A Short Explanation of Hebrews, Chapter 1
The summe of Chap. I.
IF you shall make comparison, O Hebrewes, the Ministerie of the Gospell shall bee found more glorious than the Ministerie of the Law: For, the manner of Gods dispensing His Will before Christ came, was by part and part, and subject to His owne addition: not after one setled manner, but subject to alteration, and by the Ministerie of men, the Prophets, Vers. 1. But now Hee hath declared His last Will gloriouslie, by His owne Sonne, God and Man in one person, Vers. 2.3. who is as farre aboue, not onlie the Prophets, but the Angels also, as the natiue Glorie of His Person and Office, is aboue theirs, Vers. 4. For He is of the same Substance with the Father, Vers. 5. and partaker of the same Worship with Him, Vers. 6. The Angels but servantes to Him, Vers. 7. Hee is eternall GOD, and Ki…g over all, Vers. 8. and, in regard of His Manhead and Office, filled with the Spirit, Vers. 9. Yea, Hee is Creator, vnchangeable, and everlasting, Vers. 10.11.12. Ioyned with the Father, in the governament of the Worlde, Vers. 13. The Angels but servantes, both to Him, and to His Children, Vers. 14.
The doctrine contayned in Chap. I.
Vers. 1. God, who at sundrie tymes, & in diverse manners, spake in tyme past vntounto the Fathers, by the Prophets.
ALbeit the Apostle was willing, that these Hebrewes should vnderstand that this Epistle came vntounto them from him, as appeareth Chap. x. vers. 34. yet doeth hee not prefixe his name in the bodie of it, as in all his other Epistles; that by the prudent dealing of these faythfull Hebrewes, as wee may thinke▪ others who kept prejudice agaynst his person, might bee drawne on, to take notice of his Doctrine more impartiallie, and know his name, after they had tasted of ebe trueth from him, in a fitter tyme. Whence we learne, 1. That it is lawfull for godlie men, to dispose of the expression of their names in their Writinges, as they see it expedient. 2. That it is not much to bee inquired, who is the Writer of anie purpose, till wee hauehave impartiallie pondered the matter written. 3. That it is not alwayes necessarie, that wee should know the name of the Writer of everie part of Scripture: for the authoritie thereof is not from men, but from GOD, the Inspyre… thereof.
1. Hee sayeth not simplie, The Prophets spake, but God spake to the Fathers, by the Prophets.] Then, 1. GOD was the chiefe Doctor of His owne Church, from the beginning. 2. And what the Prophets conveyghed from GOD, to the Church, by Scripture▪ as it is called heere the speaking of GOD; so it is to bee accounted of still; and not as a dumbe letter.
2. Hee sayth, GOD spake at sundrie tymes. By manie partes, as the word importeth; now a part of His will, and then a part farther; at another tyme yet a part farther. Then, The LORD was in the way onlie, of revealing His whole Mynde to His Church, before CHRIST came; letting foorth Light, by little and little, till the Sunne of Righteousnesse▪ IESVS CHRIST, arose, and had not tolde His whole will. 2. And for this reason, the Iewish Church was bound to suspend her determination of the vnchangeablenesse of her Leviticall Service, till the Law-giver spake His last word, and vttered His full Mynde, in the fulnesse of tyme.
3. Hee sayeth, before CHRIST came, GOD spake in diverse manners.] Not revealing his Will after one manner; but sometime by viue voyce, sometime by vision or dream, or inspiration, or Vrim & Thummim, by signes from Heaven, by types, and exercyse of shadowing Ceremonies. Then, No reason the Iewes should sticke so fast to the ordinances of Levi, (they beeing instituted in the tyme of the alterable courses of the Churches pedagogie) as not to giuegive way to the abolishing of them by the MESSIAS: Which to show, is a part of the Apostles mayne scope.
