without blood which hee offered for himself and for the errours of the people Hee proceeds in describing the anniversary rites which were of this sort 1 The High Priest alone without any companion 2 Once a year not oftener 3 Never without the offering the blood of a Calf and an Hee-Goat in a basin 4 This blood hee offered for his own sins great and small and for the sins of the people All these outward worldly and shadowy things were in no wise efficacious in themselves For they prefigured the entring of Christ into Heaven by his own blood the true Propitiatory This is the first Argument of the earthly imperfection in the Levitical Priesthood Vers. 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing Argum. 2. Propounded by way of exposition of the next mystery In the time of the Levitical Priesthood while it obtained a standing Tabernacle and that Ceremonial worship about the Sanctuary the way to Heaven or the true Sanctuary was not manifestly declared as it is now under the Priesthood of Christ That which the Holy Ghost taught by excluding the Priests from the inward Sanctuary by admitting the High Priest once a year the Sanctuary remaining shut all the year after Therefore the Priesthood of Christ is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 9. Which was a figure for the time then present in which were offered both gifts and Sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience Argum. 3. The rites of the foresaid expiatory and the other such exercises of the Levitical High Priest were typical and parabolical and a meer pattern of those things which were to bee performed by Christ Therefore the excellency of the Levitical Priesthood is no waies to bee equallized with the Priesthood of Christ. For the time Argum. 4. The things which were done by the High Priest and the Levitical Priests served onely for the time present of the Law institution viz. in the infancy and beginning of the Church wherein gifts and typical Sacrifices were offered Therefore the Levitical Priesthood is far inferiour to the Priesthood of Christ. Could not Argum. 5. The gifts and sacrifices which were offered by the Levitical Priesthood could not sanctifie the conscience of him that worshiped or take away the evil conscience of sins committed Therefore the Levitical Priesthood c. Vers. 10. Which stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation Argum. 6. Confirming the former Those things which were offered by the Levitical Priest consisted onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal rites which did not commend a man to God 1 Cor. 8.2 but onely they did these things as sanctified in the flesh ceremonially they might bee accounted pure worshipers Therefore the Levitical Priesthood is nothing being compared to the Priesthood of Christ. Until Argum. 7. These gifts and sacrifices and the other offices of the Levitical Priests were imposed as a yoak and burden onely till the time of Reformation i. e. till the comming of Christ who would reform the imperfect sacrifices and gifts of the old Priesthood and they being abolished hee would introduce a more perfect gift and sacrifice Therefore the Priesthood of Christ is more perfect c. Vers. 11. But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building Argum. 8. Christ is the High Priest not of types but of spiritual good things of Justification Sanctification and Salvation which were figured by the types Therefore c. By a greater Argum. 9. Christ had a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands not of a common structure viz. the Tabernacle of his body which was formed in the womb of the Virgin by the Holy Ghost after a special manner without the spot of Original sin in which Tabernacle the fulness of the Godhead dwels Therefore his Priesthood is far more excellent than c. Vers. 12. Neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood hee entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us Argum. 10. Christ offered not the blood of Bulls or Goats as the Levitical Priests but his own blood and the same is made the Priest and the Sacrifice Therefore his Priesthood c. Once Argum. 11. Christ hath once entred into the true holy place i. e. Heaven and there abides not often as the Levitical Priests into the typical holy place Therefore his Priesthood c. Eternal Argum. 12. Christ hath purchased eternal Redemption with his own blood which was impossible for the Levitical Priests Therefore his Priesthood is more excellent than c. Vers. 13. For if the blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of 〈◊〉 Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God Shall purge Argum. 13. Confirming the former The blood of Christ purges the conscience partly as the conscience seeing full satisfaction made in the death of Christ to divine Justice for it self closeth with its perfect discharge and rests therein partly as the power of sanctifying the heart to the service of God flowes from him For if Hee confirms this Argument a minori The blood of Bulls and other types performed what they were appointed to viz. Ecclesiastical purification of the outward man that hee might be sanctified to the works of external worship how much more shall the blood of Christ the Antitype perform that which is signified by the types viz. The purifying of the conscience from sins to the service of God Sins are called dead works because they deserve death and make sinners guilty of death By the Spirit Argum. 14. In the Sacrifice of Christ the Eternal Spirit or Christ as God acted the chief parts of the Priest and offered up himself as a man without spot for a Sacrifice Therefore his Priesthood is so much the more excellent than the Levitical as God is more excellent than man and his holy humanity than a beast Vers. 15. And for this cause hee is the Mediatour of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Argum. 15. Under the Old Covenant neither Remission of sin nor the Inheritance of Eternal Life was given to them that were called but for the sake of Christs death interceding under the New Covenant to which end hee being now the Mediatour of the New Covenant is ordained for all them that are called Therefore his Priesthood is more excellent than c. The Second Part. Vers. 16. For where a Testament is there must also of necessity bee the death of
the Testator The second part of the Chapter follows wherein to take off the scandal of the Cross hee first proves the necessity of Christs death by six Arguments to vers 25. Furthermore the sufficiency of his offering once upon the Cross hee proves it by five Arguments to the end Argum. 1. The New Covenant of Christ is the New Testament of Christ Therefore it was necessary that the death of the Testator Christ should intercede Vers. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth Argum. 2. Confirming the former unless Christ had died the Covenant or Testament had not been firm for even amongst men a Testament is not valid while the Testator is alive but onely after his death For while hee lives it may be changed but not when hee is dead Therefore it was necessary that Christ should dye Vers. 18. Whereupon neither the first Testament was dedicated without blood Argum. 3. As the Old Testament was not dedicated unto God without typical blood so neither the New Testament can be dedicated or offered by way of satisfaction for sinful men without the true blood of Christ the true Mediatour the Antitype Therefore it was necessary Christ should dye Vers. 19. For when Moses had spoken every Precept to all the people according to the Law hee took the blood of Calves and of Goats with water and Scarlet wool and hysop and sprinkled both the book and all the people 20. Saying This is the Blood of the Testament which God hath enjoyned unto you Hee explicates and proves this Argument out of the History Exod. 24. concerning the dedication of the first Tabernacle by Blood where Moses sprinkled the Book of the Covenant and the people with the blood of Calves and Goats withall expounding the signification and use of the ceremony that that Blood was the Blood of the Covenant or a symbol of the Covenant typically made in those ceremonies and truly to bee fulfilled in the Blood of Christ. Vers. 21. Moreover hee sprinkled with blood both the Tabernacle and all the Vessels of the Ministery 22. And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission Argum. 4. As under the Law all things were purged either with blood or washings drawing virtue to purge from the Sacrifices so that without typical shedding of blood there was no remission of sins So in the New Covenant there can bee no remission of sins but by the shedding of the Blood of Christ Therefore the Death of Christ was necessary The Tabernacle and the Holy Vessels which were in themselves without pollution are said to bee sprinkled with blood because in respect to us were wee not purified by the Blood of Christ all things become polluted unto us Therefore the use of the most holy things must bee sanctified to us by Christ otherwise to the impure all things are impure in as much as in all things unbeleevers pollute themselves Vers. 23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices than these Argum. 5. If the types ought to bee purged with typical blood heavenly things signified by those types ought to bee consecrated by better Sacrifices i. e. with the Blood of the Mediator himself who in his Virtue comprehends all Sacrifices and by consequence the Death of Christ was necessary Vers. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Argum. 6. Confirming the former Christ is not entred into the typical Holy place made with hands but into heaven signified by the holy place that constantly appearing there hee might intercede for us Therefore it behoved him to offer up a more excellent Sacrifice viz. himself as much as heaven exceeds the earthly Holy place and by consequence his death was necessary Vers. 25. Nor yet that hee should offer himself often aâ— the High-Priest entereth into the Holy place every year with blood of others Now hee proves the sufficiency of the one Oblation of Christ upon the Cross by five Arguments Argum. 1. Christ entred not often into the Terrestrial Sanctuary that hee might often offer up himself as the Levitical High-Priest who offered not his own but other blood yearly but is once entered into heaven Therefore that one Oblation of himself upon the Cross was sufficient whereby hee was admitted into heaven Vers. 26. For then must hee often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world hath hee appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Argum. 2. Unless that one Oblation of Christ upon the Cross had been sufficient hee must by often offering himself die often from the beginning of the world for if an Oblation of the Body of Chirst ought to have been often offered up for sin it would have been necessary that the Oblation should have begun at what time sin began to bee committed i. e. from the beginning of the world and from that time that Sacrifice ought to have been so often repeated as new sins were committed after the Sacrifice the courses of Sacrifice being acted over and over without number But this is absurd Therefore his once offering up upon the Cross was sufficient But now once Argum. 3. Christ in the fulness of time appeared to that end that by his one Oblation of himself he might abolish the sins of his people present past and to come For to the obtaining and application of remission of sins to the mortification and abolishing of sins of all the Redeemed or Elect there is virtue enough in the Death of Christ Therefore his one Oblation is sufficient Vers. 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the Iudgement 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall hee appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Argum. 4. As it is appointed of God that all men shall once die and after death come to Judgement so it is appointed of God that Christ should onely once offer up himself to expiate the sins of many i. e. of his Elect and that hee should come the second time judge both of quick and dead Therefore his one Oblation of himself upon the Cross is sufficient The second time Argum. 5. Christ coming the second time at the Day of Judgement shall make it manifest to all the world that hee with one Oblation of himself hath most fully satisfied for sin and that the imputation of sin and the punishment or misery and whatever footsteps there are of sin are removed
