Partie THEN The vse extent and nature of GOD'S Worde must bee well studied lest through misstaking or ignorance heereof a man should missapply or missregarde it 2. The first propertie of the Worde it is Quicke That is dieth not when those die to whome first it was directed but endureth speaking on with that same authoritie to all that heare it in all tymes after THEN The Word is not a dead Letter nor expyred with former Ages but the same to vs that it was before to others fit for operation and working the worke for which it is sent for convincing or converting the hearer alway 3. Agayne it is Powerfull That is not fitte to worke onelie but actiue and operatiue in effect actuallie bynding the Conscience to obedience or judgement make the Sinner what opposition hee will Yea it falleth a-working on the hearer if hee belieue it presentlie to cleare his mynde rectifie his will and reforme his lyfe and to bring about his good and safetie If a man belieue it not it falleth a-working also presentlie to binde him guiltie vnto judgement and to augment his naturall blyndnesse and his heartes hardnesse and to bring on some degree of the deserved punishment vpon himselfe albeit not of its owne nature but by the disposition of the Object wherevpon it worketh THEN 1. The Worde wanteth not the owne effect whensoever it is preached but alwayes helpeth or hurteth the hearer as hee yeeldeth to it or rejecteth or neglecteth it 2. Wee shall doe well to obserue what sorte of operation it hath vpon vs seeing it must haue some that wee may bee framed to the better by it 4. Another propertie of the Worde It is sharper than anie two-edged Sworde because it pearceth speedilie thorow a brasen Brow and dissembling countenance and a lying mouth and thrusteth it selfe without suffering resistance into the conscience of the most obstinate with a secret blow and maketh him guiltie within his owne Breast THEN 1. Let not Preachers thinke their labour lost when they haue to doe with obstinate sinners The stroke is given at the hearing of the Worde which will bee found vncured after 2. Neyther let dissemblers please themselues with a fayre countenance put vpon the matter as if the Worde did not touch them but rather giue Glorie to GOD in tyme when they are pricked at the heart For if they still dissemble the wound receaved of this Sworde the wound shall prooue deadlie 4. Pearcing even to the dividing a-sunder of the Soule and the Spirit That is Those most secret devyses and plottes of the mynde or spirite and those clossest affections of the heart or soule towardes anie forbidden evill this Worde will finde out yea it can divyde a-sunder the Soule and the Spirit the heart and the mynde and tell the man how his Soule or heart cleaveth to the sinne and how his mynde plotteth pretenses to hyde the evill of it from himselfe and others even in those sinnes which haue not broken foorth but lye as derne in the mynde as the marrow in the bones And it can put difference betwixt the purposes of the heart and the thoughtes how to compasse the designe and howe to hyde the convoy Or those wayes â—owe the Sinner doeth begayle himselfe and secketh to syle the eyes of others the Worde doeth decypher and distinguish all these thinges which selfe-deceaving sophistrie confoundeth THEN 1. Secret purposes fall vnder the judicatorie of the Word as well as practises accomplished 2. Pretenses and excuses will not put off the challenge of it 3. Nothing remayneth but that wee giue vp our selues to the Wordes Governament fleeing what it dischargeth and following what it commaundeth Vers. 13. Neyther is there anie creature that is not manifest in His Sight but all thinges are naked and opened vnto the eyes of Him with whom we haue to doe To cleare the power of the Word hee bringeth in the propertie of GOD whose Worde it is and setteth vp the Sinner's secret thought in the sight of the all-seeing GOD with whom hee hath to doe THEN 1. GOD is the Partie with whome the hearer of the Worde hath to doe and hath his Reckoning to make and not the Preacher 2. GOD joyneth with His Worde and giveth it that searching and discovering and pearcing Vertue 3. GOD'S Omniscience and All-seeing Sight should make vs looke to our inward disposition so shall this and other lyke Exhortations and Threatninges haue better effect and fruit in vs. Vers. 14. Seeing then that wee haue a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens IESUS the Sonne of GOD let vs holde fast our Profession 1. HEE giveth them a Direction for entering into their Rest To holde fast their Profession That is In fayth and loue to avow the Doctrine of CHRIST THEN 1. Hee that would enter into Rest must bee steadfast in mayntayning and avowing the true Religion of CHRIST 2. Hee who quyteth the Profession of the Trueth of CHRST taketh courses to cutte off himselfe from GOD'S Rest. For if wee denye CHRIST Hee will denye vs. 2. Hee commaundeth To holde fast our Profession THEN 1. GOD will not bee pleased with backe-slyding or coldrysnesse or indifferencie in matters of Religion because this is not to holde it fast but to take a loose grippe which is the readie way to Defection 2. There is daunger Lest our Adversaries pull the Trueth from vs. 3. The more daunger wee fore-see the more stronglie must wee grippe the Trueth 3. The Encowragement which hee giveth to holde fast is Wee haue CHRIST a great high Priest c. THEN 1. As wee haue neede of Threatning to dryue vs to enter into GOD'S Rest So haue wee neede of Encowragementes to drawe vs therevnto 2. All our Encowragement is from the Helpe which wee shall haue in CHRIST and that is sufficient 3. CHRIST is alwayes for vs in His Office albeit wee doe not alwayes feele Him sensiblie in vs. 4. Hee calleth CHRIST A great high Priest to put difference betwixt the typicall high Priest and Him in whom the trueth of the Priesthood is found THEN What the typicall high Priest did in show for the people that the great high Priest doeth in substance for vs That is reconcileth vs to GOD perfectlie blesseth vs with all Blessinges solidlie and intercedeth for vs perpetuallie 5. Hee affirmeth of CHRIST That Hee is passed into the Heavens to wit in regarde of His Manhead to take Possession thereof in our name THEN 1. CHRIST'S corporall presence is in Heaven onelie and not on earth from whence He is passed 2. CHRIST'S corporall presence in Heaven and absence from vs in that respect hindereth not our Right vnto Him and spirituall having or possessing of Him 3. Yea it is our Encowragement to seeke entrie into Heaven that Hee is there before vs. 6. Hee calleth Him IESUS the Sonne of GOD to leade vs through His Humanitie vnto His Godhead THEN No Rest on the Mediator till wee goe to the Rocke of His