Vers. 2. Hath in these last dayes, spoken vntounto vsus, by His Sonne; whom He hath appoynted Heyre of all thinges: by whom also He made the worlds.
1. Hee sayeth, GOD who spake to the Fathers, hath spoken to vsus.] Then, The same GOD, who is Author of the Olde Testament, is also Author of the Doctrine of the New Testament: and the Church of olde, and now, is taught of the same GOD; that the fayth of the Elect might depende vponupon the authoritie of GOD onlie, both then and now; and not on men.
2. These are called the last dayes.] Then, The fulnesse of tyme is now come: The Law-giver of the Church hath spoken His last Will: His Mynde is fullie revealed; setled course for the Fayth, and service of His Church, is taken; after which no new alteration of His Constitutions is to bee expected.
3. Hee sayeth, GOD spake to them by the Prophets, but hath spoken to vsus by His Sonne.] Then, 1. As the Sonne is aboue the servants; so is CHRIST aboue the Prophets. And no reason, that the Iewes should thinke so much of Moses, and the Prophets, as for them, to misregard CHRISTS Doctrine, and sticke to the Leviticall Service, vnderunder pretence of esteemation of the Prophets. 2. The Glorie of the Gospel, is greater than the glorie of the Law. 3. The glorie of the Ministeriall Calling of Preachers of the Gospell, is by so much the greater, as it hath the Sonne of GOD First-man in the Roll thereof; as first Preacher, and Prince of Preachers. 4. CHRISTS Sermons are all of them directed vntounto vsus: and so much more highlie should the Doctrine of the Gospell bee esteemed of, by vsus.
4. In describing CHRIST, bee sayeth, the Sonne is Heyre of all thinges: that is, Hee hath received a Domination over all creatures, from the Father; that as Hee is LORD over all, so is CHRIST.] Then, 1. CHRIST is Heyre of all thinges in the Church also, LORD of the Sabbath, and of all the Service annexed to it, to whom it is lawfull to chop and change the Leviticall Ordinances, at His pleasure. 2. And Heyre of all the Prerogatiues and Promises, made to the Iewes, or others; through whom onelie, as the righteous Owner of all thinges, both Iew and Gentile must seeke and keepe Right to what they hauehave, or can clayme: And therefore, it behoved the Hebrewes, to enter themselues Heyres to their Priviledges by CHRIST, or else to bee disinherited.
5. Hee sayeth, GOD, by His Sonne, made the Worlds.] So hee calleth the World, for the varietie of tymes, & ages, and fleeces of the creatures, one succeeding another. Then, 1. CHRIST is GOD, Creator of all thinges. 2. Hee is a distinct person from the Father; by whom the Father made all. 3. That which the Father doeth, the Sonne doeth the same; yet so, as in order of working, the Father is first, and the Sonne is next; working with, and from the Father.
Vers. 3. Who beeing the Brightnesse of His Glorie, and the expresse Image of His Person, and vpholding all thinges, by the Word of His Power, when Hee had, by Himselfe, purged our sinnes, sate downe, on the Right Hand of the Majestie on high.
IN describing CHRIST, hee vseth borrowed similitudes: for, what proper word can bee found, to expresse so great a Mysterie? And, what can wee conceiue of His Godhead, but by resemblance? Yea, hee vseth moe similitudes nor one; for it is but little wee can conceiue of Him by one: and what wee might misconceiue by too hard pressing of one similitude, by another is corrected; and so our conception helped.
1. CHRIST the Sonne, is called the Brightness… of His Fathers Glorie.] The similitude is borrowed from the Sonne beams. Then, 1. As the Father is glorious, so is CHRIST His Sonne glorious, with the same Glorie. Therefore, 1. Cor. 2.8. Hee is called the LORD of Glorie. 2. As the beames of light hauehave their originall from the Sunne, so hath CHRIST His originall of the Father, and is vnseparable from Him: for, as the Sunne was never without its light▪ so neyther was the Father ever without the Sonne; but coëternallie with Him. 3. As the Sunne is not manifested, but by its owne brightnesse; So the inaccessible light of the Fathers Glorie, is not revealed to the creature, but by the Sonne.
