for age, and infirmitie of bodic,fome of them for their handes full of the L0%p*S worke in another forte, could not adventure to bee ftraytlie ingaged in the worke, Where-tho- row 1 was forced, eyther to forfakemy De- fires, which daylie were kindeled within tree more and more; or eIfe,come foorth with fomc-thing, of this kynde, as might bee ; and fetke amongft my Readers, fome to take this Matter ro heart; and,to doe thcre-in,as the L 0 2^D (hould enable them, by chcmfelue*? or by others *
1 hauc made cfcoyfcoftfns £$JSTL&, which is a piece of hard Meate, in theeflee- mation both of the AfOsTLE, the Wryter thereof, (Chap. 5, and 6.) and of PETE %9 giving his judgement of k,(z.PET4jM5,i6;) That if I flbouldattayne anie parte of myne intenr, inanie meafure, in fo hard a place, t might encowrage others, to take in hand a morceafie parte of S C<i\l TTV%E $ with mori hope of fheceffe.
The Sumnt of each Ckaf termor the Conttnts, doe thud in fteade of jtnatyfis j and, in fome
plsee%
TO THE READER,
places, cf a Patafhrjtfe. The Text dozihfoU Jowe, Ver[eby Verfe. The cxpofition of the Verfc, (etveth for groundes of Do&iines* which Do£Uines , following vpon the groundes, are joyned, mofte parte, with the Note of Collection [ Then, } Piuralicie of Dolhincs from the ground, or from theText where the conlequencc is eafie to bee percea* ved, is diftinguifhed by Figures, according. to their numbers. Tcarmesof Artel haueel- ehewed, becaufc I would bee pkyne to all. I haue fpared all enlargement of the Do- ftrincs, which i could fparc* leaving them as graynes of Seede, to get their growth in thy mynde,by Meditation, which is nccedarie for fuchaslouc f'oirjakevfc of this fort of wry- ting-, becaufe I would be fhorr* Thefpeciall handcling of fuch PsfTagcs,as the Apoftle ci- tcrh out of theOIdeTefbmenr, I haue left to their owne proper place. Quotations, for confirmation of ir.y Do&tincs, drawnefrcm rhegronnd, I luuelparedalfd: Becaufe, I jud- ged , li the Doftrine was pertinentlic colle- fted from the ground, the Text in hand was efficient confirmation . And if it bee not pertinentlic collected, I am content that thou palTe by it , and ukc onclie what is pertinent* A quotation could prooue the Do&rinc true§ «jf 5 bus
TO THE READER:
kiit not prooue it pertinent: and, fo, not fcruc ?ny purpofe. Manic moe f and more perti* rient Confequences, the Learned will finde, yrhich I haue not obferved : but not for the Learned, or fuchasare able,and willing, to make vie of larger Wry tinges, doe I iotende this prefent.
Therefore, doe not looke ho we much thou doeftmilTe, which might haue beenelayde; tmr ,. what in the firiV frame of this mouldy could bee done, io fuch brevitie. Which jnoulde, I trtift, the Learned (hill helpc, if it plcafcthe LO'l^D toftirrethem vp, to take this matter in haid. I haue preaifed, finghc topoynft out Truechwithoutf^ii/i^jnot wrefting the Text, to reach a Blowetoamc man* And, what thou (halt make of this pre- sent Piece, [ am not carefull, if I can obtayne thereby, tint more ab!e Men may bee fet on Workc,to doe what 1 intend, but cannot doc.
If the precious lewell of the SC%l?TV%E. fray bee more dteemed of, and made vfe ofr which is more ncceifarie for our Soules, than* the Sonne in the Firmament is for our bodies; and, the grea-rcft gift next sfrer our L 0 %T> lESVS downe-f ending arnongftvs, that ever f he Worlde faw. Jf I rnny by this piece, 1 fay.,bcaan Inilrument^oftirrcvpanietothe
to
TO THE READER.
foueof fcarchingthc SC\lfT^S9 I hme not loft my Paynes, what-fo-cver (hall be- come of this little Booke: Where- vnto J hauc (olliHed for no Patronage vr.der Heaven, buc thy Chrillf an Good- will to my Ayme,to haue our L 0 5^3) the mote honoured, in the founds Knowledge, and right vie of His
I am confident,th3t thou wilt eafilie judge. With mec, That the prowde, and prophane Defpyfers of GO©, are worthie toperifh, araongft His Enemies : But, confider, and judge againe, If prophane Defpyfers of holie SC%lfTV%E% who difdayne to reade, orobty, what GO© commaundcth therein, bee not to bee ranked in the fame. Roll. Forf GO© drawerh fonigh vnto vs in His Word, fpeaking vnto vs,asa king vnto his Subje&s, or a Mailer vnto his Servaontesj that die obt- dience, or difobedience, which wee giueto His Spcaches,refo! veth, dire&h'e, and lmmc- Hjatelie, vpon GO© H / M SELFE. For, whit is it e!fe, to heare, and belicuc, and cb:y GO©; but, To hearc, and belieue, and obey His Speaches ? And , vvhst is it, Not to take notice of GO©, to derpyfe, anddifobey GOD; but, Not to take notice of His Spcaches,not to reade His Wry tings,
and
Y®?.THE~ READER'.
Slid not to care for anie thing thst Hee com- raaundeth, promifeth^ or rhreatneth t There- fore hath the L 0 X^Z) writrcn the Great thinges of His Lawe vnto vs , even to bee a Touch-Stone, not onelie to trye all mens Do* ftrme thereby, but alfo to trye all mens dif- pofiuan rowardes Htmfelfe; and, howe they ftand affe&zd to His Honour, whether as Foes, or as Friendes. For, What readier Way is there, to get evidence of a man defti- eutcof the Knowledge, Fayth, Ldue, Feare$ and the reft of the partes of the Image of G 0 <D 7 than to finds hira deflitute of the Knovvledgeand Loueof the SC%lfTI/\B i What furer Signc of a man, who, for the prcfent,is enemie to G0©,and to the Enlarge- rnent of His Gracious Kir.gdome,than to find him traducing the perfect Law ol the LOl^D, snd marring, to his power, the freecourfcof the Scriptures hghr, which is the Scepter of C H %J~S T% S Kingdome i Agaync, What furer Signc of a Chyldof Promifcbegcttcn of G0Z),than to f<eehiro,with David, Psal.h«;8 making more of the Scriptures,nor of a king- dome5and povvring out all his Affeftions vpSJ on it, as vpon the neareft Mcane wherc-by G0©'S Spirit may be conveyed inro his foulc, foi perfecting of Holine/Te; and the readied
Chariot^
TO THE HEADER.
Chariot , to carrie vp his fpirire , to dwell in G 02>, for perfe&ing of his happinelie ?
VVccniallfin^alfojanfwcrfiblcto GOV'S Purpofc cf crying men by His Scripture, His ' Wifdome, giving a due meeting vnco men,as they doe nuke vie of His Scripture, Doe they not rcadeir.' or, doe they reade,and norcon(i- der it ? Doe they nor weygh, what is impor- ted by it,in fenfc,and meaning? It fareth with rherr,a$ with thofe to whom CtlT\lST faydj Matth. ti. 19. Xo*ieir?,not kps'towgtbe Scrip- tures,voy the powrof God, Doc they notlous it? ikhoicifheir Plague, i.THES^i.io.fi.i U $ecatije they teamed not the hue of the Truetbt that tbey might beja^ed-for this veue f4«/e/ayeth the Tcxr}Godfb all fend than ftrong deltijion; that they P?xi'>d belieue a Lie, that tbey might be damned. Doc they not tfeadtafti'e belieue, what chcy tearnc inScripture? laGv>d's judgemcnt3with the Foohni,an<J vnftabie.they arefuiFeied to wreft the Scnprures,to their own de(tru<fhon5 were they never fo great wits,!, Pet. 3 .ttf. Doe they nor iiudie, ro giue obedience vnto the fcnowneTrn&h of Hi He dealeth with them, as with Ifrddl, PsAL. § u 1 1. My people would vot hedr^en v«ta }Jy Voyce, and Ifr&eilwuLd none of Mee. ( Hee couhteth Himfelfe receded , becaufe His Word was rejected* ) But what fallowed)*
Verf
TO THE READER.
J' erf. i 1. Sol gaue tbem»p$*nto their ownehtdrtis lufl : and they wlked in their w>ne counfels. Buc to iuch as will bee ChrilVs Difciples indeede, Stacknts.feekingtogrow in Knowledge, Bc- Jicfe, and obedience of His Word ; feeking co loue Hirrj,and keepe His Sayings, Hee prom/- f'ech^IoHN 14. 26, ) rofende vnto them/H?? Spirit of Truetb% the Comforter, the bolie Ghoft, to tfacbtbem all things: That is, To perfect their knowledge mote and more, by His Spirit, to fill their hearrs with joye and comfor^accor- ding to His Trueth, and co make them hoIieP more and more.
And why are all rhefc ftyles given? Even ro ihow,that fuch as will hane ChriiVs Spirit to worke anic of theie, ir.uft feeke Him ro worke all of thefe > jcynrlie , or not to haue Him for working anie of themat all. Ncyther Com- fort without Truerh , nor Comfort without HolinelTe. The fame is it which Wifdorhc cryerh, Pkov. 3. ^4. jj€ 36. {hle(ftdistheman that hearetb Mt\ hatching daylie at My Gates',tyay« ting at the fojis of My ®Q0*es : For, Tebofi findetb }A ee> fwdetb Lyfe ; and (hall obttiyne favour oftb^ lord. But bee lb At fmnetb agaynjl Me> wongetb bis Whc Soule : all that bate Mce> hue Death.
* Therefore , howe thota doeft hare Death, and loue thyne owne Souk, howe thou ftan-
w
TO THE READER,
deft affe&ed towardes GOD, and thefel-
lowfhip of the C 0 M F 0 %_T E <2(, the ho-
lic Sfl<HJTt the Sf ItiJT of T%VETH9
and towardes the enlargement of the King-
dome of CHRIST; let, thy affeftion
Towards the SC^lfTV^ES^
more aboundant dwelling in thy
felfe.and For the S C %l f.
Ty^ES more free courfft
amongft others,
beare wit-
helTc.
Pare-tipclh
THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE HEBREWES,
H*n Peter Wote hisfecondEpijllet* the featured HcbreYft$}tbctctc*t extant an ipiftlc of Paul,*a tbofe
fame ftattered Hebrew* aljojecei* Ved in the Chunk, for a pan of Cano* *ic*U Seu(ture9&diJlivguifhedfrom Pauls other £ fifties > i. Pet. 3* 15, 16. 2berefortf tmonglt other reafons, this may lee one, to &ake >; thinly this tpiftle rsujl be it. tor it is without mfon to thinly , that the Churches fhouli bee negligent in hgepingf neb d levell, commended vnto them by the authritie of tw ebiefe Jpofilei j or lofe Pauls Epiflle}and keepe Peters^ vblcb mahjtb mention of it*
The fumme of the Epiftlct
B Ecaufe the Hebrews were hardlie drawne from the *** obfervation of Levicicall Ordinances, vnto thefim- plicitie of the Gofpell, and in danger of making Apo- flacie from the Chriftian Fayth, by Perfecution, the Apoftle Paul fctteth before their eyes the Glorie of le- fus Chrift, in Kis pcrfon, farre aboue men and Angels; by whofe Minifterie the Law was given , not onelie as God, Chap. 1. butalfoas man, Chap. 2. andinHis Office abouc Mofes , Chap, s# Threading them. A therefore,
i H£8^. CHJ-f. U
therefore, if they ihould misbelieue Chrifts Do&rine, Chap* 3. 4- and aboue the Leviticall high Pricit, Chap, f. Threatning them agayne.if they ihould make Apoftacie, from Him, Chap. 6. yea, aboue all the glo- rie of the Leviticall Ordinances ; as Hee in whom all thole thinges had their accompli&meht, and period of cxpyring, Chap, 7. 8. 9* 10. Threatning them agayne, if they ihould not perfevere in the Fay th of Ch rift: vnto which perfeverance,through whatsoever difficul- ties , hee encowrageth them, by the example of the Faythfull before them , Chap. 10, 11. and by other grounds of Chriftian comfort, Chap. it. That fo in the fruitfull obedience of the Gofpell, they might fol- low vpon Chrift.Jfeekiog for that Citie that is to come, and not for their earthlie Hierufalem anie more. Chapter 15.
The fummt of Chap. I.
IF you fliall make comparifon, O Hebrewes, the Mi- nifterie of the Gofpell fhall bee found more glo- rious thantheMinifterieoftheLaw: For, the manner of Gods difpenfing His Will before Chriftcame, was by part and part, andfubje&to His owne addition: not after one fetled manner, but fubjeft to alteration, and by the Minifterieof men, the Prophets , Verf. r„ But now Hee hath declared His laft Will gloriouflie, by His owne Sonne , God and Man in one perfon, Verf 1.3. who is as farrc aboue „ not onliethe Pro- phets, but the Angels alfo, as the natiue Glorie of His Perfon and Office, is aboue theirs, Verf. 4. For He is of the fame Subftance with the Father , Verf. r. and partaker of the fame Worfhip with Him, Verf. 6. -The Angels but ftrvantes to Him, Verf. 7. Hee is eternall GO D, and King over all , Verf. 8. and, in regard of His Manhead and Office, filled with the Spirit,
Verf.?.
tffffilt. CBdt. h 5
VerC 9. Yea, Hee is Creator. vnchangeable,and ever- lafting . Vcrf. 10. n# 1*. Ioyned with the Father, in the government of the Worlde , Verf 13. The An- gels but fervantes, both to Him, and to His Chil- dren, Verf. 14*
The doctrine contained in Chap. I.
Verf. 1 . God, who at fundrie ty mes, & in diverfe manners, fpake in tymc pail vn- to the Fathers, by the Prophets*
Albeit the Apoftle *** billing, that theft Hebrew fhould under ftand that this Epiflle came »nt$ tbem from kirn, di appeareth Chap, x. ** if 34. yet doetb bee net pre fixe bis name in tbebodie of it%as in all bis other Epiflleii that by the ffudent dealing ofthefefaytbfull Hebrews, Wee may thinks # others vbo kept pre /a- dice agaynjl bis perfon, wight bee dra^neonB to takg n#« the of his Doctrine more impartiallie, and faon bis name9 after they bad tajledofebe truetb from him t in a fitter tymc. Whence we leatne, 1. That it is lawfull forgodfxe men, todifpofeofthe exprefllon of their names in their Writinges , as they fee it expedient* ». That it is not much to bee inquired, who is the Wri- ter of anie purpofe, till wee haue impartiallie ponde- red the matter written. 3. That it is not alwayes ne- ceflarie, that wee (hould know the name of the Writer of everie part of Scripture : for the authoritie thereof is not from men , but from GOD, the Infpyrer thereof.
1 . Hee fayetb not (implie, The Tropbcts (pahs, faf
God fpake to the Fathers J>y the Prophets.] Then, 1 •
GOD was the chicfe Do&or of His ownc Church,
A > from
4 HE<B\. CHAf. I.
from the beginning. 2. And what the Prophets con. veyghed from G O D, to the Church, by Scripture* as it Is called heerc the /peaking ofGODj fo it is to bee accounted of ftill ; and not as a dumbe letter. t. Heefajtb.GO'D j^faat/undrietymes. 2Jjr "manie fsrtes^ at tbetvord imfortetbj wto a part of His *&#/, and then a fan farther; at another tyme yet a fart farther. Then , The LORD was in the way onlie, of revealing His whole Mynde to His Church , before CHRIST came* letting fuorth Light, by little and little, till the Sunne of Righteoufnefle , I E S VS CHRIST, arofe, and had not colde His whole will. z. And for this reafon, the Iewifli Church was bound to fufpend her determination of the vnchangeableneflc of her Levlticall Service, till the Law-giver fpake His lafl word, and vttered His full Mynde, in the fulneffc of tyme .
3 . Hse fayeth>hefote CHRIST tame, G 0© ftakf i» diverfe manners.] Not reVealingbisfVill afferent *nanner$ butfometime by if tut *oyce9fometime by yifion.or dreamyOr infpiratiot^or Vrim VTbummimJty [ignesfrom Hea»en,by types yand excrcyfe of (kadoWng Ceremonies. Then, No reafonthe Iewesfliould fticke fofaftto the ordinances of Levi . ( they beeing inflituted in the tyme of the alterable courfes of the Churches pedago- gic) as not to giuc way to the abolifliing of them by the M E S S I A S : Which to fliow, is a part of the /\poiUes mayne fcope.
Vnf. 2 . Hath m thcfc laft daycs 5 fpokcn vntovs, by His Sonne- whom He hath appoynted Hcyre of all thinges : by whom alio He made the worlds.
HEBR, CHAP.L $
1 4 Heefayctb, GO J) vboftakf to the Fathers, batb fiojyn to vs.] Then, The fame GOD, who is Au-~ thor of the Olde Teftament, is alfo Author of the Do- #r:ne of the New Teftatnent : and the Church of olde, and now, is taught of the fame GOD ; that the fayth of the Eleft might depende vpon the authorise of GOD onlie, both then and now; and not on men,
S. Tbefesre called tbe Ufkdayes*] Then, The fulnefleoftyme is now come: The Law-giver of the Church hath fpoken His laft Will : His Mynde is fullic revealed; fetled courfe for the Fayth . andfcrviceof His Church, is taken -> after which no new alteration of His Constitutions is to bee expefted .
j. Heejayeth, GOD ffa^e to tbm by tbe Pro- phets y but batb frozen to Vs by His Sonne. ] Then, i. As the Sonne is aboue the fervants ; fo is CHRIST aboue the Prophets. And no reafon, that the Iewes fhould thinke fo much of Mofes, and the Prophets, as for them,to mifregard C H K I S T S Do&iine , and ih'cke to the Levitical! Service,vnder pretence of eftee- mation of the Prophets. 2. The Glorie of the Gofpel, is greater than the glorie of the Law. 3 . The glorie of the Miniileriall Calling of Preachers of the Gofpell, is by fo much the greater, as it hath the Sonne of GOD Pirft-man in the Roll thereof 5 as firft Preacher, and Prince of Preachers. 4. CHRISTS Sermons are all of them directed vnto vs : and fo much more highlie lhould the Dotfrine of the Gofpell bee efteemed of, by vs.
4. In deferring CH%lST> bte fayetb,tbe Sonno isHeyreofall tbingesi that is, Hee bstb received* ^Domination over all creatures, from tbe Father ; that <4 Het is LOT\p over all,fo is CHRIST.] Then, x. CHRIST is Heyre of all thinges in the Church alfo, LORD of the Sabbath, and of all the Service annexed A j t9 it,
6 HtB%. CHAf.l.
to it, to whom it is lawfull to chop and change the Le- viticall Ordinances , at His pleafure . %• And Heyre of all the Prerogatiues and Promifcs , made to the I ewes, or others; through whom onelie, as the righ- teous Owner of all thinges , both lew and Gentile mult feeke and keepe Bight to what they haue, or can clayme : And therefore , it behoved the Hebrewes, to enter themfelues Heyres to their Priviledges by CHRIST, orelfetobeedifinherited.
5. Beefayetb$ GOD, by His Sonne, made the Worlds.] So bee caltctb the World, for tboailttie tftyxMs^fr ages, dnd fleeces of tbt matures >onefucceei ding another* Then > 1 • CHRIST is GOD, Crea- tor of all thinges. 1. Hee is a diftinft perfon from the Father; by whom the Father made all . $ . That which the Father doeth, the Sonne doeth the fame; yet fo, as in order of working, the Father is firft, and the Sonne is next ; working with, and from the Father.
yerf.$. Who beeing the Brightnefle of His Glorie, and the exprcfle Image of His Perfon, and vpholding all thinges> by the Word of His Power, when Hec had, by Himfelfe, purged our finnes, fate downe, on the Right Hand of the Majeftie on high ♦
In deferring CH%JST$ beetfttb borrowed fimilU tud$sl for^bat f toper ^or dean bee found^toex- prefftfo great m MjiUric t And, tybat c*» wecon- teiue of Hit Godhead y but by refemblamei Tea, bet yjctb met fimilit *du m one j for it u but little we **»
§omeik$
HEtSK. (JHAP. I* 7
mttiue of Him by one: and ^b At we might mifcon- ceiue by too bard frying of one fimilitude , by amtbet
u cone tied > and [o out conception helped .
i. CH%IST the Sonne, is c ailed the BrightndTc of His Fathers Glorie*] The fimilitude is bomwi from the Sunne beams. Then, i. As the Father is glorious, fo is CHRIST His Sonne glorious, with the fame Glorie. Therefore , i. Cor. i. 8, Hee is called the LORD of Glorie. i. As the beames of light haue their originall from the Sunne, ft> hath CHRIST His originall of the Father , and is vnfeparable from Him : for, as the Sunne was never without its light; fo neyther was the Father ever without the Sonne* buc coeternallie with Him. 3 . As the Sunne is not mani- feiled, but by its owne brightnefle; So the inacceflible light of the Fathers Glorie, is not revealed to the crea- ture , but by the Sonne .
z. CHfJST is calledtbeexprcrklm>oftht Fathers Terfon.] The fimilitude is borrowed from 4 Signets imprefion^hicb reprefentetb all the lineaments of the Scale. Then, i.The Father is one perfon* and the Sonne is another perfon of the Godhead, ha- ying His owne proper fubfillence diftindl from the Fa- ther, z . The Sonne refembleth the Father, t ullie, and pcrfe&Iie ; fo that there is no perfection in the Father, but the fame is fubftantiallie in the Sonne : As the Fa- ther is Eternall, Omnipotent, Omniprefent, infinite in Wifedome, Goodnefie, Mercie, Holinefle, and all other Perfedions; So is the Sonne Omnipotent, Eter- nall , and all that the Father is. 3 . Whatfoever Per- fection wee can percciue in CHRIST, fliyning in His Manhead, or Word, or Workes; the fame wee may conclude to bee in the Father alfo; whofe refemblance, and exprefTe Image Hee is. Finde wee CHRIST good and merciful! , loving and pitufull, meekeand A 4 lowlic-
3 &£$%. CHAT. I.
lowlie j not abhorring the mod vyle and miferablc. tvhether in foule or bodie, that commeth Ynto Him for reliefe; wee may bee afTured, that fuch a one is the Fa- ther -y and no otherwayes myndcd to fuch as feeke vri- to Him through CHRIST.
3# CHRIST vpholdctbAlltbingStby thcword <pf His power. ] Then, I. The prefervation of the creatures, as well as their creation, is from Chrift, The lather vpholdeth all, fo doeth the Sonne, i .What Hee doeth, Hee doeth as Omnipotent GOD, by His Word, without trouble or burthen . As Hee fpake, and all was done j So Hee but by His Word comman- ded, and all ftandeth fail. And this His Word is no- thing elfe, but His powerfull Will, ordayning thinges to bee, and continuej and powerfullie making them fo |Qt bee, and continue, fo long as Hee will .
4. CH H 1ST by Himfdfe ftuged our fonts* To 'pit , hjf beating our fonts V/>o» bis So die en the Tut 9 i. Pet, 14. Then, i. Our finnesare a fil- thinefle, that mud bee purged, a. The fatisfaftorie "cleanfing of uur finnes , is not a thing to bee done by jfcens meritorious doinges, or fufferinges; butalreadie <lone,and ended, by CHRIST, before Hee afcended; and that by Himfclfe alone, all creatures beeing feclu- ded. 3. Hee that vpholdeth all thinges, by the Word cf His owne Power; and Hee that purged our finnes, by His owne Blood,is but one felfe fame Perfbn^GQD and Man is Hee in one perfon.
$* CH%IS7 [alt dovmeon bright Hand oftbt Majcfticew high. ) That U% vben CHRIST bad dtanfedonr fonts, hy bis death » bet af tended to Hta. Un> and pojftjftd bimftlfe as Man, in tbe felloe [hip of the Jam Glorie , Ttbitb as G 0 V bet bad before tbe tyorldt 1t&9 Ubn 1 7. 4* /• Then , 1* The Sonne
is ;oyned
HE BR. CHAP. I 9
is joyned in the fcllowfhip of che feme Gloric with the Father,, as well in his Manhead after his Refurre- flion, as in his Godhead before his Incarnation. For, though the Glorie of C H R I S T S Godhead was hid , for a whyle , by the fufferinges of his Manhead, yet was it not aboliflied, nor in it felfe abated thereby : bur the Manhead firft was aiTumed vnto the vnitie of Perfon with the Godhead, that our Ranfome might bee rich ; and then , to the vnion of the fame Glorie, that the Redeemer , after the Ranfomes paying, might bee altogether glorious . z. Seeing Hee that hath cleanfed our finues , isfo glorious a Perfon, all the meanes of his cleaning vs how bafe foever , fuch as were his Hunger and Thirft, his Povcrtie and Weak- ne/Te , his ihamefull and paynfull Death, fhould bee glorious in ouv eyes alfo. 3. MajeiHe, and Magnifi- cence, and Grandeur, properlie fo called, is the LORDS. The higheil excellencies of the crea- ture , are but fparkes of his Majeflie , and weake re- s femblances onclie, albeit their earthlie glorie often holde mens eyes to , as they forget the LORDS Greatnelle •
yerf.%% Becing made fo much better than the Angels, as Hee hath by Inheritance obtayned a more excellent Name than they .
I.lLJfr fioftclh Chritf tcbee greater than the An- "* ** &*h> btcaafehu Name u more excellent than theirs. ] For they are filled Angels, and Ue G 0 © S Sonne: Dthich hee u fayde to haueby Inheritance as dne to him;lo:h at Cod by et email generation , and as Manbyajfmftionofour nature in vnitie of one ftr-
A 5 fon% fit*
io HEBR. CHAP. I.
fin 5 according to which hee is not the adopted, but n4- turall Sonne of GOD: Film tut at , non filitu fa- tlua. Then ,GOD giveth not ydle Titles : as GOD calleth thinges, fo they are, or are made to bee. C H R I S T, as G O D , is called GODS Sonne, becaufe by eternall generation hee is fo .- as Man hee is called GODS Sonne , becaufe by af- fumption of the humane nature vnto the perfonall ynion of his Godhead, hee is made fo to bee. i. As farre as Sonnelhip is aboue fervile employment , as farre is CHRIST more excellent than the An- gela
Verf.^ For j vnto which of the Angels fayde Hee at anie tyme5 Thou art My Sonne, this day haue 1 begotten Thee i And agayne 5 I will bee to Him a Fa- ther, and Hee fhall bee to Mee a Sonne.