A Short EXPLANATION Of the EPISTLE of PAVL TO THE HEBREWES By DAVID DICKSON Preacher of Gods Word AT IRWIN ABERDENE Imprinted by Edw. Raban Anno 1635. TO THE READER CHRISTIAN READER BEfore the tyme that something of myne did passe the PRESSE without my knowledge or allowance I did not mynde to come abroad in this Learned Age wherein manie more able Men than I am doe keepe silence my Furniture beeing fitter for my present Charge than for more publicke Edification in my judgement and my Employmentes so frequent as my spare tyme is little for farther extent of what the LORD hath bestowed vpon mee But since that tyme my just Feares from apparent grounds that numbers of my SERMONS vvhich were rudelie and popularlie delivered as thryse or foure tymes Preaching a-weeke might yeelde and taken from my Mouth as it was possible to over-take the current of running speach the judicious Wryter making what hee had over-taken to coheare the best hee could and Copies going from him to manie with numbers of Faultes and misstakinges of the Transcribers I beeing vnable to revise for straytnesse of tyme anie thing which was written by them first or last My just Feares I saye that these should come to thy Handes rude and faultie as they are made mee willing rather when GOD should graunt mee leasure heere-after to draw vp in short the poyncts of Doctrine delivered by mee in these SERMONS that thou mightest haue a twentie or thirtie of them or moe possible in the boundes and pryce of one at large With this passage of GOD'S providence another hath concurred to drawe foorth this piece vnto thy view in the meane tyme which is this When I considered howe largelie GOD hath provyded HELPS for vnderstanding of holie SCRIPTVRE by large Commentaries and sweete Sermons especiallie from His Church in ENGLAND where-by increase of Knowledge is given to the Learned and such whose meanes to buy and leasure from their calling to reade and victorie over their owne laysinesse for taking paynes doeth concurre with their capacitie for making vse of this the LORD'S Liberalitie I haue often requested the Father of Lightes To helpe such as eyther could not or else would not profite themselues by that vvhich is alreadie graunted in His Bountie by some short and playne manner of wryting vvhere-by the weaker judgementes might bee supported and all Excuse taken away from the wittie Sluggard and such whose worldlie Employmentes and great Effayres haue seemed sufficient Reasons to excuse their negligence and the small and naughtie matters of their owne Salvation and the Kingdome of HEAVEN and Evidences thereof in SCRIPTVRE And to this purpose I haue beene verie instant vvith the Godlie-Learned of myne acquayntance to take this matter in hand and to divyde amongst them the hard parts of SCRIPTVRE at least that this worke might bee done by the handes of manie vvhich could not bee done by one I found their approbation of my desire and inclinable willingnesse to put hand to worke also But some of them for the weyght of their ordinarie Charge some of them for age and infirmitie of bodie some of them for their handes full of the LORD'S worke in another sorte could not adventure to bee straytlie ingaged in the worke Where thorow I was forced eyther to forsake my Desires which daylie were kindeled within mee more and more or else come foorth with some-thing of this kynde as might bee and seeke amongst my Readers some to take this Matter to heart and to doe there-in as the LORD should enable them by themselues or by others I haue made choyse of this EPISTLE which is a piece of hard Meate in the esteemation both of the APOSTLE the Wryter there-of CHAP. 5. and 6. and of PETER giving his judgement of it 2. PET. 1.15.16 That if I should attayne anie parte of myne intent in anie measure in so hard a place I might encowrage others to take in hand a more easie parte of SCRIPTVRE with more hope of successe The Summe of each Chapter or the Contents doe stand in steade of Analysis and in some places of a Paraphrase The Text doeth followe Verse by Verse The exposition of the Verse serveth for groundes of Doctrines which Doctrines following vpon the groundes are joyned moste parte with the Note of Collection THEN Pluralitie of Doctrines from the ground or from the Text where the consequence is easie to bee perceaved is distinguished by Figures according to their numbers Tearmes of Arte I haue eschewed because I would bee playne to all I haue spared all enlargement of the Doctrines which I could spare leaving them as graynes of Seede to get their growth in thy mynde by Meditation which is necessarie for such as loue to make vse of this sort of wryting because I would be short The speciall handeling of such Passages as the Apostle citeth out of the Olde Testament I haue left to their owne proper place Quotations for confirmation of my Doctrines drawne from the ground I haue spared also Because I judged If the Doctrine was pertinentlie collected from the ground the Text in hand was sufficient confirmation And if it bee not pertinentlie collected I am content that thou passe by it and take onelie what is pertinent A quotation could prooue the Doctrine true but not prooue it pertinent and so not serue my purpose Manie moe and more pertinent Consequences the Learned will finde which I haue not observed but not for the Learned or such as are able and willing to make vse of larger Wrytinges doe I intende this present Therefore doe not looke howe much thou doest misse which might haue beene sayde but what in the first frame of this moulde could bee done in such brevitie Which moulde I trust the Learned shall helpe if it please the LORD to stirre them vp to take this matter in hand I haue preassed singlie to poynct out Trueth without Partialitie not wresting the Text to reach a Blowe to anie man And what thou shalt make of this present Piece I am not carefull if I can obtayne there-by that more able Men may bee set on worke to doe what I intend but cannot doe If the precious Iewell of the SCRIPTVRE may bee more esteemed of and made vse of which is more necessarie for our Soules than the Sunne in the Firmament is for our bodies and the greatest gift next after our LORD IESVS downe-sending amongst vs that ever the Worlde saw If I may by this piece I say bee an Instrument to stirre vp anie to the loue of searching the SCRIPTVRES I haue not lost my Paynes what-so-ever shall become of this little Booke Where-vnto I haue sollisted for no Patronage vnder Heaven but thy Christian Good-will to my Ayme to haue our LORD the more honoured in the sounde Knowledge and right vse of His SCRIPTVRE I am confident that thou wilt easilie judge with mee That the prowde and prophane Despysers of GOD are worthie to perish amongst His Enemies But consider