2. CHRIST is called the expresse Image of the Fathers Person.] The similitude is borrowed from a Signets impression, which representeth all the lineaments of the Seale. Then, 1. The Father is one person, and the Sonne is another person of the Godhead, having His owne proper subsistence distinct from the Father. 2. The Sonne resembleth the Father, fullie, and perfectlie; so that there is no perfection in the Father, but the same is substantiallie in the Sonne: As the Father is Eternall, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, infinite in Wisedome, Goodnesse, Mercle, Holinesse, and all other Perfections; So is the Sonne Omnipotent, Eternall, and all that the Father is. 3. Whatsoever Perfection wee can perceiue in CHRIST, shyning in His Manhead, or Word, or Workes; the same wee may conclude to bee in the Father also; whose resemblance, and expresse Image Hee is. Finde wee CHRIST good and mercifull, loving and pittifull, meeke and lowlie: not abhorring the most vyle and miserable, whether in soule or bodie, that commeth vntounto Him for reliefe; wee may bee assured, that such a one is the Father; and no other wayes mynded to such as seeke vntounto Him through CHRIST.
3. CHRIST vpholdeth all things, by the word of His power.] Then, 1. The preservation of the creatures, as well as their creation, is from Christ. The Father vpholdeth all, so doeth the Sonne. 2. What Hee doeth, Hee doeth as Omnipotent GOD, by His Word, without trouble or burthen. As Hee spake, and all was done; So Hee but by His Word commandeth, and all standeth fast. And this His Word is nothing else, but His powerfull Will, ordayning thinges to bee, and continue; and powerfullie making them so to bee, and continue, so long as Hee will.
4. CHHIST by Himselfe purged our sinnes. To wit, by bearing our sinnes vponupon his Bodie on the Tree, 1. Pet. 24. Then, 1. Our sinnes are a filthinesse, that must bee purged. 2. The satisfactorie cleansing of our sinnes, is not a thing to bee done by mens meritorious doinges, or sufferinges▪ but alreadie done, and ended, by CHRIST, before Hee ascended; and that by Himselfe alone, all creatures beeing secluded. 3. Hee that vpholdeth all thinges, by the Word of His owne Power; and Hee that purged our sinnes, by His owne Blood, is but one selfe same Person; GOD and Man is Hee in one person.
5. CHRIST sate downe on the right Hand of the Majestie on high.] That is, when CHRIST had cleansed our sinnes, by his death, hee ascended to Heaven, and possessed himselfe as Man, in the fellowship of the same Glorie, which as GOD hee had before the Worlde was, Iohn 17.4.5. Then, 1. The Sonne is joyned in the fellowship of the same Glorie with the Father, as well in his Manhead after his Resurrection, as in his Godhead before his Incarnation. For, though the Glorie of CHRISTS Godhead was hid, for a whyle, by the sufferinges of his Manhead, yet was it not abolished, nor in it selfe abated thereby: but the Manhead first was assumed vntounto the vnitie of Person with the Godhead▪ that our Ransome might bee rich; and then, to the vnion of the same Glorie▪ that the Redeemer, after the Ransomes paying, might bee altogether glorious. 2. Seeing Hee that hath cleansed our sinnes, is so glorious a Person, all the meanes of his cleansing vsus how base soever▪ such as were his Hunger and Thirst, his Povertie and Weaknesse▪ his sh…mefull and paynfull Death, should bee glorious in our eyes also. 3. Majestie, and Magnificence, and Grandour, properlie so called, is the LORDS. The highest excellencies of the creature, are but sparkes of his Majestie, and weake resemblances onelie, albeit their earthlie glorie often holde mens eyes so, as they forget the LORDS Greatnesse.