I. T lEepoe\etbbis pynt by Scripture 9 Psal« t.
1 -I 7. i« Sa m . 7. 1 9# and fatteth them to im- jfrobation of his Dothine by Scripture , if they could* Then , i. In the true Primitiue Church , in matters of Religion, all Authoritie was filent,& Divine Scrip- ture fpake,& determined queftioned points of Trueth. a. The Apoftle counted it Sufficient, to bring Scripture for his Do&rine ; and permitteth do impugning of it, but by Scripture .
2. Onelie of CHRIST fayeth GOD, I haue begotten Thee. ] Then , 1. Howfoevcr, GOD hath manie Sonnes by Creation, by Office, by Grace, and Adoption ; yet, a Sonne by Generation , a natiuc Sonne, hath Hee none , but CHRIST, z. CHRIST
is oi
HEBR. CHAP. I. XI
is of the fame Nature , and Eflence , with the Father, confubftantiall with him j becaufc begotten of him, in himfelfe , without beginning ; the Sonne beeing eter- nalliein the Father, and the Father eternallie in the Sonne , of the felfe-famc Nature, and Godhead.
3. This day haue I begotten Thee. ] Acting tnderftoode of CH R I ST, according to bis Godhead, fignifietb the Fatbits tjmelejfe 9 eternall , fcrpmallie conjlant, and prefent generation of bis Sonne , in bim<* felfe. Seeing Vnderjtoode according to bis State, in bis Manbead, it fignifietbtbe Fathers bringing foortbof tbe Sonne, to tbekpo*!edgeoftbe Worlde , and decla* ring bim to bee tbe Sonne of GOD, vitb paw , by bis %ffurre&ien from the dead, Rom. I. 4* Tbej* flaees, it is true, yvere ftokfn of Da\id and Salomon, as Types of CbriH, typicallie , in a (lender rtfemblance, Psal. 1.7. and i, Sam. 7. 19. fiuttkefiodieof tbe Truth aimed at,(?fignified,vat Cbrifi refembled by them, 4* here Vee fee. W hence wee lcarnc, That typical! ipeaches in Scripture, haue not their perfeft meaning, neyther can bee fullie expounded , nor truclie vnder- itoode, till they bee drawne to Chrift, in whome they haue their accomplishment, and of whom they meane to fpeake, vndcr the name of the Types. And there- fore neyther could the olde Church of the Iewes, nor can wee, get comfort in anie of rhem , till Chrift, in Whome all the Promifcs are Yea and Amen , bee found included in them •
Vcrf.6. And agaync, when Hec bringeth in the firft begotten into the worlde, Hee fayet-h , And let all the Angels of COD worfhip Hira . " ^k
1. U*A
12 HEBR. CHAP. I.
iTJJEtfyctb*, tbatis,Tbe Father/*;*^, Psal.
"** 97-7- Then, The Scripture which elfe- where is called the Speach of the holie Ghoi't , is alfo the Speach of the Father.
t. Hec bringeth in bu firft begotten, into the fVorlde.] Then, i. The Father is the Author of Chrift's Incarnation , and of his Kingdoige amongfl Men, and of Divine Glorie given to him, in lus King- dome . 2. Chriftis the Father's firil begotten, botn for the ccernitie of his Perfon , begotten without be- ginning, before the Worlde was; and for the excellen- ce of his Perfon, beeing more glorious than all An- gels, or Men, which get the name of Children, eyther by Creation, or Adoption.
3. The Father coramandethj Let all the /ngeis of G 0 © adore Him. Then, n The Father communicatcth to Chrilt , as his owne Nature and Godhead , by Generation ; fo alfo his owne Glorie, by commanding the creatures to adore him. 2. What the creatures adore, they acknowledge, by adoration, to bee GOD; fo GOD eftecmeth. 3. AndChriit is the Angels GOD, becaufe they mull adore Him.
Verfij. And of the Angels Hcc fayeth, Who maketh His Angels Spirits, and HisMinifters, aflame of fire.
flitmakgtb bis Angels Spiritst&c» Psal. 104* f) Thsn , x.GOD made not the Angels, to get anie parte of Chrift's rowmein the Churches worfhip* but to ferue Chrif), as lowlie as anie of the meaneil crea- tures. 2, And the Angels, indeedc, are as readieto doe fo, and as fwift and a&iue in their feryice, as the Wind:*, and fire-flaughts.
HEBR. CHAP. T* XJ
rerf.8. But vnto the Sonne Hee fayeth. Thy Throne, O GOD, is forever and ever: a Scepter of Righteoufneffe, is the Scepter of Thy Kingdome.
Verf.g. Thou haft loved RighteoufnefTe, and hated Iniquitie: therefore, GOD, even Thy GOD, hath anoynted Thee5 with the Oyle of Gladncfle, aboue Thy Fellowes.
i.TOJ this fUct, cited out of PsAt* 4^.7. it is
■D trident, thdt the Psalm t 4/, is a Song of
the wyttic*ll Marriage of CHRIST and bisCbunb:
sndintbisTajfage a number of notable 9>Qttrinesy€on* cerning Chritt, arepoyntedat. 1 ♦ Hee is called G OD* and fo is fie to reconcile vs to GOD; able, and all-fuf- ficienr, to accomplifh onr Salvation: aFocke, to leanc vnto. 1. A King enthroned , not onelic over the Worlde; but, in a gracious manner, over the Church, Which hee marricth to himfelfc in this Psaime : and therefore fhall his Church haue Lawcs, and Dire&ion, and Protection, from him. j . Hee hath a Thione for ever and ever : and therefore fiiall his Church, which is his Kingdome . endure for ever and ever. 4. Hee hath a Scepter, to rule with: and therefore, power and authentic , to take order with his Subjc&cs, and with his enemies alfo . s. His Scepter, is a Scepter of Kigh- teoufneiFcj becaufe hee can not abufe his powcr,to doe wrong to anie, but will doe right to all; yea, and lcadc on his Subjefts, to Rightcoufnefle of Fajth, to juflifie them before GOD ; and KightcoufnefTc of Conven- tion, co adorne them before Men.
1. Heelovcifc
i4 HEBR. CHAP. I.
t. Uti lover h %igbtcoufnejf09and hxtcth I nijm. tit. ] And therefore , I . His Scepter can not bee fweyed but righteouflie « 2. And 10 muft his fub- je&es fet themfelues to doe, if th«y willpleale him.
$. Therefore, Cbritts God bttb dndynteibim^itb the Oyk of GUdnejft, aboue bis fcllowes. Then, 1. As Chrift is God himfclfe, foalfois heeManvn- der God, in regarde of his Manhead and Office there- in. %. And God is his God by Covenant : Chrift, as Man , is confederate with God . 3, And hee hath Feii.owe» in the Covenant : that is. others of man- Jcynde , with whome hee is part-taker of flcili and blood, Fellow- brethren, and Coheyres , Shares-men in all th? Fathers Goods with him/ 4. Hee is anoyn, ted , with the Oyle of Gladnefle j furniflied with the Spirit that bringeth joye vnto him, and all his fubje&s, who get conveyed vnto them , by Chrift , Rightcouf- nefle, and Peace, and joy e in the holic Ghoft. % . Hee is anoynted aboue his fcllowes . The reft of the confe- derate Sayn&esare anoynted alfo; yet, by meafure, recciue they the Spirit. But Chrift is anoynted aboue them ♦ the Spirit is not given to him by meafure \ but to dwell bodilie, or fubftantiallie , that wee of his ful- nefle may all receiue, Grace for Grace.
4« Bec&ufebeeh*ctb1{igkttoi4fne(fe,er£. There- fore bee is anoynted. Then , The rightcoufneflc of Chrift , is the procuring , and meritorious caufe, of this joye to him, and his Subjcftcs , Fellowes in the Covenant .
Verf. 10. And Thou, LORD , in the be- ginning t haft layde the Foundation of the Earth : and the Heavens are the Workes of Thyne Handes.
Verf. 11.
HEBR. CHAP. /. i j
Verf. ii. They (hall pcrifli, but Thou re- may neft : and they all fhall waxe olde, as doeth a Garment.
Verf. ii. And as a Vefture fhalt Thou Folde them vp, and they fhall bee chan- ged: but Thou art the fame, and Thy Yeares fhall not faylc.
f* A titbit Ttjlimonii of CbriB, frm PsAt.
A lot. 25* 16. vberein bee is exprejfelit called, if I E H O V A H f G O D in eflence , the fame GOD with the Father, and the holie Ghoft * yho giveth Beeing to the creatures , and Performance to the Promifes. i. Who layde the Foundation of the Earth , &c. and fo Creator of Heaven and Earth. 3. And, by confequence , who can create in vs a right Spirit, and make vs, of naughtie (inners, Sonnes.
2. They [ball feiifh$ waxe olde , and bee chan- ged . Then , The Heavens and the Earth , nowe fub/e& to corruption, (hall both not continue; and yet they (hall not vtterlie bee abolifhcd * but changed, in- to an incorruptible eftate, for mans caufe, Rom. 8. iz.
3 ♦ Cbtttt remaynetb, and is tbe Jame^ and bis Team fajlenot. Then , i.Chmst iseternaH: and our Mediator can not bee amifllng.can not die. i. Con- stant, and immutable ; and can not change his purpofe of loue . to his called Ones, whatfoever changes be- fall them. And this is the Rocke of the Churches Comfort, vhen dice looketh to her ownc frayltic, and changeablenefle , \
Vtrf. ijc /;
16 HEBR-. CHAP. T.
Verf. i j. But to which of the Angels fayd Hec at anie tyme> Sit on My Right Hand , vntill I make Thyne Enemies Thy Foote-ftoole i Pfal.cx.
t4 ~~V0 -»bicb of the Angels faydc bee i ] hri A 4&£lh for Scripture, to fa-ft vhat is due to Jvgels* Then, i. The Scripture muft determine what is due to Angels, and other creatures ; what is to bee thought of them, and done to them alfb. x. And no word in Scripture docrh countenance the giving of the glorie of the Mediator, to anie A ngcll.
t. The Father hath [cyde to Cbritt%Sit Thou on *n my tight hand > \ntHll wake thyne enemies thy toM-fioole. ] Then, r. Chrift's Kingdome will not want enemies, i. Yea, his enemies fliall bee Fuch, as there fliall bee necde of divine wifedomc, and po- wer, to overcome them. 3. G O D profeffeth him- felfe Partie, agaynfl all the enemies of ChriiVs Church and Kingdome. 4. G O D will put them at vnder* piece and piece; and altogether at length. T» Their eppofition, and overthrow, fliall fertie to glorifie Chrilfs Kingdome, and Govcrnament : they ihall be£ his Foote-ftoole. 6. In the raeane time of this Battel!, Chrift , in his owne Perfon , (hall continue equall in Glorie, and Majeftie, with the Father j beholding the Vi&orie brought about ; and bringing it about, with the Father, vnto his Souldiours comfort.
Vcrf 14. Are they not all miniftringSpL ritSjicrit foorth, to minifter for them who fliall bee Heyres of Salvation i
i$ The Angels
Hei r. €ha?. 1. ij
U pmT^B E Jtngeh art all miniString Spirit* s. ] -*- Then, i. Angels are not bodies ; but their fubftanceisinvifible. 2, They are, allofthem,eve» shefe that are called Arch-Angels, the greateftof them , but fervantes toChrift 5 and none of them mud hauc their Matter's honour: that is, anie reli. gious worfhip of prayer , or invocation , made to them .
t. They art fent foortb, for Service , or Mini* firing. ] THEN, Their employment is about God^s Children, toattende vs , and feruevs, at ChrifTs direction ; not tt> bee ferved by vs, by anie devotioa .
3. Christ's Sttbjetts are called Hey res' of Salva- tion.] Thin, i. They are Sonnes. 2. And v/hat they get, is by Heyrfhip , by vertue of their Adoption , and Sonnclhip ; not by merit of their Syorkes. 3 . And they ihall furelie get Salvation , a$ an Herkage * never to bse taken from them .
The Summe of Chap. U\
FRom the former Doftrine hee inferreth ,- seeing Chrift is fo glorious , let his Gofpell bee Head- faftlie believed, Verf, i. For if the difobedience of the Law, given by ths Miniftene of Angels, was. punifhed , Verf. 2. Fane more the difobedience o£ the Gofpell, fo gloriouflie confirmed, Verf. 3. 4. For Chrift is greater than the Angels, even as Man* and hath all thinges infubjeftion to him, Verf. jr. As David wkflefTeth, ipcaking of elefted Men, with
tt the\*
1 8 He b r. Chap. IL
their Head, the Man Chrift , Verf. 6. 7. 8. And, al- beit wee fee not that fubje&ionyet fullie accompli- shed, Verf. 8. Yet it is begun in Chrift's perfonall exaltation. And, for his fliort humiliation, vnder the eftate of Angels, by fuffering, wee mufi not (tumble : For, it is both glorious to himfelfe, and profitable forvs , Verf. 9. For, God's glorie requyred, that our falvation fliould bee wrought by fufFeringes of the Mediator , Verf. 10. And, to this ende hee be- hoved to bee part-taker of our nature , as was fore- tolde, Verf. 11. it. 15. That hee might take on our due punifliment ,• that is, Death, Verf. 14. . And de- liver his owne from the feare thereof, Verf. \f. And herein wee hauc aPriviledge aboue the Angels, in that hee tooke on our nature , and not theirs, Verf. j6. And, by his fufFeringes , a ground of fc much greater Comfort in Him, Verf 17. 18.
The Doctrine of Chap. 1 I.
Verf. 1. Therefore, wee ought to giue the more earned: heede to'the thinges which wee haue heard 5 left at anie tyme wee fhould let them flip.
i* np Herefore,w ought to giue beetle? &c. ] -i- From the Excellence of Cbrift's ferfon} bee Vrgetb the Belie fe of bis Dottrine. Then.i, CHRIST mull bee efleemed of, as becommeth the Excellence of His Perfon. 2. The way howe CHRIST will bee refpe&ed of vs , is by refpe- &'ng His Do&rine. And the Excellence of His Per- fon, ftould
H E B R. Ch A P. IL 1&
fen, fhould procure our reverend receiving of His Word , and fteadfaft holding of it *
2* Bee will have vs to take beede, left weefhouli let it flip. The word is borrowed from rent and lehing VeffeU% or fandie ground. Then, i. The Go£ pell is a precious Liquor , wotthie to bee well kee- ped. And wce,of our felues,are as rent Vefiels, rea- die to let it flip , when wee haue heard it ; or lyke fandie ground, which keepeth not the rayne.
?. For this wee ought to giue the more earneft beede. ] Then, The Confcience of the worth of CHRIST, and His Gofpell.andof ourowne vnfitnefle to retayne it, fhould fharpen our Vigilan- cie, and Attendance 9 tokeepeit: elfe, wee will doubtleffe let it flip.
4. Bee fayetb not,left ftorttie ; but, left at ante tyme. ] T H e n , It is not fufficient to belieue the Word for a whyle, and for a whyle to remember it : but wee mull gripe it fo , as never to quyfe it by roifrcgarde, or roisbeliefe. For, Faytb, and hue of the Tauethy u the good wcmmetbat fteciallie bee requyretb heere ♦
Verf. 2 , For, if the word fpoken by An J gels, was fteadfaft , and everie tranf- greffion, and difobedrence, received a juft recompence of reward.
I. 113 £ e reafoneth from the law fyo\en hy Angeh% Then, The Angels were employecfin gi- vingofthe Law; they did blow the Trumpet 5 they, from GOD, vttered the Woid to Mofes.
B x z. Tbt
20 Hebr. Chap. It
t. The Tcerdftoksn by them, v>as ftcddfajl.] Then, What GOD delivereth by the Minifies rie of Meflengers , is authorized , and ratified , by GOD,
3. Everie tranfgrefthn teas pnnijhei. Then,. The punifliment of tranfgreflburs of His Law, is a proofe of GOD'S authorizing the Do&rinc.
4. Hcecalletb the funijhment, 4 juft%ecompenfe* ] Then, There is no evill befalleth finners , more than they doe deferue ^ None hath caufe to cera- playne of in;uftice .
Vcrfi. How fhall wee efcape, if wee negled fo great Salvation 5 which, at the firft , began to bee fpoken by the LORD, and was confirmed vnto vs, by them that heard Him.
I, J-JOw Jhall we efope i ] The Affile /#- nelb bimfelfe wtb them in the Tbte&tmng. Then, So fhould Preachers threaten their peo- ple, as willing to vndcrlye the fame punifliment, ex- cept they flee she finnc , for which they threaten others ,
t. Bee reafoncth ftom thepumjhnientdfthe Lav breaking, t$j>roue the punifbmentof wijltlieMg the CofpelL Then, }, The not-embracing of the «3ofpell, is a greater finne, than the breach of the taw. The defpyfing of Forgiuenefle, is much worfc $\ov the making of the fault, z. Examples of judge- ment vpon Tranfgreflburs of the Law, are Eviden- ces of greater judgementes to conic on the mifre-' prdca of the Gofpelh
H-2 1 fU C H A P9 I I, il
3, Uee ealletb the Gotyell, (o great a Salva eton 5 bectufe of the free Offir of B^mifion if finnes y *nd et email Lyfe, in it. Then, The greatnefle of the Benefit to bee gotten by the Gof- pell, aggreageth the finne of the mifregardcrs of it.
4. Heejayetb not, If me rejetf,denj/e,orperfem tuts the Gofyell > but, if me negle&# ] Then, The negleft of the Doftrine of the Gofpell, the care- leffe receiving of it, the not-ftudying to know it, is Sufficient to draw downe heavier judgementes, than ever fell on the breakers of the Law; albeit a man bee not an Vnder-rnyner, or open Enemie , to the Go- fpell.
S Bee itfajbetb the Gofyell>to lee that VoHrin* tvbicb Ckrifi bimftlfc pre ached, and bis rfpojtles, from bim* Then, Wee are not bound to belieu© anie more for Gofpell , than that which is made clearc vnto vs by H is ApofHes word. And the mi£ regarding of other dc&rine, which is not conveyed fofrom Hin^falleth not vnder the Threatning.
6, HcemarketbtheJpejilcsctrt(iyntie9 of -$hA tfoybiut delivered \wto Vj, in that tbeywre eare* Vitneffes of bisftotlrw. Then, The morecer- tayntie the Apofiles had from Chrift of their Do- ctrine, the furer is the ground- worke of our Beliefe, ind the greater is the contempt done to Chrift in their Meiiage , by ynbdiefe.
Ferf 4. GOD alfo bearing them wit- netfe3bo:h with Signcs and Wonders, and with diverfe Miracles, and Giftes of the holieGhoft, according to His
21 Heb r. Chap. II.
I. T-lEefajetb, GO© bare wtnejfc to the Apo-
files ftoHrine , by Signes and Wonders. Then, i# What the Apoitles hauc fpoken from CHRIST, they (pake not alone , but G O D with them, witneifed with them. 2. The proper vfe of Miracles , and extraordinarie Giftes powred out in the Apoftolicte tymes, was to teftifie, that the Apoftles dodirine was divine Truth.Thofc,then,muft bee lying wonders , which are alleadged for confir- ming anie dodhine befide theirs,
X. The distribution of the Giftes of the hdkChJi$ Was according to bis <rftww//$ nut as pofltblie the jipojlles *toould baue cwed, eytber to tkcmfe^ues^or ttbers , in the nature of the gift , or meajure of it. Then, The Apoftles were fo employed in the Working of Miracles, as it was evident, even then, that not they, but GOD was the Worker of them, whyle He was feene to follow His own Will there- in^ and not man's carving, in diitributing His Giftes. And, the more GOD'S over- ruling Will was feene in the Miracles then, the more confirmation haue we of that Doflrine no w .
yerf. 5. For, vnto the Angels hath Hee not put in fubje&ion the Worldc to come, whereof wee fpeake.
(|. tJ Ee callelh the Worlde Vndcr the Kjngdme of the Mefitas9The Worlde to come ; jirjt, to put a difference betwixt the efttte of the World con* fidered as \ader Shine, and vrtder the Mcfiias* Tor, as itisVnder $itwe,itis Jayde of it , Oide thingesarc. paft away, z. Cu&tj, J7* Es. 43. 19- 2be
creature
He br. Chap.IL 21
greature is waxing olde, and tanning to ruine* But v».
dcrtbeMeftiasit is Jay d of it, Bcholdc,! make all rhinges new, 2. Cor. 5. 17. The creature is lif» ting v/> its bead, and Way ting for the day of liberation from Vanitie, and the manifestation of the Sonnes of GOD, Rom. 8. 19. Then, The Kingdome of theMeflias maketh another Worlde, in effect, of thac which was of olde; changing the holding, and na- ture, and vfe, of all thinges, to His Subje&es. For, a man, ere hee come in to Chrilt, is GOD'S cnemie; and to him all thinges in the worlde are enemies, the HofteandSouldiours of his drcadfull Iudge. But, after a man is made Chriit's Subject, they turne all to bee his Friendes, and his Father's Cervantes, wor- king altogether for his good. That is another, and a New Worlde indeede .
1. Hcxtt it ie called the Worlde to come ; be- cauje albeit this cbangebegan with the woify of Grace, before Cbiifi came, yet was it nothing in comparij on of tbe fVotlde to come, \nder the Mefiias. And, that Wbicbis new vnder the Gofyell, islitiieernotbing%w itmparifen ofthafiGloriout Change of the nature and Vfe of all tbmges^nto CbrijVs tiubjettes}wbicbisto bee repealed at bislafi comming. Thun, What- foever thing wee haue hitherto found to our good, fmce wee knew Chrift, it is but little townatihall bee : our Worlde is but to come, I. Cor. is . iy,
3. J he Worlde is put in fubjetfionto Cbrift,tbat bee maydityofeofit at bis f leaf are. The n, Chrift is twyfe Soveraygne LORD of the Worlde: once, as Creator j agayne, as Mediator, in his Manhead, to make all the creatures in Heaven and Earth ferue, niil they, will they, to farther the worke of full Re- ft 4 demotion,
ckmption , which Kfce hath vndcrtaken .
4. H#* excludetb the Angels from this bmm. Then, In Chrift's Kingdome the Angels areia fubje&ion to Chrift, for the good of his Subjedies, no lefle nor Sheepe and Oxen, as the Pfalme fayeth; and not t* bee adored with him , as Soveraygncs, ©ver vs .
yerf 6. But one 5 in a certayne place, te- stified, faying, What is Man, that Thou art myndfull of him I or, the fonne of Man, that Thou vHiteft him?
V€rf. 7. Thou madeft him a little lower than the Angels: Thou crownedft him with Glorie and Honour • and didft fet him over the works of Thyne Handes.
t • T) Selng to prmet by Ssriptur*> bis purpofe>fat JD tiuih neytber <£o9kg,nor Chapter tbut tbewrds •tobicb Art of the eygbt ffalmey and' fourth fcrfe.
Then, The Apoftle will haue the Church fo well acquaynted with Text of Scripture , that at the hearing of the wordes , they might know where it is written , though neyther Boofce nor Verfe were cited «
2» The Prophet looking en Mau9e\en enCbriffs Jtfanfaadp'Vberem bee was buwbledybee •toondtretb t$ fee man 1 natme [ob'tghlie dignifnd^about all creatures. Then, i. The bafenefle of man's naturall being, Gompared with other more glorious creatures , ma-
fccrh
H 1 » R* C« A P. II. 1%
ieth GOD'S lope toys aboaeall other creatures, fo much the more wOnderfuH. i. Chrift's Humilia- tion, and Exaltation , were both fore-ieene, and re- vealed, by the Prophets.
Verf 8. Thou haft put all things in fub- je&ion vndcr his feetc. For, in thar Hce put all in fubje&ion vndcr him, Hee left nothing that is not put vndcr him. But no we wee fee not yet all things put vnder him.
'!• W%* [>io*etb , that Angels art in fubjtSUu rt Cbiifti becanfeth Text tftbt Vjalme fayetb, All is put in fubjeftion: and ft rseytbet Avgels^mr other creatures , art excepted ♦ Then, j, For ^vnderftanding of the meaning of Scripture, it is ne- cefTarie to confider, not onlie what it iiyeth exprcfl- lie, but alio what it fayeth by conference of lbund reafon. i. And,whatfoever is rightlie deduced by evidence of found reafon of the wordes of Scripture, is the meaning of the Scripture, as if it were fpokea cxprefielie .
2. Beeftyetb, There is nothing left that is net putyndtrCbrijl* Then, Not good Angels on- lie , but all Spirites , and all that they can doe alfo, arefubjeft to Chrift; and hee can make them, n$ they, will they, contribute to the furtherance of his owne Purpoie, for the good of his Subjc&s, and hurt of his foes .
j %. §eca»fc CbrifTs enemies are pill troubling bis
Kingdome, bee mo*etb 4 doubt,fayfog, Wee tec not
yet all thingei put vndcr him, Thix, i ♦ The
£ 5 croublc*
%6 Hebr, Chap. IL
troubles of Chrift's Subjecles , hinder the natural! royndeto perceaue the Glorie of Chrift's Advance- ment. z. Carnall reafon, the pro&or of miff- be- liefe, will admit no more of Divine Trueth, nor it is capable of, by fenfe.
yerf.p. But wee fee I E s v s , who was made a little lower than the Angels ; for the fuflfering of Death > crowned with Glorieand Honour^ that Hee^by the Grace of GOD, fhould tafte Death for everie man.
I, H£* anfaeretb the doubt; , faying , Wee fee
I ES V S crowned wich Glorie and
Honour: andfo a courfe taken for putting all that op"
pofe him, farther and farther Vnderbim, Then,
j. The fubje&ion of all thinges to Chrifl's Throne,, can not bee feene, but in the Exaltation of his Per- fon. 2, When wee fee his Peifon exalted, to fuch high Dignitie in Heaven, it is eafie to fee him put all at vndcr that ryfeth vf> agaynft him . 3 , Th^t which may bee taken vp of Chrift, partlie by his Word and Do&rine, partlie by his miraculous Workes, and ex- ttaordinarie Giftes of the Spirit, powred out vpou the Primitiue Church, partlie by his ordinarie and powerfull working vpon the Soules of his owne, fince that tyme, vnto this day, humbling and comfor- ting, changing and reforming, mens heartes and lyues: I fay, thefe Evidences of his power, doe make a fpirituali Eye, in a manner, to fee / ESFS , the Worker of thefe Workes, crowned with Glorie and honour .
z. Hetmtt
a
H b b r. Chap. II. 27
t. Betmeetetb another doubt > aryflngfoxn the, jbajement of Cbriji, in bis Stiff eri*ges% and Death; to Tebicb bee anftoeretb in the hordes of the ffaime:firjiM that it Tvasfore-tolde in that fame fj'almc, that be V>as tQbecmade9f9Ydlittle9loTpeY than the Angels ^ to ^itf hyfuffeting of <£eatb. Then,i. The CrofTe of Chriii , is a readie Humbling Blocke , for a carnall iiiynde: elfe, what needed the removing of the fcan- dall i> 2. It is true, indeede, Chriii, in his Himilia- lion, was abafed vnder the Angels , and emptied. 5. This abafe men t was but a little, and for a ihorc tyme. 4. It was fore-tolde in the Pfdme that fpea- kcth of his Exaltation. 5 . If wee looke to the Scrip* ture fore- telling , wee ihallnot irumbleat Chnu's Humiliation.
