Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

But this seems an infirm foundation of the Objection insisted on; Paul in that place is dealing with the Corinthians about the false Teachers, who seduced them from the Simplicity of the Gospel. The Course which they took to ensnare them, was vain affected Eloquence, and strains of Rhetoric unbecoming the Work they pretended to be engaged in. Puffed up with this singularity they contemned St. Paul as a rude unskilful Person no way able to match them in their fine Declamations. In answer hereunto, He first tells them, that it became not him to use [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Cor. 1.17. that Wisdom of Words or Speech which Orators flourished withal; or [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Cor. 2.13. the Words that Mans Wisdom teacheth, or an artificial composition of Words to entice thereby; which he calls [Greek or Hebrew], Chap. 2.1. And many Reasons he gives why it became him not to make use of those things, so as to make them his design, as the Seducers and false Apostles did. Again he answers by Concession in this Place, [Greek or Hebrew], suppose I be, or were, rude or unskilful in speech, doth this matter depend thereon; is it not manifest unto you that I am not so in the knowledge of the Mystery of the Gospel? He doth not confess that he is so, saith Austin, but grants it for their Conviction. And in this sense concur, Oecumenius, Aquinas, Lyra, Catharinus, Clarius, and Capellus, with many others on the place. If then by [Greek or Hebrew] here, that seducing enticing Rhetoric wherewith the false Teachers entangled the Affections of their unskilful hearers be intended, as we grant that St. Paul it may be was unskilful ⟨p. 30⟩in it, and are sure that he would make no use of it, so it is denied that any footsteps of it appear in this Epistle; and if any thing of solid, convincing, unpainted Eloquence be intended in it, it is evident that St. Paul neither did, nor justly could confess himself unacquainted with it, only he made a Concession of the Objection made against him by the False Teachers to manifest how they could obtain no manner of advantage thereby.

But this seems an infirm foundation of the Objection insisted on; Paul in that place is dealing with the Corinthians about the false Teachers, who seduced them from the Simplicity of the Gospel. The Course which they took to ensnare them, was vain affected Eloquence, and strains of Rhetorick unbecoming the Work they pretended to be ingaged in. Puffed up with this singularity they contemned St. Paul as a rude unskilful Person no way able to match them in their fine Declamations. In answer hereunto, He first tells them, that it became not him to use ,