Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

THE inspired Author of this profound, sublime, nervous Epistle (whether St. Luke, or Barnabas, or Clement, or Apollos, or the Apostle Paul, as I most think, I here dispute not) is evidently walking in the searches of the great Excellency of Christianity, as it was brought unto us by, and took its denomination from, and serves the purposes, and speaks the Eminence, Unction, and Prerogatives and Designs of Christ the Son of God. And this discourse he here directeth to the Hebrews, by whom we may understand those Christian Jews that were in Syria, Judea, and principally at Jerusalem; for those that were dispersed through the Provinces of the Roman Empire, were commonly called Greeks. And those indeed who were Converted to the Christian Faith were terribly persecuted ⟨image 145⟩by the Jews their Brethren, and assaulted by Seducers to work them back again to their deserted Judaism; and much ado they had to stand their ground. Whereupon this Author (mindful of what his Lord had said in Mat. xxiv. 9-13.) attempts to show the Eminences of their State, and that Judaism was every way transcended by Christianity. The Author of it was a greater and better Person than Moses, Aaron or Melchizedek. The Doctrines were more mysterious and sublime. The Laws more spiritual, and most accurately suited to the completing and perpetuating of the Divine Life and Nature in them; and to the advancing them unto all Conformities to God, imitations of him, and intimacies with him: The Promises were more glorious, rich and full; and all the Constitutions, Furniture, Services, Ministry and Advantages of the Gospel Polity and Temple, carried more glorious signatures of God upon them; and were more eminently attested, patronized and succeeded by God, than ever Judaism was, or than it could pretend unto. Why therefore should it be deserted, or coldly owned, or improved negligently or defectively?

THE inspired Author of this profound, sublime, nervous Epistle (whether St. Luke, or Barnabas, or Clement, or Apollos, or the Apostle Paul, as I most think, I here dispute not) is evidently walking in the searches of the great Excellency of Christianity, as it was brought unto us by, and took its denomination from, and serves the purposes, and speaks the Eminence, Unction, and Prerogatives and Designs of Christ the Son of God. And this discourse he here directeth to the Hebrews, by whom we may understand those Christian Jews that were in Syria, Judea, and principally at Jerusalem; for those that were dispersed through the Provinces of the Roman Empire, were commonly called Greeks. And those indeed who were Converted to the Christian Faith were terribly persecuted