our conception helped 1. CHRIST the Sonne is called the Brightnessâ— of His Fathers Glorie The similitude is borrowed from the Sonne beams Then 1. As the Father is glorious so is CHRIST His Sonne glorious with the same Glorie Therefore 1. Cor. 2.8 Hee is called the LORD of Glorie 2. As the beames of light haue their originall from the Sunne so hath CHRIST His originall of the Father and is vnseparable from Him for as the Sunne was never without its light so neyther was the Father ever without the Sonne but coëternallie with Him 3. As the Sunne is not manifested but by its owne brightnesse So the inaccessible light of the Fathers Glorie is not revealed to the creature but by the Sonne 2. CHRIST is called the expresse Image of the Fathers Person The similitude is borrowed from a Signets impression which representeth all the lineaments of the Seale Then 1. The Father is one person and the Sonne is another person of the Godhead having His owne proper subsistence distinct from the Father 2. The Sonne resembleth the Father fullie and perfectlie so that there is no perfection in the Father but the same is substantiallie in the Sonne As the Father is Eternall Omnipotent Omnipresent infinite in Wisedome Goodnesse Mercle Holinesse and all other Perfections So is the Sonne Omnipotent Eternall and all that the Father is 3. Whatsoever Perfection wee can perceiue in CHRIST shyning in His Manhead or Word or Workes the same wee may conclude to bee in the Father also whose resemblance and expresse Image Hee is Finde wee CHRIST good and mercifull loving and pittifull meeke and lowlie not abhorring the most vyle and miserable whether in soule or bodie that commeth vnto Him for reliefe wee may bee assured that such a one is the Father and no other wayes mynded to such as seeke vnto Him through CHRIST 3. CHRIST vpholdeth all things by the word of His power Then 1. The preservation of the creatures as well as their creation is from Christ. The Father vpholdeth all so doeth the Sonne 2. What Hee doeth Hee doeth as Omnipotent GOD by His Word without trouble or burthen As Hee spake and all was done So Hee but by His Word commandeth and all standeth fast And this His Word is nothing else but His powerfull Will ordayning thinges to bee and continue and powerfullie making them so to bee and continue so long as Hee will 4. CHHIST by Himselfe purged our sinnes To wit by bearing our sinnes vpon his Bodie on the Tree 1. Pet. 24. Then 1. Our sinnes are a filthinesse that must bee purged 2. The satisfactorie cleansing of our sinnes is not a thing to bee done by mens meritorious doinges or sufferinges but alreadie done and ended by CHRIST before Hee ascended and that by Himselfe alone all creatures beeing secluded 3. Hee that vpholdeth all thinges by the Word of His owne Power and Hee that purged our sinnes by His owne Blood is but one selfe same Person GOD and Man is Hee in one person 5. CHRIST sate downe on the right Hand of the Majestie on high That is when CHRIST had cleansed our sinnes by his death hee ascended to Heaven and possessed himselfe as Man in the fellowship of the same Glorie which as GOD hee had before the Worlde was Iohn 17.4.5 Then 1. The Sonne is joyned in the fellowship of the same Glorie with the Father as well in his Manhead after his Resurrection as in his Godhead before his Incarnation For though the Glorie of CHRISTS Godhead was hid for a whyle by the sufferinges of his Manhead yet was it not abolished nor in it selfe abated thereby but the Manhead first was assumed vnto the vnitie of Person with the Godhead that our Ransome might bee rich and then to the vnion of the same Glorie that the Redeemer after the Ransomes paying might bee altogether glorious 2. Seeing Hee that hath cleansed our sinnes is so glorious a Person all the meanes of his cleansing vs how base soever such as were his Hunger and Thirst his Povertie and Weaknesse his shâ—mefull and paynfull Death should bee glorious in our eyes also 3. Majestie and Magnificence and Grandour properlie so called is the LORDS The highest excellencies of the creature are but sparkes of his Majestie and weake resemblances onelie albeit their earthlie glorie often holde mens eyes so as they forget the LORDS Greatnesse Vers. 4. Beeing made so much better than the Angels as Hee hath by Inheritance obtayned a more excellent Name than they 1. HEe prooveth Christ to bee greater than the Angels because his Name is more excellent than theirs For they are called Angels and hee GODS Sonne which hee is sayde to haue by Inheritance as due to him both as God by eternall generation and as Man by assumption of our nature in vnitie of one person according to which hee is not the adopted but naturall Sonne of GOD Filius natus non filius factus Then GOD giveth not ydle Titles as GOD calleth thinges so they are or are made to bee CHRIST as GOD is called GODS Sonne because by eternall generation hee is so as Man hee is called GODS Sonne because by assumption of the humane nature vnto the personall vnion of his Godhead hee is made so to bee 2. As farre as Sonneship is aboue servile employment as farre is CHRIST more excellent than the Angels Vers. 5. For vnto which of the Angels sayde Hee at anie tyme Thou art My Sonne this day haue I begotten Thee And agayne I will bee to Him a Father and Hee shall bee to Mee a Sonne 1. HEe prooveth his poynt by Scripture PSAL. 2.7 2. SAM 7.19 and putteth them to improbation of his Doctrine by Scripture if they could Then 1. In the true Primitiue Church in matters of Religion all Authoritie was silent Divine Scripture spake determined questioned points of Trueth 2. The Apostle counted it sufficient to bring Scripture for his Doctrine and permitteth no impugning of it but by Scripture 2. Onelie of CHRIST sayeth GOD I haue begotten Thee Then 1. Howsoever GOD hath manie Sonnes by Creation by Office by Grace and Adoption yet a Sonne by Generation a natiue Sonne hath Hee none but CHRIST 2. CHRIST is of the same Nature and Essence with the Father consubstantiall with him because begotten of him in himselfe without beginning the Sonne beeing eternallie in the Father and the Father eternallie in the Sonne of the selfe-same Nature and Godhead 3. This day haue I begotten Thee Beeing vnderstoode of CHRIST according to his Godhead signifieth the Fathers tymelesse eternall perpetuallie constant and present generation of his Sonne in himselfe Beeing vnderstoode according to his State in his Manhead it signifieth the Fathers bringing foorth of the Sonne to the knowledge of the Worlde and declaring him to bee the Sonne of GOD with power by his Resurrection from the dead ROM 1.4 These places it is true were spoken of David and Salomon as Types of Christ typicallie in a slender resemblance PSAL.
