and simply, brethren : and so again not until ch. x. 19. For two principal and special exhortations begin at these passages. Besides, he calls them brethren at the Conclusion, ch. xiii. 22 ; and beloved, after that sharp admonition, ch. vi. 9. He who will weigh well, in this Synopsis of the epistle, these ad dresses, and the Divisions marked by them, ch. ii. 17, x. 19-21 — the one of which is followed immediately by its own discussion in the text, whilst the other is preceded by it, — and also the particle therefore, will readily perceive that this very Synopsis is not a thing of our invention, but is drawn from the epistle itself; and he will derive profit from it.
In the same Synopsis we have noticed some comparisons ; but the epistle itself has many more, which, however, may be generally referred to two heads. I. There are great prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, etc. ; but Jesus infinitely greater. The opinion of the old Hebrews is, — King Messias is greater than Abraham and the patriarchs, than Moses and the minis tering angels. This opinion is quoted in this connection by Schoettgenius, whose ' Horae ' on this epistle is an especially profitable work. II. The condition of the ancient believers was good, but the condition of Christians is better ; and this second fact is chiefly treated of in ch. xL But everywhere bad and wretched examples also are interspersed among those that are good and blessed. We find, then, in this epistle the recapitula tion of the whole of the Old Testament, and at the same time the setting aside of Judaism as obsolete, and the promulgation of the New Testament carried to its axftq and utmost height, at the very boundary of the fourth and fifth thousandth year. See Ord. temp., p. 288. [Ed. ii., p. 247, 248.]