THE blessed Authour of this excellent Epistle ( whether Paul , or Apollo , or Cephas , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . I strive not ) mainly seekes to set up Christ the Lord , in his threefold office ; as shadowed out of old in the types of the Law , and exhibited now alate , in these dayes of the Gospel . It seemed a hard saying to the Hebrewes , Durus est hic sern● , Ioh. 6. that the Gospel should have the better hand of the Law , Iesus of Moses . He therefore makes it his first work to set a difference , and to prove a precellency of the New above the Old Testament : which albeit they concurre in the Authour of both , God ; yet come they to a threefold difference : whether we looke upon 1. the Preachers ; there , his servants the Prophets ; here , his sonne and heyre . Or 2. the Hearers ; there , the Fathers ; here , Vs , for whom some better thing was provided . Heb. 11.40 . Or 3. the manner of Revelation ; there , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in many peeces , and after diverse fashions ; here , fully and lastly , together and at once . Or 4. the time of dispensation ; there , of old , or long since ; here , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in these last dayes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . which cap. 2.5 . he calls the world to come .

The next thing he does , is , to advance Messiah above Moses ( whom yet he names not , Ne limine impingat . for avoyding offence at the first entrance : ) and that because he is preferred by God himselfe above the very Angels ; as he proves by many plaine testimonies : And there-hence afterward infers , that the doctrine of Christ is farre more attentively to be heard , ( that is , to be beleeved and obeyed ) than the speech of Angels , Gal. 3.14 . ( that is , than the Law ordained by Angels in the hand of Moses a Mediatour . )

Now the commendation he there gives our Saviour , stands in a stately description of his sacred person , his threefold office and stupendious workes , which he did , either as God ; And these are creation , ( for he made the worlds , ) and preservation , ( for he upholds all things by his mighty Word : ) Or secondly , as God with us : whether we consider him in the state of Humiliation , he purged our sinnes by Himselfe ; or of Exaltation , he sate downe on the right hand of the Majesty on high .

Thus our Apostle wadeth at first into that Profundum sine fundo , that fathomlesse depth of Divinity , giving his Hebrews a briefe of the whole ensuing businesse , in these three first verses ; and purposely beginning his Epistles with mention of God , of the Fathers , and of the Prophets ( the very names of whom , he knew well , were precious and pleasant to Hebrew eares ) the better to insinuate and get within them .

