Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

And we may by the way a little consider their thoughts in this matter; For as we have observed and proved before, the Apostle engageth with them upon their own acknowledged Principles. The Jews then generally grant unto this day, that Prophecy for the public use of the Church, was not bestowed under the second Temple after the days of Malachi; nor is to be expected until the coming of Elijah. The delusions that have been put upon them by impostors, they now labour all they can to conceal; and are of late by experience made incredulous towards such pretenders as in former Ages they have been brought to much misery by. Now as their manner is to fasten all their conjectures, be they true or false; on some place, word, or letter of the Scripture, so have they done this assertion also. Observing or supposing the want of sundry things in the second House, they pretend that want to be intimated, Hag. 1.7, 8. where God promising to glorify himself in that Temple, the word [Greek or Hebrew], I will glorify, is written defectively, without [Greek or Hebrew], as the Keri notes. That letter being the numeral note of five, signifies, as they say, the want of five things in that House. The first of these was [Greek or Hebrew], the Ark and Cherubims; The second [Greek or Hebrew], the anointing Oil; The third [Greek or Hebrew], the wood of disposition, or perpetual fire. The fourth [Greek or Hebrew], Urim, and Thummim: The fifth [Greek or Hebrew], the Holy Ghost, or Spirit of Prophecy. They are not indeed all agreed in this enumeration; The Talmud in [Greek or Hebrew] Joma cap. 5. reckons them somewhat otherwise: 1. The Ark with the Propitiation and Cherubims: 2. The Fire from Heaven, which answers the third, or w••d of disposition in the former order. 3. The Divine Majesty, in the room of the Anointing Oil: 4. The Holy Ghost; 5. Urim and Thummim. Another order there is according to Rabbi Bechai Comment. in Pentateuch. Section [Greek or Hebrew]; who places the Anointing Oil distinctly, and confounds the [Greek or Hebrew], or Divine Majesty with [Greek or Hebrew], the Holy Ghost, contradicting the Gemara. The Commonly approved order is that of the Author of Aruch; in the Root, [Greek or Hebrew].

And we may by the way a little consider their thoughts in this matter; For as we have observed and proved before, the Apostle engageth with them upon their own acknowledged Principles. The Jewes then generally grant unto this day, that Prophecy for the publick use of the Church, was not bestowed under the second Temple after the dayes of Malachie; nor is to be expected untill the coming of Elias. The delusions that have been put upon them by impostors, they now labour all they can to conceal; and are of late by experience made incredulous towards such pretenders as in former Ages they have been brought to much misery by. Now as their manner is to fasten all their conjectures, be they true or false; on some place, word, or letter of the Scripture, so have they done this assertion also. Observing or supposing the want of sundry things in the second House, they pretend that want to be intimated,