An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 15 · To the reader – Body of epistle
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
BEfore the time that something of mine did pass the Press, without my knowledge, or allowance, I did not minde to come abroad in this Learned Age, wherein many, more able Men than I am, do keep silence; my Furniture being fitter for my present Charge, than for more publick Edification, in my judgement; and my Employments so frequent, as my spare time is little, for farther extent of what the Lord hath bestowed upon mee. But, since that time, my just fears, from apparent grounds, that numbers of my Sermons, which were rudely, and popularly, delivered (as thrice, or four times preaching a week, might yeeld) and taken from my Mouth, as it was possible to overtake the current of running speech; the judicious Writer making what hee had overtaken, to cohere, the best hee could; and Copies going from him, to many, with numbers of faults, and mistakings of the Transcribers; I being unable to revise (for straightness of time) any thing which was written by them, first, or last. My just Fears, I say, that these should Come to thy Hands, rude and faulty, as they are, made mee willing rather, when God should grant mee leasure hereafter, to draw up, in short, the points of Doctrine delivered by mee in these Sermons; that thou mightest have a twenty, or thirty of them, or m…e, possible, in the bounds and price of one at large.
With this passage of Gods providence, another hath concurred, to draw forth this piece unto thy view in the mean time, which is this: When I considered, how largely God hath provided Helps, for understanding of holy Scripture, by large Commentaries, and sweet Sermons, especially from His Church in England; whereby encrease of Knowledge is given to the Learned, and such, whose means to buy, and leasure from their calling to read, and victory over their own lasiness, for taking pains, doth concur with their capacity, for making use of this the Lords Liberality: I have often requested the Father of Lights, To help such as either could not, or else would not, profit themselves by that, which is already granted in his Bounty, by some short, and plain manner of writing; whereby the weaker judgements might be supported, and all Excuse taken away from the witty Sluggard, and such whose worldly Employments, and great Affairs, have seemed sufficient Reasons, to excuse their negligence, and the small and naughty matters of their own Salvation, and the Kingdome of Heaven, and Evidences thereof in Scripture.
And, to this purpose, I have been very instant, with the Godly-Learned of mine acquaintance, to take this matter in hand; and, to divide amongst them, the hard parts of Scripture, at least, that this work might be done by the hands of many, which could not be done by one. I found their approbation of my desire, and inclinable willingness, to put hand to work also. But, some of them, for the weight of their ordinary Charge, some of them for age, and infirmity of body, some of them for their hands full of the Lords work in another sort, could not adve…ture to be straightly ingaged in the work. Where-through I was forced either to forsake my Desires, which daily were kindl… within mee more and more; or else, come forth with something of this kind, as might be; and seek amongst my Readers, some to take this Matter to heart; and, to do therein, as the Lord should enable them, by themselves, or by others.
I have made choice of this Epistle, which is a piece of hard Meat, in the estimation both of the Apostle, the Writer thereof, (Chap. 5, and 6.) and of Peter, giving his judgement of it, (2 Pet. 1.15, 16.) That if I should attain any part of mine intent in any measure, in so hard a place, I might encourage others, to take in hand a more easie part of Scripture, with more hope of success.
The Summe of each Chapter, or the Contents, do stand instead of Analysis; and, in some places, of a Paraphrase. The Text doth follow, Verse by Verse. The Exposition of the Verse, serveth for grounds of Doctrines, which Doctrines, following upon the grounds, are joyned, most part, with the Note of Collection [THEN] Plurality of Doctrines from the ground, or from the Text where the consequence is easie to be perceived, is distinguished by figures, according to their numbers. Terms of Art I have eschewed, Because I would be plain to all. I have spared all enlargement of the Doctrines, which I could spare; leaving them as grains of Seed, to get their growth in thy mind, by Meditation, which is necessary for such as love to make use of this sort of writing, because I would be short. The special handling of such Passages, as the Apostle citeth out of the Old Testament, I have left to their own proper place. Quotations, for confirmation of my Doctrines, drawn from the ground, I have spared also: Because, I judged, If the Doctrine was pertinently collected from the ground, the Text in hand was sufficient confirmation. And if it be not pertinently collected, I am content that thou pass by it, and take onelyonly what is pertinent. A Quotation could prove the Doctrine true; but not prove it pertinent; and so not serve my purpose. Many more, and more petinent Consequences, the Learned will finde, which I have not observed: but not for the Learned, or such as are able, and willing, to make use of larger Writings, do I intend this present.
Therefore, do not look how much thou doest miss, which might have been said; but what in the first frame of this mould could be done, in such brevity. Which mould, I trust, the Learned shall help, if it please the Lord to stir them up, to take this matter in hand. I have pressed, singly to point out Truth▪ without Partiality; not wresting the Text, to reach a Blow to any man. And what thou shalt make of this present Piece▪ I am not careful, if I can obtain thereby, that more able Men may be set on work, to do what I intend, but cannot do.
If the precious Iewel of the Scripture may be more esteemed of, and made use of, which is more necessary for our Souls, than the Sun in the Firmament is for our bodies; and, the greatest gift, next after our Lord Jesus down-sending amongst us, that ever the world saw. If I may by this piece, I say, be an Instrument, to stir up any to the love of searching the Scriptures, I have not lost my pains, whatsoever shall become of this Book: Whereunto I have solicited for no Patronage under Heaven, but thy Christian Good-will to my Aim; to have our Lord the more honoured, in the sound Knowledge▪ and right use of His Scripture.