3. Bee gftetb a fart bet avfoerc9b} Jholvivg the tndeof Chnjt's Sufferings to bee pi wia*fe>iu tbc fatour of GOO to Vi> I bat bee fhould, by i be Crate vf GO D , taftc ®e*tb , for evevie one of xs .
T h £ n , 2. Chnfl's differing was not for his owne deferving, but for ours; and, therefore, ihoulj bee glorious in our eyes, 2. Everie Believer , and deit foule, hath mtereft in that Death of his : and & .everie man bound to loue h'm, and magnirie him. for it, and to appiye the fiuite of it to himieiie- 3 . This death was but a tailing of death, becaufe fiec continued but a iliort tyme vnder it : for, his flio;t furrering was fo precious, that hce could not bee hoi- den by the Sorrowcs of Death 5 buc Death, for a lit- tle, was fufficient : and, therefore, fliould dimin; a no man's eiteemation of him. 4. It was by the Grace ofGOD that his death, for a iliort, fhould ilandfor our Eternall: and, therefore, gracious. and glorious , fhould thefe his furfennges bee cTt^emc^ / £L1*> lUMT Vctf.xo'
1
2$ fi«BK. C« Af. II,
yerf 10, For, it became Him, for whor. are all thinges, and by whome are aJ thinges, irybringiiig manie Sonnes vn to Glorie, to make the Captayne o their Salvation perfed through Suffej ringes ♦
I* A Nether reafon of Cbrift's Suffering • TU\ •** 1^^ of out faVtng by Cbrijt's Suffetinge^ made fortheGkrieof GOD , and oar Good*
Then, When the rcafons of Chrift's death ar/. jTcene, the fcandall of his Croffe ceafeth.
i. Ibete isawrfetodoe heere-, A great manie oj Sonnes to bee brought to Giorie*
Then, i. All the Eled, and faved fbules, are fa the ranke of Children, z. Albeit they bee few in companion of the worlde , yet are they, manie of them, all together. 3 . There is not one of them all, who can goe to Heaven,or balvation,but by Chrifta leading , and conduft.
3. J be Captayne of tbeir Salvation muji bee made perfeft, though fujferhg* Then, i. How per^ fed foever Chrift bee in himfelfe, yet before his fuf- fering hee lacked one thing , which his Office , to- ivardes vs, requyred: to wit,experimentall fufFering cf iiich forrowes as his fouldiours and followers arc iiibjeft vnto. 2. When his fuffcringes were ended, lee was perfe&lie fitted to comfort vs, feeing hec fcund our forrowes in himfelfe fometyme.
4 . Bee fajetb , it became GOD, for ^botnfand t>j vhon:t are all thinges , that the matter fkould bet f$ brought about. Then, z. All thinges .are for
God's
-^M
HEE R. LHAP. 11. 29
;6d*fc Glorie at the endc: and fo fhould the manner four falvation bee alfo. x. All things arc by God's fand and Power brought about : and rcafon too, hat hee difpofe of the meanes of our falvation , a* ee plcafeth* 3. This way became God moft of nie: It brought him greatefi Glorie, by the fliame, >rrow, and death , of one, to bring Glorie , and >yc, and Lyfe, to manie,
erf. 11. For, both Hee that fan&ifieth, and they who arefan<ftificd3 are all of one: For which caufe Hee is not aflia- med to call them Brethren.
♦ TF ante fiould farther as\e9 how could bee diei or, how could Inflict accept him in our jleadi ee anftoerelb, $ecsufe hee is one ofourkjnde, and B4- tie. THEN, x. There is a naturall Band be- ivixt Chrirt and his Followers. They are of the fame ocke,of the feme naturall fubliance. i.Chrift's na- lrall Bafld with vs , maketh him a direft entreffe to edeeme vs .
X. Bee calletb Chrijt> him that fanftificth; avcL be SJe/ZeVerj, they who are fan&ified* }- THEN I 1. The Band of nature betwixt Chriflr ad men, is reckoned vnto thofe onlie who are fan- tified : with none other will Chrifl reckon Kinred, > Therefore, they mull ftudie to Holineffe, that 'ould clayrrie Kinrcd to Chnil. 3. The fan&ifica- * on which it behovethvs tohauc, mud proceeds ■9m Chritt: noholinefle, vntill a man be in him.
3. Hee fayetb , Cbrifi is uot a framed to call the anftfiei, Brethren.] then, r.AsChrift
hath dim
■»- u x\9 v^, uaii X A#
hath dimitted himfelfe to our nature , Co alfo to tfee ftyles of confanguinitic with vs. 2.Chrift is as kyndlie affechoned to his Followers, as ever Brother was to another : hee will not misken his owne , albeit vnJ worthie. 3 . That which may ferue to our glorie and comfort, Chrift will thinke it no difgrace to himfelfe,
Verfc. 12. Saying, I will declare Thy Name vnto my Brethren: In the midft of the Church will I fing Prayfe vnto Thee,
UrV pmetb that bee calletb v* (Brethren from A1 PsM.lt. Verfu, Tbe Mefiids, there 9 ta~ \$tb vpon him, te preach to Meu% and toprayfetbe Fa ther . then , 1 . With our nature,Chriii tooke on alfo the Yoke of the Exercyfes of Religion, z. Hee joyneth with vs, in the Difcharge of them. 3. Hee is firft in the Exercyfe : not onelie becaufe hee dif- charged them in his owne proper perfon -y but alfo becaufe dill by his Spirit, where two or three arc- gathered together in his Name, hee is in the midft ol them 5 moving, and moderating, the Spintesof hii owne delegable Organes.
Verf. 1 j • And agayne, I will put my trufl * in Him . And agayne, Beholdej^nd the Children which G OD hath . gi veo mee.
i^0^ HE next pmfeisfrm Psal, i8* Verf.f< 1 when Cbrijh ndertbe type ef David, pro
Wiftii
'J^' '* ^ —
-
fab ft belieae in the Father % 'HEN, i . Chrift is one of the number of Believers, le of the Covenant of Grace, confederate by Faith t d, therefore, hee behoved to bee a man to this de. z. Then haue wee, in the fenfe of our vnbe- fe, the comfort of the foundneffe and ftrehgth of drift's believing , as well as of his other Pcrfe- ons .
2. The third pteofe is from Is ay 8* Verf. iS. herein Chrijl^ndertbe type oftbe¥ropbetIfaiab3 ftntetb bimfelfe.Vitbbis chofenCbildre9befiretbe \tber . T H E N , i. Chrift is our Father alfo, d wee his Children, z. Wee are given to him of e Father. 3. Wee are notprcfented before the ther, without our Mediator Chrift 4. Chrift,and ic his little ones, joyned together, and feparated >m the worlde, are a pleafant fight, for the Father
beholde .
rf. 14. Forafmuch, then, as the Chil- dren are part-takers of flefh & blood; Hcc alfo Himfelfe lykewyfe tookc I part of the fame ; that through deaths I Hee might deftroy him that had the power of death ^ that is, the Devill.
TJEe gftetb farther reafons of his Incarnation And firftibee behoved by death todeflroytbt A//, that bad the peeper of Death: andfo bebmd to 4 Man , that hee might die . 'HEN , 1. Sinners, without Chrift, are vnder fentence of death, temporall, and eternall. ». Sa- tan hath
5* ncsjt. ^haf. ii,
tan hath power of Death, as the Burrio hath pow«r over thePitteandGallowes, at death to take them away to torment, who are not delivered from his po- wer. £ Chrifthath deflroyed Satan's power, and1 tyrannle, in this poynt,in behalfe of all his Ele<St,and true Believers. 4. The way how Chrift hath over- come Satan, is, by his owns death, ranfoming his owns. ?. Frae death behoved to bee the way, it be- hoved alio Chriii to bee a mortail man , as well as God , that he's might die.
2» Jg*yM hee fayetbtCbrHliCQhi pdmsf flefh. dni blood vitbibe Children*, that is,wtb tbe Elett gmntobim<] then, i. Loue tothe EleSt, mad* the Sonne of GOD come downe, and make himfclfe a ftan alft>. i. CHRIST, in his humane nature, is as kyndlie a Man, as anie of the Eledl ; ha ving feih, and blood, and bones, as well as wee. His flefli and blood is not onelic lyke to ours 5 but is a.! parre of our fubftence; who is come of the fame: ucrJce of Adam and Eue, as furelie as ours : and nor made eyther by creation of nothing, or by transfub- ftantion of fome other thing, than our fubftancc.,
Verf.i 5 i And deliver themDwho through
. feare of death,were all their lyfe tyme
fubjeft to bondage.
AKotbsr Fruit of Cbritfs detib, is tbe delherieof Believers , from tbe bondage of tbe few of death , wherein they doe lye before $el'tefe ♦
T HE & , 1 . There is a naturall feare of Death, and the DcvilUnd^elUooted in all men4all wayes: albeft noe aye felt, yet eafilie wakened. 2,. This ]!^rc puttcth Men in bandage , that they dare no*
tteditate on Death, or GOD'S Iudgement, #r Hell* as deferved by themfelues, 3. CHRIST'S death delivereth his Subjects from the danger of this evilly ind from the bondage of this fcate alfo. 4, Nona butaChylde of ChrifVs , can hauefolide and true Covvrage agaynft Death : neyther is there a Fres Man in the worlde, except true Chriftians.
tftrf i 6. For, verilie, Hee tooke not on Him the nature of Angels : But Hee tooke on Him the feed of Abraham*
HEeinfitfelbin tbefiottrine of C brill's Inurnd* tlon,becaufeit u the ground of all our Cemfort* and fecludetb tbe AngtU from fucb 4 honour, <u tfci bAuctbere-by. Tbe Sonne of God tooke on him ibt feeds of Abraham, and not tbe nature of Angels %[ayetb tbe ApoHle. then , 1. C H R I S T hath hi*
proper fubfiflance, and beeing, in himfelfe , before the Incarnation ; even his owne Divine nature, with perfonall properties exifiing : For, hee is the Sonne of GOD, the fecond perfon of the Godhead , be- fore hectOtfke on our nature, z. Heechoofedtei affumc our nature, for our deliveries and not the Angels nature, for deliverie of fuch as were fallen ef their Jcynde. 3. The nature that hee takethon, is Man's yerie nature; the fecde of Abraham. 4. Hee preventeth the perfonall fubfiftance of our nature^ hee a/Tumeth the feede of Abraham. y# Hee ma- kethan Vnion of our nature, with his Divine Na- ture, rf. The way of making the Vnlon, is A%fvMp- tiON , or Taking of our nature vnto his owne$ whereby , reiwayning the fame whkh hee was be- C ftr#st«
j
54 nnjBK. ^HAl\ 1 i#
fore 5 to wit, The fonne of GOD, hee joyneth 6ur nature to himfelfe, and becometh what hee was not before ; to wit, the Sonne of Man. 7. Hce afliimeth the feed of Abraham, that he may bee knowne to be no other, but the fame Meffias, which was promifed by the Prophets,to the Fathers. 8. When hee hatlv aifumed Man's nature, to His Owne Divine Nature, Hce remayneth the fame HEE that Hee was be- fore, Aill one perfon. So CHRIST IESVS is the promifed Mcfliasj the fecond perfon of the Godhead; verie God from evcrlafting, and verieMan finccthe conception of the Virgine Marie : before his Incar- nation, having onelie his owne Divine Nature in his perfon; but now, fince that tyme, having our nature alfo, perfonallle vnited with his Divine Nature, fo to remayne, both God and Man in one perfon, for our good , for ever.
ferf. 17. Wherefore, in all tbinges, it behooved Him to bee made lyke vn to His Brethren 5 that Hee might bee amercifull andfaythfull highPriefty in thinges pertayning to GOD; to make reconciliation for the finnes of the people.
HEe concludeth, That Cbrift behold to partafy both of onr nature, and punifhment,or mije- rie 5 that tyce might ceceaut the tnort good of Him. ft Firjtj keefdjetb, Hee behooved to bee l$! his Sistbrin in alltliv^es : &il% forfubftanctof na-
me,f*T
mm
Sttrf, for naturall properties, for firmelejfe infimiteis, for fello^Jhip in Temptations, and mif cries y and in all tbinges vbatjoever oar Good did requjre bis making life \vto vj . T H EN , i. They who imagine, and worfbip a Chrift, not lyke to vs in all thefe thinges, ■wherein the Scripture pronounceth him lyke vnto vs, doe mificake the true Chrift; and worftup a falfe* 7.. It is verie neceflarie that wee conceaue rightlie of Chrill's perfon , feeing the Scripture doeth preffc the knowledge thereof vpon vs, fo particulate.
i. Bee jbowtb the endeof bis conforming him- ftlfe\nto Vj, to bee j Ibathte might bee a fajthfull and mercifull higb fricfl. THEN, i. As
Chrift tooke on our nature ; fo, in our nature , hee tooke on a fpcciall Office of Priefthoode % to doe v$ good. i. In this his Office, hee is faythfull, and will neglecl nothing, night nor day, that may helpe vs. 3 . In our flippes, and over-fightes, hee will bee mercifull vnto vs. 4. Seeing hee hath conformed himfelfe to vs for this ende , wee may take his com- munion of nature , and miferies , with vs , for a Pawne and Pledge, to allure vs , that hee will both p ittie and helpc vs.
3. The extent of bis frieftbocd, beemafytb, in genet aU, to lee, In all things ^zrtaynivg to Cod '> ani$ in fyeciall,To maly Reconciliation for the (innesoftbs people. then, i. If G OD hauc anie
thing to doe with vs , anie Direction , or Comfort, or Blcffing, to beftow vpon vs, it muft come by our highPrieft, 1ESVS, vnto vs. *. If hee command vs in anie thing, or bee to make covenant with vs, or haue cont rover fie to debate with vs , our high Prieft will anfwere for vs. 3. If weehauc anie thing to C * doc wtfh
?5 MEBR* CHAP. II,
doc with SOD, to feekc anie good thing of hiity ordepreeate anieeviIl,orto offer anie Offering, o; Prayie, or Service, Chrift's Office ftretchcth it felfe to all this , to doe for vs. 4. Inlpeciail, as out finnes daylie deferue, and provoke , GOD'S anger, fo doeth Chrift's Priefthood pacific GOD'S wrath, and worke Reconciliation to vs.
ftrf. 18. For, in that H E E Himfclfe hath fuffered, beeing tempted 1 Hee is able to fuccour them that arc temp ted.
x« fJEc fh$wtb Cbrifis experience, to hee both of Skfjeringes and Temptations; tbaftobetber of the f*o annoy Vj , Wi way get Comfort for eytber, or fotb, from him . T hen , 1. There are twa
Evills, which attende the Children of GOD, to an- aioytfiems to wit, Troubles, and Sinne ; or, Sinne, ' and Miferre. 2 . Chrift hath experience , albeit not of Sinne , in his owne perfon 3 yet of temptation toJ finn^ and of fuffering of trouble . *■*•
1. "Bee appljetb tbe Comfort , exprejfelse to tbe\ Tempted. then% i. Men in trouble haue;
neede of Comforr,and Reliefe : but men vnder tr mp- ration to flnne, much more, 2.Yea,Sinne,and temp.: ration to finne, is more grievous to a true Chylde ofi God, vvhe he feeth matters rightlie,than any trouble.! j . No bearing out vnder tryalls, or ftanding in temp- rations, but by fuccour & hcipe fr6 Chrift. 4.Chrift's experience of temptation, may aflure vs, both of his abilitie, and willingnefle, to fuccour fucli as fceke Re- iffe from hxm. to this caftv
i
Thefumme of Chap. 1 1 1;
THerefore, weygh well what a one CHRIST U and preferre none before him, Verf. i. For, hee is as fay thfull in his Meflagc , for changing •f the typicall Priefthood , as Molts was in his mcf- fage , when hee delivered it, Verf. i. And fo much more honourable than Mofes , as the Builder is over the Stones builded, Verf. 3. 4. And Mofes wat faythfuii, as a fervant, in the Church, VerC s. But Chrift, as Sonne, and Lord, over the Church * to difpofe of the fervice thereof, at his pleafure, Verf.f, Therefore , beware of Olde Ifraels hard heart, left you be debarred of GOD'S Rcft,Vcrf,7.8.?, 10.11. Beware of lyke vnbelicfe : for it is the ground of" Apoftacie, Verf. 11. And doe your beft, to preferue others from it alfo, Verf. 13. For , Perfevcrance ia FayrJrris ncceflarie to Salvation, Verf. 14. For, Da- vid's wordes doe proue , That there were forae, al- beit not all hearers of GOD'S Word of olde^hat did provoke him , Verf, if. 1*. And, whSwerc thefe, bucfuch as heepunilhed? Verf. 17. And, whome punifhed hee, but Vnbelicvers ? Verf. 18* So Misbeliefe debarred them out of GOD'S Refl of olde, and will alfo doe tke lyke yet, if men con** tinuc in it, Ver/i ij.
The VoBrine of Chap. 1 1 U
Verf, i, Whercforc,holie Brethrcn,part- G 4 takci*
takcrs of the Heavenlie Calling, con- fidcr the Apoftle and HighPrieft ol our Profeffion, CHRIST IESUS.
I. \ Ftcrbee bath taught them fotaewb&tmorcd) Jt\ C H ^1 S r, bcccxbortetb them, of weV. to Ctofider of bim* ] T H E N , i. As wee get
farther light of Chrift , wee arc bound to farther vfe-making of our light, z. As farther is revealecj vmo vs of Chrift ; fo rnuft wee let our mynde or Worke , to ponder , and weygh, v/hat is revealed : that the matter may finke deeper in our mynde, and in our heart. 3. Except wee fhall confider, feriouf-| lie, what is fpoken of Chrift , wee can make no pro- fitable vfe of theDo&rine : For, fuch highMyfte- ries are not foone taken vp ; and , the heart is not foone wrought vpon, fo as to receauc imprefllon di his Excellencie, except after due consideration.
2. Ua calhtb Cbritt Ufa, Tbc high Pricrt, 4*d the Apoftle, of our VrofejUon*) The bigb ffricjlboode , !»** tbc bigbefl Calling in the lcwjh Clwcbi The Apofllcfhipytbc btgbejl Calliugin tbc CJmjuan Cburcb. CHRIST u bttn ftyltdbyUth.
TyHEN, CHRIST hath inclofed in his Of- fice, the Perfediicn and Dignities of the higheft Cal- lages, both in the lewifh , and Chriftian Church. Thofe Dignities which were divyded in men , or Con.oyned In Him ; in men, by way of minifteriall employment, vnder Him; in Chrift, by originall Au- ehoritie , aboue all .
3. Hec calletb tbc CbriJIUn \eligion, Our Ttofcf* /ton $ or Confeflion ♦ then, It is the na- ture of Chriftian Religion, net ta bee fraoothered;
but, t*
but, to bee opcnlie brought foorth , confeflcd, and avowed, in word and deede; to the Glorie of Chri, who is the Author thereof .
4. Bee [iyletb tbefe Hebrewes to tybom bee wjr- Wfc,Ho1ie Brethren, Parr-takers of thcHca- venlie Calling. then, if Chriftians doe
not poflcfFe their Prerogatiues without a warrand- able Title. They haue a Calling thereto, i. The Calling is Heavenlie, becaufe GOD, by his Word and Spirite , calleth men to the communion of his Grace and Glorie, by forfaking of themfelucs , and thinges earthlie ; and following Chrift, in an holic converfation : allisHeayenlieheere. 3* Chriftians are part-takers alyke of this Vocation : that is, haue alyke Warrand, and Obligation, to follow him that calleth them : albeit all doe not alyke followethc Calling. 4. They are Brethren amongft themfelues, for their Adoption: albeit fome weaker, fome flron- ger. ?. And holie is this Brotherhood : that is, Spi* rituallj and fo, Superiour to Civill, or Naturall/or earthlie Bandes, whatfoever.
Verf. 2 . W ho was fay thfull to Him that appoynted Him : as alio Mole? was faythfull in all His Houfe.
i.~V>Ecaufe tbt levees did too bigblie estetwe of A3 Mofes, in appointing of the Legall Service ; and not fo bigblie of Cbrifh as became, it* abrogating thereof; the dpojlle comparetb Mofes and Cbrijl; gi* Vtng to Mofes, bis due place of a Servant •> and t$ Cbrift, tbe place due to the Matter.
then, 1. It is no rfew thing, that people en-
clyncfo
;/£■
£L\J XX *-■"*** V-* n ** A • XXX*
clyne fo to efteeme of good mens authoritie, as ea forget to giue Chrift his owne rowme. 1 , The way eo hclpe this, is, fo to eftedme of GOD'S Servantes, fathers, or Councils, moe,or fewer, as the eiteecna- lion that men haue of them, derogate nothing frotn the eflcemation due to Chriih
2. In Jpeciallpbee mak*th all the poyn&s of Mo- fts commendations, dueli* defer scd poynttsof Chrift' s commtndatiw. 1. ®id Mofes office reach itfelfeto aUtbcbonfe of Godt*ndertbc Lato} and all tbe feu ticeofiti So did CbrifTs Office reach to all the Church $f God, and all tbtferwee of it$ iwder tbe GoTpelU ZtWas Mofes appoyn&ed>to giue out-tobat beedtlue* led* So •&& Chris! apbojmtted to inflitate -ftbat bee did injlitute , and abrogate Tsbat bee did abrogate. 3« Wcu> Mofes faylhfull to Him Tvbo appoynUed him% in all tbe matter s of G^d's houfe; keeping bacfenothing that hee Teas direBed to resale i So is Chrift faytb full to the Fatberttt>hodidai>pojmtf him mlyhj manner.
THEN, lyke as if anic man ihould haue added or paired, ^hopped o% changed, the Ordinances of GOD'S Houfe, vnder the Law, it had beene an. im- putation . cyther vnto GOD, of notfufficient dire- ding his Church; or vnto Mofes, and the Prophets, of vnfaythful difcharge of their duetie in the Church of the Olde Teilament. So is it alyke imputation to GOD and CHRIST, if anic ftall adde orpaire, choppe or change, the. Ordinance of GODS Church vnder the New Tcftament.
Verf. 5. For, this Man was counted vvor- thic of more Gloric than Mofes- in as
much
■I
HCDti. ^nnr, ill. 41
much as Hee who hath builded the Houfe, hath more Honour than the Houfe .
I. YjAving equalled Cbrisi Vvto Mofes, bee nov \f\prefttretb Cbrift to Mofes.
THExf . C H R I S T is not rightlie cfieemed of, except hec bee preferred as farr e aboue all his fervantes.as the Father hath counted hiai war- thieof more Glorie than his femnts,
2. Hit piefenetb CbriU about Mofes 9 as the guilder U about the boufe . T H e n , As no flone in thehoufc, nor all the houfe togther, is com- parable in honour with the Bnilder of the houfe: S« the honour and authcritieof no particular member of the Church, nor of the whole Cathohcke Church together , is comparable to the honour and authori- se of Chriit. Yea , as farre as the Builder is abou« the houfe in honour , as farre is Chrift's authorise aboue the Churches auchoritie, which is his houfe.
Ftrf.4. For, everie houfe is builded by fomc man \ but Hee that built all things, is GOD.
HEe pmwb Cbriit to bee the Builder of the Cbuub, becaufe feme builder it tnhsl bA*e,ai eUrie boufe bath. $ut onlie GOD, tbat buiU ittb ail tbivges, is able for this Voth: Therefore, Cbtitt, vbo buildetb all tbwges, is the Builder of it.
Them, i, Whatfoevar employment a man get
fcf^JOD, in edifying of the Church, yee, in prof or
C f fpeach, kttt
qz ri r. is a. c n ji rm m.
fpeacft , hee is a parte of the Building , builded by another/ z. The honour of building the Church, belongcthto GOD alone properlie. 5. The buil- ding of the Church, is a worke requyring Omnipo- tencie in the Builder : For , to make a Saynfi of a Sinner, is as hard, as to make a Man of theduftof the earth, or of nothing.
Verf. 5. And Mofes, verilie, was faytft- full in all His Houfe , as a Servant, for a teftimonie of thole thinges which were to bee fpoken after,
MOfes •too* ftytbfully as a Servant. ] Krto, 4 Servant's farte^is (0 doc and fay bydireltiet)} and not a/ bis otvne authorities Then* Hee is the faythfulleft Set vanr.that doeth leafl in his owns 1 authoritie, and moft attendeth vnto the dire&ion of GOD, beareth teftimonie to what GOD hath commanded, and teacheth not for Do&rine, the pre- ceptes of men.
Fcrf.6. But CHRIST, as a Sonne over His owne Houfe, whofe Houfe are wee, if wecholde faft the Confi- dence, and therejoycingof the Hope, firme, vnto the ende.
MOfes Tom faytbfull. as a Servant 5 but Chrtttf at a Sonne , over bis ovene houfe. ] Then. i. As much difference- betwixt ChriiFs ■jBthoritie in the Church , and mens, how exc-Hqit
ti & IS A. u n a r* 1 1 /. 4.3
Bever; as betwixt the authorttie of the Maflcrand the Servantes. i. CHRIST'S authorise is naciuc over His Church , by vertue of His Sonnefhip ; by His Eternall Generation of the Father Hee hath this Prcrogatiue. 3. The Church is CHRIST'S owns Houfe; and Hee may difpofe of it, and of the Service thereof, as pleafeth Him. Men , who are but fer- vantcs, mufl change none of the Ordinances of GOD'S Worlhip ink. But CHRIST may change the Ordinances of His owne Worfliip : and, there- fore , alter the ordinances of Levi , and appoynft a more fimple forme of externall worlhip , in place thereof »
z. Hee expoundetb this Houfe, to hee tie Cmpa- nie of true $elie\cn r . Then, t. The Church of G O D, vnder the Law , and vnder the Gofpell, are one Church, one Houfe of G O D in fubftance,- and all the Faythfull, then and now, lyuelic Stones of this Houfe. 1. The Church haue GOD dwelling, and converging, and famiharlic manifciting Himfclfc amongft them .