repeated But Christs entry into Heaven to be perfect because but once not to be repeated 3. The Levitical Priests entred by the blood of Goats and Calves But Christ entred by his own blood 1. And if Christ entred but once into Heaven after his Suffering Then Wee must not think that his Body is any where else but in Heaven onely wherein it is once onely entred 2. If the blood whereby Christ entred into Heaven was his own blood Then 1. Verily Christs Body was like ours in substance having blood in it as ours and wee must not conceive otherwise of his body than to be of the same substance and substantial properties with ours 2. The blood belonged to the same person to whom the properties of God belongeth so often in this Epistle attributed unto Christ. His Blood was the blood of God Act. 20.28 That is the same Jesus was God and man with flesh and blood in one person 3. The Fruit of Christs bloody Sacrifice hee maketh The Eternal Redemption of those for whom hee offered it And to the typical Sacrifice hee ascribeth no redemption at all in the comparison Thereby giving us to understand 1. That from the worlds beginning to the end thereof salvation of sinners is by way of Christs Redemption That is by his loosing them through payment of a price 2. That the Redemption was manifested to have force when after his bloody Sacrifice hee entred into Heaven 3. That such as are once redeemed by Christ are Eternally Redeemed not for a time to fall away again but eternally to be saved most certainly Vers. 13. For if the blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Vers. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God To prove that eternal Redemption is the fruit of Christs Sacrifice he reasoneth thus If the Typical Sacrifices and Rites of old were able to work that for which they were ordained that is external Sanctification Much more shall Christs true Sacrifice be able to work that for which it was appointed that is Eternal Remission of sins and inward Sanctification unto eternal life Then there are two sorts of Sanctification One external of the flesh which maketh a man holy to the Church whatsoever he be within Another internal of the conscience and inner man which maketh a man holy before God 2. The purifying of the flesh he maketh to be by the exercise of such and such Ordinances of Divine Service for the time Then External or Church-holiness of the outward man is procured by such and such exercises of Divine Ordinances in the Church as serve to make a man to be reputed and holden for clean before men and so to be received for a member of the Church as is to be seen Numb 19. 3. From his form of reasoning we learn That whatsoever liberty and access of coming to the Church was made to the Jew of old by these ceremonies of the Law as much and more liberty is made to the Christian to come in to God by the blood of Christ. 4. In describing Christs Sacrifice he saith Christ through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Then 1. Christ is both the Sacrifice and the Priest in one person He offered himself as man through the Eternal Spirit that is by the vertue and power of his own Godhead by which he preached before his Incarnation to sinners 1 Pet. 3.19 2. His sacrifice was without spot He was that spotless Lamb in whom was no sin nor imperfection nor defect of any thing that the sacrifice required 3. The vertue of the sacrifice which made it to purchase Eternal Redemption unto us floweth from the infinite worth of his Eternal Godhead 4. Albeit Christs two natures have their distinct respects in the actions of his Office yet Christ is one and undivided in the execution of his Office 5. The fruit and force of the sacrifice is set down in this that this Blood shall purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God That is shall both absolve a man from his foregon sin and also enable him to serve God for time to come Then 1. Sins are but dead works flowing from nature dead in sin and not onely deserving but also drawing on death upon the sinner 2. The conscience lieth polluted with the filthiness of dead works till the vertue of the blood of Jesus applied bring intimation of absolution 3. Christs blood doth not purge the Conscience from dead works that a man should go wallow in them again but that he may serve the living God more acceptably 4. The purging vertue of Christs blood is joyned with the sanctifying and renewing of the absolved sinner and what God hath conjoyned let no man put asunder Vers. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions which were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Now lest any man should stumble at Christs death he sheweth a necessity thereof in respect of his office of Mediation and the purchase to be made by his Redemption The force of the reason is this Remission of sins could not have been given under the Law except the Mediator had been to pay the price of the same under the Gospel Nor could the faithful and called ones either then or now obtain eternal life for an inheritance otherwise than by the Mediators death Therefore it behoved the true Mediator by means of death to pay the promised price of the purchase of remission of sins and eternal life Then 1. The remission of transgressions and the inheritance of eternal life are both fruits of Christs Passion 2. The fruits of his Passion extended themselves unto them who were under the Old Testament as well as unto us under the New 3. The way of purchase of these benefits was by Redemption that is to say by lawful purchase such as might satisfie justice 4. The way in special was by means of the Mediators death His life was laid down to redeem ours His one life as good as all ours 5. For this cause Christ took the office of a Mediator unto himself that he might have right and interest by death to make this purchase 6. And therefore except he had really died the purchase could not have been lawfully made Vers. 16. For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator Another reason to prove the necessity of Christs death from the force of the word Covenant which signifieth also a Testament The force of the reason is this Christ Jer. 31.31 promised to make a New Covenant and therefore also a New Testament iâ— to make a New Testament then also he promised
her Husband liveth shee bee married to another man shee shall bee called an adulteress but if her Husband bee dead shee is free from that Law so that shee is no adulteress though shee bee married to another man As to the first part taking a comparison from Marriage hee shews that the Justified which are delivered from the conjugal Covenant of the Law and Espoused by a new Covenant of Grace to a new Husband Christ should bring forth the fruits of holiness in new obedience to the Law to the glory of our new Husband Christ. In the three first verses hee propounds the protasis of the comparison after this manner As no Law hath dominion over the dead as yee know but only over them that are alive ver 1. and particularly the Law of Marriage is dissolved the one being dead so that the Wife the Husband being dead without adultery may marry another ver 2 3. so you c. as it shall appear by and by Vers. 4. Wherefore my Brethren yee also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ that yee should bee married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that wee should bring forth fruit unto God The Apodosis of the comparison to this manner So you that were espoused formerly to the Law by a Covenant of Works Christ being dead for you that hee might satisfie the Law Justice and the Covenant of Works in our name you are judicially dead to the Law in the body of Christ for the Law or Covenant of Works hath slain Christ and you in him and by consequence you are delivered from the matrimonial Covenant of the Law so that without the breach of Justice you may enter into a new Covenant of Grace with Christ being raised from the dead To this end hee shews that the purpose of marriage being disannulled betwixt the Law of Works and us not that wee should live as wee list but being raised from a state of death by the Resurrection of Christ that wee should bee espoused to another Husband viz. to him which is raised from the dead i. e. to Christ who rose from the dead and hath raised us with himself to newness of life and hath espoused us to himself according to the Covenant of Grace that being married unto Christ wee might bring forth fruits of obedience to the glory of God There are five Arguments of consolation to the Justified who bewail the imperfection of their own obedience Become dead Argum. 1. You are freed from the Covenant of Works which admits no obedience besides what is perfect and every way compleat Therefore all you that are Justified have consolation which bewail the imperfection of your new obedience Of another Argum 2. You are now married to another Husband viz. to Christ who is raised from the dead who when hee could answer the imperfections of your obedience and according to the Covenant of Grace render your begun obedience acceptable unto God hee took it upon himself You have this consolation that mourn over the imperfections of your new obedience Fruit Argum. 3. Yeâ— are married unto Christ which is raised from the dead that you may not abide unfruitful but may bring forth fruit to the glory of God Therefore take yee comfort who bewail your imperfect obedience Vers. 5. For when wee were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Argum. 4. Confirming the former from the change of our condition while wee were unregenerate and by consequence under a Law-Covenant evil affections by the holy Law of God were stirred up and put forth themselves powerfully in our members and all our faculties both of soul and body to the production of the deadly fruit of actual sin Therefore it will follow when wee are now regenerated and under the Covenant of Grace holy desires stirred up by the New Covenant powerfully shew forth themselves in our members to the bringing forth the fruit of good works unto God that wee might not abide unfruitful Which is no small consolation for if wee by Faith would lay hold upon the Covenant of Grace and would stir up our souls by the promises thereof applyed unto us there is no doubt but wee should more plentifully bring forth good works That is it which Christ saith Joh. 15.5 I am the vine yee are the branches hee that abides in mee and I in him hee brings forth much fruit for without mee you can do nothing Vers. 6. But now wee are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein wee were held that wee should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter Argum. 5. Opening and confirming the former from the end of our changed condition Now to wit after Justification through the Grace of Christ wee are freed from the Law-Covenant that Covenant being dead in which wee were held or wee being dead in Christ in whom wee were contained judicially to that very end that wee should serve God by the power of the Holy Ghost bestowing new strength upon us by bringing forth new and spiritual fruit not superficial and hypocritical which the letter of the old legal Covenant now abolished at the most brought forth Therefore God will not fail of his end but will cause those that are justified bewailing their imperfect obedience to bring forth much fruit in the newness of the letter for the fruits which are brought forth by virtue of the Covenant of Grace are truly new and arise from the regenerating Spirit furnishing us with new strength forthwith to good works But the fruits which are brought forth by virtue of the Covenant of Works either are open rebellion of corrupt Nature against Gods Law or counterfeit obedience onely in the outward performance such as the fruits of the Pharisees are who in the letter that is the outward shew and formality obeyed without any renovation of the heart The second Part. Verse 7. What shall wee say then Is the Law sin God forbid Nay I had not known sin but by the Law For I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet The second part of the Chapter containing an Apology for the holiness of the Law in answering two Objections arising out of what was said before The first Objection seeing that evil and sinful motions are excited by the Law as was said the Law seems to bee sin or the cause of sin Hee answers by way of negation farre bee it from us to entertain any such thought hee gives three Reasons of his negation illustrated by his own experience wherein hee pleads for the Law The first Reason Because the Law discovers sin and manifests the evil that is in it which hee confirms by his own experience who had not known that lust which lurked in his heart to bee sin had hee not seen it forbidden by the Law Therefore the Law is holy Vers. 8. But
the Gospel or the Covenant of Grace through Christ is the Ministring of the Spirit because according to and by that the Holy Ghost is administred whereby the hearer is quickened and strengthened to embrace that which is propounded Killeth Compar 2. Confirming the former The Ministery of the Law of Works or the written Letter onely convinceth of sin and killeth the sinner by pronouncing to him the sentence of death But the Ministery of the Gospel or grace in the New Covenant sheweth liberty from sin absolves the sinner and so brings him life Vers. 7. But if the ministration of death written and engraven on stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to bee done away 8. How shall not the ministration of the Spirit rather bee glorious In Stones Compar 3. The Law of Works which onely administers death for according to this Covenant no man doth obtain righteousness or life was engraven in stones to signifie that the heart by it cannot bee mollified nor renewed but remaineth dead But the Gospel of Grace is writ in the fleshy Tables of the heart i. e. in hearts by the power of the holy Ghost quickened and mollified it is so imprinted that the virtue of divine Grace may bee discerned in all the expressions of the heart Glorious Compar 4. The Ministery of the Covenant of Works which is the Ministery of death to all that have sinned was truly glorious as it appeared in Moses for justice is glorious in punishing of sin But the Ministery of the New Covenant which is the Ministery of the Spirit quickening is more glorious for as in Moses pronouncing the curse of the Law against sinners his bodily glory did shine but O how much spiritual glory doth shine in the face of Christ setting sinners at liberty by his Grace Vers. 9. For if the ministration of condemnation bee glory much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory Compar 4. The Ministery of the Law or the Old Covenant of Works is a Ministery of condemnation for sin therefore indeed glorious But the Ministry of the Gospel or the New Covenant is the Ministery of the Righteousness of Christ and absolution from sin and therefore so much the more glorious by how much absolution and justification do excel condemnation and sin Because by the Covenant of Works wee are all accused of sin wee are all condemned and made obnoxious to death Therefore its Ministery is called the Ministery of sin condemnation and death Vers. 10. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glery that excelleth Compar 5. The Ministery of the Law although it was glorious was exceedingly excelled by the glory of the Ministery of the Gospel or of Grace that it not deserves to bee called glorious but let it vanish rather in comparison as the glory of the Stars when the Sun appears is obscured But the Ministery of the Gospel is simply and by way of excellency glorious Vers. 11. For if that which was done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious Compar 6. The Ministery of the Covenant of Works in respect to the annexed ceremonies hath onely the glory of temporal dispensation because so long it was to endure whilst men in the infancy of the Church convicted of sins and of their own impotency to deliver themselves were taught to fly unto Christ and as it were by the hand of a School-master might bee led to him which manner of instructing the Church being now at its full growth and continuing under the brightneâ—s of the revealed Gospel is abolished as unprofitable But the Ministery of the New Covenant hath permanent glory until the glorious coming of Christ. Vers. 12. Seeing then that wee have such hope wee use great plainness of speech 13. And not as Moses which put a veil over his face that thâ— children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished Compar 7. The Ministery of the New Covenant is plain and perspicuous so that the Ministers thereof can plainly and confidently preach the way of Salvation having Christ now revealed who in times past being to come was hoped for But the Ministery of the Law as it did appear in the type of the Mosaical ministration was obscure and wrapped up in types Put Hee follows this comparison to the end of the Chapter illustrating the latter part thereof to the last verse in this sense Moses the Minister of the Law turned from the Tabernacle from the Altar from the Ark and the Propitiatory speaking with his face veiled signified to the people and typically related the nature of the legal Covenant of Works and of its Ministery divided from Christ and did also figure out the blindness of the people under the legal Covenant because they did not perceive Christ to bee the end of the Law and temporal ceremonies now abolished Vers. 14. But their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament which veil is done away in Christ. 15. But even unto this day when Moses is read the veil is upon their heart The Apostle observes that now blindness also may bee perceived in the Iews who while they read the Old Testament they see nothing besides the veil of ceremonies because the veil of ignorance and infidelity remaineth upon their minds which veil represented by the type of the external veil covering Moses his face by Christ is taken away from all the Faithful for righteousness life virtue and lastly all grace and glory is published and communicated to the Faithful in Christ But hitherto this veil doth remain upon the hearts of the unbelieving Iews Vers. 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the veil shall bee taken away Hee hath hope of the Iews Conversion when by the Grace of God the heart of the Israelites or the Doctrine of Moses now veiled should bee turned by them to God i. e. should bee brought according to this typical signification to Christ who is the end of the Law Then the veil of ignorance and of the darkness of ceremonies should bee taken from them as the veil was taken from the face of Moses when hee entred in unto God sitting betwixt the Cherubins chiefly that they might see God their Lord and their Saviour Christ and might acknowledge him to bee the true end of the whole Law Vers. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty The reason of this is given Because 1. Christ is the Spirit or the Soul of all ceremonies that a spiritual thing is signified by them 2. Christ is also the Spirit or the Soul of the Moral Law because hee fulfilled the Law in whom alone the perfect righteousness of the Law is to bee found 3. Christ
2. But for Christs Priesthood God is bound with an Oath Never to change it and it leaneth on his nature which cannot altar nor repent and upon his Oath which cannot be violated 2. Another comparison betwixt the Levitical Covenant and the Evangelical Covenant As far as the Oath is above the changeable commandement by so much is the new Covenant better than the Covenant under the Law Then 1. There was a Covenant or Testament whereby Beleevers were saved as well under the Law as under the Gospel 2. The Covenant now though in substance of salvation one with the former yet in the manner of down-setting the Articles and the form of it is better than the Covenant then more clear more free more full more largely extended and more firm 3. Christ is here called Surety of this Covenant Then 1. Christ must see the Covenant kept and be good for it 2. God hath Christ to crave for our performance of the Covenant and we have Christ to crave for Gods part of the Covenant Yea and Christ to crave to give us Grace to perform that which God requireth of us in his Covenant 3. Jesus is content to be Surety and the Father hath consented and ordained and made him Surety So it resteth only that wee bee content also and make much of Christ that hee may do all our work for us and all Gods work in us Vers. 23. And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death 24. But this man because hee continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Another Excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Levitical which may be branched out in thâ—se particulars following 1. The Levitical Priests were many both at one time and one after another by reason whereof that Priesthood was weakened while one part of the Office for such a time was in the hands of this man and another part for another time was in the hands of that man And because one man could not be ready to take the Sacrifices from all the people therefore several men behoved to take several parts of the burden But in Christs Priesthood there is but one man even himself His Priesthood is undivided no man beareth a part of the burden with him Hee alone attendeth all mens Sacrifices by himself Hee is at leisure for every mans employment at all times in the greatest throng of Sacrifices Then as long as Christ is at leisure no reason to employ another to carry our prayers 2. The Levitical Priesthood did pass from one person to another Death made interruption But Christs Priesthood cannot pass from his own person to any other neither death nor any other infirmity can interrupt his Office Then 1. To make any Priest by special Office in the New Testament beside Christ is to rent the Priesthood of Christ and make it imperfect like Aarons which for the same reason that it had many Priests was weak and imperfect and inferiour to Christs 2. To make Priests by office in the New Testament to offer up any corporal Sacrifice is to make Christs Priesthood separable from his own person which is against the nature of Christs Priesthood which cannot pass from one to another for so importeth the word 3. To make plurality of Priests in Christs Priesthood Vicars or Substitutes or in any respect partaker of the office with him is to presuppose that Christ is not able to do that office alone but is either dead or weak that hee cannot fulfil that office contrary to the Text here which saith Because hee continueth ever he hath an unchangeable Priesthood or a Priesthood which cannot pass from one to another Vers. 25. Wherefore hee is able also to save them to the uttermost which come unto God by him seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them 1. Hee sheweth the fruit of Christs keeping still the Priesthood altogether in his own person to be the perfect Salvation of all beleevers for ever Hee is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God through him Then 1. Whosoever communicateth Christs Priesthood with any other beside his own person maketh Christ not able alone to save to the utmost those that come unto God through him 2. From this ground also it doth follow that Christ not only beginneth the beleevers salvation but perfecteth it also Hee doth not work a part of a mans salvation and leave the rest to his own merits or the merits of others but perfecteth it himself even to the uttermost 3. And if a man joyn any thing meritorious unto Christs Priesthood or any Mediatour for intercession beside him or seeketh by his own works to purchase salvation hee denieth Christ to be able to save him to the uttermost 2. Hee describeth Beleevers to be those that come to God through Christ. Then 1. Christ is the door and the way through which onely access is gotten to God By Saints or Angels there is not a way to come to God but by Christ onely 2. They that come not through him alone to God seclude themselves from the sufficiency of salvation to be had in him 3. The nature of beleeving is to make a man come towards God to get communion with him through Christ. 4. And none but such as come in Faith to God through Christ can take comfort from his Priesthood or look for salvation 3. Hee giveth a reason why perfect salvation is to be had for such as come to God through Christ Because Hee liveth for ever to make intercession for them Hee saith not to offer or cause to offer up the sacrifice of his body for them But Hee liveth and is not to be offered any more and liveth to make intercession Then 1. The sacrificing part is done and ended His intercession hath now the place and by his intercession wee get the merit of his death and passion applied unto us and not by any new oblation 2. If hee brook his life hee will not fail to intercede for us who come unto God through him and not through Saint or Angel or any person beside For hee liveth for ever to make intercession for us Vers. 26. For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens To the end hee may force the Hebrews to forsake the Priesthood of Levi hee draweth a strong reason from the nature of our estate under the Gospel Whereby hee proveth not onely that the Priests of Aarons Order are abolished but also every Son of Adam is excluded from the office of the Priesthood except Jesus Christ in his own person onely Because every Priest that wanteth the properties of Jesus Christ is unbeseeming for us under the Gospel A sinful man might have been a Priest under the Law to prefigure Christ before hee came But now no sinful man may be a Priest by office but Christ onely in whom there is no sin When the Sacrifice was a beast then a
to dye The Articles of the Covenant also evinceth it to be a Testament and the promiser bound to make his word good and so to dye For Jer. 31. the Lord Christ promiseth to reconcile his people to God to take away their sins and to be their God Iustice required satisfaction of them before they could be reconciled Satisfaction they could not make themselves therefore he who promised to make the Reconciliation with God was bound to make the satisfaction for them to God and if satisfaction for them then to undergo the curse of the Law for them and so to dye Then 1. The New Covenant is of the nature of a Testament and the benefits promised therein to wit Remission of sins Reconciliation Sanctification and Life Eternal are Legacies freely left unto us by our Defunct Lord who was dead and is alive to execute his own will for evermore The Scripture is the instrument and evidence the Apostles Notaries the Sacraments are seals witnesses from Heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit witnesses on earth the Water the Blood and the Spirit 2. Christ Jesus is both the maker of the Covenant which is in Ier. 31. and the Mediator thereof also the Testator and Executor of that blessed Testament 3. Christs death was concluded and resolved upon and intimated before he came into the world Vers. