Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

But whereas they now are, and have been for many Generations, deprived of the Privilege as they esteem it of offering Sacrifices according to the Law, they hope that their own Repentance with their death, which they pray that it may be expiatory, will be sufficient to obtain for them the forgiveness of sin. Only they say this might better and more easy be effected, if they might enjoy the Benefit of Sacrifices. So saith the forementioned Jew, whose Discourse is published by Brenius. Quamvis jam nulla sint Sacrificia, quae media erant ad tanto facilius impetrandam remissionem peccatorum, eadem tamen per poenitentiam & resipiscentiam impetratur: And again, Hodie victimas offere non possumus destituti mediis ad hoc necessariis, quae quando obtinebimus, tum remissio illa tanto facilior reddetur. Respon. ad Quaest. Septim. If they cannot obtain the use of Sacrifices, yet the matter may be effected by their Repentance; only it were much easier to do it by Sacrifices. And they seem to long for them principally on this account, that by them they may free themselves from somewhat of Discipline and Penance which now their consciences enforce them unto: But this, as all other Articles of their Creed which are properly Judaical, is feigned by them to suit their present condition and Interest. For where do they find that their Sacrifices, especially that which they most trust in, namely, that on the Feast of Expiation, Lev. 16. was ever designed for this End, to enable them the more easily to obtain the Remission of sins by another means which they use? For it is said directly, that the Sacrifice on that day did expiate their sin, and make Atonement for it, that they might not dye; and not that it did help them in procuring pardon another way. But this is now taken from them, and what shall they do? Why rather than they will look or come to him, who was represented in that Sacrifice, and on whose account alone it had all its efficacy, they will find out a new way of doing that which their Sacrifices were appointed unto; and this they must do, or openly acknowledge that they all perish eternally. I shall not insist long on the casting down of this Imagination, all the Foundations of it being long ago demolished by our Apostle in his Epistles, especially those to the Romans, Galatians, and the Hebrews themselves.

But whereas they now are, and have been for many Generations, deprived of the Priviledge as they esteem it of offering Sacrifices according to the Law, they hope that their own Repentance with their death, which they pray that it may be expiatory, will be sufficient to obtain for them the forgiveness of sin. Only they say this might better and more easie be effected, if they might enjoy the Benefit of Sacrifices. So saith the forementioned Jew, whose Discourse is published by Brenius. Quamvis jam nulla sint Sacrificia, quae media erant ad tanto facilius impetrandam remissionem peccatorum, eadem tamen per poenitentiam & resipiscentiam impetratur: And again, Hodie victimas offere non possumus destituti mediis ad hoc necessariis, quae quando obtinebimus, tum remissio illa tanto facilior reddetur. Respon. ad Quaest. Septim. If they cannot obtain the use of Sacrifices, yet the matter may be effected by their Repentance; only it were much easier to do it by Sacrifices. And they seem to long for them principally on this account, that by them they may free themselves from somewhat of Discipline and Penance which now their consciences enforce them unto: But this, as all other Articles of their Creed which are properly Judaical, is feigned by them to suit their present condition and Interest. For where do they find that their Sacrifices, especially that which they most trust in, namely, that on the Feast of Expiation,