3 ♦ Bee dddetb to a Condition, If wee holde faft the Confidence,and the rejoycing of the hope, firme, vnto the endc. That is , If vee continue jleadfaft intbc Fdjtbyimeardlie grypingtbe promifed Glorie, by bope-9 and onftoardlie a*ov>ing)by confef- fion9 Chritt'sTruetb: thereby bee ntytberimportcth the pofttbilitic of finallApoHacie of the SajnBes 5 not yet myndetb bee to Tteakjn the Confidence of {Belie vers, more not bee doubtetb of bis owe petfeverance , fir myndetb to vctkenbis Wnefaytb: for bee joynctb bimjelfe -Kith them, faying, If wee hoJdc faft. $»t Wytw& to the number of the VifMc Church , of
ffhm
44 HEBR. CHAP. III.
•tobom fome not beesng found, might ftlldTMy, indby their ex ample, mahs fome wakf (me$%lbwgb found, fiumble,for a tyme, to the difhonour of the &efyell\ bee puttetb a difference betwixt true Believers , who doe in* deede perfe»cr9andtjme-ftry>eYS,Vib9doe nit perfever^ to whom bee doetb mt grant, for tbe ptefent, the {Pri- Viledge of beehg C 0 P'S tioufe.
This conditional jfeach , then, Importeth, i. That fome Profeffoures in the Vifible Church, may make Defe&ion , and not perfevcr to the ende. a. That fuch asfcallroake finall Defection heereaf* ter, are not a parte of GOD'S Houfe, for the pre- fent , howfoever they bee efteemed. 3. That true Believers muii take warning, from the poflibilitie of fome Profeffoures Apoflacie; tolooke the better to themfelucs, and to take a better grip of CHRIST, who is able to keepethem. 4. That true Believers both may, and fhould, hoide faft their Confidence, vnto the ende: yea, and mult ayme to doe fo, if they Hyould pcrfever. s • That true Believers haue ground and Warrand, in the Promifes of the Gofpell, both to hope for Salvation, and to rejoyce, and glorie, in that Hope, as if it were prefent Pofleflion. 6. That the more a man aymeth at this folide Confidence^ and gloriation of Hope, the more evidence hec gi- vcth, that hee is of the trucHoufe of GOD.
Vcrfij. Wherefore, as the holie Ghoft iayeih > *To day, if yee will heare His Voyce,
*♦ yN the hordes of the Ph].]xcv.\et(.9*bt€X» 1 fort tt hibernate hectare $f bar denhgtbtir be***
inVnbel
HEBR. CHAP.. II L 4j
in +nhelicfc The hordes of the Psai m * *re called heerc, The Saying of the holie Ghoft| and, of the GOD of i'fraell, 2. Sam. 15. i.j.
T m 1 x , 1. The authoritie of the Scripture, is not ef man, but of the holie Ghoft. t. The Scriptures are no dumbe letter , but the vo) ce of the holie Ghoft, who by them fpeaketh. 3 . The holie Ghoft, is God, the Infpirer of the Prophets, that wrote the Scripture. 4, The holie Ghoft , is a diftinft perfon of the Godhead, from the Father, and the Sonne; cxercing the proper aflions of a perfon; infpiring the Prophets, dyting the Scriptures, and fpeaking to the Church*
2. In the hordes of the Exhortdtion, To day, if yee will heare His Voyce, harden not your heartcs \ Observe, i. That whyle men haue the offer of Salvation, and the Word preached ynto them, it is their day* s. That by the outward hearing , GOD requyi eth the heart to be brought downe, and mollified. $. That Hec requyreth prefent ycelding , To day9 whyle Hcccalleth, Wi- thout delay; becaufe wee can not bee fure howe Jong GOD willfpare,or continue His offer , be- yond this prefent, 4. Hee that ftudicth not, to yccld his heart, to bclkue, and obey, GOD'S Word, founding in hiseares, hardeneth his heart. For, what is itelfe,not to harden their heart, but heartilie to belieue, and giue obedience /
Ttrf. 8. Harden not your heartcs, as i« the Provocation, in the day of temp- tation, in the WilderneflK
Wr/^p. When your fathers tempted mc,
prooved
%6 HEBft. CHAP. TIL
prooved mee3 and faw my Workes; fourtie yeares.
HEe pm+etbtbe danger of tbisftnnetin the ex- ample of their fathers: As in the day of provocation, when your fathers tempted mee, 'ExoD.xvij#7, whence We Learne,
i. That the ill of Sinne is not feene, till the confe- rences thereof bee feene,what provocation it gi- veth to GOD, and what wrath it drawcth downe on the /inner, i. It is fafeit, to take a view 01 our, danger, by anie finne, in the perfon of others, who haue fallen in the lyke , and haue beene punifhed.
3. The finnes that our PredeceiToures haue beene gi- ven vnto, we fhould, moft carefullie, watch agaynft,
4. That GOD'S Bountie, Patience, and Mcanes of Grace , the longer they bee abufed , aggrcagetfr finne the more .
Virfiio. Wherefore,! was grieved with' that generation, and fayde. They doe alway erre in their heartes 5 and they haue not knowne My Wayes.
GO D pronouncelb the Offenders, gHthie i and then, ghetb Sentence offDoome ypon them, fit their guiltinejfe : They errc in heart, fayetb the LO^D ♦ Then, i. Misbelieving and
difobeying of the Word preached, is not reckoned with GOD, for fimple ignorance of the mynde^ tut for a willfull ignorance, and erring of the hearty which isworic. For, the ignorance «f the mynde
fimplie*
ttEBR. CHAP. UI. 47
6mplie,is, I fa™ »o*i but the errour of tfcc heart, is, / wll wo*fy<W, I care not, 1 defircnot, I hue not tokno-to, nor ohej. And fuch is the ignorance of thofe Who haue the Meanes of Knowledge, and Reforma- tion, and yet remayne in their finnes. 2. Such ob- ftinate ignorance, and willfull difobedience , provo- keth G O D to call away the Sinner , and not to dcale anie more with him.
Verf. 1 1. So I fwarein My Wrath -They fhall not enter into My Reft.
FO \ their Doome , G 0 © debmetb them from His ^eH 1 That is, from all the Cmfortes of His Ftllotyp7if>i fit^^mtb tbemTorment , in ftead of ftftt . Then, 1. Obflinate Difobcdientes of . of the Voyce of the Gofpell, lye neare hand finali off-cutting, i .- If G O D giue over a man, to fuch hardneffe of heart, as flill to worke contrarie to the light of GOD'S Word, Heehath, appearantlic. denounced , and fworne, to condemne, and feclude from Heaven, fuch a Soule. 3 . It is onelie fuch ob- ftinate ones, as goe on, hardening their heart agaynft Admonitions of the Word, that GOD hath fworne to debarre. If a man bee* found mourning , for his former obitinacie , the Decree is not gone footth agaynit him .
Verf. 12. Take heede, Brethren, led there be, in anie of you, an evill heart of vnbeliefe, in departing from the li- ving GOD.
1 . Frm
43 HEBR. CHAP. III.
I. Tftymtbe former Ex ample, bee loaxnetb tbem* A to beware of an evillbeart of belief r> and fo to efebet» Apoftacie . Then,i. Misbeliefe is
themayne Rootcof Apoftacie. As Beliefe draweth vs to an Vnioitfwith GOD; fo Misbeliefe maker h a Separation, i. Misbclicfc is a fpeciall parte of the heartcs wickedneffe , bewraying the enimitie which naturallieweehaueagaynft GOD, asmuchasanic ill: For, Misbeliefe denyethto GOD the Honour of Trueth, Mercie , and Goodnefie; and importeth Blafphemies in the contrarie. 3. Misbeliefe is art ill in the heart , making the heart yet worfe and worfe, where it is, and barring foorth all the Reme- dies which might come by Fayth, to cure the heart.
2. Hce •toarmtby to take bsede, left there bee fab sn heart in ante of tbem, at ante tyme.
Then, 1. Misbeliefe is a fubtill and deceitfull finne , having colours, and pretences, a number, tor hyde it ; and muft bee watched over, left it deceaue; and getting ttrength, overcome. 2. The watch muft beecenftant, at all occasions, left this ill get advan- tage, when wee are careleflc, and vnattentiue,at anie tyme. y. Watch muft bee keeped , as over oitr felues , fo alfo over others : left anic others misbe- liefe not bceing marked , dravve vs in the fnare with them .
1. Bee iefcryltih JpoJtafte$bjMhbclitfc> and departing from the living G 0 3) .
Then, i. Believing is a drawing neare to the Living G O D, and ftaying with Him. *. The lofife that Misbeliefe bringeth, fhould fcarre vs from fo feat full a finne. 3 . Departing from the true Chri- ftian Religion, is a departing from the Living G OD, whatfoever the Apoftate, or his Followers, doc cob* <€auc : for G OD is net, where Trfteth is not. y^f
mm. chap, in, 45
ferf. 1 3 . But exhort one another^aylie,' why lc it is called, To day ; left anie of you bee hardencd,through the deceit* fulnefTe of finne.
j . TT %t prtfcYjbnb a <%tmcdh> to prevent this UU I"l to fpit% Tbtt they exhort one another, ^laylie, whyle it is called, To day. That is, it- fide the publU^e exhortation from their Trustors ^that tyerie oneofthm, mutudllitr cenfem>*vdftirrc*[> out another by Reaches tbdt malyforiecj!i>brmgtbcdcteit± fulnejje ofSinne,or preuntingbardnejfe of kcdrttOTCim* fiwivgQM tnotber htbetrntthof%eligion9and con* fiant profefiion tbemf. Then, i . private
Chriflians not onelie may , but fhould keepc Chri- ftian communion amongft therafelues, and mutuallic exhort and ftirrc vp one another. 2. This is a ncceflary meane of prefervirg people from Defection. 3 .And a dtfetic daylic to bee difcharged, whyle it is to day : that is. as oft, and as long, as G O D giveth ptc- fent occafion , and opportuniiie for it 5 left a fcatte- ringcome.
1. The inconvenience xhatrmy follow iftbisUie tiegletledf is, Left anie of you bee hardened, through the deceatfulnttfc of Sinne.
Then, i. There is none , even the flrongeft of the Flocke, but they haue necde of this mutuall helpe of other private Chriflians. 2. Neyther is there anie fo bafe, or contemptible, but the care of their flan- ding in the Fayth, and of their fafetie, belongeth to all 3 . Sinne hath manie wayes,and colours, where* fey it may beguyle.a man : and,. therefore, wee hau$ D needs of
5© He BR, Chap* III.
necdcof moe Eyes than our owne, and moc Obfcr- vers, 4. If it bee not tymouflie difcovercd, it will draw on hardnefle of heart , fo as a man will growe fenfelefie of it , confirmed in the habite of it, and loath to quyte it.
3 . 1 n the former Yerfc, lee warnetb them, to be* vare of Apottafte in Religion : and, in this *erfe, That they tahs courfe, that they bee not hardened in erne fmne in their converfation « Then, The
readie way to draw on Defe&ion in Religion, is De- fection from a Godlie Converfation , And the way to prevent Defection in Religion, is to ftudie to Ho- lineffe of Converfation.
Vcrf 14. For, wee are made part- takers of C HR I S T , if wee holde the
beginning of our Confidence ftead faft, vntotheende.
TO Jiirre them v/> to Terfe\erance , bee Uyeih a neceflitieof holding faft grippe of the Principles of Chriftian %eligion> thereby they were perjwaded to become Cbrijlians : becaufe onelie fo} fellowfliip with CHRIST U gotten, The Trueth thereby they Were begotten to Chijli an Religion, bee calletb9Thv beginning of our Confidence! yea% and of our Spirit stall Subftftance\ <u the word in the Originall im~ porteth. Then, i.Tbe Gofpell is the be-
ginning of our Confidence; yea, and of our Syiri* tuall Subfiftance 5 of our new beeing that wee haue,, as Spirituall Men, in the State of Grace. 2. The man thai renounceth the Groundes of the Gofpell, and
pcricvcicth
Hsbr. Chap. III. yx
|>erfevereth not, was never part-taker of CHRIST. 5. Chrirtian Religion is not a thing that a man may fay, and vnfay ; keepc, or quyce ; as Profperitie, or Adverfitie; Threatninges, or Allurementes, doe of- fer : But fuch as mull in all Eftates , vpon all Ha- zard, bee avowed.
Verf. 1 5 . Why left it is faydc, Today, if y ec will hearc His Voyce, harden not your heartes, as in the Provocation.
Verf. 16. For, fome, when they had heard > did provoke: how-be-it not all that came out of <£gypt by Mofes .
NOfe, the Apoflle dravetb Colletthns from the hordes of the fropbet in the P s a l m e, r*. f eating the hordes of the Text, •tobiebfteakeeftbe $io)H)cation of the Fathers, verf. Jj. Whereupon bee inferretbt That there were fome , at leajt,beams if the jVord^bicb provoked GO©; albeit not all. lor *tobofe taufe , David badreafon to giue Adwtife- went to their Pojltriticytobewe oj the lying; and the icryter of the hpifile^eajonto applje the fame \-nto tbem% verf. 1 6. Th!N,i, From the Apo-
llle's handeling of the Text which hee hath in hand, all muft Leakne, Not lightlie to pafTe Scripture^ but to confider both what is iayd expreffelie in it,and what is imported by confequence. 2* Preachers
Sradlife is juftified, when they confider the circum- ances of a Text, and doe vrge dueties vpon their people, or teach them do&iinc frum the Text.
D 1 frr/ii-. Birt
£» He s R# Cir**. Ill,
Verf.ij. But, with whom was Hec grie- ved fourtic yeares? Was it not with them that had finned 5 whofe carca- fes fell in the Wilderneffe ?
ZJEB'cbfertetb another thing inbis Text,)>pOHtbt perfons with •tobom G0<D was griend : tbatj fir ft, they art marked, to baue finned ; dud afterwards punifhed • Leaving to them to Gather,
That where Sinne went before , the Anger of GOD would followe vponthe Sinne: and, after the grieving of GOD, Iudgement light vpon the Sinner .
Verfe.i%. And, to whom fware He, that they fhould not enter into His Reft, but to them that believed not 1
Pcrf. x p. So wee fee, thati they could riot enter in, becaufe of vnbeliefe,
0££ bath jet another ObferMtion, vpon the na* ture of the Sinne, thereby GO® ^as pwo- fydto ftoeare their damnation that finned\ that it 'fytf Vnbeliefe , verf. 1 8. Andfomailie deducetb bti do* Urine by conference-, That Mifbtliefe didfloppe the Sinners Entrie into the %efi, and made the Sinner t& lye \nder an impoftbilitie of entering, verf, 1 9. The *fe $ft»bicb DaHrinebee prejfctb in the next Chapter # Th 1-mv u The Apoftie leaveth vs to gather, That aboueall other Sinnes, Misbeliefe provoJccth- 6 O D to indignation raofte; $. That as long as
this Sinntf
Hebr. Chap. IIL 53
this Sinne lyeth on, and getteth way, it is impoflible for a man to enter into G O D'S Reft. This Sinne alone is able to fecludc him .
^hefummeofQhap. IV.
HEE preffeth theyfe of the former Do<3rinc, faying in fubflance, Therefore, bee feared, to bee debarred from G O D'S Reft, Verf. z. For wee haue the offer of it, as well as they 5 onelie hcere are the oddes , They believed not , Verf. z. But wee, who doe bclieue, enter into a Reft, as Da- vid's wordes import. For there are three Rcfts in the Scripture , which may bee called G O D'S Reft*. 1. G OD'S Reft vpon the firft babbath: 2. The Reft of Canaan, typicall: 3. The Spiritual! and true Reft of G O D'S People, in CHRIST'S Kingdome, which is a Delyverance, andceaflzng from Sinne, andMiferie. David doeth notmeanc of the Reft of che Sabbath, in his Threatniog * be- caufe , albeit the Worke of Creation was finiihed in the beginning of the Worlde , and that Reft come and gone j yet David fpeaketh of another Reft after that , in the word of Threatning , Verf 3. That G OD'S Reft was paft at the founding of the World, is playne from Mofes wordes, Verf 4. After which Reft, David fpeaketh heere of another Reft, Verf. f • Wherein feeing Vnbelievers entered not , Believers muft enter, Verf. 6. Agayne, David meanah not of the Reft of Canaan : For , after they had, a long
re, dwelt in Canaan , David yet fetteth them a D 3 da?, due
54 Hebiu Chap* IV.
day, during which they might enter into GOD'S Reft, Verf. 7* For, if the Reft of Canaan, which Ie- fus, or Iofua, gaue vnto them, had beene this true Reft , then David would not hauc fpoken of anothei Reft after that, Verf. 8. Butfpeake hec doeth. There- fore, there is a Reft befyde thefe, even that Spiritual JReft, proper to G OD'S People, Verf. y . I call thi a Reft; becaufe, when GOD'S People ceafetodo< their oWne workes « and will , it is lyke GOD'! Reft, Verf. 10. Therefore, let vs beware to bee de barred from this Reft, by Vnbeliefe,as they were Verf. ii* For, GOD;S Word is as efFeftuall now as ever it was, to difcover the lurking Sinnes of th< Heart, howfocver men would clcake them, Verf. u And GOD, with whome wee haue to doe,feeth v throughlie, Verf. 13. But, rather , feeing wee hau fb gre^t encowragement , to get Entrie througl I E S V S CH RlST , fo Mercifull and Pittifull ai High Prieft, Verf. 14 if. let vs bee ftcadfaft in ou Fayth, and come , confidence , to get GOD*' Grace, to helpe vs through all Difficulties in the wa; to that full Reft, Verf. 16.
The DoBrine of Chap. I V.
Verf. r. Let vs^ therefore y fcare5 left; Promifebeeing left vs, of entering in to His Reft, anie of you fhould feem tocomefhortof it.
I- ▼ N the Exhortation beelayetb dovmc tbisgroum J^ That there is a Tromife of Entrie to tbu %/i t left mo V; , Thbk, i, The Entri
inc
Heb r. Chap, IV. yy
into GOD'S Reft is caften open to the Chriftiaa Church , and encowragement given, byorie&and promife of entrie. a.Whyle it is today this pro- mife and invitation to it, is left vnto vs, notwithftan- dingthat manie by-gone occafions of getting good, and doing good, bee fpent, and away, 3. As long as this Mercifull Offer and Promife is kept to the fore vnto vs. wee fhould ftirre vp our felues, to lay holdc on it, in tyme.
2. Tbercfore9htYs feare$lefianic tfjoufeemc to co me fh or t of it. The fiwilitude is borrowed from the pryce of a %dte . then, 1. A Race
muft bee runne , ere wee come to our full Reft. 2. The conftant Runner to the ende, getteth Reft from Sinne aud Mifcrie, and a quyet Pofieffion of Happinefle, at the Races ende, 3. The Apoftate, and heewho byMisbeliefe breakcth offhisCourfe, and runneth not on, as may bee, commeth ffiort, and attayneth not vnto it. 4. The Apoftafic of forae,and pollibilitie of Apoftafie of moe Profeflbures, fhould not weaken anie man's Fayth; but, rather, terrifie him from Misbeliefe. jr. There is a right kynde of feare of perifhing; to wit, fuch as hindereth not affii- rance of Fayth, but, rather, ferveth to guardeit, and fpurreth on a man to Perfeverance. 6. We muft not onelie feare, by misbelieving to comefhort; but to feeme, or giue anie appearance of comming fliort.
Vcrfi. For, vnto vs was the Gofpell preached, as well as vnto them : but, the Word preached, did not profite them, not beeing mixed with Fayth in them that heard it.
D 4 i.Tor»$kc
i
^nnOw^etie Example tbe more to vrgtbeira A fc* t /"^rtfr. Tfo Gofyell was puatbtdto tbm tibmt GOD debarred, for Mifitliefe > from His %ejt. THEN, i. The EvWell was preal
chedintheWilderneffe, for fubftancebf Trueth, alt -beit not in fuch fulneffe of Do&rine, and clearnelTc of Trueth, as'now i. The preaching of it in clear- sieffe now, muft make the Misbelievers of it, in no iefle danger of beeing debarred from that R ell, than | jthc olde tfraelkes, yea, rather, in more.
t. The caafe of tbeir debarring, is, The Word \ ] was not mixed with Fayth in them: anifo fro- ftedthemnot.] then, i. As a Medicinall
Drinke muft haue the due Ingredientcs mixed with it; fo muft the Word haue Fayth mixed with it; joy- niflg itfelfewithall the partes of the Tructh, dole- lie- %. Fayth can wall with nothing , nor bee mixed With anie Tructh > but the Worde : and the Worde Will not joyne, nor wall , nor m&e, with Conceats, Opinions, Preemption, but with Fayth : that is, it Will 'bee receavednot as a 'Conjecture, or poffible Truetbs- but for Divine, and infallible Trueth : elfe» it profited! not. 5. Hearers of the Worde , may blame theifc Misbc liefe, if they get not profite. 4, Al- beit a man get light by the Worde, and fome tailing of temporarie Ioye, and Honour, and Riches alfo, by profeffingor preaching of it, yet hee receaverh ©ot profit, except hee get entrie into GOD'S Rcf? shereby : for, all thefe turne to Convi&ion.
firf.i* For 5 wee which haue believed, ] 4pe emerinto Reft, as Hee faydcy As:
I haue-
HEBjl. CHAP, iy} 57
I haue fworne in My Wrath, if they fhall enter into My Reft, although the workes were finifhed from the foun- dation of the Worldc.
R<*de thefummeofthis Chapter, Vcrf.%. 3. f. ' fir ilt*rl»g of kit rcafomng*
JJ££ pnomb, tb*t §elie*ers enter into GO<D'S tiffti becauf: GO© excluded >hy His Thread nmgtKfi(btlie*trsonilit9 then, 1. Fearful! Threacninges of the Wicked, earrie in their Bofomc fweeteit Promifes to the Godiie, and^ the Faythfull. 2, Believers get a beginning of this Reft in this WorIde,tmd a Pofleffionof it, in fomc degrees, by Fayth. Their Dcliveric from Sinne and toiferie, isbegunne, Their Lyfe, and Peace, and Ioye,is begunne.
Verf.$. For, Hee fpake5 in a certayne place, of the fcaventh day, on this wyfc; And GOD did reft the fea- venth day, from all His Works.
Verf 5. And in this place agaynes If they fhall enter into my Reft.
OE£ comptrelb plates of Scripture, and fl?mth
*fa fignifictiions of <Hjjl . Then, i. Words in Scripture, are taken, in fun- drie places, in fundrie figniiications. 2 . Companion of places, will both ihow the diverfe acceptions of anie worde, and the proper meaning of it, in eyerie place * ,,
£8 Hfc,15K. LHA1MV.
ferf.6. Seeing, therefore, it remayneth, that Tome muft enter therein ; and they to whome it was firffc preached entered not in, becaufe of Unbeliefe.
TBe fullfentenceoftbefixt Verfejsthis; Seeing, therefore, it remayneth,that fomemufl enter in; and they to whome it was firftprea ched, entered not in, becaufe of Vnbeliefe 5 it
^snll follow , by conference , that Believers doe enter in* This Utter fane U not exprejfed in the Text, but left V»fo ysf to gather, by conference. Whence we Iearne, 1. That GOD alloweth vs to drawe confequences from His Scripture. 1. Yea, trayneth ts on, by His owne Example, to drawe them foorth by reafon. 5. Yea, Hee will, of neceffitie, force vs to draw confequences from His Wordes; or elfe, not let vs vnderftand His Meaning, by leaving fome- thing not expreifed, to bee colle&ed by vs,
Verf.y. Agayne, Hee limiteth a cer- tayne day, faying in David, To day3 after fo long a ty me5 as it is faydc, To day* if yee will heare His Voycc,har- den not your heartes.
IN tbtt bee reafonelh from the circum (lance of tjme$yben$)awdWeYed thefe wordes, hee tea- cheth>x9 That oftentymes there is matter of .great moment imported in the leaft circumftances of ifar Scriptures wry ting ; and, therefore, that the cir-
cumfoncf?
Hebr. Chap. IV- 59
cumflances of tyme, place, and perfon, who fpea- keth, and to whome, agd at what tyme, &c. fhould not beepa(Tedover,inourconfiderationof a Text; but diligcntlie bee marked.
Verf.S. For, if I E S U S had given them reft, then would Hee not aftcrwardes haue fpoken of another day.
rerfg. There remayneth, therefore, a reft to the people of G O D.
Pcrf 10. For Hee that is entered into His Reft , Hee alfo hath ceafed from His owne workes , as GOD did from His.
I. T^ HIS retfening from the tyme of flavufs -I jf>ea}{ing , Showeth, How infalli- blie they were ledde that wrote the Scrip :ure; that they could not fayle in fetting downc a wordc ; nor fpeake one worde , that could crofle anie other worde , fpoken by anie other Prophet, before, or after .
2 ♦ ©d> id taught of the Spirituall 5^tf In his tyme* and fo did Mojes . Then, i, The olde
Church was not ftraytned with earthlie promifes Co, but that they had Heavenlie and Spirituall Promi- fes given them alfo , as fignified by the earthlie and typicall promifes. 2. Their types had fomeftarrc- light of interpretation : and„ they were taught to looke through the vayle of Ceremonies and Types. 3. Hee }Ayetb)Hee tbtt u entered fatoHis 1{eH*
ceaftth ^k
0© HSBR. Ohap. IV#
s eafetb from Bis ott»e 1eor\es9 Thbm, i. Before a man bee reconciled to G O D, by Fayt in CHRIST, hee is working his owne workes,doiri hisowne will, and not GO EX'S. a. Heeiswoi king, without ccafing, his owne vnreft, and his own torment, which hee procureth, by working his ow» Will. 3. The Man that thinketh hee is entered int GOD'S Reft, mull bee GOD'S Worke-man, am no more worke what pleafeth himfelfe , but wha pleafcth GOD: ceafinc from finfull workes , aa< doing what is lawfull, and good, in way of obedieno vnto Him •
Verf. xi. Let vs labour, therefore, to en- ter into that Reft . left anie man fall, after the fame example of vnbeliefe.
!« TN tbe tbirAterfebee faydejbe Selie+ersenfa «* red into G0 2/S %ett: Been Utexbortetb tbt$eliewt> to labour, to enter into it •
then, 1. The Rtil of G O D is entered into by degrees, a- They who haue entered , muftftu- tjie to enter yet more; going on , from Fayth to Fayth, and from Obedience, to farther Obedience, and from Grace to Grace, till they haue gone all the W2y that leadeth vnto Glorie.