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testator liveth He cleareth his reasoning from the nature of Testaments amongst men which not before but after a mans death have force But here it may be objected How can this be seeing by vertue of the testament of Christ benefits not a few were bestowed upon the Church before his death from the beginning of the world not onely Remission of sins and Eternal Life but also many graces and blessings in this life both bodily and spiritual I answer Albeit Christs death was not accomplished in act till of late yet for the certainty of his death to follow and the unchangeableness of his minde towards his Church before his death he was reckoned both with God and the Church for dead and the promise of laying down his life for his people accepted for the time as if it had been performed For which cause he is called Rev. 13.8 The Lamb slain from the beginning of the world And Christ was still represented as a slain man in all these Sacrifices which the Apostle pointeth at as meeting this doubt in the next words which follow hereafter Vers. 18. Vers. 18. Whereupon neither the first Testament was dedicated without blood He proveth the necessity of Christs death yet farther Under the Law his bloodshed was represented by types of bloody Sacrifices therefore it behoved those types to be answered by his real bloodshed and death Then 1. What the types of the Law did signifie Christ behoved to accomplish in verity 2. The Old Church was taught that by vertue of the blood signified by these types the Covenant stood betwixt God and them Vers. 19. For when Moses had spoken every Precept to all the people according to the Law he took the blood of Calves and of Goats with Water and Scarlet Wooll and Hyssope and sprinkled both the book and all the people 20. Saying This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoyned unto you 21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the Tabernacle and all the Vessels of the Ministery From Moses example we learn 1. That the Lords Word should be manifested to all the people and none of them debarred from taking knowledge thereof 2. That the Word must be spoken plainly with a distinct voyce in the common Language and not muttered in an unknown Tongue 3. That with the use of holy Rites appointed of God the Preaching of Gods Word should be joyned to shew the Institution and force of Gods Ordinances to his people 2. In that the Book and the People and Instruments of Service were all to be sprinkled we learn That every thing which we touch or meddle with or make use of is unclean unto us were it never so holy in it self except the Blood of Jesus make it clean unto us and cleanse us in the using of it Vers. 22. And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission He saith Almost because of some purging which was done by washing and yet even that washing also drew the Vertue of Ceremonial purging from the Sacrifice whereunto the washing was annexed 2. In saying Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins he teacheth us That wheresoever a sacrifice is offered for obtaining remission of sin there shedding of blood must really be and where an unbloody sacrifice is pretended to be offered for obtaining remission it serveth not the purpose because Without shedding of blood there is no remission Either therefore must such as pretend to offer Christ for obtaining the remission of sin grant that Christ is daily murthered by them and his blood shed anew in their pretended Offering or else that by their Offering no new Remission is purchased But the truth is Christs Blood is once shed and never to be shed again and that once Offering and Blood shedding is sufficient for everlasting remission without any new Offering of him again Vers. 23. It was therefore necessary that the Patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these but the Heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices than these Another reason of the necessity of Christs death in force thus much If things figuratively holy behoved to be cleansed with the Typical Blood of Beasts Then things truly holy behoved to be cleansed with better blood even the blood of the Messias Hence we learn 1. That for the significations cause God would not have the Tabernacle nor any Instrument of Service about it to â—e esteemed holy till blood was shed to sprinkle it That it might be known thereby that without the shedding of Christs blood he would not accept of any thing from us as holy 2. That the blood of Beasts was sufficient to make representation but better blood even the Blood of the Messiah behoved to be shed to give the truth of the signification For as far as Heaven is above the earthly sanctuary and mens souls above the vessels thereof so far better behoved to be that blood which made souls acceptable to God and to get entrance into heaven than the blood of Levitical sacrifices was Vers. 24. For Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us He cleareth the matter how Christ hath offered a better Sacrifice than the Levitical yea and behoved to offer a better because he is entered into a better Sanctuary another man in another manner and to another end than the High Priest under
them and by nature do some external works of the Law although they have not the written Law yet that Law within them is a Law and that really and indeed written upon their hearts as their consciences witness accusing them when they do ill and excusing them when they do well Therefore they have nothing to pretend why they should not undergo deserved condemnation when they sin much less the Jews Vers. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Reas. 5. Because in the day of judgement God will bring forth the secrets of the heart and according to this my doctrine in the Gospel will pronounce the condemnation of sinners to bee just whether Jews or Gentiles Therefore they cannot bee excused who sin but perish by their own just desert Vers. 17. Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law and makest thy boast of God 18. And knowest his will and approvest the things that are more excellent being instructed out of the Law 19. And art confident that thou thy self art a guide of the blind a light of them which are in darknâ—ss 20. An instructer of the foolish a teacher of babes which hath the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law The third Objection But something must bee allowed to the priviledges of the Jews that they come not into the like condemnation with the Gentiles And here hee seems to conflict with some principal teacher of the Law and Patron of Righteousness by works and brings forth seven props of his vain confidence by way of concession granting all 1 The first that hee grants is the external honour of a worshiper of God Thou art called a Jew which was a name not of Nation only but of a confessor of the true Religion 2 A submission of mind to the doctrine of the Law Thou restest in the Law and thou applaudest thy self in this as an eminent benefit 3 Thou makest thy boast in God viz. that thou art of that people chosen above all other Nations in Covenant with God vers 17. 4 The knowledge of Gods will taken out of the Law 5 The discerning of good and evil and of things that differ and controversies by the benefit of the same Law verse 18. 6 The confidence of such abundant knowledge and certainty that they could teach others 7 That they had a systeme and collection of that knowledge which was here and there contained in the Law and that all the rest besides this our Rabbi are infants and foolish verse 19 20. Vers. 21. Thou therefore that teachest another teachest thou not thy self Thou that preachest a man should not steal doest thou steal 22. Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery doest thou commit adultery Thou that abhorrest idols doest thou commit sacriledge 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God The Apostle answers the Objection and all these being granted hee shews them insufficient to righteousness by two Reasons Reas. 1. Because thou doest not teach thy self i. e. thou dost not shew forth thy doctrine by thy deeds but either pollutest thy self with those vices or the like which thou forbiddest in others Therefore those things suffice not to free thee from condemnation Vers. 24. For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Reas. 2. Confirming the former Because through your fault the Gentiles speak evil of God as if hee had or could bear prophane worshipers Therefore the forecited priviledges make nothing to Righteousness This reason hee confirmes by the testimony of Ezekiel 36.22 who complains of the Hypocrites of his time boasting in the same priviledges Vers. 25. For Circumcision verily profiteth â—f thou keep the Law but if thou be a breaker of the Law thy Circumcision is made uncircumcision The fourth Objection But because of the Covenant of God the sign whereof is Circumcision I shall not perish who am circumcised saith the Jew confiding in the outward Ceremony The Apostle answers and proves that Circumcision does not exempt us from condemnation or death by four Reasons Reas. 1. Because Circumcision if it bee joyned with perfect obedience to all the rest of the commandements if it could bee it would profit as a part of that obedience to justification by works for which the Jew did contend but if the transgression of the Law bee found in him that is circumcised as touching justification by works circumcision and uncircumcision will bee the same Therefore circumcision exempts not from condemnation Vers. 26. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the Law shall not this uncircumcision be counted for circumcision Reas. 2. Because the Gentiles uncircumcision joyned with perfect obedience to the Law if it could bee shall bee of the same account with the Jews circumcision If so bee God require to justification by works nothing but a perfect observation of the Moral Law Therefore circumcision frees not from condemnation Vers. 27. And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature if it fulfil the Law judge thee who â—y the letter and circumcision dost transgress the Law Reas. 3. Because the Gentile being by nature uncircumcised if it was possible that hee could keep the Moral Law compared with thee who are outwardly circumcised and yet transgressest the Law by thy own judgement hee shall argue thee worthy of condemnation Therefore circumcision doth not free from condemnation Vers. 28. But he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh 29. But hee is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and noâ— in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Reas. 4. Because neither the outward profession of the true Religion long ago erected among the Jewes by God himself is to be accounted for a true profession of the true Religion nor outward Circumcision of the flesh is to bee reckoned for true Circumcision ver 28. But hee is a true Professor of the true Religion who is such an one in the Spirit and that is true Circumcision which is of the heart spiritual in the inward soul and not that which is outwardly in the body or the letter which is commonly called Circumcision He that is a Jew indeed and that which is true and spiritual Circumcision hath commendation and praise not only among men who only see things that are open and manifest but with God who looks into the heart Therefore outward Circumcision perfects not our righteousness nor frees any man from condemnation ver 29. CHAP. III. THere are two parts of this Chapter in the FIRST he answers five objections against the foresaid Doctrine to ver 9. In the SECOND part he proceeds to prove the POSITION touching JUSTIFICATION NOT BY WORKS BVT BY FAITH Ver. 1. What advantage then hath the Iew or what profit is there of
of their Sanctification and the reliques of sin Which consolation hee appropriates to those that are justified endeavouring after holiness secluding those that are unregenerate and delight in sin to ver 9. which hee applyes to the Romans to ver 12. and thus applyed hee shews the use of it to ver 17. The second part contains the Consolations of the Iustified in respect to the calamities of this life to which the godly are lyable to ver 31. The third part contains the triumph of those that are justified over all their enemies to the end Vers. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit From what hath been spoken hee infers consolation to those that are justified against the fear of condemnation which the conscience of sin dwelling in us may easily affright us with There is no condemnation saith hee to those which by true Faith are ingrafted into Christ And because many profess the Faith they have not hee describes true Believers and justified persons from this property that they do not indulge themselves in sin neither do they willingly follow the guidance of the flesh and corrupt nature but walk after the Commands of God and the motions of the Holy Ghost inwardly perswading them to direct the course of their life according to the Rule of the Word of God Vers. 2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the Law of Sin and Death That this consolation belongs to them that are truly justified and endeavour after holiness hee proves by three Arguments Argum. 1. The Law of Faith of Life and the Spirit in Christ or the Covenant of Grace hath freed every Believer and mee in particular from the law of sin and death or the Covenant of Works Therefore to them that are justified truly united unto Christ there is no condemnation For by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hee understands the Law of Faith or the Covenant of Grace because by Faith or the Covenant of Grace the Spirit is received and communion with the Life of Christ. And by the Law of Sin and Death hee understands the Law of Works as Rom. 3.27 or the Covenant of Works by which Law or Covenant conviction of sin is made and condemnation unto death of them that are guilty Vers. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Argum. 2. Seeing the Law was found weak to procure for us Justification by reason of the infirmity of the flesh or humane nature now corrupted not able to yeeld perfect obedience to the Law God sending his Son in the flesh of the same nature with us and in all things like unto us sin excepted in the flesh of his Son crucified condemned our sin that satisfaction being made for us it might bee abolished in us Therefore sin in us that are justified who are in Christ cannot bee the cause of condemnation and thus there is no condemnation to us Vers. 4. That the righteousness of the Law might bee fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Argum. 3. To this very end sin is condemned in Christ that is condemned and dead for us that wee being once dead and condemned in him it might appear that the Law is satisfied in us I say who follow not the lusts of the flesh but the guidance of the Holy Ghost Therefore now no condemnation remains us Vers. