Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

Now two things must be supposed to give countenance unto this Objection. First, That those who make it, do better understand the meaning and the importance of the Testimonies so produced out of the Old Testament; than he did by whom they are here alleged. This is the foundation of this Exception; which if once admitted, it may be easily imagined, how able some men will quickly think themselves to question other allegations in the New Testament, and thereby render the Authority of the whole dubious. They must, I say, take upon themselves to know the true meaning of them, and that in the uttermost extent of signification and intention, as given out by the Holy Ghost, before they can charge their misapplication on this Author. How vain, unjust, arrogant, and presumptuous this supposition is, needs little labour to demonstrate. The understandings of men, are a very sorry measure of the Truth, with the whole sense and intendment of the Holy Ghost in every place of Scripture. Nay, it may much more rationally be supposed, that though we all know enough of the mind and will of God in the whole Scripture, to guide and regulate our faith and obedience, yet that we are rather ignorant of his utmost intention in every place, than that we know it in all. There is a depth and breadth in every word of God, because his; which we are not able to fathom and compass to the utmost: It being enough for us that we may infallibly apprehend so much of his mind and will, as is indispensably necessary for us to the obedience that he requires at our hands. An humble reverential Consideration of all, indeed almost any, of the Testimonies alleged in the New Testament out of the old, is sufficient to evince the truth of this Consideration, We know but in part, and we prophesy in part, 1 Cor. 13.9. Quantum est quod nescimus? how much is it, that we know not? or as Job speaks, [Greek or Hebrew] how small is the word that we understand of God? Chap. 26.24. One sayes well; est Sacra Scriptura veluti fons quidam, in bono terrae loco scaturiens, quem quo altius foderis, eo magis exuberantem invenies; ita quo diligentius Sacram Scripturam interpretaris, eo abundantiores aquae vivae venas reperies. Brent. Hom. 36. in 1 Sam. 11. That Objection then, must needs be very weak, whose fundamental strength consists in so vain a presumption.

Now two things must be supposed to give countenance unto this Objection. First, That those who make it, do better understand the meaning and the importance of the Testimonies so produced out of the Old Testament; than he did by whom they are here alledged. This is the foundation of this Exception; which if once admitted, it may be easily imagined, how able some men will quickly think themselves to question other allegations in the New Testament, and thereby render the Authority of the whole dubious. They must, I say, take upon themselves to know the true meaning of them, and that in the uttermost extent of signification and intention, as given out by the Holy Ghost, before they can charge their misapplication on this Author. How vain, unjust, arrogant, and presumptious this supposition is, needs little labour to demonstrate. The understandings of men, are a very sorry measure of the Truth, with the whole sense and intendment of the Holy Ghost in every place of Scripture. Nay, it may much more rationally be supposed, that though we all know enough of the mind and will of God in the whole Scripture, to guide and regulate our faith and obedience, yet that we are rather ignorant of his utmost intention in every place, than that we know it in all. There is a depth and breadth in every word of God, because his; which we are not able to fathom and compass to the utmost: It being enough for us that we may infallibly apprehend so much of his mind and will, as is indispensably necessary for us to the obedience that he requires at our hands. An humble reverential Consideration of all, indeed almost any, of the Testimonies alledged in the New Testament out of the old, is sufficient to evince the truth of this Consideration, We know but in part, and we prophesie in part,