2. One part of the work of the apostle, is to show the great effects that have been, from the beginning of the world, wrought by faith: how that Abel and the other antediluvian patriarchs; that Noah, and all the fathers from him until Abraham’s being called out of Ur of the Chaldees; that Abraham, and all the old believers until the coming of the Lord Christ in the flesh,—lived on the same prin- ciple of faith that Christians now do; and that this their faith was the comfort and support of their souls in all their sufferings, and may therefore be considered as an eminent encouragement unto us to abide in the profession of the same faith, notwithstanding all the difficulties and persecutions we may meet withal. Yea, further,—
3. The apostle in these chapters ascends unto Him who is “the author and finisher of our faith,” proposing him both as our example and the object of our faith, from whom we may expect aid and assistance for conformity unto himself; “who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame.” Besides,—
4. The apostle in thése chapters doth add several arguments, for confirmation of his exhortation unto patience, and for the strengthening them against faintings under the chastisements of their heavenly Father. He warns them against several sins; and gives them a brief scheme of the two states of the law and gospel, bal- ancing them one against another, showing the excellency and glory of the grace of God in Christ as extended unto convinced sinners, and from thence enforceth his exhortation to perseverance. And,—
5. That the Hebrews may be established in the truth of the gospel, the apostle urgeth the necessity of one altar and sacrifice, and proves the Lord Christ to be both our altar and sacrifice ; whereupon now there is no place left for the Mosaical ceremonies. A new state of religion, answerable unto the nature of the altar and sacrifice, is introduced, unto which alone we must adhere; for at the same time none can haye an interest in two altars of such different natures, and attended with such different religious observations.
These are the chief points treated on in this last part of the Epistle; in which the divine wisdom of the apostle manifests itself in the intermixture of evangelical mysteries with pathetical exhortations and glorious promises to those who, not-
sichataaitig the rage of the penser: abide faithful faith. ~ And the reverend and learned author of this Exposition accuracy and exactness, explained the most difficult parts of it; 2 given the reader a light, by the help of which he may see throug glosses that have been cast on the text by Crellius, Grotius, and ot But I shall no longer detain the reader from the perusal of the en tion; which that it may be a great soul benefit and aren to him desire of 4
EXERCITATIONS
ON THE
EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
EXERCITATION I.
THE CANONICAL AUTHORITY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
1. The canonical authority of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 2. Notation of the word ?, “kaneh;” a measuring reed; the beam of a balance. 3, Thence zavay, of the same signification. 4. Metaphorically a moral rule—“ Rectum” and “canon,” how far the same—The Scripture a rule—Canonical. 5. The antiquity of that appellation. 6. The canon of the Scripture. 7. What required to render a book canonical—All books of the holy Scripture equal as to their divine original. 8. Jews’ distinction of the books of the Old Tes- tament, as to the manner of their writing, disproved. 9. All equally cano- nical—No book canonical of a second sort or degree. 10. The Epistle to the Hebrews canonical. 11. Opposed by heretics of old. 12. Not received into the Latin church until the days of Jerome. 13. Proved against Baro- nius. 14. Not rejected by any of that church; 15. Only not publicly ap- proved—The church of Rome not the sole proposer of books canonical. 16. Occasions of its non-admittance at Rome—Boldness of some in rejecting and corrupting the Scripture. 17. By whom this Epistle opposed of late. 18. The objection of the uncertainty of the penman answered. 19. Citations out of the Old Testament not found therein—Answer. 20. Citations not to his purpose—Answer. 21. Countenance to old heresies—Answer. 22. General heads of arguments to prove its canonical authority—Characters to discover between books of divine inspiration and others—Tvauy—Ppecens yeepaxryp —TIlpoxipecic. 23. The general argument of books truly canonical. 24. Sub- ject-matter; 25. Design; 26. Style. 27. Of the style of the sacred writers.
~ 28. Mistakes of many about it. 29. The nature of eloquence. 30. Excel- lency of Scripture style; 31. Energy; 32. Authority; and 33. Efficacy. 34. Tradition concerning the authority of this Epistle—Not justly liable to any exceptions—35. From the author; 36. Circumstances; 37. Subject-matter; 38. Style. 39. Testimonies. 40, Conclusion.
1. THE canonical authority of the Epistle unto the Hebrews
_ having been by some called into question, we must in our entrance declare both what it is which we intend thereby, as also the clear interest of this Epistle therein; for this is the foundation of all those
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26 CANONICAL AUTHORITY OF THE [EXERC. I.
ensuing discourses from it and of that exposition of it which we intend.
2. The Greek word xav#v, which gives rise unto that term “ ca- nonical,” seems to be derived from the Hebrew 2?, “kaneh:” and this, as it sometimes denotes an aromatical cane that contained spices in it, used in the worship of God (as Isa. xliii, 24, 72? DPN, “Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with silver ;” for this 2187 73, “precious cane,” growing not in their own country, was brought from afar off, Jer. vi. 20); so in general it signifies any reed what- ever, 1 Kings xiv. 15, Isa, xlii. 3: whence a multitude of fierce and wicked men, compared to the devouring crocodile, whose lurking-