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit Hee gives four reasons why hee makes this consolation peculiar to them that follow after holiness secluding all that are unregenerate and continue in sin The first reason They that are carnal and unregenerate savour and affect only those things that are carnal and wicked but those that are regenerate savour and affect spiritual things Therefore its no wonder that only they that follow after holiness are admitted to the consolation of an immunity from condemnation and they which are carnal are excluded Vers. 6. For to bee carnally minded is death but to bee spiritually minded is life and peace Reason 2. The wisdome of carnal men which is the Governour of their counsels and actions and is carried only to those things which please the flesh whether in respect to God or eternal life and so it inclines to death But the wisdome of the spirit or an habit directing the actions of regenerate men is carried to those things which belong to spiritual life and peace Therefore it s no wonder if only they that are regenerate and spiritual are exempted from condemnation but not they that are carnal Vers. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can bee Reason 3. Confirming the former the wisdome of the flesh it self the principal virtue of politick wits is enmity against God for it only seeks and cares for its own rejecting God neither is it subject to the Law of God or can bee subject for it cannot but subject to its own carnal ends the Soul Heaven God and all things and pursue after these so far as it thinks them conducible to carnal ends Therefore it s no wonder that carnal men are not freed from condemnation Vers. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God Reason 4. Whoever are unregenerate in the state of corrupt nature or the flesh cannot please God because they cannot but follow after those things which please them Therefore no wonder they are not freed from condemnation Vers. 9. But yee are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so bee that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ hee is none of his Applying the character of justified persons out of the judgement of charity to the Romans hee also applies to the same Romans to whom hee writes the consolation which arises from freedome from condemnation hee prudently in the mean time bespeaks them that they would not indulge hypocrisie in any and hee gives four Reasons of this application The first Reason You are not subject to the domâ—nion of the flesh you are not unregenerate but in a spiritual condition following the guidance of the Spirit Therefore there is no condemnation to you or which is the same to you belongs the foresaid consolation Reas. 2. Confirming the former the Spirit of God dwelling in you framing your hearts and lives unto holiness for unless I should thus judge of you I should think you did not belong unto Christ for hee that hath not the sanctifying Spirit of Christ is not yet a living member of Christ Therefore there is no condemnation unto
unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which hee was betrayed took bread 24. And when hee had given thanks hee brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of mee That hee may correct these errours First hee sets down the institution of the Sacrament to vers 27. and then hee exhorts them to and teaches them the lawful use of this Sacrament to the end As for the institution of the Supper hee shews that the Lord Jesus being about to suffer by way of Testament set his seal to the Covenant of Grace which by his mediation hee entred into between God and the Church Whereby the glorious memory of his death might bee celebrated in the world till his second comming and might bee delivered to the faithful and being delivered it might judicially confirm a right to his person and the benefits of his sufferings and a living virtue flowing from his death resurrection and exaltation to the sanctification and salvation of Beleevers and that by the symbols of this holy Banquet and holy Communion with God and amongst themselves To which end Christ sitting at Table with his Disciples after the eating of the Paschal Lamb First Took Bread and sanctified it by giving of thanks brake and gave it to his Disciples commanding them to take and eat further hee declared the Bread received and eaten to bee his body represented after a Sacramental manner that iâ— being given for our Redemption and after a judicial manner applied to us and lastâ—y hee commanded that his Disciples or all the faithful should imitate this his action in the Church in remembrance of him who had paid the price of Redemption by the sufferings of his body Vers. 25. After the same manner also hee took the Cup when hee had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do you as oft as yee drink it in remembrance of mee That which concerns the other part of the Supper follows In the same Supper viz. after the Paschal Supper when the Bread was distributed Christ took the Cup with Wine sanctified by the giving of thanks gave it to the Disciples to drink further concerning the Cup hee declared That it being taken and drunk was that new Covenant of Grace between God and the Church established Sacramentally by his blood i. e. As it is ratified on Gods part that gives so it is confirmed on the beleevers part that receives and judicially applied and sealed Lastly Hee commanded that his Disciples should frequently imitate him in this action in remembrance of him who had paid the price of Redemption for the Church by the shedding of his blood Vers. 26. For as often as yee eat this Bread and drink this Cap yee do shew the Lords death till hee come And that wee might acknowledge that of two Elements Bread and Wine one Supper frequently to bee celebrated in the Church ought to bee made the Apostle would have perpetuated in the Church a publick commemoration of our Lords death by the often reiteration of this Sacrament and that because Christ would not bee present in his body with the Church before the last judgement by this Sacrament hee would that the memorial of the Churches redemption by his death might bee preserved and celebrated until hee come out of Heaven in the last day Vers. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. After the Apostle had repeated the institution of this Sacrament hee exhorts and instructs the Corinthians in the right use of it and that in six waies First Shewing the danger of guilt which they are liable to who prophane this Sacrament For whosoever without preparation and reverence otherwise than becomes such an Ordinance approaches so great mysteries abuses the Sacrament despiseth Christ and comes near to the wickedness of those that crucified Christ. Vers. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Secondly Shewing the easiness of preparation that every one may worthily receive this Sacrament Onely saith hee set every man examine himself that being sensible of the greatness of his sin and misery hee may see how much need hee hath of a remedy by Christ and let him consider with what Faith and purposes of holiness hee is bound to approach communion with Christ who is a thousand times lost without him and when hee hath examined himself so let him eat and drink in that holy Banquet i. e. so let him apply the thing signified with his participation of the sign that hee consider what need hee hath of it Vers. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body Thirdly Having shewed the punishment of eating unworthily That hee brings judgement or temporal and eternal punishment unless hee repent upon himself by unworthy eating and drinking who participates of the outward Sacrament without examination of himself because hee discerns not this Feast or the thing signified from his own common Supper but comes to the Lords Table no otherwise than to some common one Vers. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep Fourthly Shewing before their eyes the examples of Gods temporal anger in diseases and death it self inflicted already upon many of the Corinthians for their prophanation of the Sacrament Vers. 31. For if wee would judge our selves wee should not bee judged Hee clears from severity this infliction of temporal judgement First From the equity of it That God justly punishes those that judge not themselves or repent not but lye securely in their sin which hee would not do if they repenting would judge themselves Vers. 32. For when wee are judged wee are chastened of the Lord that wee should not bee condemned with the world Further That the inflicting of these punishments is a fatherly chastisement whereby the faithful may bee brought to repentance and not perish with the world Vers. 33. Wherefore my Brethren when yee come together to eat tarry one for another Fifthly The Apostle directs the Corinthians to a right use of the Supper giving a Precept to avoid Schism that they would tarry one for another and would partake of the holy Supper together and every man take not his supper asunder because the Supper of the Lord is a common action of the Church in the publick Assembly to bee celebrated after the manner of a Feast Vers. 34. And if any man hunger let him eat at home that yee come not together unto condemnation And the rest will I set in order when I come Sixthly By forbidding their manner of feasting in publick by their feasts of charity before the holy Communion and commanding that if need were they would eat at home to satisfie their hunger repeating the danger of prophaning the Supper and of the
parents if hee would glory in the Nobility of his Race hee sprung from the more Noble Israelites because from the Tribe of Benjamin Benjamin was the Son of Rachel a woman free-born but some Tribes had their original from bond-maids If they strived for the Antiquity of Religion that they remained in the Covenant as true Abrahamites here also hee was equal to any one of them Vers. 23. Are they Ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more in labours more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft Sign 3. If they had striven for the dignity of office herein modestly as one compelled hee prefers himself before them in respect of his Apostleship and office granted to him extraordinarily I am greater saies hee because I am an Apostle In labours The fourth Sign of his dignity is sincerity in the administration of his office Of this his sincerity hee produces nine Testimonies First His labours or his diligence Secondly His sufferings in general which belonged to his health and bodily liberty and the dangers of his life Vers. 24. Of the Iews five times received I forty stripes save one Thirdly Hee produces his special sufferings from the Jews that hee was whipped by them five times according to the number of stripes inflicted upon malefactors by the Law for the Jews although they are cruel yet they would seem to contain themselves within the Law Deut. 25.3 Vers. 25. Thrice was I beaten with Rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and a day I have been in the deep Fourthly His sufferings from the Gentiles bear testimony that by their Lictours or Sergeants hee was beaten thrice with clubs and whips and once stoned Fifthly That hee thrice suffered shipwrack in one whereof after hee was twenty four hours tossed by the waters in the deep Sea hee was freed by the powerful hand of God Vers. 26. In journying often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils by mine own Country-men in perils by the heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Wilderness in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false Brethren The Sixth Testimony of his sincerity comprehends the labours of his journying and eight kinds of dangers which hee found in sundry places and from divers kinds of men Vers. 27. In weariness and painfulness in watchings often in hunger und thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness The seventh hath five sorts of troubles with which while hee fulfilled the work of the Ministery hee was very often exercised wherein being wearied hee was instead of rest forced to take in hand new labours Vers. 28. Besides those things which are without that which commeth upon mee daily the care of all the Churches Eighthly His unconquerable patience in daily publick businesses a solicitous mind for all the Churches of Christ. Vers. 29. Who is weak and am I not weak who is offended and I burn not The ninth Testimony of his Sincerity is his sympathy with all that are afflicted and offended by any scandal Vers. 30. If I must needs glory I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities Hee retorts the Objection of his adversaries But all these things have made thee a contemptible and miserable man Hee answers that hee purposely determined to glory in these as the things which did more commend his sincerity than the prosperous affairs of the false Apostle adorned them Vers. 31. The God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is blessed for ever more knoweth that I lye not 32. In Damascus the Governour under Areâ—as the King kept the City with a Garison desirous to apprehâ—nd mee 33. And thorough a window in a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands Lastly Because these things which hee had mentioned may seem incredible viz. that one should bee able to bear so many afflictions premising an oath touching the truth as well of those things that were said already as of those that were to bee spoken hee mentions the special danger of his life out of which there was no apparent escape unless God had kept him safe for the good of the Church and opened a way by his special providence for his escape concerning which Act. 9.23 CHAP. XII HEE proceeds in his holy glorying There are three parts of the Chapter In the first hee explains the heavenly vision presented to him together with the events of the same To vers 11. In the second hee proves that the Corinthians ought to have freed him from this necessity of glorying or defended him To vers 19. In the third hee produces the causes of his troubles Vers. 1. It is not expedient for mee doubtless to glory I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. The Preface being Premised that hee doth not glory for his own sake because that was not expedient for him For this is here somewhat emphatical for mee but for the Corinthians and the Churches sake whom it concerned to preserve the authority of the Apostle intire hee commeth to extraordinary revelations one of which hee begins historically to declare Vers. 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven I knew a man Hee discovers the excellency of this revelation and his modesty by nine Arguments Argum. 1. That hee scarcely dare publish his name in this business but lest hee may seem to arrogate much to himself hee is compelled to speak of himself in a third person In Christ Argum. 2. That although this revelation may seem to extol him above the common condition of men yet hee doth not affect any other excellence than to bee in Christ or in the number of Beleevers who have renounced themselves that they may glory in Christ alone Fourteen Argum. 3. That silently with himself hee had suppressed the mention of this glorious revelation whole fourteen years never intending to recite it unless hee was compelled by the importunity of his Emulators who endeavoured to diminish his Apostolical authority to the damage of the Gospel and the Church Caught up Argum. 4. That hee was caught up to the upper heaven above all the Stars to the place of the blessed Spirits where God chiefly manifests his glory Whether in the body Argum. 5. That hee is ignorant whether hee was caught up by the local translation of his body into Heaven or whether his soul extraordinarily was separated for that time and lifted up into Heaven concerning the other notwithstanding I am certain Vers. 3. And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth 4. Hee was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter Into Paradise Argum. 6. That hee certainly knew the matter done and that hee was caught up
