Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

What ever therefore of that kind may appear unto him, I would crave, that it may be laid upon the account of the condition which I have intimated before.

For the Exposition of the Epistle it self, whereof I have given here a Specimen in the two first Chapters, I confess, as was said before, that I have had thoughts for many years to attempt something in it, and in the whole course of my Studies have not been without some regard thereunto. But yet I must now say, that after all searching and Reading, Prayer and Assiduous Meditation on the Text, have been my only reserve, and for most useful means of Light and Assistance. By these have my thoughts been freed from many and many an entanglement, which the Writings of others on the same subject, had either cast me into, or could not deliver me from. Careful I have been, as of my life and soul, to bring no prejudicate sense unto the words, to impose no meaning of my own, or other Mens upon them, nor to be imposed on by the reasonings, pretences, or Curiosities of any; but always went nakedly to the word it self, to learn humbly the mind of God in it, and to express it as he should enable me. To this end, I always in the first place considered the sense, meaning, and importance of the words of the Text, and the consideration of their Original Derivation, use in other Authors, especially in the LXX. of the Old Testament, in the Books of the New, particularly, the Writings of the same Author, was constantly made use of, to that purpose. Oft times the words expressed out of the Hebrew, or the things alluded unto amongst that people, I found to give much light into the words of the Apostle themselves. Unto the general rule of attending unto the design and scope of the place, subject treated of, mediums fixed on for Arguments, Methods of Ratiocination, I still kept in my eye the Time and Season of Writing this Epistle, the state and condition ⟨image 7⟩of them to whom it was wrote, their Persuasions, Prejudices, Customs, Light and Traditions, the Covenant and Worship of the Church of old, the Translation of Covenant Privileges and Worship over unto the Gentiles upon a new account, the course of Providential Dispensations that the people were under, the near expiration of their Church and State, with the speedy approaching of their utter abolition and destruction, with the Temptations that befell them on all these various accounts;