Vers. 4. Beeing made so much better than the Angels, as Hee hath by Inheritance obtayned a more excellent Name than they.
1. HEe prooveth Christ to bee greater than the Angels, because his Name is more excellent than theirs.] For they are called Angels, and hee GODS Sonne: which hee is sayde to hauehave by Inheritance as due to him: both as God by eternall generation, and as Man by assumption of our nature in vnitie of one person; according to which hee is not the adopted, but naturall Sonne of GOD: Filius natus, non filius factus. Then, GOD giveth not ydle Titles: as GOD calleth thinges, so they are, or are made to bee. CHRIST, as GOD, is called GODS Sonne, because by eternall generation hee is so: as Man hee is called GODS Sonne, because by assumption of the humane nature vntounto the personall vnion of his Godhead, hee is made so to bee. 2. As farre as Sonneship is aboue servile employment, as farre is CHRIST more excellent than the Angels.
Vers. 5. For, vntounto which of the Angels sayde Hee at anie tyme, Thou art My Sonne, this day hauehave I begotten Thee? And agayne, I will bee to Him a Father, and Hee shall bee to Mee a Sonne.
1. HEe prooveth his poynt by Scripture, PSAL. 2.7. 2. SAM. 7.19. and putteth them to improbation of his Doctrine by Scripture, if they could. Then, 1. In the true Primitiue Church, in matters of Religion, all Authoritie was silent, & Divine Scripture spake, & determined questioned points of Trueth. 2. The Apostle counted it sufficient, to bring Scripture for his Doctrine; and permitteth no impugning of it, but by Scripture.
2. Onelie of CHRIST sayeth GOD, I hauehave begotten Thee.] Then, 1. Howsoever GOD hath manie Sonnes by Creation, by Office, by Grace, and Adoption; yet, a Sonne by Generation, a natiue Sonne, hath Hee none, but CHRIST. 2. CHRIST is of the same Nature, and Essence, with the Father, consubstantiall with him; because begotten of him, in himselfe, without beginning; the Sonne beeing eternallie in the Father, and the Father eternallie in the Sonne, of the selfe-same Nature, and Godhead.
3. This day hauehave I begotten Thee.] Beeing vnderstoode of CHRIST, according to his Godhead, signifieth the Fathers tymelesse, eternall, perpetuallie constant, and present generation of his Sonne, in himselfe. Beeing vnderstoode according to his State, in his Manhead, it signifieth the Fathers bringing foorth of the Sonne, to the knowledge of the Worlde, and declaring him to bee the Sonne of GOD, with power, by his Resurrection from the dead, ROM. 1.4. These places, it is true, were spoken of David and Salomon, as Types of Christ, typicallie, in a slender resemblance, PSAL. 2.7. and 2. SAM. 7.19. But the Bodie of the Truth aimed at, & signified, was Christ resembled by them, as here wee see. Whence wee learne, That typicall speaches in Scripture, hauehave not their perfect meaning, neyther can bee fullie expounded, nor truelie vnderstoode, till they bee drawne to Christ, in whome they hauehave their accomplishment, and of whom they meane to speake, vnderunder the name of the Types. And therefore neyther could the olde Church of the Iewes, nor can wee, get comfort in anie of them, till Christ, in whome all the Promises are YEA and AMEN, bee found included in them.
Vers. 6. And agayne, when Hee bringeth in the first begotten into the worlde, Hee sayeth, And let all the Angels of GOD worship Him.
1. HEe sayeth; that is, The Father sayeth, PSAL. 97.7. Then, The Scripture which elsewhere is called the Speach of the holie Ghost, is also the Speach of the FATHER.
2. Hee bringeth in his first begotten, into the Worlde.] Then, 1. The Father is the Author of Christ's Incarnation, and of his Kingdome amongst Men, and of Divine Glorie given to him, in his Kingdome. 2. Christ is the Father's first begotten, both for the eternitie of his Person▪ begotten without beginning, before the Worlde was; and for the excellencie of his Person, beeing more glorious than all Angels, or Men, which get the name of Children, eyther by Creation, or Adoption.