and by baptism sealed to you so that there is no need to seek any thing out of Christ that belongs to the full paying the price of Redemption Therefore wee must not depart from him Yee are risen Argum. 7. Yee beleevers by baptism are brought into the communion of Christs Resurrection or his victory that hee gained over death and sin by which yee are not onely risen to newness of life in holiness but also yee shall rise in respect of your bodies to a glorious and immortal life so that nothing as to holiness and eternal life is to bee desired out of Christ Therefore yee must not at all depart from him Through the faith But yet lest too much be attributed to external baptisme from the work as they say done hee requires the faith of God efficaciously working in those that are baptized i. e. That wee beleeve that God who powerfully raised Christ from the dead according to his promises will also effectually raise us according to his promise to all manner of newness of life For by how much the nearer wee imbrace the power of God that raised Christ our head from the dead by so much the more wee shall make progress in newness of life Vers. 13. And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath hee quickned together with him having forgiven you all trespasses Argum. 8. God hath made you Colossians in times past dead in sins and lying in the uncircumcision of irregenerate nature partakers of the holy and immortal life of Christ as to right and an inchoate possession all your sins by grace being forgiven therefore as to a plenary remission of sins and to an holy and immortal life nothing is to bee sought out of Christ. This benefit is called a quickning together with Christ although Christ had risen some years before they were converted because in what moment soever any one is by faith united to Christ in the same moment is hee united to him now reigning in heaven yea in his dying burial and rising again after a judicial or forinsical manner so that in all things in which hee hath or doth sustain our person it is no less than if wee had in a Physical manner been present and consented to every act of his in our behalf Vers. 14. Blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his Cross. Argum. 9. In which also hee explains how Christ obtained remission of sins for us viz. by taking away the hand-writing in this sense The Covenant of works is an hand-writing established partly in threatnings partly in appointed positive Ceremonials excluding the Gentiles from the Church was against us and contrary to us But Christ hath blotted out this hand-writing taking it out of the way and nailing it to his Cross Therefore you must not look back to the legal Covenant or ceremonial appointments in them to seek for any thing neither must yee depart in the least from the death of Christ by which yee are delivered from that hand-writing Hee compares this Covenant of works with its appurtenances to an hand-writing by which any one bindes himself for the paying of a debt for whosoever are convicted of sin by the light of nature are also by the force of the Covenant of Works obnoxious to wrath and as often as wee are convinced of sin so often also by nature wee confirm the punishment of sin or the condition of the legal Covenant by the judgement of our consciences against our selves as by an hand-writing The conscience of every one performs this much more which hath received the written Law and daily bears the punishment of the Law for the breaking of it But chiefly all justiciaries are compelled to subscribe to this hand-writing who acknowledge no righteousness besides inherent or that which is by works Of which number were those that Judaized and observeers of Ceremonies who adhered to this Covenant seeking Righteousness by works and the appointed Ceremonies For by how much they did indeavour by this means more manifestly to establish their own Righteousness by so much the more openly they did derive the punishment of the Law broken by the force of the Covenant upon themselves For no man enters a Covenant but hee also admits all the conditions of the Covenant The hand-writing is said to bee in Ordinances or rather subscribed to Ordinances so far as they took upon them those commands or Legal Ordinances that they might bee perfected in themselves they did withall oblige themselves to bear the punishment of the breach of those commands Hee calls it the hand-writing against us or contrary to us partly because it separated the Jews from the Gentiles and the Gentiles from the Jews Partly because it was a yoak which neither they nor their Fathers could bear Partly because as often as they did any work of the Law either moral or ceremonial to bee justified thereby so often by the imperfection of their work and the profession of their imperfection in the use of the Levitical Ceremonies they did argue themselves guilty or rather did acknowledge themselves guilty of death As for example when they offered Sacrifices and did repeat them they not onely acknowledged themselves sinners against the Moral Law but did also really confess that their frequent Sacrifices could not purge their consciences from sin and so the hand-writing of the Covenant of works was alwaies contrary to them But Christ hath blotted out this hand-writing and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross insomuch as hee for the sake of them that were his hath paid for the redeemed the penalty due upon the hand-writing by the death of his Cross and hath compleated and abolished the positive Ordinances concerning those vanishing Ceremonies by the real Sacrifice of his own body once offered Vers. 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers hee made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Argum. 10. Christ hath brought all the Devils who exercise their power and tyranny upon the Elect overthrown by the price of Redemption paid upon the Cross and gloriously triumpheth over them openly in the sight of God Angels and men whose eyes are open unto their own disgrace and our deliverance Therefore it remains that nothing is to bee sought out of Christ. The Devils are called Principalities and Powers 1 Because in the world they potently exercise authority over all the reprobate children of disobedience and all the unregenerate which do nothing else but execute the will of the Devil 2 Because they are Sergeants executing the judgement of God holding those captive that are not reconciled to God in Christ. 3 Because they fight against Christ the Redeemer neither do they dismiss the redeemed and reconciled from the prison of darkness unless compelled by the stronger power of Christ. They are said to bee spoiled by Christ on the Cross 1 Inasmuch as
Christ paying the price of our Redemption hath obtained by Covenant of the Father that all the redeemed should bee delivered from the prison of darkness ignorance sin and death 2 Inasmuch as Christ infinite in power when hee had once satisfied justice on the Cross broke the bars and chains of sin judgement and the Law wherewith the Devil held the redeemed bound that henceforth they cannot have any power 3 Inasmuch as hee hath made his redeemed his possession and peculiar people that they might not any longer bee the flock of Satan Christ is said to have made a shew of the Devils and to have openly triumphed on the Cross 1 Inasmuch as hee hath valiantly received overcome and extinguished all their temptations and poisoned darts whether immediately cast by them against him hanging on the Cross or hurled by the poisonous tongues of furious adversaries or brandished by the provocation of the ingratitude of his Disciples flying from him 2 Inasmuch as Christ hath turned the malice of the Devils all their subtilties and machinations by which they sought his life incessantly stirring up their slaves to crucifie him till hee hanged upon the Cross to their own destruction and to the most open ruine of their dominion 3 Inasmuch as hee hath shewn himself Lord of Heaven and Earth by signs and wonders in the very time of his crucifying 4 Inasmuch as hee hath shewn openly his power by converting the thief hanging at his right hand and the Centurion standing at his feet 5 Inasmuch as the price of Redemption being already paid the Conqueror not onely in the sight of God and Angels but also in the sight of these Devils and also in the bearing of all beholders cryed out that his work was finished and that to his own eternal glory and the perpetual ignominy of â—his enemies From which it follows that wee must not depart from Christ for the obtaining of any good or that wee might bee delivered from any evil The Third Part. Vers. 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath daies The third part of the Chapter in which by way of consequence hee brings in a special admonition to beware of some special corruptions of the false Apostles The admonitions are three 1 That they do not regard the judgement and censure of any who shall dare to condemn them for not observing of Mosaical Ceremonies as for example for meat or drink or for neglecting an holy-day or an part of any holy-day or for not observing the Sabbath of the Jews Vers. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ. The reason of the admonition is Because those Legal Ceremonies were the shadows of future things which were onely to remain until the body or Christ the truth and substance of them should come which therefore ought to cease after his comming Vers. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of Angels intruding into those things which hee hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind 2 Is That they beware of the worshiping and invocation of Angels For this end hee alledges seven Arguments Argum. 1. Because whosoever doth teach you this worshiping in very deed hee endeavours to defraud you of the reward of Religion or Life Eternal Voluntarily Argum. 2. Because not from the authority of God but of his own will and lust hee doth deliver this Doctrine Humility Argum. 3. Because hee that teacheth the worshiping of Angels doth hypocritically abuse you with the pretence of humility Intruding Argum. 4. Because hee that teacheth the worshiping of Angel proceeds boldly without the light of the Word of God yea without the light of right reason For hee never saw any thing concerning this Doctrine either in holy writ or with bodily eyes or by the light of sound reason Vainly Argum. 5. Because whosoever teacheth the worshiping of Angels is not humble as hee pretends but swelling in his own carnal opinion is most vainly puffed up Vers. 19. And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Arg. 6. Because whosoever teacheth the worshipping of Angels is void of true faith hee is not joyned nor cleaves unto Christ although hee know all other things yet hee is ignorant of the vertue of Christ and the grace that is in him yea hee is divided from Christ our head and doth renounce him From which Arg. 7. Because in Christ alone is the storehouse from which all grace and whatsoever is required to life and spiritual growth is abundantly derived to all his members so that neither is it necessary to ask any thing of the Angels neither can any thing be done in that kinde without dishonour done to Christ either by invoking the Angels or by worshipping them after any other manner Therefore ye are to beware of the invocation of Angels In this Argument by the comparison of the humane natural head Christ is described by a sixfold Similitude 1 As the humane natural head hath a body subject to it so Christ hath the Church subject to him as his mystical body 2 As sense and motion is derived from the humane head to the whole body and so to all its members so sense and spiritual motions are derived from Christ to all the members of the Church 3 As from the humane head the conjunction of the nerves and ligaments which go through the whole body are extended so from the head Christ the holy Spirit flows and faith in Christ and love towards our neighbour which are diffused through the whole body mystical 4 As by those junctures life sense and motion is administred to the whole body so by these all spiritual grace is administred to the faithful 5 As by these the members are compacted with the head and amongst themselves so by these Christ and his members are united 6 As by these in the natural body so by these in Christs body mystical first of all there is made an increase of every member and also of the whole body mystical 7 As there is the increase of nature so here of grace the increase of God i. e. great and solid according to the measure given to every one Vers. 20. Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances The third Admonition follows with a reprehension because they had subjected themselves to decrees or humane traditions and doctrines of men determining Religion in those things which God hath not determined There are five Arguments of the Admonition or Reprehension 1 Because yee are freed by the death of Christ from all carnal rudiments of Religion such as Judaical ceremonies so that you have no further to do with them yee ought not to admit the
