Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

Many circumstances also concur to the removal of this conjecture. The Epistle was written in Italy, Chap. 13.24. where it doth not appear that Barnabas ever was. The fabulous Author, I confess, of the Rhapsody called the Recognitions of Clemens, tells us that Barnabas went to Rome, taking along Clemens with him, and returning into Judea, found St. Peter at Caesarea. But St. Luke in the Acts gives us another account, both where Barnabas was, and how he was employed, at the time intimated by him who knew nothing of those things. For whilst St. Peter was at Caesarea, Acts 10.1. Barnabas was at Jerusalem, Acts 9.27. being a little while after sent to Antioch by the Apostles; chap. 11.22. Again Timothy was the Companion of the Writer of this Epistle. chap. 13.23. a Person as far as appears unknown unto Barnabas, being taken into St. Pauls Society after their difference and separation, Acts 15.39. chap. 16.1. He had also been in bonds or imprisonment, chap. 10.34. whereof we cannot at that time learn any thing concerning Barnabas, those of St. Paul being known unto all. And lastly, not long before the Writing of this Epistle, Barnabas was so far from that Light into, and Apprehension of the nature use and expiration of Judaical Rites herein expressed, that he was easily mislead into a practical miscarriage in the observation of them, Gal. 2.13.¹ wherein although some (after Hieroms fancy, that the difference between St. Peter and St. Paul was only in pretence) have laboured to free St. Peter and his Companions on other grounds from any sinful failing, as it should seem in a direct opposition unto the Testimony of St. Paul affirming that [Greek or Hebrew] in that particular he was to be blamed or condemned, v•r. 11. (not unlike him who hath written a justification of Aaron in his making the Golden Calf) yet that Barnabas was not come up unto any constancy in his practice about Mosaical Institutions, is evident from the Text. And shall we suppose that He who but a little before upon the coming of some few Brethren of the Church of Jerusalem from St. James, durst not avouch and abide by his own personal Liberty, but deserted the use of it not without some blameable dissimulation,