Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 16 The next collection of promises which they insist upon to their purpose, is of those which intimate the destruction of Idolatry and false worship in the world, with the abundance of the knowledge of the Lord, taking away all diversity in Religion, that shall be in the days of the Messiah. Such is that of Jerem. 31. v. 34. They shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me from the greatest of them to the least of them, saith the Lord. And Zeph. 3.9. I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may call on the name of the Lord with one consent. As likewise that of Zach. 14.9. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day shall there be one Lord, and his Name shall be One. And sundry other predictions there are of the same importance, all which are to be accomplished at the coming of the Messiah. But for the present we see, say they, the contrary prevailing in the world. Idolatry is still continued, and that among the Christians themselves; diversities of Religion abound, so that there are now more sects and opinions in the world; nor can the Jews and Christians agree in this very matter about the Messiah; all which make it evident, that he is not yet come, who shall put an end to all this state of things.

§ 17 Answ. It will prove in the issue, that the mention of these, as well as of other Promises, will turn to their disadvantage. Their accomplishment in the sense of the Scripture hath been so plain, evident and manifest, that nothing but Prejudice and obstinate blindness can once call it into question. For the further manifestation hereof, we may observe, 1. That these things are not spoken absolutely, but comparatively; It is not to be thought, that in the days of the Messiah, there shall be no means of instruction in the knowledge of the Lord used; as that Parents should not teach their children; the Officers of the Church and others, those that stand in need of teaching: for neither do the Jews indeed imagine any such thing, nor can they do so, without the rejection of the Precepts of the Law of Moses, and the Predictions recorded in the Prophets, wherein God promiseth, that in those days he will give the people Pastors after his own heart, Priests and Levites, to teach them his mind and will. But this is that which is signified in these expressions; namely, that in those days there shall be such a plentiful effusion of the Spirit of Wisdom and Grace, as shall cause the true saving knowledge of God to be more easily obtained, and much more plentifully to abound, then it did in the time of the Law; when the people, by an hard yoke, and insupportable burden of carnal Ordinances, were darkly, meanly, and difficultly instructed in some part of the knowledge of God. And that the words are thus to be interpreted, the many promises that are given, concerning the instruction of the Church, in the days of the Messiah, and his own Office, of being the great Prophet of the Church, which the Jews acknowledge, do undeniably evince. 2. That the terms of all people and Nations are necessarily to be understood as before explained, for many Nations, those in an especial manner, in whom the Church of Christ is concerned; neither can any one place be produced, where an absolute universality of them is intended. 3. That the season of the accomplishment of these and the like Predictions, is not limited to the day or year of the Messiah's coming, as the Jews, amongst other impossible fictions, imagine; but extends it self unto the whole duration of the Kingdom of the Messiah, as hath been showed before. 4.