2.7 and 2. SAM 7.19 But the Bodie of the Truth aimed at signified was Christ resembled by them as here wee see Whence wee learne That typicall speaches in Scripture haue not their perfect meaning neyther can bee fullie expounded nor truelie vnderstoode till they bee drawne to Christ in whome they haue their accomplishment and of whom they meane to speake vnder the name of the Types And therefore neyther could the olde Church of the Iewes nor can wee get comfort in anie of them till Christ in whome all the Promises are YEA and AMEN bee found included in them Vers. 6. And agayne when Hee bringeth in the first begotten into the worlde Hee sayeth And let all the Angels of GOD worship Him 1. HEe sayeth that is The Father sayeth PSAL. 97.7 Then The Scripture which elsewhere is called the Speach of the holie Ghost is also the Speach of the FATHER 2. Hee bringeth in his first begotten into the Worlde Then 1. The Father is the Author of Christ's Incarnation and of his Kingdome amongst Men and of Divine Glorie given to him in his Kingdome 2. Christ is the Father's first begotten both for the eternitie of his Person begotten without beginning before the Worlde was and for the excellencie of his Person beeing more glorious than all Angels or Men which get the name of Children eyther by Creation or Adoption 3. The Father commandeth Let all the Angels of GOD adore Him Then 1. The Father communicateth to Christ as his owne Nature and Godhead by Generation so also his owne Glorie by commanding the creatures to adore him 2. What the creatures adore they acknowledge by adoration to bee GOD so GOD esteemeth 3. And Christ is the Angels GOD because they must adore Him Vers. 7. And of the Angels Hee sayeth Who maketh His Angels Spirits and His Ministers a flame of fire Hee maketh his Angels Spirits c. PSAL. 104 5. THEN 1. GOD made not the Angels to get anie parte of Christ's rowme in the Churches worship but to serue Christ as lowlie as anie of the meanest creatures 2. And the Angels indeede are as readie to doe so and as swift and actiue in their service as the Windes and fire-flaughts Vers. 8. But vnto the Sonne Hee sayeth Thy Throne O GOD is for ever and ever a Scepter of Righteousnesse is the Scepter of Thy Kingdome Vers. 9. Thou hast loved Righteousnesse and hated Iniquitie therefore GOD even Thy GOD hath anoynted Thee with the Oyle of Gladnesse aboue Thy Fellowes 1. BY this place cited out of PSAL. 45.7 it is evident that the PSALME 45. is a Song of the mysticall Marriage of CHRIST and his Church and in this Passage a number of notable Doctrines concerning Christ are poynted at 1. Hee is called GOD and so is fit to reconcile vs to GOD able and all-sufficient to accomplish our Salvation a Rocke to leane vnto 2. A King enthroned not onelie over the Worlde but in a gracious manner over the Church which hee marrieth to himselfe in this PSALME and therefore shall his Church haue Lawes and Direction and Protection from him 3. Hee hath a Throne for ever and ever and therefore shall his Church which is his Kingdome endure for ever and ever 4. Hee hath a Scepter to rule with and therefore power and authoritie to take order with his Subjectes and with his enemies also 5. His Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousnesse because hee can not abuse his power to doe wrong to anie but will doe right to all yea and leade on his Subjects to Righteousnesse of Fayth to justifie them before GOD and Righteousnesse of Conversation to adorne them before Men. 2. Hee loveth Righteousnesse and hateth Iniquitie And therefore 1. His Scepter can not bee sweyed but righteouslie 2. And so must his subjectes set themselues to doe if they will please him 3. Therefore Christs God hath anoynted him with the Oyle of Gladnesse aboue his fellowes Then 1. As Christ is God himselfe so also is hee Man vnder God in regarde of his Manhead and Office therein 2. And God is his God by Covenant Christ as Man is confederate with God 3. And hee hath FELLOWES in the Covenant that is others of mankynde with whome hee is part-taker of flesh and blood Fellow-brethren and Coheyres Shares-men in all the Fathers Goods with him 4. Hee is anoynted with the Oyle of Gladnesse furnished with the Spirit that bringeth joye vnto him and all his subjects who get conveyed vnto them by Christ Righteousnesse and Peace and joye in the holie Ghost 5. Hee is anoynted aboue his fellowes The rest of the confederate Saynctes are anoynted also yet by measure receiue they the Spirit But Christ is anoynted aboue them the Spirit is not given to him by measure but to dwell bodilie or substantiallie that wee of his fulnesse may all receiue Grace for Grace 4. Because hee loveth Righteousnesse c. Therefore hee is anoynted Then The righteousnesse of Christ is the procuring and meritorious cause of this joye to him and his Subjectes Fellowes in the Covenant Vers. 10. And Thou LORD in the beginning hast layde the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the Workes of Thyne Handes Vers. 11. They shall perish but Thou remaynest and they all shall waxe olde as doeth a Garment Vers. 12. And as a Vesture shalt Thou folde them vp and they shall bee changed but Thou art the same and Thy Yeares shall not fayle 1. ANother Testimonie of Christ from PSAL. 102.25.26 wherein hee is expresselie called 1. IEHOVAH GOD in essence the same GOD with the Father and the holie Ghost who giveth Beeing to the creatures and Performance to the Promises 2. Who layde the Foundation of the Earth c. and so Creator of Heaven and Earth 3. And by consequence who can create in vs a right Spirit and make vs of naughtie sinners Sonnes 2. They shall perish waxe olde and bee changed Then The Heavens and the Earth nowe subject to corruption shall both not continue and yet they shall not vtterlie bee abolished but changed into an incorruptible estate for mans cause Rom. 8 21. 3. Christ remayneth and is the same and his Yeares fayle not Then 1. CHRIST is eternall and our Mediator can not bee amissing can not die 2. Constant and immutable and can not change his purpose of loue to his called Ones whatsoever changes befall them And this is the Rocke of the Churches Comfort when shee looketh to her owne frayltie and changeablenesse Vers. 13. But to which of the Angels sayd Hee at anie tyme Sit on My Right Hand vntill I make Thyne Enemies Thy Foote-stoole Psal. cx 1. TO which of the Angels sayde hee Hee asketh for Scripture to show what is due to Angels Then 1. The Scripture must determine what is due to Angels and other creatures what is to bee thought of them and done to them also 2. And no word in Scripture doeth countenance the giving of the glorie of the Mediator to