3. The Father commandeth; Let all the Angels of GOD adore Him. Then, 1. The Father communicateth to Christ, as his owne Nature and Godhead, by Generation; so also his owne Glorie, by commanding the creatures to adore him. 2. What the creatures adore, they acknowledge, by adoration, to bee GOD; so GOD esteemeth. 3. And Christ is the Angels GOD, because they must adore Him.
Vers. 7. And of the Angels Hee sayeth, Who maketh His Angels Spirits, and His Ministers, a flame of fire.
Hee maketh his Angels Spirits, &c. PSAL. 104▪ 5. THEN, 1. GOD made not the Angels, to get anie parte of Christ's rowme in the Churches worship; but to serue Christ, as lowlie as anie of the meanest creatures. 2. And the Angels, indeede, are as readie to doe so, and as swift and actiue in their service, as the Windes, and fire-flaughts.
Vers. 8. But vntounto the Sonne Hee sayeth, Thy Throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a Scepter of Righteousnesse, is the Scepter of Thy Kingdome.
Vers. 9. Thou hast loved Righteousnesse, and hated Iniquitie: therefore, GOD, even Thy GOD, hath anoynted Thee, with the Oyle of Gladnesse, aboue Thy Fellowes.
1. BY this place, cited out of PSAL. 45.7. it is evident, that the PSALME 45. is a Song of the mysticall Marriage of CHRIST and his Church: and in this Passage a number of notable Doctrines, concerning Christ, are poynted at. 1. Hee is called GOD, and so is fit to reconcile vsus to GOD; able, and all-sufficient, to accomplish our Salvation: a Rocke, to leane vntounto. 2. A King enthroned, not onelie over the Worlde; but, in a gracious manner, over the Church, which hee marrieth to himselfe in this PSALME: and therefore shall his Church hauehave Lawes, and Direction, and Protection, from him. 3. Hee hath a Throne for ever and ever: and therefore shall his Church, which is his Kingdome, endure for ever and ever. 4. Hee hath a Scepter, to rule with: and therefore, power and authoritie, to take order with his Subjectes, and with his enemies also. 5. His Scepter, is a Scepter of Righteousnesse; because hee can not abuse his power, to doe wrong to anie, but will doe right to all; yea, and leade on his Subjects, to Righteousnesse of Fayth, to justifie them before GOD; and Righteousnesse of Conversation, to adorne them before Men.
2. Hee loveth Righteousnesse, and hateth Iniquitie.] And therefore, 1. His Scepter can not bee sweyed but righteouslie. 2. And so must his subjectes set themselues to doe, if they will please him.
3. Therefore, Christs God hath anoynted him, with the Oyle of Gladnesse, aboue his fellowes. Then, 1. As Christ is God himselfe, so also is hee Man vnderunder God, in regarde of his Manhead and Office therein. 2. And God is his God by Covenant: Christ, as Man, is confederate with God. 3. And hee hath FELLOWES in the Covenant: that is, others of mankynde, with whome hee is part-taker of flesh and blood, Fellow-brethren, and Coheyres, Shares-men in all the Fathers Goods with him. 4. Hee is anoynted, with the Oyle of Gladnesse; furnished with the Spirit that bringeth joye vntounto him, and all his subjects, who get conveyed vntounto them, by Christ, Righteousnesse, and Peace, and joye in the holie Ghost. 5. Hee is anoynted aboue his fellowes. The rest of the confederate Saynctes are anoynted also; yet, by measure, receiue they the Spirit. But Christ is anoynted aboue them: the Spirit is not given to him by measure; but to dwell bodilie, or substantiallie, that wee of his fulnesse may all receiue, Grace for Grace.
