Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

Thirdly, the state and condition of the Church of old, required such a way of instruction. For as they had then in the Covenant of the Land of Canaan, many Promises of earthly and carnal things, so they themselves were carnal, and received great encouragement to abide in their expectation of the coming of the Messiah, from that outward Glory which they apprehended that it would be attended withal. Besides, the time was not yet come, wherein the veil was to be removed, and believers were with open face to behold the glory of God. And therefore although this way of instruction by Similitudes, Metaphors and Allegories was suited, as we observed, in general, to affect their minds, and to stir up their affections, yet it did not give them that clear distinct apprehension of the things of the Kingdom of the Messiah, which was afterwards revealed. God had other work to do among them, by them, and upon them, then openly and plainly to reveal his whole Counsel in these things unto them. Hence the Prophets themselves, who received the Promises and Revelations treated of, from God, were fain to enquire with all diligence into the nature of the Office, Work, Sufferings and Glory of the Messiah, which they prophesied unto the Church about, 1 Pet. 1.11, 12. and yet all their enquiry came short of the understanding of those mysteries, which he had, who only saw the Messiah come in the flesh, and died before he had accomplished his work. But in all these promises, there was provision laid in to compel, as it were, the most carnal mind to look principally after spiritual things, and to own an Allegory in the expressions of them. For many of them are such, or otherwise, have no tolerable signification or sense, nor ever shall have accomplishment unto Eternity. Can any man be so stupidly sottish as to think, that in the days of the Messiah, hills shall leap, and trees clap their hands, and waste places sing, and sheep of Kedar▪ and rams of Nebaioth, be made ministers, and Jews suck milk from the breasts of Kings, and little ⟨p. 247⟩children play with Cockatrices, literally and properly? And yet those things, with innumerable of the like kind are promised. Do they not openly proclaim to every understanding, that all the expressions of them are Metaphorical, and that some other thing is to be sought for in them.

Thirdly, the state and condition of the Church of old, required such a way of instruction. For as they had then in the Covenant of the Land of Canaan, many Promises of earthly and carnal things, so they themselves were carnal, and received great encouragement to abide in their expectation of the coming of the Messiah, from that outward Glory which they apprehended that it would be attended withall. Besides, the time was not yet come, wherein the veil was to be removed, and believers were with open face to behold the glory of God. And therefore although this way of instruction by Similitudes, Metaphors and Allegories was suited, as we observed, in general, to affect their minds, and to stir up their affections, yet it did not give them that clear distinct apprehension of the things of the Kingdom of the Messiah, which was afterwards revealed. God had other work to do among them, by them, and upon them, then openly and plainly to reveal his whole Counsel in these things unto them. Hence the Prophets themselves, who received the Promises and Revelations treated of, from God, were fain to enquire with all diligence into the nature of the Office, Work, Sufferings and Glory of the Messiah, which they prophesied unto the Church about,