decrees and precepts of men as if as yet after the manner of children under Rudiments yee were obnoxious to such sort of Elements The force of this first Argument consisteth in these five things 1 Christ hath fulfilled that which was prefigured by Moses his ceremonies and by his death hath abrogated those typical ceremonies and that shadowy manner of teaching the Church and worshipping God so that the legal Covenant cannot exact any thing more from him than that which was paid and perfected in his death 2 Christ dying all in Covenant are dead judicially with him whose person Christ hath born Therefore the legal Covenant could exact nothing more from them for whose sake Christ dyed than the Laws of men required of those that are dead For all in him are reckoned as dead 3 All ceremonial Precepts in respect of the authority commanding were divine and heavenly untill Christ But now abolished through Christ they cease to bee divine and begin to bee humane elements or rudiments worldly and carnal not so much in respect to the things commanded as to the mundane authority commanding them 4 So long as the Colossians were not converted to Christ but did live in the world as worldlings free from righteousness so they were slaves to devils and men obnoxious to all manner of servitude and to all kinde of evil 5 But now after they were one body with Christ they were made free by faith and also were set at liberty from all evill neither ought they to submit themselves to any yoak unless to that which Christ would have them subjugated and consequently they ought not to bee subject in the business of Religion to the opinions and traditions of men Vers. 21. Touch not taste not handle not Argum. 2. Because those your superstitious commanders and authors of humane decrees by their precise prohibition of things left at liberty do also discover their tyranny and intolerable hypocrisie in the rigid exaction of their commands such as hee recites with some indignation Taste not touch not and the like in which they were not only willing to continue the Levitical Law contrary to the will of God but also to superadde their rigid exactions of the Law which was abolished Therefore do not yee subject your selves to them Vers. 22. Which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men Argum. 3. Because these corporeal things instituted by God to use that at length in using they might bee consumed and perish c. Therefore it is unjust to prohibit their use under the pretence of Religion Therefore do not yee subject your selves to these commands Of men Argum. 4. Because decrees of this sort are not the commands of God but the commands of men according to which God hath declared that he will not bee worshipped Therefore do not yee admit them Vers. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdome in will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in honour to the satisfying of the flesh Argum. 5. With the confutation of an Objection because although these observations have a shew of wisdome as part of a voluntary and not compelled worship as exercises of humility towards Angels as of obedience towards the Governours of the Church as somewhat conducing to the mortification of flesh yet in very deed they have onely a meer shew of wisdome and are of no value or esteem before God Lastly so much as they seem to detract from the body so much they adde to the satisfaction of the flesh or corrupt nature which alwayes most earnestly desires in its forgeries about Religion to satisfie itself CHAP. III. THe second part of the Epistle is concerning the endeavours after a Christian life There are two parts of the Chapter In the first are contained general Exhortations pertaining to true piety and holiness of life to Vers. 18. In the other are special Exhortations which belong to certain and particular conditions of men to the end Vers. 1. If yee then bee risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God The general Exhortations are Nine 1 Is to the study of heavenly things that they no longer spend their endeavours and labours in seeking earthly pleasures honours and riches but that they seek Christian vertues and those that pertain to eternal life If yee bee risen The Arguments of the Exhortation are six all which prove that wee ought to study heavenly things 1 In Baptism yee have taken upon yee a resemblance of the resurrection or of pursuing a new and spiritual life and ingrafted by Faith into Christ yee have communion with Christ rising who for the sake of his own as a surety hath risen to spiritual life and hath undertaken to raise Beleevers by the virtue of his resurrection communicated to them Therefore yee ought to indeavour after heavenly things Where Christ Argum. 2. Above i. e. in Heaven Christ as to the local presence of his body is our head and the fountain of all our felicity Therefore that yee may injoy him yee ought to seek things above The right hand Argum. 3. Christ sitteth at the right hand of God by which as man hee hath gotten the highest advancement and a name above every name that he may grant to us all things above Therefore things above are to bee sought by you Vers. 2. Set your affections above not on things on the earth Hee amplifies this Exhortation commanding that they savour heavenly things i. e. that they study to know esteem care for effect and with earnestness pursue those things which pertain to an heavenly life and not those things that pertain to this terrestrial life which although they may be lawful and necessary yet they are to bee looked after by the by onely Vers. 3. For yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Argum. 4. Yee by Faith in Baptism are partakers of the death of Christ and are obliged by the virtue of his death to dye to the world and sin yea yee are dead to them or in respect of them viz. after a judicial and spiritual manner savour not any more those earthly things or serve them Therefore yee ought to savour and follow things above heavenly and not earthly things And your life Argum. 5. Although your life i. e. your Adoption your Righteousness your Inheritance your full Sanctification and Glorification is hid to the world yea to you your selves for the most part for now you receive them onely by Faith and a little possession of first fruits yet it is preserved in Heaven in its causes with Christ hid in God Therefore yee ought to savour and seek those things which pertain to life eternal Vers. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall yee also appear with him in glory Arg. 6. By answering an Objection arising from the former Argument although your life is now hid yet fully and openly it shall bee
changeableness and the changing of the Levitical Priest-hood hath drawn along with it the mutability and change of the Levitical Law or Legal Covenant joyned with it that another Priesthood might succeed and another Law or another unchangeable Covenant Therefore the changeable Levitical Priesthood is not so excellent as that of Melchisedec or the immutable Priesthood of Christ. Vers. 13. For hee of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe of which no man gave attendance at the Altar 14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning Priesthood Argum. 4. Proving withall the Levitical Law was to bee changed with the Priesthood Christâ— concerning whom these things are said in Psalm 110. belongs to another Tribe and that the Principal and most worthy viz. Iudah from whence it appears that our Lord sprang whereof none attends at the Altar none hath any command from Mosesâ—o â—o exercise the Levitical Priesthood Therefore Christs Priesthood being introduced the Levitical is to bee done away with the Levitical Ceremonial Law and by consequence the Priesthood of Christ which sprang of the Principal Tribe is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 15. And it is yet far more evident For that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest Arg. 5. From the words of Psalm 110. proving the same that before Christ is another Priest from the Levitical between whom and Melchisedec his type there is a similitude Therefore is follows that the Priesthood of Christ doth not hang upon the Levitical Law and also because it is Melchisedeâ—ian it is far more excellent than the Levitical Priesthood Vers. 16. Who is made not after the Law of a carnal commandement but after the power of an endless life Argum. 6. Christ is made a Priest not according to the Law which gave weak and carnal commandements concerning bodily Ceremonies as the Levitical Priests but after the power and virtue of an immortal or indissoluble life whereby Christ himself lives for ever and can as the author of life effectually bestow eternal life Therefore Christs Priesthood is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 17. For hee testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Hee confirms this Argument from Psalm 110. wherein the Father declares his Son a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec and by consequence declares the virtue of Christs Priesthood to bee sufficient unto eternal life Vers. 18. For there is verily a disanulling of the Commandement going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof Argum. 7. Taken from the foresaid Psalm The Law or Legal Covenant with the Ceremonial Precepts and the whole Levitical Priesthood joyned to that Covenant by reason of the weakness and unprofitableness of it in it self for the expiation of sins and the justification of men and the bestowing of eternal life is abolished by the introduction of an eternal Priesthood viz. of Christ Therefore the Priesthood of Christ is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 19. For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did by the which wee draw nigh unto God Argum. 8. Confirming the former The Law or Legal Covenant under the Levitical Priesthood although it was a School-master unto Christ yet in it self it made nothing perfect it justified sanctified saved none But the Priesthood of Christ that better hope or Gospel that good prefigured and hoped for by the faithful under the Law being now introduced in the room of the Levitical Priesthood or Legal Covenant This I say brings perfection to the people of God and puts them into good hopes of life Therefore the Priesthood of Christ c. By the which Argum. 9. By the Priesthood of Christ or by that hope better than the Law or Levitical Priesthood wee that are at a great distance from God by nature all of us come near unto God to the Throne of his Grace which was the priviledge of the Priests onely or rather of the Chief Priest under the Legal types Therefore the Priesthood of Christ c. Vers. 20. And in as much as not without an oath hee was made Priest 21. For those Priests were made without an oath but this with an oath by him that said unto him the Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Argum. 10. The Levitical Priests without an oath by a Law changeable at the pleasure of God the Law-giver were made Priests But Christ as appears from Psal. 110. is declared a Priest for ever by the oath of God the Father Therefore the Priesthood of Christ c. Vers. 22. By so much was Iesus made a surety of a better Testament Argum. 11. Christ in his Priesthood is the Surety of a Covenant so much the more excellent by how much the Priesthood confirmed with an oath is more excellent than that which is mutable and commanded for a time Therefore his Priesthood is more excellent For where there is a Priest there is a Covenant the Surety whereof is a Priest the Covenant being legal and vanishing had for its Surety a typical Priest which prefigured the true Priest Christ that was to come But the Covenant of Grace hath Christ the true Priest for its Surety who first of all bound himself to give satisfaction to Divine Justice for our debt furthermore that as the friends of God in the Covenant of Grace wee should walk to life eternal There are other offices of a Surety but these suffice for the opening of the present Argument Vers. 23. And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death 24. But this man because hee continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Argum. 12. The Levitical Priests were many at one time and successively followed one another for one alone could not undergo all things belonging to the office and death did hinder that any one should abide long in his office But Christ alone executes his Priestly Office for ever having no Partner or Successor nor wanting any to substitute in his stead Therefore his Priesthood is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 25. Wherefore hee is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them Argum. 13. Following upon the former Christ our Priest living for ever and in the perpetual odour of his Sacrifice interceding for his is able to save and perfect to the utmost or every way to accomplish the sanctification and salvation of all the faithful or of all that come in to him But the Levitical Priests could not do that Therefore his Priesthood is more excellent than the Levitical Vers. 26. For such aâ— High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens Argum. 14. Christ as a Priest as it became our onely Redeemer hath more excellent