2. Hee reqttyrttb Labour dnd Diligence, to enter in. Tke h , i, G O H'S Reft, is no reft to the fleihj kuc Reft to the Soule , as ( M a tt h. xj. 29. ) CHRIST promifeth. z. Without Care and Dili- gence , a man can not promife to hftiifelfe to enter in : Forthe Way is called Strayt which leadeth ynto Heaven,
t. Heerei
j« Heerequyretb tbisViligenee > left 4 man fall,, is the Ifraelites did. Then, As fomc of
the Ifraelitcs fell in a temporall misbeliefe, and drew on temporall judgementes vpon themfclucs, as Mo. fes and Aaron : So may Profeflbures now alfo doe; even Eledh Agayne, as fome fell in vnbeliefe with hardened heartes , yea, inobltinate misbeliefe, and perifhed in their finne : So yet amongft Profeffours, feme may fall into obitinate misbeliefe, and perifli, fcxeept they giue diligence , to make progreffe to- wardes their Reft,
Vtrf. 12. For the Worde of G O D is
quicke 5 and powerful! , and fharper than anie two-edged Sworde , pear- ring even to the divyding a-funderof Soule and Spirice, and of the Ioyntes and Marrow, and is a difcerner of the Thoughts, and Intents of the Heart,
I ♦ T Eft ante pmtd p?ift tff this Tbmtningi u -*— ' expyred Kith tbofe to vbome it VM fir ft {]?$• 7en\ er cUahjt and' dtjfmbU their fanes, and purpofc fdefeUion^henthty ftjould fee their tyme; bee let* etb tbexn knote tbeTovtr of the m*de% and of GOV, beir Vaitie. Then, The vfe, extent, and
mure of GOD'S Worde, muft bee well fludied; eft through mistaking, ot ignorance heereof, aroaa hould misapply, or mi/Tregarde it.
x. The fir ft propertieof tUmtit%itu Quicfcc: Fbat is9 ditth mt vim tbofe die 1 9 Ttbmt fir ft it w
directed
61 HEBJl. tHAMV.
HreUed ; but enduretb,fpeakjng on *toitb that fame sti* thritie, to all tbat bean it, in all tyrnes after.
Then, The Word is not a dead Letter, nor et< pyred with former Ages : but the fame to vs that it was before to others; fit for operation, and working the worke for which it is fent , for convincing , or converting the hearer alway.
3. Jgayne,it is Powerfull; That is9not fitteto •tooi^e onelie9 but attiue> and operatiue% in effect: atiuaU lie bynding tbe Confcience to obedience , or judgement, maks tbe Sinner *tobat oppofition bee xrilL Tea, it fal kth a-Tvorking on tbe bearer , if bee belieue it, prefent lie to clean bis wynde , re&ife bis w//, andu forme bis Iyfe$and to bring about bis good and fafetie. If a wan belieue it not, it falletb a-wrkjng alfo, prefent lie tobinde bim guiltie9)mto judgement , and toaug went bis narurall blyndnejfe, and bis beartes batdnejfe, and to bring on fome degree of tbe deferred punijhment Vpon bimjelfei albeit not of it* ovme nature, but by tbi difyo/ition of tbe Objeft v>bere)>pon it tcor^etb.
Then, i. The Worde wantcth not the owne, erfeft, whenfoeveritis preached; but alwayes hel- peth,or hurteth, the hearer, as hee yeeldeth to it, el rejeð, or negleð it. 2 . Wee fhall doe well to obferue what forte of operation it hath vpon \ss feeing it muit hauefomej that wee may bee framed to' the better, by it.
. 4. Jnatber propertie of tbe Worde : It is (harper than anie two-edged Swordei becauft it pearcetl fyeedilietboro'to a brafen 2>W, anddiffewbling counte mmc, and a lying mouth, and tbmfietb it felfe^l
tfout fujf&
;
\
boutfuffering refiftdnce, into tbe confeienceoftbe mjl ,bjiinate, witbafecretbloW, andmaketbbimguil. h within bis owne $reajl ♦
Then, i. Let not Preachers thinke their la- K>ur loft, when they haue to doe with obflinatc fin. lers • The ftroke is given , at the hearing of the tVorde, which will bee found vncured after. 2.Ney - her let diflemblers pleafe themfelues, with a fayre :ountenance put vpon the matter ; as if the Worde lid not touch them : but, rather, giue Glorie tc SOD, in tyme, when they are pricked at the heart. :or if they ftill diflemble the wound receaved of this Sworde , the wound fliall prooue deadlie .
4# Pearcing even to the dividing a-funder >f the Soulc, and the Spirit : That is, Tbofc mojl ecret detyfes and plottes ofthemyndeor (pirite,ani bofe clejfeft affettiovs of the heart or foulc, towardes nie forbidden eVill% this Worde trill fnde out : yea; it An diyyde d-f under tbe Soule and the Spirit, the heart \nd tbe tnynde, and tell tbe man bow bis Soule or heart lea^etbtotbe finne^andhowbis mynde plottelb pre* tnfeSy to hyde tbe rtillofit from biwjelfe, and others, Vfo in tbofe fmnes which haue not broken foorth,but n as derne in the mynde, as the marrow in the bones* \nd it can put difference betwixt tbe pur pofes of tbe eart, and the tbnugbtes, bow to compajjetbe deftgnc9 nd bowe to byde tbe convoy. Or tbofe wayes howe tbe inner doeth begnyle bimfelfe, and fee\ttb to fyle tbe . yes of others , tbe Worde doeth decypber, and dijtin- tifb all tbe[e tbinges wbitbfelfe*dttcawngfopbi[trk fifouudelb.
THUS, x.
Then, i # Secret purpofes fall vndcr the juc^etf torie of the Word, as well as pra&ifes accomgliflicd a. Pretenies and excufes will not put offthechal- lenge of it. 3, Nothing remayneth , but that we< giue vp our felues to the Wordcs Governament Seeing what it difchargeth, and following what i commaundeth .
Verf. 13. Ncyrheris there anie creature that is not nianffeft in His Sight : but all thinges are naked, and opened vntc the eyes of Him with whom we hluc to doe.
HP Oclure the p^et tf thi.yVoidyhe bringttb h 1 the prbpiriie &f GO®, wbofe fVotde it is^am fettelhvp the Sinner's fecret thought,™ the fight oj the AlUfeehg GOV.wib dehorn bee hath to doe*
Then, j, GOD is the Partie with whome th hearer of the Worde hath to doe, and hath his Rec koningtb make, and not the Preacher. 1. GOl ioyneth with His Worde, andgivethit that fear ching , and difcovering , and pearting Vertuc
j. GO DS Omoifcience, and All-feeing Sight fihould make vs looketoour inward difpofitionj I {hall this , and other lyke Exhortations, and Threai ningeS, haue better effect and fruit in vs.
Verf, 14. Seeing , then , that wee haue great HighPueft, thatispaffed ind the Heavens , I E S U S 5 the Sonnj ofGOD, let v$ holde faft our Proij
HEBR. CHAP. IV. 6$
i. V "TEE givctb tbtm aftirctfionyfor enterfoginm Jl JL to then %etf ; To hoide fail their 1'ro- fefiion 5 Z /?*£ # , Infytb and hue to a\ov tie Voilrine of CHRIST.
THEN, i. Hee th.it would enter into Reft, rfcuft bee fteadfaft, in mayntayning, and avowing the true K eligion of C H R i S T . 2 . Hee who quy teth the .Profeflion of the Trueth of CHKST, taketri courfes tocutteoffhimfdfe from GOD'S Refti tor , if wee denye CHRIST, Hee will denyc \s.
i.Bee cmmauridclhtTo holde faft ourProfcf* fion. Then, i . G O D will not bee
ipJeafedwith backe-flydir:g , or coldryfneiTe , or in- difference in matters of Religion; becaufe this is not to hide it fali\ but to take a Ioofe grippe $ which is the teadie way toDefe&ion. 2. Ihere isdaunger, Left our Adverfaries pull the Trueth from vs. 3. Thd more daunger wee fore-fee, the more ftronghe muft Wee grippe the Trueth.
3« The EKcwrflgmenftobnb Ice gftetb to loldt
f*tt> it, Wee haue CHRIST5a great high
Prieft, eff. Thfn, i. As wee haue
reede of Threatning, to dryue vs to enter into GODS Reft j So haue wee neede of Encowrage- mentes, to drawe vs therevr.to. H All our Fncow- rasement, is from the Helpe which wee (hall haue in CHRIST: and that isfufficient. 3. CHRIST is alwayes for vs in His Office, albeit wee doc not dwayes feele Him fenfiblic in vs.
4. Vetctlktb CHRIST, A great high
^rieft • uput different Unixt the tjpcall b%b
E frittt.
66 HJC.BK. <^Hm^. IV,
friett>ar,dHimin vbomtbetrueth oftbeVrieflbooi is found* Thcn, What the typicall high
Prieii did in fliow for the people, that the great high Prieft doeth in fubftance for vs: That is, reconcileth vs to GOD perfe&lie , blefH th vs with all Blei- finges folidlic, and intercedeth for vs perpetuallie.
S. tie* afimetb of CH%IST, That Heeis faffed into the Heavens 5 to Tcit , in regarde of his Manhtdd to take fojfeflion thereof, in our name.
Then, i. CHRIST'S corporall prefence, is fa Heaven onelie, 2nd not on earth, from whence He is parted, x. CHRIST'S corporall prefence in Hea ven, and abfence from vs, in that refpeft, hindereth not our Right vnto Him , and fpirituall having , 01 poflefling of Him. 3. Yea, it is our Encowrageroent, to fceke cntric into Heaven , that Hee is there be- fore vs .
G. H?e calletb Him I E S U S5 the Sonne
Or GOD;(e leade *;> through His Humamiie, Vwfo His Godhead. Then, No R efl on th
Mediator, till wee goe to the Rockeof His Goc head, where is firength, and fatisfa&ion to Fayth.
Verf. 15. For, vvee haue not an high Prieft which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmitiesrbut was, in all poyn&cs t tempted Jyke as wee are; yet without finne.
*• A N«firr Encortowgmtnt is from the Merci- *\full and Companionate toitfofition of out
HEBR. CHAP. IV. €7
high Triett^bofe Kdtare.and Ofce.and Experience, mtyh H'\m> that Hee can not bee, but touched vitb $ur infirmities, both. Jwnefkll , and ftunclcjfc infirmi- ties, of$odic, Eftate, or bdynie.
THEN, r/Hce praeluppofcth, that the Fayth- full are fubjedt to infirmities, both of fmne, and mi- ferie; and, by rcafon thereof, to difcowragementes, and dafhing of their fpirite. i. CHRIST doeth pittie the infirmities ot the Faythfullj their Povertie, Baniihment, Sicknefle, Gnefe, yea, their finnefull Paflions, and Perturbations, and fliort-coroming in holie Dueties ; Hee is companionate in all thefe. Therefore may our Fayth gather ftrength from His Pittie, to beare thefe the better 5 and ftryue agaynft our finntfullneffe, with the greater Cowrage. And, in the fenfe of our infirmities, wee fhould nor Hand abacke from CHRIST; but goe to Him the ra- ther, as to a companionate Phyfician, who can and will helpe vs.
2, To giue W ajfurance of His Companion, bee fbowtb»s,tbdt Hee tnu,in all poynites, tempted lykf Wtoee a*e, yet Without fwe. Then*
i. CHRIST hath experience of all tryalls where- in anie of His fervantescan fall; of Povertie, con- • tempt of the worlde; of bceing forfaken by friendes* of Exyle; lmpnfonment, Hunger, NakednefTe, Wat- ching, Wearinc/Te, payne of Bodie,da(hing of Mynde, heavine/Te of Heart, Dolour, Anguilh,and Perplexi- tie of fpirite ; yea, of difertion to fenfe $ yea, of the Wrath and Ciirfe of G O D j the feeling whereof may juftlie be called A dejeending to HW/jC H K 1ST, iir His owne experience knowcth what all fuch exer-
yki are, t . Thefe His experiences, and fufferinges, E z are Pawns.
6S HE BR. CHAP. IF.
are Pawnesto vs of His Companion onvs in fuck cafes; fo that we may asccrtaynlie belieuc the Com- panion, as the Paflion.
5. HeetnA^tb exception efSinne, whereof hee Wasfree^butmtof bU beeing tempted toSimc.
THEN, u Albeit our L O R D bee free from i committing finne , yet Hee was not free from beeing tempted to finne : and fo can pittie our weaknefle, j when wee are overcome of it. z . His beeing free of j finne, is our Comfort agaynft finne. For, if our Me* diator had beene defyled with finne, Hee could not haue wafhcd vs : But nowe Hee is able to juftifie vs, and fet vs free of finne aifo .
Verf. 16. Let vs5 therefore, come bold- lie vnto the Throne of Grace, that wee may obtayne Mercie, and finde Grace, to helpe in tyme of neede.
1 * T^'fyw tbefe EncQWdgementes, hee draweth an- ■F other Diretfidn, To come boldlieto G O D in f tdycrt fot ewie thing whereof wte jlandin neede.
THEN, The Apollle alloweth vnto the Belie- ver , r. Certayne perfwafion of the acceptation of hisperfon: hee biddeth him Come boldlie- i.Hee alloweth certayne perftvafion of the granting of his Prayers, in the matter namelie of Grace andMercie; Which includeth the Remiflion of finnes,
t. Tbe Throne of Grace, or the MerdeSe4te,Wd$ thaetbe drke, within the Santtuarie, and reprefentei SOP in CHRIST woncihd to Hti Ttylt,gami*
HEBR. CHAP. IV. 69
svi tnercifull Vntt tbcm. To this bte alludetb , and hj this tneanes Te achkth Vj ,
i# That the fubftance of that typicall Mercie feate, is to bee found in CHRIST vnder the Gofpell. In Him G O D is ever to bee found,on His Throne of Grace, 2. That the Vayle of the ceremoniall San- ftuarie, is rent in CHRIS T'S fuflfering , and an open doore made vnto the Holiell , vnto everie Be- liever , and not for the Higheft alone, to enter in. 3. That GOD layeth afyde His Terrour and Ri- gour of Iuftice, when His owne come vnto Him in CHRIST, and offereth acceiTe vnto the Throne of Grace, vnto them.
3. Hcemllhaue vscmmhg with boldneflc, to obtajnc Menie, including hmjelfe 'toitb the Faytlu full, and joynivg the meanttt of the ftythfuU, to "bhmebee wyteib9in the fame tthiledgt yritb bixn- fclfe Then, i . Free libertie to expound
ail our mynde toGOD, as the word imported*, without employing the mediation of Sayndt or An- gell, or anie beiyde CHRIST, is one of the Pri- Viledges of Chriflian Religion. 2. 1 his Privilcdge is common to the meanell of the Fay thfull, with the chieffeft Apoftles. 3. There is Mercie to bee had for fuch as come for remooving of everie finne, and remedic of everie miferie .
4* Uee fettetb before them the bofe of Grdce,to belteintj/tneofneede. Importing Herfby, 1. That albeeit, for the prefent, poffiblie, wee bee not touched with the fenfc of Wantes, Strayts, and Difficulties, yet wee are to cxpeft, that tyme of ncede will come. 2 .That it is good to fore-fee this, and E 3 make
7© HEB R. CHAP. IV.
make provifion, in thetymc of Grace, in this accep- table Daye , whyle G O D is on His Throne of Grace. 3 . That our Prayers, if they get not an an- fwere prefentlie, yet {hall they get ananfwerein the tyme of neede. When our Neede commeth, then fhall our Helps come alfo •
mm
The fumme of Chap. V%
IHaue called I E S V S, the Sonne of G O D, a Great High Prieft , becaufe the Leviticall Pneftes are but a refemblance of Him, and that in their impetfeft meafure. For , looke what Office they had, Verf« 1. What properties were requyred in them , Verf. 2. $. Howe they were called to their Office, Verf. 4* A fayrer Calling hath CHRIST, and to an higher Pnefthoode, Verf. $. 6, I called Him a Companionate high Prieft, becaufe Hee tookc on our frayle nature, and had experience of fuch troubles as ours, both outward, and inward, Verf,7« For, the meafure of the Mediator's obedience, albeit Hee was the Sonne , requyred adhiall and experi- mentall fufFering: elfe, the pryce had not afluallie beene payed for vs , Verf. 8. And, nowe, beeing throughlie fitted for His Office by fuffering , Hee M become the Caufe of the falvation of all thatfollow Him, Verf 9. Authorized for that ende,of GOD, after the Order of Melchifcdek ; which Order u more perreft than Aarons , Verf. 10. Of which myfterie I rrmft fpeake with greater difficulties fot your incapacity, Verfe, 1 1 . For yee haue neede yet
more tfl
HEBR. CHAP. V. {71
tnorc to bee catechized in the Rudimentcs of Reli- gion , as Babes, Verf. n. For, fuch are they to whome eafie do&rine mull bee propounded, Vtrf.i 3, But harder do&rines , arc for rypcr Christians f Verf.i*.
Tbe VoBrines of Chap. K
Verf. 1 . T?Or , evcrie High Prieft taken x. from araongft men, is orday- ned for men, in thinges pcrrayning to G O D ; that hec may offer both gift* and facrifices for finnes.
I. T 1EB felteib dctone tbe properties of tbe fcgb *-A fueAl ib*t bee migbt fho^e ibe tmetb of them in C H \l S f. firtt,tbt peoples comfort did req yre.tbat the ht^b Viicsl jhouldbee a wan : So is C H K I S T a Man, way led out from amongft men. The Flovvre of all the hlock?. Therefore we- may Come the morehomclie to Him.
t. Tbe bigb friett^Mordayned for men\ that is, •ft 06 appoyntcd to employ all hu Office for mens good. So doetb CHRIST: therefore may wee atpeSt that hee will doe for vs, as Mediator, what hec can ; and that is , all that wee neede.
3. Tbe bigbfrUWs Office reached to all thinges fettayning to G 0 Dj to communicate G 0 ;D%S wll *ntotbe people, and to lay before GO© tbe peoples I^cefiities. So doeth CHRIST'S Office to all
7* Hebr. Chap. V.
the bufineiTe betwixt G O D and vs, for working in vs Repentance, and Amendcment; and making pur perfons, and fcrvice, acceptable to GOD: and therefore, in nothing may wee paffc by Him .
' 4, Infiecialljtbe friett behooved to ojfer Giftes 4nd Sacrifices for Sinne^ for wnowingof Wi&ib% and obtaymng of Favour. So hath CHRIST done, and f lillfilled the type in thispoyn&alfo : therefore, by Him muft wee obtayne the good which we craue, and haue the evill remooved which wee fcare.
Ferf. 2. Who can haue compaffion on the ignorant, and on them that are out oftheway5for that flee Himfelfc al- io iscompafled vvithinfirmiue.
I , T T F5 goelh on in the Comparifon : The typicall + ■ -* high frieil behooved to bee companionate on the Sinner : So in tructh is Chrifr, even as the mife- rie requyreth, proportionallie , as the words im- porteth .
1. Beema\eih Wo fortes of Sinners , Ignorantes, d$d Tranjgrejfowes* Then, Though there bee difference of finners, yet no (inner, that fceketh So Chrift, is fecluded from His Companion.
3. Follo^eth a dijfeience , ferving to advauna thiH% abouethe typicall fries!. The high Priest typicall, V>m compajfed Wth infirmities; net onelie fcnneleffe infirmities 7 but fmnefullalfo ; and fobchoo- \titt pittis others, CH\IST\ though not com*
fajfed
HEBR. CHAP. V. 7$
faffed Wtb ftnnefull infirmities, hut finneleffe onelie9 jet doelb pittie Sinners of aII fortes .
THEN, Looke what companion one /inner flight exped of another , as much may wee expe& of our finnelerTc Saviour .
Verf.%. And, by reafon heereof , hee ought, as for the people , Co alfo for himfelfe^to offer forfinnes.
A?lpt ber difference. Tfo tyftcall Ttiett bad need* of %emiflion of bis oivne jinxes, and the bene* fite of the true Sacrifice : Sat C H I{ I S T% be.aufe without fwne% offered Sacrifice onelie for our finnes9 and not for His owe.
then, All the Benefite of ChrilVs Sacrifice, commeth vnto vs .
4
Verf. 4. And no man taketh this honour vnto himfelfe3 but Hee that is called of G O D , as was Aaron.
HEE proceedetb in the Comparifon. The typical friett entered by autboriiit to bis Callings and •toot bonouiedbybis Calling: So entered Lbn(i. No man, fayetb bte^ taketh this honour vn- phimfelfe, but Hee that is called as was Aaron. Then, I. Ins an honour ta >ec called to ao Office in the Houfe of G O D. . The Calling is null, if it haue not GOD for the \uthor, and Caller. 3 . If a man take an Office, not E f appoyr.&ed
74 Hebr. Chap. V.
appoyn&ed of GOD, or intrude himfelfe into an Office, without a lawfull Calling, it isnokyndc of honour vntohim.
Verf. 5. Soalfo , C H R I S T glorified not Himfelfe , to bee made an High Prieft: But Hee that fay de vnto Him, Thou art My Sonne, to day haue I begotten Thee.
1 ♦ S~\ V% LO%p is commended, for not gk. V^/ lifting bitnfelfe, by iutrufton in hU Office. THEN , l.Such aspretendeto bee Chrift's fer- vauntes, jnuft beware to intrude themfelues into anie Office, and mult attende, asChnltdid, Godw Cal- ling, to God's Employment. 2. Hee that vfurpcth a Calling , doeth gloriric himfelfe, and taketh the honour that is not given him : for which hee muft giue a Reckoning,.
2. Thou art My Sonne, this day haue
I begotten Thee, doeib iwporte, by the Affiles tttcddgtngf wt onehe C H %l ST'S Godhead, and fDetU'timtobte GOD'S Senne \ butalfotbeVr clarmtn ef bmf To bee bigb fiiejl in bu M anbe*d\ t*ksn outfit** 4W0ngft men. So deepe are the Confluences of Scripture, when the spirit brin geth fooith his owne Mynde from it .
Verf 6. As Hee fayeth alfo in another place, Thou art a Prieft for ever, after the Order of Melchifedek.
mk HeeaBcdd
HEBR. CHAP. V- 75
TIE E alleadgetb another place , mote cleare. •* THEN, Howbecit Trueth may bee proven from one place, yet it is needfull alfo, for the hearers caufe , to allcadge moe places , till the hearer bee convinced •
Vtrf.^j. Who in the dayes of His flcfli, when Hee had offered vp Prayers, and Supplications, with ftrong Crying, and Teares , vnto Him that was able to faue Him from Death j and was heard, in that Hee feared.
Hfoingpwen CH\l S7'S Office ,bee f?o- Teeth bis Exercyfe of it > in offering for our fumes a more precioiaOblaiion than the typi* tali: Even bimfelfe, ieitb Teares, to Death*
In tbefe hordes , then, CHHIST u poyvBedtut *ntoy>s9 I. An High Prieft, taken from amongft men : a verie true Man, of ourfublhnce; Flefh, of our flefh. i. A Man, fubjeft to the finneleflc infirmities of our nature , as Gricfe , Feare , Mour- ning, Death. 3. Having a fee -ty me, during which hee was to beare thefeour infirmities, in the dayes of his flefh. 4. Exercyfing his Priefthe Office in thefe his dayes , and offering his precious Teares andCryes, yea, hislyfe, for vs. 5. One, who how-fo-ever Fcarc was vpon hi* holie Nature , yet knew hee fliould bee delivered from Death. 6. Who, as a Man, in confidence of dely verie, made P.aycrs to the Father. 7. Whofe Prayers are not refufed, but accepted, and heard, in our behaife. 8. And.
Thacchcfr
j6 HEBR. CHAP. V.
That thcfe his Sufferinges were ended , with the dayes of his Humiliation .
t . Tbefe J ties of Feare, and Team, (Stc. .are the proper Aiiet of his humane nature •
Then, i. As the Divine Nature had its owne A&es, proper to it felfe , fo had the humane Nature Aties, proper to it felfe alfo ; and fome A&es were commonto both the Natures: So of ChrilVs Ades, fome are divine, fome humane ; fome are both di- vine and humane. 2. As Man, hee was vnable to beare our Burthen, or to hclpc himfcife, and, there- fore , behooved to haue the helpe of the Godhead. 5. Albeeit hee was God, in his owne perfon, yet as Man hee behooved to take our rowme , and place, and pray for AfTiilance, both as Cautioner for vs, and Teacher of vs : to giue vs -Example , how to be- haue our felues in Straytes .
2. BEE feared J)eaib, and offered Prayers, *«i
Teares , and ftrong Ciyes : $ecaufey not ontiie
death temporall prefented it jelfe before bun 5 buty
•tobicb *toa* more , the Curfeofthe Law, the Father's
Wrath* for bitwe, dm he deferred by Vs, ^oa Jette in a
Cnppeto bto bead, fetich jbould banc ftoailo'toed him
V/> for ever, if he bad not, by the Wnbitieffe of his
ferjou. overcome it, and t#r*ed the eternall Wrath, and
Curje due unto v/, into a temporali Equivalent to bim-
felfe. T H f N , J . The fenfe of GO D'S
Wrath, whom will it not terrifye ? /ince it wrought
fo^on Chnft. And Nature can not choofe but feare.
when S.enie feeleth Wrath, 2. Felt Wrath,feeir.eth
to threaten yet more, and vvorfe : and, therefore,
ke/ide Feeling , doeth breede yet farther Feare.
J.Thf
Hebi. Chap. V.
77.
j.TheCurfe of God due to our finnes , virtuallie implying the deferved paynes of Hell, is more ter- rible than can bee tolde, and fuch as the creature can not choofe but feare, and abhorre. 4. Chrift's fuf- feringes were no phantafie, butverie earneit, vehe- ment, and terrible, f . No Weapon, nor Buckler agaynft Wrath, but fleeing to God, by Supplication, and Crying , and Tearcs .
j« Hee prayed to Him that Teas dble to fauehim3 dnd Was heard • Then, i, Albeit fenfe
of Wrath feeth no out-gate ; but blacke Feares are alwayes before it ; yet Fayth, looking to God's Om- nipotence , feeth an out-gate. 2. Chrift's Prayers in our behalfe, receaue no Repulfe , but are heard. S.Chrift both died, and was laved ftom Death al'b, becaufeit could not keepe dominion over him. So fhall wee bee faved from Death, though wee die.
Vcrf.%. Though Hee were a Sonne, yet learned Hee obedience, by the thinges which Hee fuffered.