He ever liveth to make intercession for them 1. HEE showeth the Fruite of Christ's keeping still the Priesthoode altogether in his owne person to bee The perfect Salvation of all Believers for ever Hee is able to saue to the vttermost them that come vnto GOD through Him THEN 1. Who-so-ever communicateth Christ's Priesthoode with anie other beside his owne person maketh Christ not able alone to saue to the vttermost those that come vnto GOD through Him 2. From this ground also it doeth followe that Christ not onelie beginneth the Believers salvation but perfecteth it also Hee doeth not worke a parte of a man's salvation and leaue the rest to his owne merites or the merites of others but perfecteth it Himselfe even to the vttermoste 3. And if a man joyne anie thing meritorious vnto Christ's Priesthoode or anie Mediator for intercession beside him or seeketh by his owne workes to purchase salvation hee denyeth Christ to bee able to saue him to the vttermoste 2. Hee descrybeth Believers to bee those that come to GOD through CHRIST THEN 1. Christ is the Doore and the Way through which onelie Accesse is gotten to GOD. By Saynctes or Angels there is not a way to come to GOD but by Christ onelie 2. They that come not through Him alone to GOD seclude themselues from the sufficiencie of salvation to bee had in Him 3. The nature of Believing is to make a man come towardes GOD to get communion with Him through Christ. 4. And none but such as come in Fayth to GOD through Christ can take comfort from His Priesthoode or looke for salvation 3. Hee giveth a Reason why perfect Salvation is to bee had for such as come to GOD through CHRIST Because Hee liveth for ever to make intercession for them Hee sayeth not To offer or cause offer vp the Sacrifice of his bodie for them But Hee liveth and is not to bee offered anie more and liveth to make intercession THEN 1. The sacrificing parte is done and ended His intercession hath now the place and by His intercession wee get the Merite of His Death and Passion applyed vnto vs and not by anie newe Oblation 2. If Hee brooke His lyfe Hee will not fayle to intercede for vs who come vnto GOD through Him and not through Saynct or Angell or anie person beside For Hee liveth for ever to make intercession for vs. Vers. 26. For such an High Priest became vs who is holie harmlesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens TO the ende hee may force the Hebrewes to forsake the Priesthood of Levi hee draweth a strong Reason from the nature of our Estate vnder the Gospell where-by hee prooveth not onelie that the priests of Aaron 's Order are abolished but also everie sonne of Adam is excluded from the Office of the Priesthood except IESVS CHRIST in his owne person onelie Because everie Priest that wanteth the properties of IESVS CHRIST is vnbeseeming for vs vnder the Gospell A sinfull man might haue beene a Priest vnder the Lawe to praefigure CHRIST before Hee came But nowe no sinfull man may bee a Priest by Office but CHRIST onelie in whom there is no sinne When the sacrifice was a beast then a sinfull man might be a priest But now when the Sonne of GOD is the Sacrifice and hath offered vp himselfe alreadie and is gone in into the Sanctuarie with his owne bloode to make intercession there must bee no more anie sacrificing till hee come out of the Sanctuarie agayne at the Day of Iudgement nor anie priest but he till hee haue ended his Intercession For such an High Priest became vs who is holie harmlesse c. Question But why is it vnbeseeming vs vnder the Gospell to haue a priest without these properties I aunswere The Sacrifice of the Newe Testament is the vnspotted Lambe of GOD IESVS CHRIST holie harmlesse c. Therefore it becommeth vs to haue such a priest who is holie harmlesse and vndefiled For it were vnseemlie that the priest should bee worse than the sacrifice Next our Priest hath our sinnes originall and actuall to remooue and Heaven to open vnto vs And therefore it were vnbeseeming that anie should bee our priest who hath not his owne sinnes altogether remooved nor yet hath gotten entrie as yet into Heaven himselfe 1. In that hee draweth them of necessitie to quyte all mens priesthoode and betake them vnto Christ as Priest onelie WEE LEARNE That our necessities being well weyghed with the insufficiencie of anie beside CHRIST to doe our Turne wee shall bee forced to quyte all priestes but CHRIST onelie For vvhat priest can knowe all our needes all our sinnes all our thoughtes all our desires all our prayers all our purposeâ— and wayt on vpon our businesse with GOD night and day to see that no wrath breake out vpon vs Who can doe this but CHRIST onelie What Man What Saynct What Angell 2. In that hee reckoneth a number of Perfections necessarie to bee in a priest in the tyme of the Gospell all of them in CHRIST and all such as wee stand in neede of WEE LEARNE That all the perfections whereof wee haue neede in a priest are all in CHRIST And the perfections which are in CHRIST wee haue neede of them all and should make vse of them all 3. The first propertie of a priest vnder the Gospell is this Hee must bee holie that is of his owne nature holie in his originall holie THEN No sinful man can be a sufficient priest in the New Testament to doe for vs who wants holinesse by nature 4. The next propertie Our priest must bee harmlesse ill-lesse free from anie originall guiltinesse THEN No man come of Adame by naturall propagation can bee a priest for vs nowe to satisfie our necessities who haue sinne originall in vs. 5. The third propertie Wee haue neede of a priest vndefiled that is free from actuall sinne THEN No priest can suffice vs who are defiled with actuall sinne but CHRIST vvho never sinned 6. The fourth propertie A priest meete for vs must bee free from the pollution of these amongst whom hee converseth THEN Wee who are of polluted lippes and lyues and dwell amongst such a people communicating manie wayes of their guiltinesse can not haue sufficient comfort through anie priest who can bee infected with sinne And hee who is a man of polluted lippes is not meete to bee a priest for vs. 7. The fift propertie A priest meete for vs behooved to haue his Residence in Heaven and haue commaundement over Heaven to open it vnto vs and giue vs entrie THEN None other but CHRIST could suffice vs on whome by nature the Doores of Heaven are closed No priest out of Heaven is meete for vs. Vers. 27. Who needeth not daylie as those High Priestes to offer vp Sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples For this Hee did once when Hee offered vp Himselfe 1. THE sixt propertie of a fit priest