I am confident, that thou wilt easily judge with mee, That the proud, and prophane Despisers of God are worthy to perish, amongst his Enemies: but consider, and judge again; If prophane Despisers of holy Scripture, who disdain to read, or obey, what God commandeth therein, be not to be ranked in the same Roll. For God draweth so nigh unto us in his Word, speaking unto us, as a King unto his Subjects, or a Master unto his Servants, that the obedience, or disobedience which wee give to His Speeches, resolveth directly, and immediately, upon God himself. For what is it else to hear▪ and beleeve, and obey God; but, to hear, and beleeve, and obey His speeches? And, what is it, not to take notice of God, to despise, and disobey God, but not to take notice of his Speeches, not to read his Writings, and not to care for any thing that Hee commandeth, promiseth, or threatneth? Therefore hath the Lord written the great things of his Law unto us, even to be a Touch-stone, not onelyonly to try all mens Doctrine thereby, but also to try all mens disposition towards Himself; and how they stand affected to His Honour, whether as Foes, or as Friends. For, What readier way is there, to get evidence of a man destitute of the Knowledge, Faith, Love, Fear, and the rest of the parts of the Image of God, than to finde him destitute of the Knowledge and Love of the Scripture? What surer sign of a man, who for the present is enemy to God, and to the enlargement of His Gracious Kingdome, than to finde him traducing the perfect Law of the Lord, and marring, to his power, the free course of the Scriptures light, which is the Stepter of Christs Kingdome? Again, What surer sign of a Child of Promise, begotten of God, than to see him, with David, Psal. 119. making more of the Scriptures, than of a Kingdome; and pouring out all his Affections upon it, as upon the nearest Mean whereby Gods Spirit may be conveyed into his soul, for perfecting of Holiness; and the readiest Chariot, to carry up his Spirit, to dwell in God, for perfecting of his happiness.
Wee shall finde also, answerable to Gods purpose of trying men by His Scripture, His Wisdome, giving a due meeting unto men, as they do make use of His Scripture. Do they not read it? or do they read, and not consider it? Do they not weigh, what is imported by it, in sense and meaning? It fareth with them, as with those to whom Christ said, Mat. 22.29. You erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. Do they not love it? Behold their Plague, 2 Thes. 2.10, 11, 12. Because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved; for this very cause, saith the Text, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should beleeve a Lie, that they might be damned. Do they not stedfastly beleeve, what they learn in Scripture? In Gods judgement, with the foolish, and unstable, they are suffered to wrest the Scriptures, to their own destructio… ▪ were they never so great wits, 2 Pet. 3.16. Do they not study, to give obedience unto the …own Truth of it? Hee dealeth with them, as with Israel, Psal. 81.11. My people would not hearken unto my voice, and Israel would none of mee. (Hee counteth himself rejected, because his Word was rejected) But what followeth, vers. 12? So I gave them up, unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels. But to such as will be Christs Disciples indeed, Students, seeking to grow in knowledge, beleef, and obedience of his Word? seeking to love him, and keep his sayings, hee promiseth (Joh. 14.26.) to send unto them. The Spirit, of Truth, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to teach them all things: That is, to perfect their knowledge, more and more, by his Spirit, to fill their hearts with joy and comfort, according to his Truth, and to make them holy, more and more.
And why are all these stiles given? Even to shew, that such as will have Christs Spirit to work any of these, must seek him to work all of these joyntly, or not to have him for working any of them at all. Neither comfort without truth, nor comfort without Holiness. The same is it which Wisdome cryeth, Prov. 8.34, 35, 36. Blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching daily at my Gates; waiting at the Posts of my Doors: For who so findeth mee, findeth life; and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But hee that sinneth against mee, wrongeth his own Soul, all that hate mee, love death.
Therefore how thou doest hate Death, and love thine own Soul, how thou standest affected towards Gods, and the fellowship of the Comforter, the holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and towards the enlargement of the Kingdome of Christ; let thy affection towards the Scriptures, more abundant dwelling in thy self, and for the Scriptures more free course amongst others, bear witness.
Farewel.
THE EPISTLE OF PAVL to the HEBREWS.
WHen Peter wrote his second Epistle to the scattered Hebrews, there was extant an Epistle of Paul, to those same scattered Hebrews also, received in the Church, for a part of Canonical Scripture, and distinguished from Pauls other Epistles, 2 Pet. 3.15, 16. Therefore amongst other reasons, this may bee one, to make us think this Epistle must bee it. For it is without reason to think, that the Churches should bee negligent in keeping such a Iewel, commended unto them by the Authority of two chief Apostles; or lose Pauls Epistle, and keep Peters; which maketh mention of it.
The sum of the Epistle.
BEcause the Hebrews were hardly drawn from the observation of Levitical Ordinances, unto the simplicity of the Gospel, and in danger of making Apostacy from the Christian Faith, by persecution, the Apostle Paul setteth before their eyes the glory of Jesus Christ, in his person, far above men and Angels; by whose Ministery the Law was given, not only as God, Chap. 1. but also as man, Chap. 2. and in his Office above Moses, Chap. 3. Threatning them therefore, if they should mis-believe Christs Doctrine, Ch. 3, 4. and above the Levitical High-Priest, Ch. 5. Threatning them again, if they should make Apostacy from him, Chap. 6. yea above all the glory of the Levitical Ordinances, as hee in whom all those things had their accomplishment, and period of expiring, Chap. 7, 8, 9, 10. Threatning them again, if they should not persevere in the Faith of Christ: unto which perseverance, through whatsoever difficulties, hee encourageth them, by the example of the Faithful before them, Chap. 10, 11. and by other grounds of Christian comfort, Chap. 12. That so in the fruitful obedience of the Gospel, they might follow upon Christ, seeking for that City that is to come, and not for their earthly Hierusalem any more, Ch. 13.