TJFF remoo\>etbtbeftdnda!lcfhis Cn^t^ ly fit* Tclilg ike neccfiitie, snd \Je thereof- * Albert (Hee was the Sonne , yet He learned obedience jby thofe [hinges which Hee furTcrcd,
THEN, 1. In the tyrr.eof ChriiTs deepefl hu- Imiliation, the vnion betwixt his Gcdhead ard Man- Jiead was not loofed : hee remayncd the Sonne of ,God dill. 1. The Excellence of hi' perfen exemp- ted him not from fuffering , having orce taken on our debt. 5. Chrifl knewe what fufteiir.g was, be-
fore hee
78 He b iu Ch a p. V.
fore hec differed : but hee knew not by experience, till hee a&uallie fullered. 4. Chriit's holie Lyfe, was a parte of his Obedience to the Father: but his Obedience in fuflcring for our finncs, was Obe- dience in an higher degree. 5. To obey God by way of A&ion, is a common Leflbn, to everie holic creature* but, that a finnclefle, and holie perfon, fhould fuffer for finne, was a New Leflbn, proper to Chriftja Praffique which never patted, but in Chrift's perfen onelic.
Verfg. And becing made pcrfed,He be- came the Author of eternall Salva- tion, vnto all them that obey Him.
l,HpH5 Suffering of CHRIST is calld 1 his ferfeShu. Then, j , CHRIST though perfe& in his perfon , yet hee wanted fome- thing, to make him perfect in his Office, till hee dif- fered : for hee could not fatisfie the Father'^Iuftice, till hee differed ; nor yet could hee haue fellow-fee- ling from experience, of the miferies of his mem- bers. 1. After differing. Chrift Iacketh nothing that way pacific God, or comfort and faue finners.
1. The fmite folloieeth. $eefag perfetttd , ha u letorne the Jluthor of Saltation , to *li that obey him . T h E n , 1 , The proper caufe of our
falvarion , is to bee fought in Chrift , perfected by fuffering : not in anie one parte of his holinefle, 01 obedience in doing, or anie part of his fufFering5 but in him perfc £tai, by his obedience, even t© the death ©f the CrofTe. Wee may take Comfort from, and make vfe of, his holie Conception, Lyfe, and feveral
Vermes:
He » R- Chap. V. 79
Vertues : but wee mud remember, that his accoin- pliflied Obedience . in doing, and fuflfering, hour Ranfome , joyndlie confidered ; and not anie parti- cular Aft looked on alone. 1 . None ftould itumble at Chrift's fufFeringes , which perfected him in his Office, and lykcwyfe perfected our Ranfome to the Father. 3. Chriftfelt the Bitternefle of hisowne fufFeringes himfelfe : butw«cgot the fwecte Fruitc thereof; even Eternall Lyfe. 4* Onelie they who obey Chrift , can clayme Title to the Purchafe of Eternall Lyfe, by h!m. No'we, thefc are they who obey him, who in vprightneffe of heart beheue in his promifes, and aymc to drawe flreogth out of him, for newe obedience.
f erf. 10. Called of G O D, an High Prieft, after the Order of Melcni- fedek.
II H H pm^ttby that Chrift u Jetbor $f tterndtl Salvation, to bit Followers .from the nature $j bis
riettboodei'tobicbis EtcrnAlll not after Jspous Of' irr, but Mclcbifedetkt's. Then,
The nature of Chrift's Prieflhoodc, after Melchi- fedecke's Order , and the Father's authori ring him n the Office, is the Evidence of oar Eternall lalva- ion to bee had by him , with the Fathei's Appro- nation •
Trfi 11. Of Whomc wee haue manic thinges to fay, and hardetobee vt> tered, feeing yee arc dull of hea- ring .
Ztclng ti)
So HERR- CHAP. V.
BEEIKG to freaks wore of this Mytf*rie9 bft preparetb tbemf by cbechjng their dullnejfe } and advenifing them, of the dijficu'tte ofexprefiing him* felfe j bccdkfc of the fame. Then,
i. Even the Children of GOD are not free of this Difeafe, of flowneffe to conccaue Spirituall thinges aright. 2. The incapacitie of Auditors, will breede, even vnto the bell Preachers, difEcultie of expref- fing their mynde. ;. Preachers fnould rebuke the duilnefTe of people, to ftirre them vp the more.
Verfi2. For, when for the tyme yec ought to bee Teachers , yee haue needc that one teach you agayne which bee the firft Principles ofl the Oracles of G O D5 and are become fuch as haue need of Milk, and not of ftrong Meat.
I , O E E mahetb their Fault the worejecaufe hy tea< fou of tyme , they ought to bauebeenc Teachers:' that isyboih •totii grounded themfelucs, and Ub wing to ittforme others. THEN, i . As wee haue
had longer tyme to learne, fu fheuld wee make mon progreffe in knowledge. 2. As wee are rooted it knowledge our felues, fo ought wee to communicau ©ur knowledge f and inforrnc others.
1. Flee caliethihe Catethiztng of the Tgnorant,tbj
Teaching the firft Principles of the Ora j clesof G O D j and compared it to the gi*m
HE br. Chap, V. 8l
\f Milks* Then, t. Catechizing of the
ludeand ignorant, is the firll thing mull bee done, ior making found Chriftians. z. There is an order lo bee kept, in bringing men vnto knowledge : The iril Principles.and fundamentall Do&rines,muft firft >ee taught. 3 . Nothing is to bee taught, for groun- ding men in Religion, but GOD'S Oracles ; that vhich is in GOD'S Worde onlie, 4. The man- ner of teaching the Principles of Religion, fliould teeeafie, and playne, as Milke for Children*
7erf 1 1 . For,everie one that vfeth milke, is vnskillfull in the Word of Righ- teoufneflfe: For hee is a Babe .
CJ EE proowtb tbem to lee rude in knowledge, ly the defection of one wake in hpwledge, wbome bet 'alletb a $abe , vfing Milkgi **d Vnskillfull in the Word of Righteoufneffe : fo calleAJecaufe, hv> to bee rigbteonStis the Summe of the DoHrine ofiu
1 then 9 1. There are degrees of knowledge in Chriftianitie : Some are weake , lyke Babes ; fome* tiore inHrufited, & of full age. 1. All knowledge m Chriflianitle, is to bee reckoned by acquayntancc vith the Scripture , and Skill therein : Not by hu- Dane learning .
wf. 14. But ftrong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age 5 eventhofe who by reafon of vfe,haue their fen- fes exercyfed to difcerne both good and evill •
j 1. ffecs
S* HEBR. CHAP. V.
I . fJ H E defcrybetb tbeTvelLbflmtfed Christian
by his Me ate , and exercyfed Senjes* lb
Me ate that bee is fitte for , it jlrong Me ate : tba
is j more profeund Doctrine*
then, r. All the Scripture, and DoGrine fra< it, iseyther Milkc, or ftronger Mcate: butwhethe; this, or that, yet, alwayes,it is Foode, fitte for now- rifhment of mens foules. 2. Difcretion mufl bee vfed by Teachers , to fitte their Teaching, as thcij people are advaunced for Milke^or ftronger Meate; ft as they may befl bee fedde #
2 • For tbe exeYCyfe of bu Senfes^ or Wines, to difi terne good oretiH^, bee bath it by vfe , baYxte% and frc* quent acpaynting him/elf e Veitb Scripture.
Then, i. The vfe of the Scripture,and know- ledge gotten thereby , is to difcerne by it, what is good, what is evill; what is Trueth, what is Errour; what Is right, what is wrong. 2. Though Scripture bee the Rule , yet not everie one can take it vp, or make right application of the Rule, to the poynd in hand. 3 . To get a man's Wits exercyfed, requyreth frequent vfe of, and acquayntance with, the Scrip- ture. And, without this haunting our myndein the Scriptures, and obferving the LORD'S Counfell therein , a man can not bee able , albceit hee were verfed iu humane writs , to difcerne'falfe do&nne, from true .
Tk
HEER.'CHAP. VL 8 3
The fumme of Qhap. VI*
THEREFORE, alibeeit you bee rude, yet pra?fuppofing you are fo fetled in the groundes of Fayth, Repentance, Baptifme , &c. rhat you ihall not renounce them agayne , I will leade you on a little farther , if GOD pleafc , Verf 1. 2. 3. For, if after cleare convidtion of the Trueth, a man, voluntarilie, revolt , and fall awayc, Tom the groundes of true Religion, there is ney ther Repentance , nor Mercie , for fuch a man ; becaufe lee, maliciouflie, doeth what hee can, to put Chrift to as great afliame, asthofewho fii It crucified him* Verf 4. s. 6. And , as G O D blefleth thofe who bring foorth Fruits by his manuring of them/Verf 7. So is it jullice , that hee curfe fuch as growe worft after manuring , Verf 8. But I hope better of you, Verf. 9. As the Fruits of your Fayth giuc mee war- rand, Verf. 10. Onelie that you may bee more and more aiTurcd, continue diligent, Verf 11. And fol- iowc the Example of the Faythfull before you •> in lope of the Inheritance, Verf. 12. For, the Promiie made to Abraham, and the Faythfull his Children, is veric furc , confirmed by an Oath, Verf. 13. 14. And Abraham, at lad , obtayncd it, Verf. 15". For* as an Oath endeth flryfe amongft men, Verf. 16. So, toende our flryfe with GOD, in mifsbelieving of him, hee fware thePromifeto Abraham, and to his jfeede, Verf. 17. That vpon fo folide Groundes , as |are G O D'S Piomife, and G O DS Oath , wee F z might
S4 Hebr. Chap. Vis
might haue Comfort,who haue fled to CHRIST, and hope for his helpe, Ver£ 18. Which Hope, is as an /Vncre, which will notfuffervs to bee driven from Heaven, where CHRIST is eftabliilied, Eternall PRIEST, after the Order of Melchifc, dek , Verf. 19.20.
The Doctrine of Chap. V h
Verf. 1. HpHcreforc, leaving the Prin- f A ciples of the Do&rine of
CHRIST, let vs goe on, vntoPer. fj(Sion-? not laying agaync the foun- dation of repentance from deadc works, and of fayth towards GOD;
M.Y^KO M thefypnofe of their dttlnejfe, bee dra -t wtban Exhortation, To amende their pace and goe format des. Which Teacheth Vs That the confeience of our by-gone flippes , ant floathfullneffe, fliould bee a iliarpe fpurre, to dryu< vs to a fwifter pace, for overtaking of our Taske,
2* BeecalUtb the Principles of Religion, t& Principles of the Doarinc ofCHRIS T,
Then, 1. The Doflrineof CHRIST, is th( fumme of Religion. Hee that hath learned CHRIST well, hath learned all * 2. Nothing to bee taught it CHRIST'S Houfe, but His Doctrine, whkl eommeth from him , and tendeth to him.
3 . flee havttb tU fthciples$ and gpetb tn to fer
ftffw
Hebr. Lhap, VI. 5J
'eftiou* THEN, i ♦ There are two partes
of Chriftian Do&rine: one, of the Principles of Re- ligion; another, of the perfedlion thereof. 2. The Principles mull firil bee learned, and the foundation byde. 3. When people haue learned the Princi- ples , their Teachers muft advaunce them farther, iowardes Perfection,
4. liee fayetbi bee Veill mt laye agayne the founda- tion : pftjuppo/mg it u fo layde, <u it needctb not tfi beelayde agayne . Or, if tbty make Jpofiafie, after $nce layings cannot bee laydethejecondtymt.
Then, The groundesof Religion, mull bceftr- folidlie learned, as they may well bee bettered after- wardes, by addition of farther knowledge ; but ne- ver rayfed agayne : and muft bee fo foundlie belie- ved, as they never bee renounced agayne.
5. Heerechsnetb a number of fundamental! \>oyntt$ ef'Doiiiinez and prtf , of repentance iron? dead wot kes : fo bee calletb out ^cor\es9 before confer fton.
THEN, 1. It is a mayne poyndt of the Cate- chifme , to belieue, that all our workes , before re- pentance, and conver/ion, are but dead workes: that is , finnes making vs Iyable to death. 2. If repen- tance bee not learned from thefe workes, the reft of the Building wanteth fo much of the Foundation.
6. In joyningtbe Dotfrine of FaytbtM tbenext poynEt , Hee Giveth Vs To V n- derstakd. That it is as neceffarie a ground of Religion , to teach a penitent to belieue in GOD, as to teach the Believer to repent.
F S Verf
%6 Heeju Ch a p. VI.
Verf 2. Of the Do&rine of Baptifmes* and , of laying on cF Handes 5 and, of refurre&ion of the dead • and, of eternall judgement.
"i. TT HE Vottrineof <BAVTlS MES, in i~ the plurall number f bee makgtb a third fun- damental! fcottrine : And fo makftb it N e c e s- sarie, That the fignifications of Baptifme bee taught, that the people may learneto put difference fcecwixc outward Baptifme by the Minifter, which an hypocrite may haue, and the inward Baptifme by the* Spirit, which CHRIST beftoweth vpon his owne Ele<5l; and, that they bee inftrufted in the nature of this Sacrament , and the fignification thereof: yea, and of the Baptifme of furFering affli&ion for the Gofpell, wherevnto the outword iacrament of Bap- tifme obiiedgeth.
t* The fourth fundament all foyntt , of the J>o- Brine of the Catecbifme, bee mal^etbthe doctrine of the laying on of handes. Novp, handes Were in aj}e< ciall manner imp fed \ Fir ft, In the be [toeing ofSpi- tituall and tnhaculouAGiftes, for the confirmation of wrfc Convenes in the Ttimitiue Church, AcT.viij. 1 7. 1 8. Which endured vntill Chnftian Religion was fufficienilie confirmed Vnto theV/orUe^to bee divine. 2>{ext, Impofition of handes *toM \>fed in the Ordination ef Office-bearers in the Cbuicb> both Bxtraordinarie, and ordinarie , I. Tim. iiij, 14. and Chap. v. it* Act. vj. 6. THEN, In the Apoftle's
dteemation, it is neceffarie, for grounding of people
in Kcligiori|
Hb br. Chap. VL 87
Jn "Religion, that they bee inftruSed, not onelie how the LORD founded the Chriitian Religion, and confirmed it, by extraordinarie Giftcs of the holie Spirke, in the Primitiue Church : But, alfo. what Offices, and Office-bearers, hee hath ordayned, for ordinarie edification, and ruling, and mayntayning of his Church, vino the ende of the worlde : that they may acknowledge fuch as are fent of GOD, jand fubimt themfelues vnto them .
3. The Votttine of Hefurrettion of the dead 9 bee Ma1Ketb the fft poynclof the Catecbifme: and of the lajl ludgement , the jixt . Vnder which fixe* the fumme of Cbriftian Religion tvay bee compryzed $ and in this order wherein tbey Are jet downe,maybee bejl learned, believed, and made yfe of.
ferf 3. And this will wee doe, if GOD permit •
BT this wanner of fl?eacb, if GOD permit, bee Teachhth vx , 1 . That a Preacher's endevour to inflruS a people, can haue^ no fuccefifc, except GOD make way vnto him , and concurre with him. 2 . That hee who is bufied in the moft neceflarie parte of GOD'S Ser- vice, fuppofe it were in wryting Scripture let bee in ordinarie preaching, and wryting ; mufrdoe it with fub'iuffion to GOD , to bee (topped in the midll of his worke , and cutted fliort ; yea , and that in the midit of a meditated fpeach, if it fo pleafe GOD.
Vcrf.^.. For, it is impoffiblc forthofe F 4 who
S8 HEBR, CHAP. VI.
who were once enlightened, and haw tafted of the Heavenlie Gift , anc were made Part-takers of theHoli< Ghoft,
Verf. 5 • And haue tafted the good Won of GOD, and the Powers of th< World to come;
rerf.6. If they fhall fall away, to renev* them agaynevnto repentance: feeing they crucifie5to themfelues,the Sonn< of G O D a-frefh, aud put Him to ai open fhame .
*' A/1 JJiJ)^G t0 fime ^m *P* t0 m*^
.IV A piogveffe in l{no'ftledge , bee jettttb befit %bem tbe danger of Apojlafie. Then,
i. Hec praefuppofeth , Except they ftudie to mak< progrcrfle , they fliall goe backwardes : and tha going backwardes , tendeth to Apofta/ie : and tha voluntarie, and complete Apoftafie from known Trueth , doeth harden the heart from Repentance and cutteth off a man from Mercie. i. Hee accoun teth our naturall fecuricie fo great, that there is need< of moite fearfull threatninges, to awake vs out of it 3. That the onelie way to bee fred from Apoitafie is to bee ayming at a Progrefle .
Next, Observe, i ♦ That bee doetb 00. ftealiebeere efeverie finne agdynjljtywledge, Med indeed tboje beef ear full^nd dangtim\but o/Jpoftsf
Jrom
Hi br. Chap. VI. V?
ftom fyligion, and the DotlrineofCbrift. t. Not of ibeApoJiafie of I gnor antes, who never Were informed In the matter of Religion ; but Itghtlie came, and light- est vent awsy : ( alibeeit the jhame done to C hriji by them, is great } and grievoiu : ) but offucb, who af- ter illuminationy and feeling fomewhat of the power of the Truetb, doe revolt . 3 . Heefpeafytb not heere of Apojtafie of injimitie9 for feare9 in fitteofa paflion, or bajlie paffage of ones lyfe : (Bnt,ofa voluntaries and deliberate falling away, after clear e convittionofthe Tructb* This is thus Sinne agaynji the Wie G hoft% which heere bee fyeaketbof. 4. Bze doethnot pr<z- fuppofe heere, that an eltii Chylde of GO<Dt and re* newedy way fall into this Sinne : $ut> that a frvfef* four, and fome in the vifible Cbmcb, may fall away, and die in this Sinne. ( Now, J rProfef)outtyaybet endewedwith manie G\fies,*nd yet bee a Temporizer , and remayne Unrenewed in^ar dlie, and fo may pofiibiie fall into this III . ) Jnd, therefore, evene frefef- four fhould bee the more circumfj?ctt> becaufe of the popbilitte of fome mens Apoflafie; and the moredtli- gent to attayne to that Fayth which purifyetb the hearty and wotkgtb by Loue, which fayletb not. J. Itt telling what is thedaunger of afrofeffoufs Apoftafiet the Apojlle myndetbnot to weaken ante mans Faytb, or to difcowrage him from progreffe making : $ut, by the contrarie , his intention is , that men (Itengtben tbemfelues fo much the more in the Fayth. And, there* fore,fucb <u haue felt no more in their owne efteemu %ion} but thefe Tafiinges,fhould bee fo farfefrQm dif* V 5 cowragemwf.,
po Hebr# Chap. VL
cowagement, and faynthg, that rather they mufi looks to a necefitie Uydc upon them, to ma\e progrejfi in fayth,ani the fruites thereof, and to drawee man to GOD, *tobo can prefeme them from failing aioay.
$ut,bccaufe fome doe trouble tbemfelues^and other forne doe harden themfelues fa Errour9 by this place, Qu oar intended bretitiewlt fuffer ) let vj jludie to giub fome light to both. Comf ate this place, wth Verj. 9. 10. ??c> of this Chapter, to tbeende. Firjit in theft Verfesttbe x* 5* and 6. bee is jpeahjng of Profef- foures ingen&tiiliConditionalliG. fiutverft). lo&c* bee is freaking to the true Believers among ft the] Hebrews , parilcularlie .
A. TT Ere inthefe Verfes, are glorious Giftes9 lllm &~\ minathnt and tajling ofSftfituall tbingoA There in tbofe ^erjeSjis Fay lb, Writing by Lone* to the Gloria of J E S V S , and male of H 1 3 Saynttes. 5. Here are Men enrolled aimngft Chri* Jiians, fo bolder and eflee>ied%b»th of tbemjetues, and others I There are fenfible Soules , in the fueling of Sinne , and fedre of iViaih y and hope of Merciet fleeing to I E S V S , as to a Refuge, and cafling the /lucre of their tojjed Soules wbintbe Vayle , Cohere I E S V S is in Heaven. j. Here Men, receaVmg ftorn the holie Gbojl, good thingss : There Men9 rcceanng from hiniybefyde tbefe good t binge s9 better thinges aljo, 5 • He e re tbingesglorioM indeedet yet not aliwyts accompanying Sahation j but in [omt
going
HEb r. LHap, VI. 91
going before Sating Grace; in ethers , pefiblie alone, without Saving Gidce : $ut there are Saving Graces^ tfooayes joyned "Kith Salvation. 6. Heere in thefe Yerfes , the dpoftle is not confident* but fucb as bauc 'eceaved thefe tbinges heere mentioned, may fall a^ay% except theygoefor^ardes, andfludie to makf progrcjfe. But there, in thofe Verfes, the dpoftle is perfaaded, \hattbey (ball not fall a^ayi but bee faved, andibere* tponcuco'toragetb lbeml to goe fomardes.
From This Comparison It Is Cleake, Then, i. That there is a pofllbilicie of the Apoita/Ie of ProfefToures , and titular Sayn&es 5 but not of the Apoilafie of renewed foules, and true Chriftians,true Sayn&es. 2. That there is ground of Feare , from thefe wordes, to fuch as are fecurc , and puffed vp with the conceat of their Spirituall Gifcesj but net of thofe who in feare are fled to CHRIST. 3. That in this p!ace,carna!l confidence onelie is ihaJcen in fuch, who as if they had done well anough, itudie not to make progreife : but Fayth nowayes weakened in fuch , who flill lludie to advaunce , and make more and more progreffe. 4. That heere fruitleffe Light, and fruitlelTe Feeling , is called in queftion ^ but not Fayth, and labourious Loue, bringing out Fruites to CHRIST'S Glorie, and good of his Saynftes.
Jgayne, from this Comparifen, it is evident t That the holie Gholl is Author , both of thefe common Spirituall Ciftes, and of thefe Ipeciall Saving Graces alio. Of thefe common Giftes , hee is Author, as dwelling amongjl frofejfours, and diflributing good thinges vntoall ProfefToures, that are in thevifiblc houfe of his Church. But hce is Author of thofe Sa- ving Graces, as dwelling in true frofeffoujes , vrh©
$z Heb r. Chap. VI.
are his ownc houfe ; bringing with himfelfe bettepj thingcs than thefe Giftes, and Salvation alfo > ynt them , infalliblie .
■.
f
Tbirdlie , from this Comparifon , it is chare, i. That there are fome Converts, externall, from th< worlde, to the Church, whp yet ilicke in their natu rails ; and are not, in the fenfe of Sinne, fledde vnt< CHRIST, for Refuge , nor. converted, from nature to Saving Grace; to whome the Apoflle will not dc nye rowme in the Church , if they will ftudie t< make progreffe- And, z. That illumination, an; tailing of Spirituall thwges, may bee given as well c< fuch, who are not renewed in their heart, as vntc found Convertes .
For, i. The natural! man may bee convinced That the Church u a blejfed Sccietie , and joynebim* felfeVnteit. I. Xea9 chaungebu outward converja tidth and cajl of bis pollutions ^buh are in the Tvorldt through luftyand tal^e himjelfe to be ruled9outT»ardlie by C H\l S T'S Vifcipline, and call Him LV^f). LOiip. },Jud bee Jo blamelejJeybefore men%tbai bee may look£>*toitb huLampe , lykea ivyfe Virgine^ "tosyling for the Wedding ; and yet bee a gracelej}( look iwfttrdlie. 4. tea, bee may bee illumtnated9 nol^ tntlie by learning the liter all knowledge of the Gofyell di men doe tbiir fhilofophie I but$ alfo9 may bee illu< m'mated fttpewaturallie, •with in* fight inmanie pro* found tbinges in the Scripture* lor. fupetnaturail gifts may bee in 4 natnrall and vmenetyed man, jo 46 he may fry to Cbrift, I haue propheficd in Thy Name, *nd yet bee wrenched in Cbrifis ejleemation. f.Ha
may
HEBR. l^HAL\ VI# 91
Uay tajle of the heaVenlieGift , partite by hi forte til hlieving tbetruelb of the GofyelU partite by contes- tation of the truelb credited. Kowey bijloricallfoytb, \a tajle of that beaftenlie gift of jujlifying faytbj ecaufe it is a good degree towardes it : and contem- lation of this truethybringetb a tajle of the thing cre- itedt and fo of the beavenlie Gift revealed in th? Gof- ell. Fer9tbe contemplation of eyerie tructhybnngetb tiitb it %naturallie> a delegation Jucb as fhilofophers \oe finde in their Jhdies, And the more eminent the rueth bee^no wonder the delegation bee the greater* ^ or ymanie beard CbtijYs gracious Sermons,and won* lercd> and belief bit wordes to bee true : but Cbrifl lid not commit bimfelfe wto them', for bee tyew what too* in them ♦ 6 . Bee may bee made part-taker of the WieGbojt, and baue his fbare of JCbureb giftes, di- stributed by the bolieGbojiy fo as bee can, from (be light which the bolieGboft givetb bim^anfwere other mensdoubtes , comfort the feeble my tided , and edifie vtbers in their faytb, by bis [peaches > yeaf baue the \gift of exprefing bit brayne light rbotb in conference fo meny and in formali prayer to GOD ^if bee bee a pri- vate man onelie: and if bee bee in publicly office* way \baue the gift of for mall preaching , and praying in public^e: yea}m tbofe d*yes of the Apojlle , might baue bad the e xtraordinarte gifts of Tongues, fiopbe- fyingyand Miracles woikjng. Therefore ,f*ytb Cbrijl9 Manic will fay to mee u\ thar day, Lord, Lord, baue wee not prophelied in thy Name t and in thy Name hauecaften out Devils/ and in thy
Name
*4 Hebr4 Chap. II.
Name done manie wonderfull vvorkcs i TV n •tobome CbriflwilUunfarre f I never knew you J I Deparrc frommee, ycerhat worke iniquitieJ I
Matt. vij,2Z# 13. Rove, this fcioftWge, c^.{*
tinting light^and gtftes of utterance j(^c. are fromw
the folic Gfoft'i or elfe, bow could [tub yfpojlates, a$:f
beere are dcfcrybed, fmne agaynfi the bolie GbofiiW
7. Bee may tajte of the good Word of GQ®\ that; uAf
fittde faeetnejfe in tbe fiotfrineofthcGofyell, and M
bee convinced of tbe Goodneffe andMercieof G 0 2Hf
Wfrardes jinners9fbyning therein ; yea9 andbybeh ■
ding tbe poflibilttieof bis o'frne fahation , v^nitoib
condition, If bee "frill fell all, and bay tbe (Pearle,heeW
may tajleof GOV'S Merchandize* in tbe blockjngW
for them *, befyde all tbefalfe joyes, & delufionsifrbicbV^
bee may get by pre fuming of tbecertayntieofbis Cfrne iff
fahation : and yet, in tbe meane tyme, as afoole, will Jfc
not lay do*frne tbe pry ce-, "frill not renounct bU eartb\ie% ||G
andbeafllie affettions,*frill not deny ehimjelfe, and bis if
Wne corruptions : Tbe care of this *frorlde, *ndtbede~\fl
ceatfullneffe of pitches , cboalyng the f mites of tbe If
Worde heard, astbeylvbo receaue tbe fade amongjliSwi
tbornes. Wberefoie , in tyme tf persecution for tbe h
Worde, bee may by and by bee offended, and quyte tbe P
Truth, allbeeit "frith the jhnie hearted bearers, Ujl|j
tyme of profyeritie, bee beard the Worde, andanone,
•frith joye, rcceaved tt% Matt. xtij# 20. u, tz.