all our mynde as hath beene marked before Where-by hee teacheth vs 1. Howe wee doe enter into the Holiest to wit by Prayer sending vp our Supplications to Heaven And agayne 2. That in our Prayers to GOD wee may vse freedome of speach telling Him all our Mynd all our Griefes all our Feares all our Desires and even powre out our heartes before Him at all tymes 4. Hee commendeth this Priviledge by the Pryce of the Purchase there-of even the Blood of IESVS Where-by hee teacheth vs 1. To haue this Priviledge in high esteemation 2. To make good vse of it 3. To bee confident of the standing of it and all because it is so dearlie bought 5. Lastlie hee commendeth this Priviledge by the Common Right which all Believers haue vnto it the Apostle and these Hebrewes as his Brethren and all other of that Societie Where-by hee teacheth That albeit there bee great difference in the measure of Fayth and other Graces betwixt Christians some beeing stronger some weaker some as Apostles some as these weake Hebrewes c. yet all are the Children of one Father all are Brethren and all are admitted by Prayer to come and enter into Heaven freelie to powre out their soules at all tymes vnto GOD. Vers. 20. By a Newe and Living Way vvhich Hee hath consecrated for vs through the Vayle that is to say His Flesh. THIS is one Priviledge That wee haue libertie to enter into Heavē followeth another There is a Way made to leade vs on there-vnto which is Christ's Flesh compared to the Vayle of the Sanctuarie which both hid those thinges which were within the Sanctuarie and yet yeelded an enterie through it selfe vnto the Sanctuarie So is Christ's Flesh the Vayle of his Godhead which did bide the Glorie of his Deitie from the carnall beholders who stumbled at his basenesse and yet opened a Doore for the spirituall man to looke in vpon him that was invisible whyle as hee observed the brightnesse of the Glorie of GOD breaking through the Doctrine and Workes of the Man CHRIST 1. Hee maketh the Way to bee Christ's Flesh or Christ as incarnate or Christ considered according to his humanitie Because Christ's taking on our nature is the onelie Meane of reconciling vs vnto GOD. No man ever came to the Father but by him No other Name where-by men are saved but the NAME of IESVS CHRIST And therfore as in the way a man must enter and holde on still till hee come to the ende to the place where hee would bee Even so must everie man who would bee at Heaven begin at Christ and holde on making progresse in him still from Fayth to Fayth from Grace to Grace till hee come to his Rest. 2. This Way is of Christ's owne making hee hath devysed it and consecrated it Hee who is the Father's Wisedome hath thought it the best Waye to bring Man to GOD that GOD should become Man that the Word should bee made Flesh. The best Way to bring men to Heaven that GOD should come downe to the earth to take on Man's nature vpon him that hee might make Man Part-taker of the Divine Nature 3. Hee hath consecrated and dedicated his Flesh his humane nature set aparte and sanctified himselfe to this same ende that Men might make their Moyen with GOD by him as Man and by the Bandes of Nature with him he helped vp to the Bands of Grace with GOD by comming to the Man CHRIST might finde GOD in CHRIST 4. Hee calleth it a New Way 1. Because of the cleare manifesting of the Way to Heaven vnder the Gospell in comparison of the tyme of the Law 2. Because a readie playne and safe Way without stumbling Blockes Pittes or Snares Daungers or Inconveniences to such as keepe themselues there-in such as new-made wayes vse to bee 3. Because it waxeth never olde is now established and never to bee altered or abolished 5. It is a Living Way 1. Because Christ liveth for ever to helpe them all to Heaven who seeke vnto GOD through Him onelie 2. Because Lyfe is heere in Christ as in the Fountayne that hee may giue Lyfe to whom-so-ever hee will that is vnto all that come vnto him 3. Because it giveth Lyfe and refreshment to the wearie Passenger and quickeneth his dead and dumpish heart when hee considereth that his Saviour is a Man indeede so earnest to haue vs saved that hee hath yoaked himselfe in communion of nature with vs there-by to saue vs. It is Meat indeede to his Soule that the Word is made Flesh It is Drinke indeede to consider that hee hath suffered for our sinnes As Elias Chariot so is CHRISTS Manhead and Sufferinges Get vp heere by Fayth in him and thou shalt goe vp to GOD. This Way is as that of Eagles winges Lay first grippes vpon IESVS CHRIST GOD manifested in the flesh and hee will mount vp with thee and carrie thee thorow the Wildernesse to Canaan From the naturall Miserie and sinnes which thou lyest in vnto Heaven 6. This Way leadeth through the Vayle To teach vs That wee comming to CHRIST'S Manhead must not subsist there but by this meane seeke in to GOD who dwelleth in Him that our Fayth and Hope may bee in GOD. Wee enter by the Man CHRIST and doe rest on GOD in CHRIST on the fulnesse of the Godhead which dwelleth bodilie in CHRIST This is to distinguish the natures of CHRIST and to keepe the vnitie of His Person rightlie Vers. 21. And having an high Priest over the House of GOD. FOR our farther satisfaction hee giveth vs Christ over agayne to make yet more vse of him to direct guyde and convoy vs in the Way to leade vs to the Father in Heaven through the Courtes of his Dwelling and to bring vs in to him and make vs welcome There 1. Wee haue Christ for a PRIEST to vs whose Lippes doe alwayes preserue Knowledge in whome are hid all the Treasures of Wisedome and Knowledge who will informe our Myndes and perswade our Heartes to belieue and obey vvho will reconcile by His once offered Sacrifice the Believer will intercede for the Reconciled to keepe him still in Grace will blesse vs with all Spirituall Blessinges will take our Prayers Thankes-giving and the Spirituall Sacrifice of all the good Works of our Hands and wash the pollutions from them will offer them in our name with the Incense and Perfume of His owne Merites and leade our selues in where our Lampes shall bee furnished and our Table filled till wee goe in to Heaven and There Hee will welcome vs in a Mansion prepared for vs. 2 Hee is a high PRIEST adorned with all Authoritie and all Perfections having all in substance which the Types did signifie who beareth our names yea our selues on the Sholders of His Power and in the Breast of His Heartie Loue vvho beareth the iniquitie of the Holie Thinges and Holinesse in His Fore-head for vs. In whome the Father is well pleased with vs and hath made vs