the performance of Gods Promises and in hope thereof renounced the world therefore God honoureth them as his confederates vers 13 14 15 16. Faith made Abraham to offer his onely Son vers 17 18 19. Isaac and Iacob and Ioseph by Faith at their death comforted themselves and others also in hope of the performance of Gods Truth vers 20 21 22. The Parents of Moses overcame the fear of man by Faith vers 23. Moses by Faith got strength to chuse the Cross of Christ before the riches and honours and pleasures of Egypt vers 24 25 26. Faith made him constant in his choise and patient vers 27. By Faith hee got the people of Israel to be saved when the first-born of Egypt were slain vers 28. By Faith the deep Sea gave open way vers 29. High walled Towns were thrown down vers 30. Rachab was saved when others perished vers 31. By Faith numbers of Gods Children did wonderful things and received wonderful comforts and overcame all persecutions vers 32 33 34 35 36 37 38. All these died in the Faith of Christ and were justified albeit Christ was not yet come vers 39. God having reserved the accomplishment of the Prophecies and Types in the comming of Jesus Christ until our time that the Fathers might not get Salvation except by looking to our times and joyning with us in the Faith of Jesus in whom they and wee also are perfected vers 40. The Doctrine of Chap. XI Vers. 1. Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen HEE pointeth out the Nature of Faith to help them to live by it Then Hee that would live by Faith had need skilfully to search out the nature thereof 2. In describing Faith hee ascribeth unto it the property of the Word which Faith layeth hold upon For it is the Word properly which is the substance of things not seen Then There is such an union betwixt Faith and the Word that what the Word is in force and effect that Faith is said to be in force and effect also As Faith honoureth the Word so God honoureth Faith in giving it the like commendation for force with the Word What is the original of the being and existence of any thing but this God willeth it to be or promiseth it shall come to pass or commandeth that it may be Therefore let Faith get a hold of the Promise or Word and it taketh hold of the thing promised by the root thereof And in the hand of Faith doth Truth bud out and flourish unto the ripe fruit of full satisfaction in performance 3. The word Evidence in the Original is a tearm of Logick importing that it is the nature of Faith by dispensation to convince Then It were wisdome for helping of our weak Faith to make Syllogisms from the Word and to reason so convincingly against all opposition of incredulity in us as there might be a consent and yeelding to the Truth extorted from us As for example When wee cannot take to heart the danger wee are in by entertaining any known sin from Rom. 8.13 wee may reason thus The Scripture saith If yee live after the flesh yee shall dye But if I forsake not and mortifie not this known sin in mee I live after the flesh Therefore if I forsake not and mortifie not this known sin I shall die Again the Scripture saith If yee through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body yee shall live Therefore if I by the Spirit mortifie such and such lusts I have Gods promise that I shall live And so in other particulars Vers. 2. For by it the Elders obtained a good report Hee proveth the nature of Faith to be as hee hath said because the Elders were approved of God as blessed in their beleeving who could not otherwise be partakers of the promised blessing in the Messiah to come except Faith had furnished unto them the substance and evidence of that hoped-for blessing Then 1. The Fathers under the Law were endued with justifying Faith and accepted of God even as wee 2. Men how base soever are brought into credit with God and into good estimation with his Church by Faith Vers. 3. Through Faith wee understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Another proof to shew that Faith is the evidence of things not seen Because wee can have no other evidence of the Worlds Creation but by looking thereupon in the Word as it were in doing before our eyes Then 1. Faith must not stand whether there be Appearances or Probabilities or not of such things as are promised in the Word or else it could not beleeve the Creation which is the making of all things of nothing 2. The whole works of Creation are Pawns and Evidences of the possibility yea certainty of every thing promised For the works of Creation stand upon no better ground than Gods Word This sentence God shall make our vile bodies like unto the glorious body of Christ Iesus is as powerful to make us so as this sentence Let there be Light was powerful to create Light when there was none before Vers. 4. By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh In the Catalogue of Believers he beginneth at Abel the first persecuted man for Righteousness and that by Cain professing the same worship with him Wherein we learn 1. That the wicked may joyn in the outward worship and pure forms of Religion with the godly as Cain did with Abel 2. That Faith putteth the difference betwixt their persons and service 3. That a mans person must first please God before his actions can please him For therefore was Abels Sacrifice accepted because by faith his person was justified 4. Faith maketh Abel still a speaking Doctor to the Church directing all who love to have such a reward to cleave unto God as he did and albeit they should dye for it by the hand of their persecuting and bloody Brethren not to wonder at it Vers. 5. By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him For before his translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God Enochs full felicity is expressed by Gods translating of him Then if we ask where Enoch went to we must search for him by Scriptures warrant onely in the company of God the Translator of him For before he was translated he lived a blessed man in fellowship with God And it is injurious to God and Enoch both to put him out of Gods fellowship as not blessed when he is translated 2. Enochs Translation beareth witness 1. That the blessedness of everlasting life with God after death was known in the Old Testament 2. That the Fathers got possession of
Advocate hee excludes all others for otherwise Christ was not simply our Advocate but one of our Advocates The Righteous Reas. 3. Confirming the former Christ our Advocate is righteous i. e. not onely meet to intercede for sinners by reason of the Righteousness of his person but also righteous in his office who requires nothing of the Father in our behalf but what is justly due to him interceding for us from the covenant and merit of his death Also hee is Righteous that hee might cover us with his imputed Righteousness And lastly hee is righteous who upon the Covenant of Redemption promotes us in the following after Righteousness and raises us up again when wee fall and at length perfectly makes us righteous or holy Therefore beleevers ought both to endeavour after holiness and if at any time they fall into sin to hope for the virtue of Christs intercession Vers. 2. And hee is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world Reas. 4. Confirming the second reason The death and expiatory Sacrifice of Christ was offered not onely for us viz. elected out of the Jews and converted to the Faith of Christ but also for the sins of all the elect or redeemed in the world Therefore yee ought to beware of the evil of sin which cannot bee expiated unless by the death of Christ but if yee sin yee may confidently expect the virtue both of the rich expiation and intercession of Christ. Vers. 3. And hereby wee know that wee know him if wee keep his commandements Reas. 5. By endeavouring sincerely to keep the commandements of God as by a sure sign yee may know the truth of your Faith or that yee truly beleeve in God and love him sincerely Therefore follow yee after holiness or sin not Vers. 4. Hee that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandements is a lyer and the truth is not in him Reas. 6. Hee that professes that hee knows God i. e. that hee beleeves in him and loves him and doth not follow after holiness for according to the stile of the Gospel to endeavour sincerely after holiness is to keep the commandements is an hypocrite in whom there is no sincerity or truth of Faith Therefore endeavour after holiness Vers. 5. But who so keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know wee that wee are in him Reas. 7. Hee that endeavours after holiness proves the sincerity of his love towards God which love is perfected or manifested to bee sincere from an endeavour of keeping the word of God and obeying it Therefore yee ought to endeavour after holiness Hereby Reas. 8. Hee that endeavours after holiness or not to sin or to keep the word of God hath an evidence of his communion with God and knows that hee dwells in Christ by Faith Therefore c. Vers. 6. Hee that saith hee abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as hee walked Reas. 9. Confirming the former whosoever professes that hee hath communion with Christ ought to endeavour after holiness or to imitate Christ in his life and conversation Therefore yee ought to endeavour after holiness Vers. 7. Brethren I write no new commandement unto you but an old commandement which yee had from the beginning the old commandement is the word which yee have heard from the beginning Reas. 10. I require no new duty from you when I urge you to follow after holiness or the observance of Gods commandements but I repeat an old commandement which yee have not onely heard from the beginning from Christ and his Ministers but yee have had it also commended to you out of the Law and Prophets Therefore endeavour after holiness Vers. 8. Again a new Commandement I write unto you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is past and the true light now shineth Reas. 11. This Commandement is not old in the oldness of the letter as in times past it was so long as you lived irregenerate under the Covenant of works when the Law did command and conferred no strength to perform but it is now in the newness of Spirit To the performing whereof Christ will administer new grace to you Therefore yee ought to follow after holiness Which What the New Covenant is hee expounds in the next words affirming that the command is new both in respect of Christ who quickens the Commandement and in respect of themselves who were now by regeneration made new Creatures i. e. to whom grace was administred and was furthermore to bee administred to obedience Because the darkness The reason is given to this sense Because yee are not under the Law but under Grace yee are not in a state of irregeneration but are renewed For the darkness of the Legal Covenant and the state of irregeneration are passed away and now Christ who brings life and grace with him and is the true light is risen as the Sun of Righteousness upon you that beleeve and hath both communicated the light and also the heat of life to you Therefore the commandement is new to you that yee ought to bee encouraged to follow after holiness with more alacrity Vers. 9. Hee that saith hee is in the light and hateth his Brother is in darkness even until now The second Exhortation drawing the former to the love of the Brethren The Arguments of the Exhortation are ten besides those two which are next recited and may also bee referred hither Argum. 1. Whosoever professeth himself to bee in the light or regenerate and hateth his Brother hee lies yet unregenerated in the darkness of ignorance and sin Therefore yee ought to endeavour after brotherly love Vers. 10. Hee that loveth his Brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him Argum. 2. He that loves his Brother remains in the light and perseveres in the way of truth in part possessing the lot and condition of the Saints Therefore yee ought to follow after c. And none occasion of stumbling Argum. 3. Hee that loveth his Brother doth neither stumble himself in the way of holiness alwaies seeing whither hee goes viz. to God by Faith in the way of obedience nor is hee an occasion of stumbling to others whereby they may either be drawn into sin or hardened in it Therefore yee ought to endeavour after brotherly love Vers. 11. But hee that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither hee goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes Argum. 4. Hee that hateth his Brother hee wholly lyes and perseveres in sin and swarving from the right way which leads to salvation hee is carried to a precepice not knowing whither hee goes because his mind is darkened with sin Therefore yee must follow after brotherly love Vers. 12. I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake Argum. 5. O faithful