S* Lajtlie, hee may tajle of the poorer of the "frorlde to
come : that u, in contemplation of the $leffedneffepro-
mifed to tbe SajntfeswJ3ea*en}bee tak*n -frith admu
ration
htBK, V^ HA I'. VI. 95
ilion of it, yea, and bane a naturall defJre of it y as Jalaam did, when Vponfuch a peculation, he did Wifh o die the death of the %igbt€Qusy and to banc hU la ft tide 06 hu\ and yet lone the Wages of Iniquitiefo telly & bee quyte not hu gnede , for all hu wiflo of leaven* In a word'* It is pofible, that a wanimpe* itent, and Unrenewed in his heart ttnay bee a glorious ^ofejfoutffoY bis outward behaVmr>andhaue fajre iftes ; and yet wake Apoflafie from the truetb, when eegetteth a fit Temptation : or elfe, bowftould it bee ofiible, that the Vc\illfr Quid mal^e glorious ¥rofef* mesfavd Church-men, in all Jges,Apeftates,Ter» vuters, Betrayers of the Trueth to the Adverfarie, Jnder-myuers of the Church of Chrijl ; Except they, rider all their jbow, did lodge in their heart, theloue f Money, and worldlie%itche$tmore than the hue of YeaYen ! the hue of the prayfeof men, rather than rOSD'S Approbation? the lujt of tbiir fieflolic eafe9 nd pleafure,more than the pleajaie of V U <D { the lejllie fe&reof thofe that caukjlltbe iodic ,moie than f GOD, who can caji both Souie and <Bodie into Belli }nd, therefore,™ Wonder, if far fatisfaEiion of their 'mbition, A\>aiue>Luftes>&nd eartblit Affetlions, they tcome teadie to jell CHRIST, and His Trueth% vd His Churchy and their Countrey, and Allywben ley find their Meuband}and tbebelo\ed tfryceoffe- *d Vnio them .
4. Observe Heeke; How glorious fo- ferthefe Illuminations, and Gifces, and Taftinges eme, yet there is no farther hcerc graunted , but
Taftingeij
Z6 HE BR. CHAP. VI.
Taftinges, to fuch rotten ProfefToures. That which they get, is eyther onelie in the Brayne, by Know- ledge ; or, if there bee anie Feelinges , they are but fleeting Motions, flowing from temporarie grounds, which proceede not from anie Spirituall lyfcinthe wian, nor from a roote in himfelfe : that is, not from the Spirit dwelling in him. Such feelinges doe ncy< ther fofter, nor ftrengthen him , for anie Spirituall Obedience $ but evanifh, without chaunging the heart. It is true, all that the Godlie get, in compa- rifon of what hee lhall get, is but Taftinges : Yet, in comparifon of thefefruitlefle taftinges of the vnfound ProfefToures, that which hee gctteth, is true Eating, and Drinking , a reall Feeding ; holding his foulc in lyfe, and enabling him toworke theworkesof GOD; to mortifie his Luftes, and ferue G O D in his fpirite .
5. Observe, That beete bee doetb not chaU Ungethfe Tvbo bauefdt tbefe Taftinges y for Vnfound, nor threaten tbem> if they hide on , and make pro greffe • Then, i, The having of Illumi-
nation, and fpirituall Giftes, and taftinges of heaven* lie thinges, is not to bee Iightlie eflcemed of 3 but ac accounted as fteppes, and degrees , vnto a fartheu progreffe : vvherefrae, as it is poffible fome fall away fo it is a piece of Advauncement, to encowrage mer to goeon, that they fall not away. z. There is nc daunget in having this Illumination , or thefe ligh Talhnges : But all the hazard is, to reft vpon them, and not to tende towardes Perfection ; or5 to fal away , after receaving fo much Encowragement 3 . And, therefore , wee muft not reft on Illumina- tion, or common giftes, howe glorious foever ^ no taftinges,, and feelinges , howe fweete foevcr : bu
fecke
fteke ftill fn to a more neare Communion with CHRIST, and ftill more to mortifie our luftes , and ftill to abound in the Fruits of Loue to CHRIST, and His Church.
Verf. 6. If they fhall fall away , to re- newe them agayne vnto Repentance • feeing they crucifie5to themfelues, the Sonne of GOD a-frefh, and put Him to an open fhame.
I. T T EE fayetb not3 Ft is impoflible they fhall JL X bee laved $ fcw*,that they fhall bee rene- wed by Repentance. Then, Apoftates falvation, is not impoflible , but becaufc their repentance is impoflible : and where Repen- tance is, thereisnoimpofllbilitieoffalvation5 buti. certayncie of falvacion rather. For, Hee that giveth the Repentance, Hee declareth His purpofe, togtue Remiffion alfo.
2. Bee ghetb a *edfon> "toby they ctnntt get %e* fentance ; $ecaufe they, maliciouflie, renounce C brist9 *nd crucifie Him a-frefh \nto tbetnfelueu That u , draw ontbe guiltinejfe lobicb His Enemies ^bo cru- \cified Him. did lye vnder , by dpoftafie , allowing tbiir crucifying of Him. Then,
i.AnApoftatefrom CHRIST'S Dodrine, doeth CHRIST as open fhame as hee can ; and fayeth, in «&<», of CHRIST , that His Dofirine is falfe, and wot to bee mayntayned. z. An Apoftate allowerh Inland the irftw, for crucifying of CHRIST; md ac^ounteth CHRIST no other worthie , than G foto
a
f% Hebr. Chap. VI.
To to bee dealt withall* $. Renouncing of CHRIST, maketh Repentance impoflible : For , Hee is a Prince, to giue Repentance :vnto Israeli. And, therefore, hee who will not quyte* CHRIST, nor fiis true Do&rine, is not debarred from Repentance having , nor from Salvation •
Ferf.j. For3the earth, which drinketh in the rayne that commeth oft vpon it, and bringeth foorth Herbes, mcetc for them by whom it is drefTed, recea- vethBIeffingfrom GOD.
Ferf. 8. But that which beareth thorns, and briers, is reje&ed* and is nigh vn. to curfingj whofeendeis to bee bur- ned .
HEE gfaetbd rea[en of the punifhwentof Apt ftates, from the lejfe?to the more, \nder a fi militttde from Land4abouring9 thm : As G O £ ikjfetb fucb men , *tobo, after paynes taken on then bring foonb the Fruites of good tVorkes; So doetb Hei turfe tbofey who, after paynes taken on tbemy doe brty foorth but will works* • And tf ** b*t but equitie, tba GOD curfe Profejfoures, who bring foorth hut eVtl fruites in tbeir lyfe ; Much more equitie Hee fhoult turfe Jpottates, who pro feffe open boftiiith dgayofi Him .
7be fimilitude Showeth, t. That men an fyke vnmanured land,, before they bee brought wi
thin tb<
Heb r^Chap. VI. 99
Jthin the Church : but after they are made part-takers |of the Gofpell, then are they lyke manured Land, within Hedges, GOD'S Husbandrie. 2. That fuch las .begin to bring foorth Fruites worthie of Repen- tance*5, GOD bleffeth,and maketh mure fruitful!. 5 . That the Meanes of Grace, vnder the Gofpell, are to our Soules. as Rayne , and Labouring, and other Husbandrie is to the Ground,
Verf. 8. But that which bcareth Thorns and Brieres, is rcjc&ed, and is nigh vnto curling 5 whofe endcis to bee burned;
TB E Similitude ShowkthJ i. Tl&t* man may perifh, for not bringing foorth the Fruites of the Gofpell , allbeeit hee fail not into the finnc agaynft the holie Ghoit. 2. That there is as great reafon, why GOD fliould orftawayaman, who amendeth not his lyfe by the Gofpell, as thaf an Pusband-man fhould giue over labouring of a piece of evill ground. 3. And, by this meanes alfo fPio- wcth, That God's moft fevere Judgements, haue, all of them , moiie equitable reafons. 4. That there is a neccflicie of bringing foorth rhe Fruites of Well- doing, if a man would be free of the Curfe, eythcr pf . Apoitates, or of the barren Land.
Vcrf.9. But, Beloved 3 wee are perftva- ded better thinges of you, and things that accompanie Salvation , though wee thus fpeake .
G 2 Htcmitt
i
tod HEBR. CHAP. VI,
I. Xjttilf mittigatetb bis threatnwg of them, fit JL jLftaY* tf bating their Fay tb : Beloved,
fayshbee, wee are perfwaded bet- ter thinges of you, though wee thus fpeakc* Then, i # A Preacher
may threaten, fearfullie , thofe of whome hee hath good hopes * yet with prudencie . left hee harme them. 2. And people threatened, muft beware of weakening their owneFayth: knowing, that threa- teninges arc not vfed to weaken Faych $ but to put away Securitie, and Sloathiullneffe.
*♦ Hte tafytb bis Jjfurauce of tbem, from futb tbingts d$ accompam Salvation* Then,
In the Fruites of Fayth , there are Markes, and Ividences, of a man's falvation to bee found, which may giue a charitable perfwafion of their blefTed E/Utc > to fuch as knowe them .
Verf. wo. For, GOD is not vnrighteous, to forget your worke and labour of louc, which you haue fhowed towards His Name, in that yee haue miniftreM to the Sayn&s, and doe minifter.
i#,T*ff£ redfonof bis gQQ&htyesoftbtm9utbeit
A by-goue, and prefect Fiuitcs of Loue towards -
CHRIS TS l^ame.and HisSaytitts.
THEN, 1. The Workes of Louie, done for the
Glorie of CHRIST,or to His Sayn&s,for CHRIST'S
fake* from tyme to tymc, as GOD giveth occafion,
aice»id
HEBR. CHAP. V. 101
re evident Markes of a man's falvation ; and, more lire Tokens of faving Grace given, than Illumina- ion, and Taltinges , fpoken of before, i. No loue \s to be reckoned for Loue, but working Loue. 3 . No kes are right Workes , which flowe not from fLoue, to CHRIST.
U Offucb mrktSf beefayctb> that G O D is )t Unrighteous , to forget tbem : And fo prooveth ibeir Salution* becaujejutb f mites ac com panic Sal« ition . Then, i, With the Grace of la-
borious Loue towardes CHRIST'S Name , the Grace of Salvation doeth goe in companie. z. Iu- Iflice doeth agree with Grace, in the Rewarde of Well-doing; becaufe the Rewarde is graciouflie promifedj and R ighteoufnefle maketh Promife* to bee performed. • $. The man that loveth CHRIST in deede , and in trueth , hath that which is mofte terrible in GOD, for the Pawnc of his Salva- tion 3 even His Iuftice .
5. Tbefe are tbeytobomtbee YepMtedifor leea^ nejfe of l{nntcledge , Chap. v. Vcrf, 12. •kbom no-toe bee commcndetby for their good AffeBien , and Fruites. Then, i. Meane knowledge, if
it bee farcified, and found , will bee fruitfijll in the works of Loue. 2. This Vertue of Loue, is no ex« cufe for floathfull following of the Meanes of Know- ledge : wee muft growc in Loue,and grow In Know- ledge alfo .
7 erf 1 1 . And wee defire5 that everie one of you doe fhowe the fame diligence, to the full aflurance of hope, vnto the ende. €7 *v Hctexk
loz HEBR. CHAP. VI.
1. TJEB exbortetb, to continue diligent, Mntotbt
ende . Then, i, The diligent hauc neede of exhortation, to goeon. 2. Exhortation to perfeverancc , importeth not fufpicion of falling. a>yay ; but ferveth to farther Perfeverance rather. 3. No other Tearme-day is fet to our diligence, but the ende. No licence to flacke, or giue over.
1. Tbe ende of tbeir going on in diligence, is their full affurance of hope. Then,
1. Whatsoever meafure of affurance men haue, they may yet obtayne a fuller meafure of it. Still wee muft ftudie to growe. a. Conitant diligence in the works of Loue, is the readie meane to fofter and aug- ment our AlTurancc.3.ChriftianIiope is not a Conje- &ure, or Probabilitic, but an Afliirance.
Vcrf.ii. That yce bee not {loathful!:
but followers of them , who through
Fayth and Patience inherite the Pro-
mifes.
^ HBE fttUt^ ti}C Exawpk °f tie Fatbits before them , to bee minted . Then,
t . So manie examples as wee hauein Scrip- ture, of the Godlie gone before , as manie Leaders, and Encowragers muft wee reckon our felues to haue. 2. The Paynfiill, and not the Sloathfull, are the true Imitators of allowed Examples. 3. In the Way to Heaven, there are manie things befalling vs, which make it vnlyklic wee ihall come there : for which caufe, there is needeof Fayth. 4. A tyme muft interveane, and troubles alfo, ere Heaven bee pofleiTed : There is , therefore, neede of Patience aiibf "
*. Ibej
USSR. CHAP. VI. 10 j
1. They inheritc tbe fromife, fayethbet* ^TUEN , i. The mode patient and paynfull Ser-
vauntcs of GOD, get not Heaven by Merite; but by Inheritance. * . They get not Heaven by MeritejbuC by Promife. Now, the Promife is of Grace.
yerf. 15. For, when GOD made pro- mife to Abraham, becaufeHee could fwearc by no greater, Hee fware by Himfelfe 3
fcrf 14.- Saying, Surelie, blefling, I will bleffe thee 5 and, multiplying, I will multiplie thee.
Verf. 15. And To after hee had patientlie endured, hee obtayned the Promife.
1 . in 0 \ tnanie Examples, be bringetb one ofFa~
j7 tber Jbrabam , /VoroCienef. xxij. verf#i£.
1 7* and ma\etb v/Sf of it by application.
Then, Becaufe wee can not haue all Examples at
ence before our Eyes, wee flialldoe well, for. feve-
rall dueties , to haue fome felcft Examples fingled
out , for our owne more readie vfe.
2 . Hee doetb not bring foortb all Jlbrabms Ver- mes , but fucb as made for bis parpofe.
Then, When fit Examples are found out, thole poyn&es which mofle ferue for our edification, muft Lee mofte in our Eyes .
5. Hit markctb , /irtf , tbe frmife made : next, G 4 thts
jo4 HEBR. CHAP. VI.
the confirmation of it, by an Oath : then, the fait and \( eonjiant hoide layde on \%%by Abraham: last, the fruits I of the holding fail ^ Hec obtayned the Pro- I?;
mife. Th£N, i, in the Example of Be
lievers, the nature of the Promife, and howe they
, came by it, mutt efpeciallie bee marked , for helping
* of our Fayth. 2. Preachers haue Paul's Example
heere , howe to handle a Text.
4 • Bee fetteth Abrahams Obt4yning,for a fatyne of their Obtaynhg ; allbeeit he kpew their Fayth fhould bee Walter, in degree, than Jbrabam's.
then, In making vfe of Examples, it muft bee helde for a ground, that the honed and vprieht Imi- tators, allbeeit weake, fhall finde the fame fuccefle, that the itronger, gone before them, haue found.
Verf. 16. For, men , verilie, fweare by the greater : and an Oath for confir- mation , is to them an ende of all ftryfe .
i,r I i B E JpoHle beeing about to comment V/w*i I
i this Oath, fir ft, bee jho^eththeendeof an Oatbamovgtt men, verf. 16. and then, the yfe of the Oath made to Abraham thereafter* r. Men jwareby a Greater, fayeth bee, that the author itie ef him by -ftbowe they jveare, may tatifie the Oath, one V>ay, or other. £«* GOD hath not a greater: and, Therefore, Bimfclfe, and all Bit, is layde in $WM) t&mkf Hk Q*tb gogd* 2, U " ^ho is the
HEBR. CHAP. VI. ioj
Ireatett, and gi+etb autboriiie , and Vceygbt, to all mbes dmongtt wen, m[l bee eUeemed •toortbietogiue ieygbt, and autboriiie , to His aw*t Oath* 2 bis is U font of bu Ycajenbg .
2. Tbeende of an Oatb , is to ende CoMrovetfie. rben 9 tbii fitnilitude Importeth, That as •
|long as wee are in mifsbeliefe, there is a Cortrover- fie betwixt GOD andvs: wee teftifying, that wee ire in fufpicion of His good affeftion towardes vs, and of His Promifc keeping vnto vs : and GOD is
loffended with vs, for our wicked choughtes, enter-
fuyned of Him .
3. G O D batb pwtne His frornife to V;, to [ tahf <rft>4j the Covtmerfie • Then,
1. A man could condefcende no farther, to giue his partie fatisfa&ion, nor GOD hath condefcended to iatisfievs. 2. Except wee will denye GOD the ho- nour, which wee can not denye vnto an honeit Man, wee muft belieue the fworne Covenant of GOD, and particular Articles thereof* 3 , Except wee be - lieue , the Controverfie remayneth i yea , and is doubled , after the Oath .
Vtrf. 17. Wherein GOD, willing more aboundantlie to (how vnto the Heyrs of Promife,the immutabilitieof His Counfell, confirmed it by an Oath .
l«r\NE of tbe evdes of GOD'S fretting to
V^/ Jbrabam9is tie Confirmation of tbe Vajik-
fuller tU H<}Tts of frotnijC) meaning tbe \»-
<5 J €hfirt£cab;t jt
io5 HEBR. CHAP. VL
ibangeableneffe of GOD'S Counfsll, in making th\ Promife. Then, Everie Believer hath the I lame ground of Certayntie with Abrahams feeing j the Oath fworneto Abraham, is fworne for their Confirmation ,
2. Wee calleib believer sly Ifaak*; /ty/e5Heyres of the Promife. TH E N f Believers are all reckoned by G O D $ as fo manie Ifaaks, and intituled with Ifaak, to bee Hey res of Abraham with, him, and Heyres of the Good promifed to him, and Heyres begotten by the force of GOD'S Promife, and Word, and not by the force of nature.
And, certaynlie, allbeeit the Lav feme for a fief a* ration, yet it is the Gvfycll, and the Word of <Promife9 •tobicb pulktb in the heart of a man to G0$>9 in louey as a reconciled Father , and converted Urn ♦ Where- fore, even becaufe of the Believers begetting to GOD, by the immortall Seede of the Word offtomije, be may lee called the bejre offtmifc aifo.
?♦ $y the Oath GO® declared biwfelfe Willing to/bo^e tbeimmutdbilitieof bit Counfell f concerning the Salvation of Believers. THEN9
i. As manie as belieue in IESFS, and are be- gotten by the Promife, are fore-prdayned,in GODS Counfell, for Salvation. 2. The Purpofe and Coun- fell of G O D , concerning fuch mens Salvation, is immutable. 3. G O D wii'l haue Believers knowing this His Counfell, concerning themfelues, and their Salvation, and affurcd of the immutabilitie thereof* 4. H E E will haue the fwcrne Promife made to Abraham, and his Seede, ferving ii^particular^o the Heyres of Promife , or Believers, to make evident
(his
HEBR. CHAP. VI. 10^
[this His Counfell to them in particular, as well as to I Abraham, becaufe Hee fware to Abraham, to iliowe [them this His Purpofe .
4. $j the Oatb bee fayetb^ GOT) is willing more aboundantlie, to fhowe the immu- tabilitie of His Counfell. THE^,
i. Till the immutabilitie of the L O R D'S Coun- fell, concerning our Salvation, beelayde holde vpon, Fayth can not bee fleadfaft , as the LQKD would haue it. i. G O D is willing > that wee fhouldc looke in vpon His Counfell , by the Eye of Fayth, and readc our Names written in Heaven, in His De- cree : and fo bee made fure. 3 . The Promife of Sal- vation, or of the Blefling to Believers , is of it felfc fpfneient anough for Aflurance, allbeeitit were not fworne : and the Oath is added, not of neceflitie, for anie weaknefle of the trueth of the Promife; but out Ot fuper-aboundant good will, to haue vs made fure. 4. It behooveth to*be moft pleafant to GOD, that Believers haue full aflurance of Fayth, and over- come all doubting , feeing Hee fweareth the Pro- mife, onelie for this ende.
Ferf. 18. That by two immutable things, in the which it was impoflible for G O D to lie, we might haue a ftrong Confolation , who haue fled for re- fuge, to lay holde vpon the Hope fet before vs .
i©8 HEBR. CHAP. VI.
AKolber ende of the Oath, is , That leitbaffu* ransetbe <Belte*ermaj haue {trong ConjoUtiov, Vp<m folide grouades ,
1 , gStrt fe*w defcrybelb hee the Believers, to *tobomc this Comfort it allowed ? Wee, fayeth hee^ who
haue fled for refuge, to lay holde vpon the Hope fet before vs. That u^ Wee% who t»
fee from deferred watb} h^ue taken our courfe towards E S V S 3 in hope to get the Salvation offered vnto Vi in H int. Bleefag for refuge, a fmilitude, whether from nature, or from the ordinance of Mofei Lawef Nvmb. xxxv- verf. 6. Giveth Vs To Vnder- stand , i . That everie true Believer, of necefHtiea mud be.- fenfible of his owne finnes, and the defer- red Wrath of G O D perfuing him for finne. 2. Mull haue this cfleemation of IESVS, That Hee is both a readie, and fufficientlie ilrong Refuge, to faue a man from Sinne and Wrath, when hee run- neth towardes Him. 3 . That in this fenfe of Sinne, and Wrath, and good eiteemation of C H R I S T, hee fet his Face towardes Him onelie; avoyding all by.wayes, leading elfe-where, than to this Refuge* and running for death and lyfe, to be found in Him.
2. Jgayne9Tcbyle bee fayetb^To lay holde vpon the Hope fet before vs, hee givetb v* ttYnderfiand, i.That in CHRIST, our Refuge, not onelie is there deliverance from perfuing Wrath; but alfo Eternall Lyfe to bee found, as it is fet before vs in the Gofpell. i, That the Believer muft haue Hope, to obtayne this Offer.' 3. And, as hee is dri- ven, by Feare uf the La we, vnto CHRIST* So mult
jieealib
HEBR. CHAP. VI. io?
[hee alfo bee drawne , and allured , by this Salvation Jfet before him ; gripping vndeferved Grace, as well | as fleeing dekrved Wrath ,
>jj 3. jVhyle bee defcryhelb the ®e//ev*r , after this wanner y ds the man to vbemeall tbefe tbinges after- tayne , bet Teachkth *s ,
That, Whofoever findeth himfelfe in anie trueth, to bee fuch a one as heere is defcrybed,fo driven, and •lb drawne to CHRIST; fleeing from Sinneand Wrath , and running on to C H R I S T, in Him alone to bee faved ; may bee well af lured, hee is a man cndcwe<f with faving Fayth, One of Abraham's Children, An Heyre of Pronaife, One of the focie- tie of the Saynftes, and fellowfliip of the ApoiHesj whome the Apoftle heere taketh in with himfelfe, in this Text; A Man in GOD'S Counfell.Fore-knowne, Ele&cd, Predeftinated : A Man to whome GOD intended bothtofpeake andfwearc, in Abraham's perfon ; to whome GOD alloweth both ftrong Confolation heere, and the Poifeffion hcere-aftet of what-fo-cver is fet before him f in the Offer of the Gofpell .
4 . The ende of the Oath 5 That WCC might haue ftrong Confolatiomby two immu- table thinges, (that u, GOD'S Promifc, *nd GOD'S Oath) in which it is impof- fiblethatGODfliouldlie.
then , 1. The Confolation which GOD at .loweth vpon the Faythfull, is ftrong, able to over- come the Challenge of Sinne, fcare of ludgement, Deach,and Hell, and feeling or fearing of anie miferie whac-fo-evcr. Other con&Iations are but weake, \n
lib Hebr< Chap, Vx*
•comparifdn hecreof, ancj can overcome none pM thefe. 2. G O D hathlayde immutable Grounded ] for this Confolation; His vnchangeable Promife, and His vnchangeable Oath. 3. GOD cannot lie, nor deceavie , whether Hee fay, or fweare. 4. His nature maketh this impoffibilitie of lying , andim-. nvjtabilitieinpromifing,and fwearing. 5. G O D alloweth this itrong Conibiation, to come by Fayths reiting on thefe two immutable thinges , His Pro- mife, and Oath. So that the le/Te a man apprehendd the gruundes of his Fayth to bee folide, the le(Te hee, ftall bee comforted : and themore hee applye the Promife to himfelfe, and apprehende the vnchange- ableneffe of the Promife and Oath of GOD, the more ilrong fhall his Confolation bee.
ferf. 19- Which Hope wee haue as an Ancre of the Soule , both fure , and
. fteadfaft 5 and > which entereth mta\ that within the Vayle,
ferf. 20, Whither the Forer-unner is for: vs entered; even IESUS: made an High Prieil for ever, after the Or* der of Melchifedek.
I. T 1EE hatb telde the [oliditie of the ground* A J -fthetrtpon the Believer dottb rc3\ and m^e hee fbowetbtbe flabilttiecftbe grippe vbUhtbefBc^ lievertakjtbof tbefe groundesyintbe [tmtlitnde of tbi grippe tybhba Sbippes And re t a\elb ,beeing catten on good ground* In tbt former Vcrfe, by tiopc>*&<ti
HEBR. CHAP. VL in
waned the thing hoped for, and layde hide on hy Hope. In the fylatiue, which, in this Ver(e,bec ¥nderjlandetb the Hope vbicbdoetb Uye holde. In
Ithi fimilitxdeofan Ancrecatten out of a Sbippe, Bez CirETH VS TO UNDERSTAND , i. Thatall- beeit wee hanc not gotten full PofTeflion of the Pro- mifes in this lyfe , yet wee get a grippe of them, by Fayth, and Hope. z. That Hopes grippe is not* _ flender imagination ; but folide, and ftrong, lyke the grippe of an Ancrc. 3. That the Believer is not ex- empted from fome tofling of Trouble, and Temp- tations, whyleheeisinthisWorlde; yea, fubjedh rather , to the fame , as a Shippe vpon the Sea. 4. That what-fo-ever tofling there bee , yet all is fafe : The Soules Ancrc is caften within the Hea- ven : The Soule is fure .
i. Hec ghethtbe Antre all good properties : It is •toeygbtie, [elide, ancLfirme : It mll\o& dryue , not , ho^e, nor break*, it ufofwi* and jleadfatt* Agajne, it is Jharpe , and piercing : It is entered into that tti- thin the Vajleithat U, into Berten,reprefigntedby the Santluariebepnde the Vayle. dnd fo the Ground* is good, 4$ veil as the Annie, to hide all fait.