as the worde importeth such as Friendes giue one to another whylâ—â— they are drawing neare to embrace one another after a long tyme separation 3. They confessed in their lyfe tyme that they were Strangers and Pilgrimes on the earth This wee reade onelie of Iaakob before Pharaoh But the mynde of one of the Faythfull in the mayne matters maketh evident what is the mynde of the rest THEN 1. It is the parte of true Believers to professe their Fayth before all even before Idolaters amongst whom they liue 2. They who know Heaven to bee their owne Home doe reckon this Worlde a strange Countrey Vers. 14. For they that say such things declare playnlie that they seeke a Countrey Vers. 15. And truelie if they had beene myndfull of that countrey from whence they came out they might haue had opportunitie to haue returned Vers. 16. But nowe they desire a better Countreye that is an Heavenlie Wherefore GOD is not ashamed to bee called their GOD For Hee hath prepared for them a Citie FROM their Profession That they were Straungers hee draweth Consequences thus That they desired an homelie Countrey And if a Countrey then eyther their owne earthlie Countrey or a better Not their owne earthlie Countrey for they might haue returned when they pleased Therefore they desired a better Countrey And if a better Countrey then an Heavenlie Countrey That is They desired even Heaven it selfe for their Countrey 1. This deducing of Consequences from the Profession of the Patriarches That they were Strangers TEACHETH VS 1. So to reade the Scriptures as wee may marke not onelie what is spoken but also what is thereby imported by consequence 2. That what is imported by a speach is a playne Declaration of the mynde of the speaker and not an obscure Deduction as Mockers call it They who say they are Strangers declare playnlie that they seeke a Countrey sayeth the Apostle 3. Yea that it is lawfull to proceede drawing one Consequence after another till wee finde out the full mynde provyding the Collection bee evident in the course of sound Reason as heere it is 2. The Apostle hath proven heere That the Patriarches sought Heaven for their Countrey Because they sought a better than anie on earth THEN 1. The Apostle knew no place for Residence of departed Soules better nor the earth except Heaven onelie If there had beene anie other place such as is feygned to bee his reasoning had not bene solide 2. The PATRIARCHES after the ending of their Pilgrimage heere on earth went Home to Heaven 3. Because they counted themselues Strangers till they came Home to Heaven GOD is not ashamed to bee called their GOD. THEN 1. GOD will honour them that honour Him 2. GOD will avowe Himselfe to bee their Portion who for His Cause doe renounce the Worlde 3. Yea that the LORD may honour such as honour Him Hee will even abase Himselfe to exalt them 4. When the LORD hath so done Hee thinketh it no dishonour to Himselfe to doe anie thing that may honour His Servants 4. GOD did prepare them a Citie which the Apostle before hath called Heaven or the Heavenlie Countrey THEN Heaven was preapared for the Patriarches and the rest of GOD'S Saynctes before they had ended their Pilgrimage on earth And to put them into Hell or anie other place there must bee a doctrine not from Heaven Vers. 17. By Fayth Abraham when hee was tryed offered vp Isaac And hee that had receaved the Promises offred vp his onlie begotten sonne Vers. 18. Of whom it was sayde That in Isaac shall thy Seede bee called ANother Commendation of Abraham's Fayth from the proofe given thereof in his tryall about ISAAC WHENCE WEE LEARNE 1. That where the LORD giveth Fayth there Tryall must bee expected And the greater Fayth the greater Tryall 2. That Fayth is most commendable when it standeth strong in tryall 2. Hee is sayde to haue offered vp Isaac by Faâ—th THEN 1. There is nothing so deare but Fayth in GOD will make a man quyte it at GOD'S Commaund 2. The LORD counteth that to bee done which a man is about to doe ISAAC is counted offered because so was hee in ABRAHAM'S Purpose 3. His receaving of the Promises is heere in another sense than verse 13. for there to receaue the Promises is to receaue the thing promised or the Promises in performance But heere it is to haue the Promises first and immediatelie made vnto him THEN The meaning of formes of speach in Scripture is to bee found by consideration of all circumstances of the place where they are spoken and not of some circumstances onelie 4. It serveth to the commendation of his Fayth that hee obeyed GOD'S Command when It seemed to make the Promise null THEN 1. To adhere to the Promise when by appearance of reason it is lyklie not to bee performed is tryed Fayth indeede 2. When Reason fighteth agaynst Fayth it is wisedome to quyte that Reason which would make vs quyte the Promise 3. When GOD'S Commaundementes and Promises vnto vs seeme to crosse one another it is wisedome for vs to justifie them both All His Wordes are trueth Vers. 19. Accounting that GOD was able to rayse him vp even from the dead from whence also hee receaved him in a Figure ABRAHAM'S looking to GOD'S Fidelitie and Omnipotencie made him victorious over everie difficultie and so to giue obedience to this harde Commandement THEN 1. When wee get hard Commaundementes wee must lay our reckoning howe wee may obey them and not howe wee may shift them 2. Difficulties and impossibilities as would appeare must bee rolled over vpon GOD. 3. GOD'S Omnipotencie maketh that His Promise can not misse but take effect 2. ABRAHAM as hee expected so hee found Hee expected Isaac's resurrection from the dead and in â— Figure or Similitude hee receaved Isaac backe from the dead that is from the jawes of Death no lesse vnexpectedlie than from the dead THEN 1. The Believer shall finde as much as hee can expect from GOD'S Worde 2. If the Performance bee not as hee doeth fore-cast yet it shall bee by a way as comfortable and profitable Vers. 20. By Fayth Isaac blessed Iaakob and Esau concerning things to come ISAAC'S blessing of his sonnes is sayde to bee by Fayth THEN Patriarchall Benedictions were given by ordinarie Fayth albeit from the ground of extraordinarie revealed Trueth For Fayth ordinarie believeth GOD'S Trueth revealed how-so-ever ordinarilie or extraordinarilie 2. In that this Example is propounded for ordinarie imitation in believing of GOD'S ordinarie revealed Word IT TEACHETH VS That hee who hath the ordinarie Word of GOD hath as sure a ground to rest vpon as if hee had a particular and extraordinarie Revelation Vers. 21. By Fayth Iaakob when hee was a-dying blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph and worshipped leaning vpon the toppe of his Staffe IAAKOB a-dying blesseth his Off-spring and worshippeth GOD in bodilie weaknesse THEN 1. Fayth can looke through the Clowde of Death and behold both its
