Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 22 In things therefore of this kind, Ignorance of their miserable condition by nature, both as to sin and wrath, justly claims the first place. For although, as was by instances before manifested, the Evidence of Truth, and Power of Traditions amongst them, have prevailed with some, to avow the notion of the Sin of Adam and the corruption of our nature thereby, yet indeed there is not any of them, that have a true sense and conviction of their Natural Condition, and the misery that doth attend it. The Messiah, as we have proved at large, was first promised to relieve mankind from that state whereinto they were cast by the Apostasy of Adam the Common Root and Parent of them all. Such as are mens apprehensions of that condition, such also will be their thoughts concerning the Messiah, who was promised to be a Deliverer from it. They who know themselves cast out of the favour of God thereby, made obnoxious unto his eternal displeasure, and disenabled to do any thing that shall please him, as being cast into a state of universal Enmity against him, must needs look on the Messiah promised in the Grace, Goodness and Wisdom of God for a Saviour and Deliverer, to be One that ⟨p. 135⟩must by suitable ways and means free them from Sin and Wrath, procure for them the favour of God, enable them to serve him again unto Acceptation, and so bring them at length unto their chief End, the everlasting enjoyment of him. As these things answer one another, and are on both sides fully revealed in the Scripture, so the Church of old who had a due Apprehension of their own condition, looked for such a Messiah as God had promised. Ignorance therefore of this condition, is no small cause of the present Judaical misbelief. What ever may be the estate of other men, about which they do not much trouble themselves, for their parts they are Children of Abraham, exempted from the common condition of mankind by the Privilege of their Nativity; or at least they are relieved by their circumcision, by the pain whereof, they make sufficient satisfaction for any ill they bring with them into this world. That they are dead in Trespasses and Sins, standing in need to be born again; that they are by nature children of wrath, obnoxious unto the curse of God; that the sin of our first Parents is imputed unto them, or that if it be, that it was of any such demerit as Christians teach, they believe not.

§ 22 In things therefore of this kind, Ignorance of their miserable condition by nature, both as to sin and wrath, justly claims the first place. For although, as was by instances before manifested, the Evidence of Truth, and Power of Traditions amongst them, have prevailed with some, to avow the notion of the Sin of Adam and the corruption of our nature thereby, yet indeed there is not any of them, that have a true sense and conviction of their Natural Condition, and the misery that doth attend it. The Messiah, as we have proved at large, was first promised to relieve mankind from that state whereinto they were cast by the Apostasie of Adam the Common Root and Parent of them all. Such as are mens apprehensions of that condition, such also will be their thoughts concerning the Messiah, who was promised to be a Deliverer from it. They who know themselves cast out of the favour of God thereby, made obnoxious unto his eternal displeasure, and disenabled to do any thing that shall please him, as being cast into a state of universal Enmity against him, must needs look on the Messiah promised in the Grace, Goodness and Wisdom of God for a Saviour and Deliverer, to be One that