frons'y confirming the Truth the Apoſtle Peter had written to them, chap. 6. 2. and 10 26, 27. hey it 3x ſq expreſſrue "of bis Condition in Bonds, chap. 10 34 and 13.19. Colofl. 4 18. of his known Companion Timothy, chap. 13.23 Cololl. x. 1. of his Love to, and concern for thoſe to whom he writes, Rom. 9. 1, 2,93. and 10.1. and of bis known Doerine, That Judaiſm had its completion in Chriſtianity; that the Vail was rent aſunder, that they might diſcern the Temple or Church to be laid open to Gentiles as ell as Jews, as at Antioch, Galatia, &c. he taught them. Beſi/tex that it hath the ſignol by which he declareth all his Epiſtles are to be known, chap. 13.25. compare 2. Theſl. 2. 17,18, and the general conſent of the Church through the ſucceſſive Ages of it, entitling of him to it.) I ſay, that this Epiſtle ſhould be t, ſeems not difficult to determine. It is conjectured that the reaſon why he prefixed not his Name to it, as to the reſt of his Epiſtles, as, leſt the great prejudice the Jews had cauſeleſsly taken up againſt him, as an Enemy to the Affoſaical Law, would prevent their reading or weighing of it as they ought. It xs diretted by him to the dif, Perſed Tribes of Believing Wael, under the Name of HEBREW S, _ the common one of all the Poſterity of Heber by Abra- ham, borh which Patriarchs were great Separatiſts from the Idolatrous World in their reſpettive Ages, and in whoſe Fe miFs the Church of God was continued , a Name grateful to them, becauſe the Lord honoured it by adding it to his Title, Exod. 3. 18. and aſcribed to their Progenttor, Gen. 14. 13. of a natural deſcent from whom they were moſt fond, John $. 33. 2 Cor. 11. 22. And the Apoſtle Peter confirmeth theſe to be the Perſons, 1 Pet. 1. 1, 2. compare 2 Pet, 1.1. and 3.15. Written this was m the Greek Language, as hz other Epiſtles, it being then the moſt diffuſrue Dialect 713 the World, and eſpecially the common one of theſe Hebrews, Ads 6. 1. @s Joſephus himſelf teſtifieth ; though the Greck Idioms themſelves, and the Tranſlation of other Words in the Epiſtle, ſhew is abundantly. For the Time of his Writing it to them, moſt likely it was afier his appearing before the Emperor Nero at Rome, 2 Tim. 4. 16, 17. durms his Liberty, As 28. 30. Upon Timothy's diſmſſion to them, chap. 13. 23. and before the firſt of the Ten Bludy Pyy- ſecutions, Chap. 12. 4. about the ſame Year wherein he diſpatched other of his Epiſtles to the Churches, :
The deſipn of the Apoſtle in this Epiſtle is fully to diſcover to the Believing Hebrews, that they had not Iyt by ».. nouncing Fudaiſm, and turning Chriſtians, ſince the whole Oeconomy of Moles was deſigned but to lead them to the Lord Feſus Chriſt, and to be perfetted in him; he being the Truth and Subſtance of all thoſe Shadows. To confirm them 1x the Faith of this, and to encourage them more chearfully zo undergo thoſe cruel Perſecutions, in boſs of Goods, Liberty, Re- lations, Eſtates, Country, and Life it ſelf, which their Enemies would purſue them with for it ; he ſhews them, That it was never God's Purpoſe to have the Earthly Moſaical Church-Frame to continue in the World , it being weak and n- ſufficient for Prieft-hood, Sacrifice, Ordinances, Ceremonies to purge their Conſcience, and to bring them unto God, but ty be a Type of, and a Guide to avetter, which he did reſolve to pitch by his own Son, even that Heavenly One, imwhich both Few and Gentile ſhould acquieſce, and which ſhould continue immovable to the end of the World. In handling which he inſtrutts them, Firlt, In the tranſcendent Excellency ;þ his Perſon and Offices. In reſpect of his Deity, Chap. 1. Of his Humanity exceeding Lingels, Chap. 2. As @ Prophet exceeding Moſes, Chap: 3. ver. 1. to Chap. 4. 14. As; Prieſt exceeding Aaron, Chap. 4. ver. 14. to Chap. 5. 10. As a King and Prueſe exceeding Melchiſedeck, Chap. 5. 19, 70 Chap. 7. 28. Secondly, He inſtructs them in the Doftrine of the Heavenly Church-Frame pitched by Him, wh its Hppurtenances, whico exceeded the Earthly Moſaical One ; in reſpett of Covenant moſt excellent, Chap. 8. Of Gojel Sacrifice, Ordinances, and Adminiſtrations, for Efficacy, exceeding all the Levitical Ones, Chap.g. ver. 1. toChap.1o, ver. 19. where he proceedeth to improve and apply his former Dottrine, that they might anſwer their high Privileges by
_ the way of Man's Salvation, which his Widom contrived, and his
the performance of proportionable Luties, becoming this great Gopel- Miniſter and his Heavenly Church- Frame, from "B Chap. 10. ver. 19. to Chap. 13. ver. 20. concluding the whole with ſolemn Prayer to God, for his enabling of them to | 4oh the. performance of theſe Duties, ver. 20, 21. Adding his deſire of their candid acceptance of this Epiſtle from him. | Rev,
cha
Comforting them with Timothy's diſpatch to chem, and his own hepes of ſeeing them: Giving them the Churches uſuas Saluations, and his own Valedittion, whereby he diſcriminateth and cloſeth all kis Epiſtles,
CHAP. I.
Former Divine Manifeſtations, and this laſt by his $99, both aſſerted,
and the Excellency of the Son ſer forth by his Perſon and Office, 1--3,
His Glory is proved from Scripture far to excel that of Angels,
7. He hath a Divine and Eternal Throne, and is Anointed
above all bis Fellows: The Heaven and Earth were made by Him ;
and be bad no Beginnivg, ſhall bave no End, $=—12, He only ſits
at the right band of the Father ; and the Angels are Miniſ(tring Spi- rits for his Elc&, 13, 14.
OD a who at ſundry times 5, and in divers man- G ners c, ſpake d in time palt e unto the Fathers f
by the Prophets g.