Rootes of Sinne lest they breake out in Scandalls Vers. 15. Beware lest there be anie filthie or prophane bodie suffred among you as ESAV was Vers. 16. VVho solde the Blessing for a short Pleasure and could never recover it agayne Vers. 17. And to this are you obliedged because the Olde Church was not so priviledged as you are but for their externall estate and manner of Religion in a great deale of more bondage Vers. 18.19.20.21 But you by the light of the Gospell are brought into the high Way to haue societie with Heaven and Angels and the Catholicke Church of elect Soules and GOD the Iudge and CHRIST the Mediatour and His Benefites So cleare nowe is the Doctrine Vers. 22.23.24 Therefore beware lest by your Apostasie you reject CHRIST'S offer and bee destroyed more fearfullie than the despysers of the Lawe Vers. 25. For CHRIST is a terrible LORD to His Foes His Voyce shooke the Earth in giving of the Lawe But Hee hath promised to shake Heaven and Earth once more Vers. 26. And ONCE MORE importeth the remooving of these and making of a newe Heaven and a newe Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse for the setled and perpetuall remayning of His Kingdome Vers. 27. Therefore let vs keepe a fast grip of His Grace that wee worship Him with feare Vers. 28. For if wee doe not so even our GOD is a consuming Fyre Vers. 29. The doctrine of Chap. XII Vers. 1. WHerefore seeing wee also are compassed about with so great a clowd of witnesses let vs lay aside everie weyght and the sinne which doeth so easilie beset vs and let vs run with patience the Race which is set before vs. THat right vse may bee made of all the former Examples hee exhorteth to a constant and patient persevering in the Course of Christianitie 1. The Similitude is borrowed from a Race To TEACH VS To endevour for overtaking all the Dueties of the Christian Man with all the Skill and Strength and Speede wee can 2. The Originall importeth a Stryfe-Race To ADVERTISE VS Both of our Spirituall Adversaries agaynst whome wee must fight still as wee goe on and of our Compartiners who run in the Race with vs with whome wee may stryue in an holie emulation who shall goe formost in the Course of Pleasing GOD. 3. It is a Race limited the Race set before vs TO TEACH VS What way wee should hold on our Course not doing that which pleaseth vs everie man running his owne way of Religion but all running in the beaten Way the Royall Way of GOD'S Commaundements 4. For the Motiues vnto this Race hee vseth the Examples rehearsed in the former Chapter Who compasse vs about as a Clowde of Witnesses TO TEACH VS 1. To hearken to the deposition of these worthie Witnesses who are recorded in Scripture who can best showe what is the best Christian Way which wee must holde in our Course towardes HAPPINESSE 2. That all our behaviour is marked by Spectatours GOD Angels and Men. 3. That albeit there were none to see vs except our Conscience the Examples of GOD'S Saynctes in Scripture should stand as Witnesses agaynst vs if wee run not as becommeth 5. For direction how to run HEE TEACHETH 1. To lay aside all Weyghts which doe presse our myndes downwardes such as is the setting of our affection vpon thinges which are on earth eyther wittinglie vpon vnlawfull objects or inconsideratelie exceeding the boundes of Christian Moderation vpon things lawfull 2. To lay aside the sinne which so easilie doeth beset vs that is by studying to mortifie the bodie of our corrupt inclination to cut off the wood-binde growth of violent predominant and wylie sinnes which moste frequentlie get advantage of vs. 3. Because wee can not ende our Race but after some progresse of tyme and must meete with manie impedimentes in the way and troubles and temptations to arme our selues with Patience Vers. 2. Looking vnto IESUS the Author and finisher of our Fayth who for the joye that was set before Him endured the Crosse despysing the shame and is set downe at the right Hand of the Throne of GOD. WIth Direction hee joyneth Encowragement by setting our Eye on IESVS who shall both guyde vs in the way and carrie vs on when our strength fayleth THEN 1. The Christian Race-runner hath IESVS before him in the way to helpe him in everie thing that may befall him in his course 2. CHRIST must bee looked vpon by him who would bee helped in his Race the Eye of the Soule beeing drawne off of everie thing which might divert the Man or discowrage him such as are the multitude of Backe-slyders the multitude of Mockers the multitude of by-wayes and runners therein the multitude of feares from our owne vnworthinesse and sinfulnesse and temptations on all sides and our Myndes fixed on CHRIST with loving and longing Lookes which may draw Lyfe and Strength from Him 3. Wee must looke on Him as IESVS the Deliverer from Sinnes and Giver of Salvation even Him who saveth His People from their Sinnes 4. Wee must looke vpon Him as the Author and finisher of our Fayth that is as our GOD who hath begun His Good Worke in vs and will also perfect it Who hath given vs grace to belieue and will surelie continue this Grace with vs even to the ende lest the feares of our Fayth fayling make vs to faynt 5. Wee must looke vpon Him as our Patterne and Example who having run the Race before vs hath set foorth Himselfe for our imitation that in Him wee might finde all whereof wee stand in neede 2. How IESVS ran this Race hee showeth for our Example 1. Hee had joye set before Him which He was to receaue by our Salvation wrought So haue wee joye set before vs also 2. For the hope of that joye Hee ran with cowrage so must wee 3. He ran with the Crosse vpon His Back all the way being a Man acquaynted with Sorrowes so must we resolue also 4. In His Griefes and Sorrowes Shame set vpon Him from the Worlde and powred out Contempt vpon Him so must wee resolue to finde it 5. For the hope of the joye hee endured patientlie and went on vnder the Crosse and wearied not so must wee 6. Albeit Shame was the sharpest of His Griefes from the Worlde yet Hee regarded it not but despysed all Despysing and shamed Shame as vnworthie to bee taken notise of in comparison of His Designe so must wee 7. Hee overcame all at length so shall wee through Him also 8. Hee hath gotten the Ioye and the Glorie for which Hee ran so shall wee with Him If wee suffer with Him wee shall also reygne with Him 9. He is set downe on the Right Hand of the Throne of GOD that is is joyned with the FATHER in the Glorious Governament of Heaven and Earth and all thinges therein for the good of all His Followers so that wee neede to feare nothing in our way seeing Hee hath the Governament of all