Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

Sundry things they object unto the Doctrine of the Gospel, concerning the Person of the Messiah, or his being God and man, the rejection of the Mosaical Ceremonies, and Law, which they deem eternal, and many exceptions they lay against particular passages and expressions, in the Historical Books of the New Testament. But all these things have been long since cleared and answered by others, and I have also my self spoken to the most important of them, partly, in the preceding Discourses; partly, in my defence of the Deity, and satisfaction of Christ against the Socinians. For what concerns the Law of Moses, and the abolition of it, as to the Ceremonious Worship therein instituted, it must be at large insisted on in that Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which these discourses are only intended to make way unto. I shall not here therefore enter upon a particular discussion of their Opinions, Arguments and Objections about these things: besides, they belong not immediately to the subject of our present Discourse. It is about the coming of the Messiah simply that we are disputing; this we assert to be long since past; the Jews deny him to be yet come, living in the hope and expectation of him, which at present is in them but as the giving up of the Ghost. The means whereby this dying, deceiving hope is supported in them, comes now under examination; and this alone is the subject of our ensuing Discourse.

To countenance themselves then in their denial of the coming of the Messiah, they do § 2 all of them make use of one general Argument, which they seek to confirm in and ⟨p. 244⟩by several instances. Now this is, that the Promises made and recorded to be accomplished at the coming of the Messiah, are not fulfilled, and therefore the Messiah is not yet come. This fills up their Books of Controversies; and is constantly made use of by their Expositors, so often as any occasion seems to offer its self unto them. The Messiah say they, was promised of old. Together with him, and to be wrought by him, many other things were promised. These things they see not at all fulfilled; nay, not those which contain the only work and business that he was promised for; and therefore they will not •elieve that he is come. This general Argument I say they seek to confirm by instances, wherein they reckon up all the promises, which they suppose as yet unaccomplished, and so endeavour to establish their Conclusion. These we shall afterwards cast under the several heads whereunto they do belong, and return that answer which the Word of Truth its self, and the event, do manifest to be the mind of God in them. For the present unto their general Argument we say, that all the Promises, concerning the coming of the Messiah, are actually fulfilled, and those which concern his Grace and Kingdom, are partly already accomplished, and for the remainder shall be so, in the manner, time and season appointed for them, and designed unto them, in the purpose and Counsel of God: So that from hence, nothing can be concluded in favour of the Jews incredulity. To evidence the truth of this Answer, I shall lay down and confirm certain unquestionable principles, that will guide us in the interpretation of the Promises that are under consideration.