4. Because hee loveth Righteousnesse, &c. Therefore hee is anoynted. Then, The righteousnesse of Christ, is the procuring, and meritorious cause, of this joye to him, and his Subjectes, Fellowes in the Covenant.
Vers. 10. And Thou, LORD, in the beginning, hast layde the Foundation of the Earth: and the Heavens are the Workes of Thyne Handes.
Vers. 11. They shall perish, but Thou remaynest: and they all shall waxe olde, as doeth a Garment.
Vers. 12. And as a Vesture shalt Thou folde them vp, and they shall bee changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy Yeares shall not fayle.
1. ANother Testimonie of Christ, from PSAL. 102.25.26. wherein hee is expresselie called, 1. IEHOVAH, GOD in essence, the same GOD with the Father, and the holie Ghost; who giveth Beeing to the creatures, and Performance to the Promises. 2. Who layde the Foundation of the Earth▪ &c. and so Creator of Heaven and Earth. 3. And, by consequence, who can create in vsus a right Spirit, and make vsus, of naughtie sinners, Sonnes.
2. They shall perish, waxe olde, and bee changed. Then, The Heavens and the Earth, nowe subject to corruption, shall both not continue; and yet they shall not vtterlie bee abolished, but changed, into an incorruptible estate, for mans cause, Rom. 8▪21.
3. Christ remayneth, and is the same, and his Yeares fayle not. Then, 1. CHRIST is eternall: and our Mediator can not bee amissing, can not die. 2. Constant, and immutable; and can not change his purpose of louelove, to his called Ones, whatsoever changes befall them. And this is the Rocke of the Churches Comfort, when shee looketh to her owne frayltie, and changeablenesse.
Vers. 13. But to which of the Angels sayd Hee at anie tyme, Sit on My Right Hand, vntill I make Thyne Enemies Thy Foote-stoole? Psal. cx.
1. TO which of the Angels sayde hee?] Hee asketh for Scripture, to show what is due to Angels. Then, 1. The Scripture must determine what is due to Angels, and other creatures; what is to bee thought of them, and done to them also. 2. And no word in Scripture doeth countenance the giving of the glorie of the Mediator, to anie Angell.
2. The Father hath sayde to Christ, Sit Thou on my right hand, vntill I make thyne enemies thy Foote-stoole.] THEN, 1. Christ's Kingdome will not want enemies. 2. Yea, his enemies shall bee such, as there shall bee neede of divine wisedome, and power, to overcome them. 3. GOD professeth himselfe Partie, agaynst all the enemies of Christ's Church and Kingdome. 4. GOD will put them at vnderunder, piece and piece; and altogether at length. 5. Their opposition. and overthrow, shall serue to glorifie Christ's Kingdome, and Governament: they shall bee his Foote-stoole. 6. In the meane time of this Battell, Christ, in his owne Person, shall continue equall in Glorie, and Majestie, with the Father; beholding the Victorie brought about; and bringing it about, with the Father, vntounto his Souldiours comfort.
Vers. 14. Are they not all ministring Spirits, sent foorth, to minister for them who shall bee Heyres of Salvation?
1. THE Angels are all ministring Spirites.] THEN, 1. Angels are not bodies; but their substance is invisible. 2. They are, all of them, even these that are called Arch-Angels, the greatest of them, but servantes to Christ; and none of them must hauehave their Master's honour: that is, anie religious worship of prayer, or invocation, made to them.
2. They are sent foorth, for Service, or Ministring.] THEN, Their employment is about God's Children, to attende vsus, and serue vsus, at Christ's direction: not to bee served by vsus, by anie devotion.
3. Christ's Subjects are called Heyres of Salvation.] THEN, 1. They are Sonnes. 2. And what they get, is by Heyrship, by vertue of their Adoption, and Sonneship; not by merit of their workes. 3. And they shall surelie get Salvation, as an Heritage; never to bee taken from them.