Verf 20. Whither the Fore-runner is for vs entered 5 Even I E S U S: made an High Prieft for ever, after the Order of Melchifedek.
i.fftefpwm
XI* HEBR. CHAP. VI.
j.TJEE commendetb our Antre-Gmnd for tbis^ "rkGHKlsr « there , lobere out Ancre is catten , *s our Forerunner. In continuing the Comparifon, and calling CHRIST oar tore* runner , hee bringzth to mtnde,
i. CHRIST'S beeing once in the Shippc of the Militant Church, toffed, and tempted as others, all- beeit without finne ; a. That Hee is nowe gone a-flioare,to Heaven, where the Shippe of the Church is fecking to land. 3, That His going a-fhoare, is as our Fore-runner : and fo His landing isan Evidence of our landing alfo , who are to followe after Him. 4. That His going before , is to make eafie our En- trie. Hee is Fore-runner forvs, forour behoofe, to prepare a place for vs. u That our Ancre is, where CHRIST is 5 and fo muft bee the furer , for His beeing there , to holde all fall , till Hee drawe the Shippe to the fhoare .
2. CHRIST is entered into Heaven $ and made ^Xi Higft Prieft for ever.
Then, r. CHRIST in Heaven, is inverted in an Office for vs. z. His Otdce is the High Prieii- koode : The Trueth, and Subftance, of the Typicall Priefthoode. ;. His Office is for ever : and fo, for the Benefite of all Ages : that wee nowe, as well as others before vs, may haue the Benefite of His inter- I ceffion . j # He is faid to be made an bigbfrieft^after bis entrie . in Heaven, Then , Albeit Chrift was Prieft for His Church from the beginning, yet was it never fo de£ | flared, as after His Aicentton, when Hee fent downe Bleffings fenfiblie vpon His Church ; fince which tyme, Hee docth fo Hill. cj Lg
HEBR. CHAP. VII. its
The Sum me of Chap. Vll.
I Brake off my fpeach of Melchisedek, (will the Apoftlefay) Nowef returne to him agayrie, and in his excellencies will ffiowe you CHRIST'S Excellence, who is Prieft after his Order.Wee haue no more of him in Scripture , but what wee finde Genes, xiv. v). io; And there hee is King and Prieft both, Verf, i. Bearing a Myfterie in his Name, and Office, Verf. i. Without Father, or Mother, or ende of lyfe, as hee ftandcth in Scripture ; that hee inight refemble CHRIST, Verf. 5 . Acknowled- ged Superiour to Aeraham , by his paying of Tithes ynto him, Verf, 4- Even as Levi, for that fame caufe, is Superiour to the Brethren , Verf. j. Supe- riour alfo, becaufc hee blefled Abraham, Verf. 6. 7. Superiour to Levi , for his typicall immortalitie, Verf. 8. And, for his taking Tithes of L e v i , in Abraham's loynes, Verf, 9. 10. Yea, the Prieft- hoode of Levi', becaufe imperfefl,calleth for a Prieft cf another Order, to giue Perfection; which is CHRIST, Verf 11. Andfo, both the Priefthoode, and all the Ordinances thereof, are abolilhed, by the M Ess 1 a s , who behooved to bee of another Trybe than Levi , Verf. 13- 14. And of another Order alfo, Verf. 17. Bodilie (had owes were in the Priefthoode of L e v i ; but endleffe Tructh in CHRIST, Verf. 16. As David's words doe prooue, :f. 17. By which alfo it is prophcfied , That Aaron's Priefthoode ihall bee difannulled, vvhen H CHRI5TS
114 HE BR. CHAP. VII.
CHRIST'S Priefthoodeiscome, becaufc it was n&t able to doe mens turnc vnder the Law,as CHRIST'S doeth vnder the Gofpell, Verf. 18. ij. And GOD obliedged not Himfelfe to make Aaron's Prieft- hoodeftand , as Heefware to eftablifli CHRIST'S, Verf 20. u. And, fo, the Covenant , vnder the Messias, is declared , to bee better than vnder Le- vi, Verf. i2. Agayne, the Priefthoode of Levi had fundrie Office-bearers , but CHRIST hath none in His Priefthoode with Himfelfe, nor one after Him- felfe, Verf. 23, 24, Therefore, Hee is able, alone,to Worke out our Salvation throughlie, Verf. 25-. For, fuch a Priett haue wee neede of who needeth not of- fer vp daylie His Sacrifice : for Hee hath offered Cne, and never more , Verf. 26. 27. And no won-, der; for vnder theLawe, mortall men might b?e; Prieftes ; but vnder the Gofpell, onelie the Sonne of ; GOD is Prieft, and that for evermore, Verf 28.
TbeV&riueofCbap.yU.
VERS- t.
Tr On, this Melchifedek, King of Salern^
JL Prieft of the moftc High GOD,wha
met Abraham 5 returning from the
(laughter of the Kinges, and hie/Ted
him.
BTfafmg FoRibeeghetbarcafon&bybec caU letb CHRlSTd ftitft after %ht Order of Mdchifcdck.; lecduft fucb aont v*s Mekbifedc^ His tjf$t : tbtufQrt}fmh a qm Utomd CHRIST
■ He b iu Chap, VIL IIJ
in tftuth, and Subjldnce , to bee, as the type imported Hee jhould bee.
• i. Hee repeatetb from Genes, xiv. i8#ij># 20 • as much as ferted to refemble ante thing in CHRIST: but never accord toucbetb bee of MeU cbifedelC* kinging foorthof$reaiand Wyneto Abra- ham* Therefore > He did not account this afric typicall aition, having anierefemblance of that which was to bee done by CHRIST his Anti-type: for then (hould hee not haue fayled to marke itp feeing hee obferveth the myllerie of his name , and place of dwelling, which isleffe.
z* Melchifede^ and the Church in Salem, where Melcbifede^Tcas friett^cre not of Abraham s Fa* milie. Therefore , Albeit G O D did
^choofe Abraham's Familie f as the Race wherein hee 'was to continue the ordinarie Race of his Churchy yet had hee Churches, and Saynftes, befide.
j. This meeting of Abraham, and entertayning bim, and his companies Tvilb $read and Drinkf, being the exercyfe of an ordinarie Vertue , Showeth, That it is the duetie of all men , and namelie of Kinges, Great men , and Church-men , to counte- nance, and encowrage, according to their place, and power , thofe who hazard themfeluesin G O D'S Service, and goodCaufes.
4. To come to a particular Compdrifon of the Type,
dnd the Truetb* 1 . Jit Melchifedeck^ Was bath Ring
and Triett) hhis %iuftome h So is CHRIST
King and Pridt in his Kingdome ; Co Care for the Rc-
H % Jigiosy
Ii6 HE br. Chap. VII.
ligion, and outward converfation of his Subje&es; tfr fee to the Weall of their Soules, and Bodies -, both amongft men, and towardes GOD; in this lyfe, and heere-after. 2. As MeUbifedet\u tbe blejfer of Abraham the Father of the Faytbfall9in tbe Typt\ So is CHRIST, in Trueth, the BlefTer of Abraham, and all the Faythfullj the Fountayne of all Blefllngjin whom alone eyerie one is blefled, who getteth Blef- fing,
Verf. 2 . To whome alfo Abraham gauc a ] tenth parte of all : firft beeing> by in- terpretation, King of RighteoufnefTej ; and, after that, alfo , King of Salem •;> which is. King of Peace.
X.np 0 got on, in tbe Comparifon: As MeUbife* A de^ tbe Type% was honoured \ by Abrahams i paying of Tythes v»fo him \ So is CHRIST' to bee honoured by all Abraham's Children, by gi- ving of their Subltance, and worldlr e Goods, what is i fufficient to mayntayne the honour of his Kingdome, ' amongft them .
t. Truafuppofe tbe Type were lajde afyde, yet this tbankffitll Meeting that Abraham gaueto tbe wan, •fthoje Offce was tobUjfe bim,in the Kame of the L0 2\©, doeth Teach All the FaythfulJ, Abraham's true feedeJ a duetie of Thankfulneffe, to G O D'S Servantes fet over them, to blefle them, in the Name of the LORD: even to honour them, by giving of their Goods, for their fufficient mayn- taynancc,
3« 4s tfthh
HEBR. CHAP. VII, ci7
3# Js Melcbifedcl^, tbe Type* U by ivterpretion, tjng of <R{gbMHfneJJc ', So is C H R J S T, in Trueth, King of Righteoufnefle : i. For the pcr- fonall Righteoufnefle in himfelfe. z. Becaufe hee is the RighteoufnefTe of his Subje&es; made of GOD. vnto vs, Righteoufnefle by imputation. 3, Becaufe hee frameth his Subjeftes , piece and piece, yntoa righteous Difpofition , by fanftifying them .
4* As MeUhifedek, , tbe Ty\>e7 is l{ing of Salem, t\>*t u , l\ing of feace ; bo is C H K I vS T, in Trueth, King of Peace, to his Subje&es, by recon- ciling them to the Father, by giving Peace of Con- science within themfelues , by making all the crea- tures at peace with them, and all thinges turnc toge- ther for their Good , and by working ilill on their eternall Welfare , and Bleffednefle , vncill hee per- fect ic.
f . Js Melcbiftde^yvas fitftlQng of IXfgbteouf* nejfe, and then l(ing of feace, in the Type 5 So is CHRIST, in Trueth , in this Order 5 Firit, King of Righteoufnefle, to his Subjedtes, to take away their finnes, and to giuc them Righteoufnefle: And then, King of Peace, becaufe hee giveth them his peace, as the Fruite of Righteoufnefle, This is the Order of his Kingdome , Righteoufnefle, and Peace , and Ioye in the holie Ghoite .
Verf. 3. Without Father 5 without Mo- ther, without Defcent j having ney- ther beginning of dayes, nor ende of lyfe : but made lyke vnto the Sonne H s of GOD,
Jl8 HEBR. CHAP. VIL
of GOD, abydcth a Prieft conti-
nuallie .
MELCHISE<DEl[f cettaynlie, *toas a\er\eman% I{ing, and frit ft , in fucb a Citie, if we con ft- der him in bis naturall beeing : $ut9 if we con ft der him in bis Stripturall beeing, as beejtandeth in Scrip- ture, Vnder this name, bee bath neytber Fatbir,nor Mother ; beginning, nor ende. There is no more men* tton of him , Tvbat bee v>as, or of^bome he came% or of bis death , butthefe three Verfes of Genef xiv« A s9 theny bee is in ty pic all beeing in Scripture $ So is CHRIST, in Trueth, in his perfonall beeing , as GOD, without Mother; as Man, without Father; as i GOD, without beginning ; as GOD and Man, wi- thout ending of lyfe .
z. As Melcbifede^ loohjnghowbee Jlandetbini its Scriptmali beeing, abydcth a friett tontimatlie\ fo i that •tobere.fo.ever bee is named in Scritture, there bee is ever found a friejl alfo j and nenr a wrde of his laying down of the friejiboode : Even fo is CHRIST'S' Prieithoode vnfeparable from his per- fon : hee abydcth a Prieft continuallie , in reall ac- complii]imerit •
3* $y faying, beets made lyhs vnto the Sonne of GOO, Hee civeth rs to vn- derstand % That GOD'S Purpofe was, in thofe particulars, fo to defcrybe hirn^as hee might re- femble the Perfbn , and Offices , of the Sonne of GOD: And fo is a Type , rfGO D'S owne appeyrmrtf nt .
HEBR. CHAP. VII. 119
A. AndifbeWdsmadedlykJieTypeofCH\IST9 n bis Office of Vriejtbode, then itfollowttb, u MeU kifedel^ bad neytber ante joyned with bim 9 in bis riejlboodeyvor fleputie, nor Vicar %\nder bim in it, nor Succejfour to bu Office I So neythcr hath CHRIST anie joyned with him, or Subftitute,oi: Succcflbur to him, in his Prielthoodc.
ferf^. Nowc, confidcr hovve great this man was, vnto whome even the Pa- triarch Abraham gaue theTenthes of theSpoylcs.
TO fhow CH%JSTS Excellence, bee did* Wethtbem to coufider MelchidelCs excellence abeue Abrahams : that jo they wight fee CHRJST'S Excellencies bee fane more, iherca- fon,h force, goetbthws : i. If Melcbifede^ the Type, bee more excellent than Abraham ; much more tfl CH%l$T,of whome bee u aTy[e. 2. Andif
IM elchtfedcl^s greatnejfebee not eaftlie fercerted^ex- (eft there bee a due confideraticn of it 5 much more I CH^lSTS Greatnejfe reauyrelh confdsration , and is woithie (f contemplation. ?♦ If Abraham, by ! ft/mgrfTnbes, acknowledge Melcbifcdehj fuperfa ntie\ Much more fhould all Abrahams -Off- faring dckjiowledge CHRIST'S Superior itie,wbome Mel- (bijedcl^, typicallieyreprefented; by ^ayingof what n due, for the wayntaynatceoj his Service, andbejlo* tying Ott bis Miwjlers , who are appoynted to ble\je in H 4 hisNatnc^^
iae Heb ju Chap. VII.
his Kme , ( whether it bee lejfe< or more, *tobicb thej bejitrtoe ) in fab a manner, m it vilific not, nor dif grace their high Employment % tcbicb C&%IST hath put \>pw tbem-} and jo dijhonout bm% vbofe Senantey %bej are .
Kerf ?♦ And, verilie,they that are of thcj formes of Levi, who receaue the Of-' fice of the Priefthoode 5 haueacom- maundement, to take Tithes of the people, according to theLawe^ that is, of their Brethren, though they] come out of the loynes of Abraham.
HEE pYQoMb, tbatinTttbes taking, Melcbifc* dck* *toa* p>eacer than Abraham* who did payt Tithes 5 ftecaiije, foi the faweiejpett, the Le\\tes% by talking lubes of their $itsbten9as friejjes^bad a iSnpewruie over tbem^ for their Ojfice cauje , ^bot *tb:r-'toayes, Tot\e their equalls.
THEN, i. The Prieftlie Office lifted vp the Levites, aboue their Brethren , who were fprung of Abraham, as well as they. 2. The commaund or ta- i king Tithes, was annexed to the Office of the Priefti faoode, in token of their Superioritie by Office, over, them who by nature were at leafl their equalls.
ferf 6. But hee whofe Defcenc is not from thera, reccaved Tithes of
Abraham^
HEBR. CHAP. Fir. izx
Abraham j and blefled him that had the Promifcs. Jftr/7 7. And, without all contradi&ion, the lefle is blefled of the better.
HEE pmvetb, agayne, MelchifedeJ^ to bee grea- ter than Abraham y and Jo greater than UYi$ becaufebee blejjed him; ami, there fire, behoo- ved to bee greater. Then, i« Abraham,not- "Withftanding hee hee had rhe Promifcs , yet got hee thcBlefling by Melchifcdek , in Type; and, from CHRIST, represented by him, in Trueth, 1. If Melchifedck was greater, becaufe hee blefled him, as Type : Then CHRIST farre more , who falclTech in cffcdl .
T\9V>, there are fmdrie forts ofSUfiings, i.Tbere is a Slefiing of %e\erence - and tVtofhip ; So Men hlejfe GOD. This forte importetb no Greatnejfeio the Blejftr, hut Subject ion. 2 ♦ There is a ftkjiing of Charitic : So Ivien blefft one another , by mutual Prayer, This forte imported no Superior itie neyibtr. 3 . There is a $!efi ng of Authoritie or dinar ie : So doc G0D9S Minifiers blejfetbe ?coplt,intbt L01{p'S Kawe* 4. A fylefing tf Author itie extraor dinar ki So Mekbifede\ bleffed Jbrabam 3 and the lropbets% 4nd Tatnartbes, fucb m by initiation they were dire- Bed to blejfe . And this Ojfciall Blefiog, vilb Ah* tboritie,proo>etb Superiorities whether it bee or dinar ic$ c/ extraordinarie. 5 . There is a filejling of foyer, of itfelfe, effiBuall : So blejetb CHRIST; and /# GOV bieffetb Men*
122 Hebr. Chap. VIL
From This, i#The Excellencie of the OfrV fice of G O D'S Minifters is evident, who are ap. poyntedto blefle the people, in GOD'S Name. z. And howe they fliould bee refpe&ed, in loue, for their Worke fake . 3 . And howe they (hould walkej wurthie of that high and holie Employment -> left 1 their finnes make them vyle, and contemptible, be- -|J fore the people, as in Malachie's tyme , Mai. 2.9.
ferf. 8. And, heere men that die,receaue 1 Tithes : but there hee receaveth them, J of w home it is witneffed, that hee :| liveth .
AKother poynt of Comparifon , tending to this 1 e ttde : The Lewes, in their Tithing, wre wor- I tall men \ one fucceeding another* $ut Mekbife- j
de^intypeoj hisfriejlboode,andScripMralibeeing> ,j and CH'lsJST, in the frueib of his fnejlboode, art i immoYtall: Audy tbertfae, M elchifede^ as tbety- \ ficall ptieft , and CHT\l$T, as the true ?riefl$ art I greater than Levitiiall priejles,ty as much as Immor* I talitie is aboue mortalitie f Then,
Everie Age hath CHRIST for a Prieft, living in their owne tyme, to deale for them, with GOO: And what Benefice they get by him , in their owne tyme, hee can make foorth-comming vntothem, even for ever,
terfp. And, as I may fo fay, Levi, alfo,
who receaveth Tithes, payed Tithes
in Abraham. r j
ror
HEBR. GAAP. VII. 123
hrf. 10. Forhee was yet in the loynes of his father, when Melchifedek met him.
Tiptber<]{eafon,to this fdme pur pofe : le\i payed Tubes to MeUhifede^ in Abraham's loynes : bete/ore, Mekb\fede\, is greater in bis priejlboode9 <bantbeLe*iticallpriefies. So was CH\IST in Abraham's loynes^ will you fay. I anfwere-, CH%IST toas the true represented prie\\% e\en when MeUbife- delimit Abraham: and in Mehbtfedckis perfon, as type , the honour was done to C H '^ / ST, in truetb, and to his frieflhoode, by Abraham* Jnd% agayne% CH%lST was in Abrahams loynes otieliein regard* of the matter of humane nature ; not for the manner of propagation : and, fo, is exempttd from the lawe of naturall pojleritie.
1* Alwayes, from this reafoning. Wee Learnxj That, as receaving Tithes , prooveth fuperioritiein Office : So, paying of Tithes, or M ay ntay nance ia rowme of Tithes , prooveth fubjedion to that 0£ flee, and Office-bearers , which receaue the fame. And, fo, Mayntaynance of Minifters , fliould bee ft Matter of Honouring of them ; or, rather, of Hirw that fent them, of its owne proper inititutionj though men turneit into a beggarlie Steepende ; and count the more bafelie of the Office, becaufe of the man- ner of Mayntaynance.
2. Fromtbe^eafonofLeYies paying of lathes i* Abraham's loynes , Wee Learne, That there is ground in Nature, for imputation of
the
124 Hebr. Chap. yiL
the Father's deede , vnto the Children defcended of him by naturall propagation : ib that as juftlie may | GOD impute vnto vs Adam's finnes, as to Levi Abraham's Tithes paying.
y erf. n. If, therefore, Perfedion were by the Leviticall Priefthoode, (for vnder it the people receaved the Law) what farther neede was there, that another Prieft fhould ryfe, after the Order of Melchifedek ; and not bee called after the Order of Aaron i
TO the endeofthe Chapter, bee Jhowtb a Kei ■ ceflitie, of the abolishing of the Leviticall pricft- boode% and eftablijVtng if Chriji's. One %eafon is in \ this Verfe5 becauje Perfection was not to bee bad bj ' the Leviticall prieftkoodc* $y fetfeCtio^ is vnder* • ftoode a per felt Satisfaction f&r our Sinnes,anda per* ■] feCifm chafe of all that wee baue neede of vnto eter* nallLyfe. Hee prooveib, that fuch perfection couldnot bee bad by darons priefthoode $ becauje, then, there hadbeene no neede of another piuftboode after Aaron's, if perfection could baue beene by his priefthoode. But the Scripture fhwelb9 that tbere behooved to aryfe a Prieft after Melchifede^s Order '> by •ftbome tJerfe~ {lion Teas to bee gotten , Psalmb ex.
1 . Therefore , Perfection could not bee by darons frieftboode. From This Wee Learnf, That vndej: the Lawe, Remiffion of finnes, and eter- nal! Lyfr,
IHebk. Chap. VII. I2J
II Lyfe, was not obtayned by vertue of anie facri- ethen offered : but by the vertue of CHRIST'S crifice , and CHRIST'S Priefthoode, repre- sented thcre-by.
2. But -toby could not Terfetfionbiebytbatfriejl*
boodei Bcegrtctb a%eafon, faying -, For vndcr
it the people receaved the Lawe. The
vordeimportetb as much, *s the people -tocrc thenlegd*
Uzed, disciplined, after d legdll manner : that is, Tbe
Lave -toas (till Yrged Vf on tbcm$ flilltbey -toereprejfei
logtue p erf eft obedience, \nder fdyne of tbe Cur ft %
(till GOD dealt in tbe externall forme ofbandeling
them] as one not fatisfied for anie tbing that *tod$ ojfe*
ted, ds yet i in their name. Therefore, Tcfettio*
could not bee bad by tbat Service : For it -toas evident,
Itbatneytber GO© -toas pacified, nor their Confciences
myeted, by anie tbing in tbat Trieftboodc I but dll-tocrc
U'ent to the thing (tgnified, and to the tyme -tobicb *to*$
if 0 come , in tbe Mefiias manifejtation .
THEN, Comparing their tyme, and ours , for outward manner of handeling , as they were legali- zed -y that is, itraytlie vrged , bytheYoakeof the Lawe: wee are Evangelized; thatis,fmoothIie en- treated, vnder the Gofpell j GOD laying afide Tcr~ tour, entreating vs to bee reconciled, and to comc# and reccaue Grace for Grace.
Verf.n. For, the Priefthoode beeing chaunged, there is made, of neceffi- tie, a chaunge alfo of the Law.
Frtm
n6 Hebr. Chap. VII.
F5^0 U the cbaunge of the Leviticall friejlhoi, \ hceinfemtb, of necefiitiejbt abolifhing of the ] Leviticall Law , and of our Obligation tbewnto. j THEN, i . The Leviticall Priefthoode, and the Leviticall Lawe, doe ftand and fall together. 2. The] Leviticall Lawe cannot ftand with anie other prieft-j hoode than Aaron's : it can not ftand with Chrift's, vnder the Gofpetl. 3. ChrifVs Priefthoode , feeing it is another than Aaron's , muft haue another Law, other Ordinances, and (latutes, than. Aaron's : a Lawe and Ordinances futeable vnto it felfe. 4. To] vfe Leviticall Ceremonies vnder the Gofpell, istol confound the priefthood of Aaron and Chrift.'
Verf 1 3 . For, hee of whom thefe things are fpoken , pertayaeth to another! Trybc; of which no man gaue atten* dance at ihe Altar.
terfi^. For, it is evident a that our: LORD fprangoutof Iuda- of which T Trybc Mofcs fpake nothing concer- ning Priefthood.
ferf. 15. And, it is yet farfe more evi- dent : For, that afcer the fimilitude of Melchifedek , there aryfeth another Prieft.
i.T T E E prooyetb, that Aaron s Triejlkoode is * -* tbaunged, and tbe Ordinance thereof', be- uufc Ps al. ex. fiufyb of Cbrijl'sfriejlbood;
that
Hebr. Chap. VII. 127
tat is, fid front the ferVite of the Alt ay. By the Itaty beemeanetb the materiall Altar, commaunded in >e Law. Another Altar bee knowtb not. And brijl's friejiboode bee declareth to bee f red from >e [erVice of this Altar 5 befidelcbicb, noLaye could \e it to anie ether Altar ,
Then, Chrift's Priefthoode is fred from the ltar which GOD commaunded , and all the fer- iee thereof. And, who-fo-ever will erect another lateriall Altar in CHRIST'S Prieilhoode, and pe his Church vnto it , muft looke by what Lawc ley doe it.
1. From Verfc 14. Wee L e a r N e , That
thrift's Genealogie was well knowne in theApoflle's ymes ; and no controvcrfie about it. And , it ihfii- eth vs,that\vee knowcthisby the Apoftle'sTefti- nonie 5 albeit wee could not lineallie deduce the
amc .
3. Obferue bow bee reafomtb\ That none cf the Irybe of I uda attended the Altar,becaufe Mofes jpal^e \otb\ng of that Trybey concerning the friejiboode*
THEN, NegatiUe Conclufions , in Matters of F^fth, and Dueties, followe well from the Scriptures (ifence. It is not warranded from Scripture j there- bre 1 am not bound to belieue it. The Scripture doeth not requyre anie fuch thing of mee; therefore GOD accounteth it not fervice to Him to doc it ; $ good reafoning.
4. From Vcrfe if. The Afofile comparing the
tytoofes of bis Argument, calletb this lajl in plajnt
Uames , Farre more evident .
\T H E N , Of Reafoas drawne from Scripture, by
Confluence,
12$ FtiBR. Chap. VII.
Confequence,fome will bee Jefle evident, fome mor< evident ; and yet all bee good Reafons, and prooui the Purpofe ftronglie*
Verf. i(5. Who is made 5 not after the lawofacarnall commandementi bu after the power of an endleffe lyfe.
JJEE entcretb into a more particular cemparifon,Oj the Leviticall frieflboode, and CB%IS TS tBfhoTvtheyeatyeffe of the one y in eomparifonofth other. JbeLeViticall frie/les^in their Cenfecration got a commaundement^for the Exercyfe of bodilieam tar nail %i*ts, fomefene yeares of their mortall lyfe without po^ei to convey the Grace fignified by tbojebo iilie'kites* lBut CH%IST% inhu Confecrationtisen dewdwb ToWr> tocenferre Grace, and Lyfecter nail, fom Generation, to Generation, to all that fee\ the <Benepte iff his Vrieftkoode.
THEN, Wee may bee aiTurei &£