Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 11 First then, For Abraham there is no question between us and the Jews, but that the Lord Jesus was of his offspring and posterity. Neither do they pretend any exceptions to his being of the Tribe of Judah; The Apostle in this Epistle asserts it as a thing notorious and unquestionable, Chap. 7.14. [Greek or Hebrew], saith he, [Greek or Hebrew]; it is every way, or altogether manifest, that our Lord sprang of Judah: [Greek or Hebrew], is in Greek Authors, not only manifest, but openly and conspicuously so. Thus he is said, [Greek or Hebrew], in Sophocles, who dyed openly and gloriously by all mens consent. Thus was the birth of our Saviour among the Jews themselves, as to his springing from the Tribe of Judah. The Apostle declares that it was [Greek or Hebrew], without any contradiction received amongst them, and acknowledged by them. Nor unto this day, do they lay any exception unto this assertion. It remains, that we prove him to have been of the Family of David by some one signal branch of it. For as we said, there is nothing in the promise restraining his original to the first reigning family, or the direct posterity thereof. Now this is purposely declared by two of the Evangelis•s, who being Jews, and living amongst them, wrote the story of his life in the Age wherein he lived, for the use of the Jews themselves, with the residue of mankind. Matthew who calls his record of it, [Greek or Hebrew], or [Greek or Hebrew], the roll of his Genealogies, shows in the front of it, that he wrote it on purpose to declare, that he was according to the promise of the posterity of Abraham, and of the family of David. Of Jesus Christ the Son of David the Son of Abraham: That is, who was promised to Abraham and David, to spring from their loins. Luke also who derives his Genealogy from the first giving of the promise unto Adam, brings it down through the several restrictions mentioned by Abraham, Judah and David. Other testimony or evidence in this matter of fact is utterly impossible for us to give, and unreasonable for any other to demand. It was written and published unto all the world, by persons of unquestionable integrity, who had as much advantage to know the truth of the matter about which they wrote, as any men ever had, or can have in a matter of that nature.

§ 11 First then, For Abraham there is no question between us and the Jews, but that the Lord Jesus was of his offspring and posterity. Neither do they pretend any exceptions to his being of the Tribe of Judah; The Apostle in this Epistle asserts it as a thing notorious and unquestionable, Chap. 7.14. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, saith he, ; it is every way, or altogether manifest, that our Lord sprang of Judah: , is in Greek Authors, not only manifest, but openly and conspicuously so. Thus he is said, , in Sophocles, who dyed openly and gloriously by all mens consent. Thus was the birth of our Saviour among the Jews themselves, as to his springing from the Tribe of Judah. The Apostle declares that it was , without any contradiction received amongst them, and acknowledged by them. Nor unto this day, do they lay any exception unto this assertion. It remains, that we prove him to have been of the Family of David by some one signal branch of it. For as we said, there is nothing in the promise restraining his original to the first reigning family, or the direct posterity thereof. Now this is purposely declared by two of the Evangeliss, who being Jews, and living amongst them, wrote the story of his life in the Age wherein he lived, for the use of the Jews themselves, with the residue of mankind. Matthew who calls his record of it, , or , the roll of his Genealogies, shews in the front of it, that he wrote it on purpose to declare, that he was according to the promise of the posterity of Abraham, and of the family of David. Of Jesus Christ the Son of David the Son of Abraham: That is, who was promised to Abraham and David, to spring from their loins. Luke also who derives his Gnealogie from the first giving of the promise unto Adam, brings it down through the several restrictions mentioned by Abraham, Judah and David. Other testimony or evidence in this matter of fact is utterly impossible for us to give, and unreasonable for any other to demand. It was written and published unto all the world, by persons of unquestionable integrity, who had as much advantage to know the truth of the matter about which they wrote, as any men ever had, or can have in a matter of that nature.