Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 20 We have spoken before unto the Hesitation of the Latin Church, which by some is objected, especially by Erasmus, and given the Reasons of it, manifesting that it is of no force to weaken our Assertion; unto which I shall now only add, that after it was received amongst them as Canonical, it was never questioned by any Learned Man or Synod of old, whether St. Paul was the Author of it or no, but they all with one consent ascribed it unto him, as hath been at large by others declared. The remaining Exceptions which by some are insisted on, are taken from some passages in the Epistle it self; that principally of Chap. 2. and the Third, where the Writer of it seems to reckon himself, among the number, not of the Apostles, but of their Auditors. But whereas it is certain and evident, that the Epistle was written before the Destruction of the Temple, yea, the beginning of those Wars that ended therein, or the death of James, whilst sundry of the Apostles were yet alive, it cannot be, that the Penman of it should really place himself amongst the generation that succeeded them; so that the Words must of necessity admit of another Interpretation, as shall be manifested in its proper place; for whereas both this and other things of the same nature, must be considered and spoken unto, in the places where they occur, I shall not here anticipate what of necessity must be insisted on in its due season; especially considering of how small importance the Objections taken from them, are. And this is the sum of what hath as yet by any been objected unto our assignation of this Epistle unto St. Paul; by the consideration whereof the Reader will be directed into the Judgement he is to make on the Arguments and Testimonies that we shall produce, in the Confirmation of our Assertion, and these we now proceed unto under the several Heads proposed in the entrance of our Discourse.

§ 20 We have spoken before unto the Haesitation of the Latin Church, which by some is objected, especially by Erasmus, and given the Reasons of it, manifesting that it is of no force to weaken our Assertion; unto which I shall now only add, that after it was received amongst them as Canonical, it was never questioned by any Learned Man or Synod of old, whether St. Paul was the Author of it or no, but they all with one consent ascribed it unto him, as hath been at large by others declared. The remaining Exceptions which by some are insisted on, are taken from some passages in the Epistle it self; that principally of Chap. 2. and the Third, where the Writer of it seems to reckon himself, among the number, not of the Apostles, but of their Auditors. But whereas it is certain and evident, that the Epistle was written before the Destruction of the Temple, yea, the beginning of those Wars that ended therein, or the death of James, whilest sundry of the Apostles were yet alive, it cannot be, that the Penman of it should really place himself amongst the generation that succeeded them; so that the Words must of necessity admit of another Interpretation, as shall be manifested in its proper place; for whereas both this and other things of the same nature, must be considered and spoken unto, in the places where they occurr, I shall not here anticipate what of necessity must be insisted on in its due season; especially considering of how small importance the Objections taken from them, are. And this is the summ of what hath as yet by any been objected unto our assignation of this Epistle unto St. Paul; by the consideration whereof the Reader will be directed into the Judgement he is to make on the Arguments and Testimonies that we shall produce, in the Confirmation of our Assertion, and these we now proceed unto under the several Heads proposed in the entrance of our Discourse.