At sundry times . ] The lively voyce was ever in the Church , from the beginning of the world to the death of the Apostles . The sum also and substance of the Law and Gospel was one and the same in all ages , which made Saint Paul say , Act. 26.22 . that he spake no other thing than what the Prophets and Moses spake before him . Onely things were delivered at first more darkly and briefly ; afterwards more plainly and plentifully , 2 Tim. 1.10 . life and immortality being brought to light by the Gospel , so that a man may runne and reade , Habac. 2.2 . The cloud went before the people , while Moses led them : which , under Joshua , vanished . The veile was upon them in the reading of the Old Testament : But we all with open face behold as in a glasse the glory of the Lord , 2 Cor. 2.14 , 18. Mark 4.11 . To us it is given ( above those of old ) to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven ; that great mystery , for instance , God manifested in the flesh . 1 Tim. 3.16 . To Adam was promised it should be the seed of the woman , but whether of Jew or Gentile , not a word was told him . Abraham after this ( the Hebrew ) was given to know , that of his seed should come the Messiah , but of what Tribe , nothing was revealed . To Iacob indeed it was shewed , that of the Tribe of Judah should Shiloh come , but whether male or female , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tranquillator , salvator , à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tranquillitas . Vnde Latinum ●alvere , salvus salvare : Amama . nothing certaine . David was assured that a son of his should sit upon his throne for ever , but till Esay , t' was not knowne that he should be borne of a pure Virgin ; that a woman should compasse a man . Behold a Virgin , that famous Virgin ( the Originall sets it forth with an accent ) spoken of Gen. 3.15 . shall conceive and beare a sonne . Ier. 31.22 . Isai . 7.14 . The very place of his birth was not set forth till Michah , Mich. 5.2 . Dan. 9.24 . nor the just time till Daniel . Thus by degrees and peece-meale , ( as I may so say ) God spake of old to our Fathers by his servants the Prophets . Every age almost brought forth some new thing touching the Babe of Bethlehem ( ●apt up in the swath-bands of the holy History ) either in expresse and evident termes and testimonies , or else in mirrours and miracles . John Baptist , Fibula legis & gratiae . Chrysolog . the buckle of the Law and Gospel , as one stiles him , pointed Christ out with the finger . And although he sent his Disciples to aske him the question , Art thou he that should come ? &c. ( for the which is it unworthily agitated by Tertullian in three severall places , ) yet this he did , not for his owne satisfaction , much lesse out of envie and ambition ( as that Father mistooke it ) but for their better information . Matth 11.9 . Between John that was more than a Prophet , and Malachy the last of Prophets , the Jews place cathimath cazon , the sealing up of prophecy . In stead whereof succeeded ( say they ) Bath-qôl the divine Eccho or Oracle , whereby , after prophecy ceased , future things were revealed from heaven . But Malachy ( whom Tertullian calls the limit and land-marke of both Testaments ) prophesied about 400. yeares afore our Saviours birth : Malach: Limes inter Vetus & Novum Test. Zachary and Haggee much about 500 : Daniel and Ezechiel 600 : Esay and Jeremy 700. ( as the divine Chronologer computes it ) Jonas and Hoseas 800 : ●ncholcer . Elias and Elishah 900 : Salomon 1000 : David 1100 : Sampson 1200 : Gideon 1300 : Joshuah 1400 : Moses 1500 : Joseph 1600 : Jacob 1700 : Isaac 1800 : Abraham plus minus 2000. As before him , Heber , Sem , Receptior sententia est Melchis . non alium fuisse quam Shem , &c Quod tamen Chananaeus suerit , &c. plures habet assertores & textum multò faventiorem . D. Prid. Lect. p. 95. ( who perhaps was Melchisedech ) Noah , Enoch , and the rest of the Anti-diluvian Patriarchs , up to Adam . Scarce was there any age that afforded not some or other holy man of God , extraordinarily inspired & enabled to deliver the doctrine of divine truth from the immediate mouth of God : Although there were intermissions other-whiles , as the history sheweth , and the Church complaineth , Psal. 74.9

In diverse manners . ] Three severall wayes ( as is well observed ) God revealed his will to mankinde : 1. By the light of nature , imprinting in man certaine principles , common notions , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . or small sparkes and spinthers of divine light . 2. By the bookes of the Creatures , whereby he blew up those sparkes , and kindled them into a flame . Hence Tertullian ; Praemisit Deus Naturam magistram , subm●ssurus & prophetiam ; quò faciliùs credas prophetiae d scipulus Naturae . God first set us to schoole to dame nature , that being entred there we might more readily understand , & better beleeve the Scriptures . For , when by mans fall the two former failed , and proved insufficient , God revealed himself ( lastly ) by his Word but after a diverse maner , as the text here hath it . Sometimes mouth to mouth , as to Adam , and those Ancients ; sometimes by the ministery of others , whether Angels or men ; and to these , either in dreames or visions , representing to their senses , or otherwise imprinting upon their mindes , and so imparting to the world whatsoever he would have understood and uttered , Num. 12.6 . Job 33.15 , 16. sometimes , lastly , by his son Jesus Christ , in humane shape of old , but in these last dayes , in a true humane nature , revealing unto us all , and all at once , and no more by peeces and parcels . Hence these times , 1 Cor. 10.11 . wherein Christ and the Apostles lived , are called here the last dayes , and elsewhere the ends of the world , though so many ages afore the worlds end ; because there shall be no more alteration in Religion , nor any more additions made to that which Christ hath taught by himselfe and his Apostles ; Rev. 21.14 . who are therefore also said to be the foundations of the new Jerusalem , Eph. 2.20 . and of the whole Scriptures ( as now ) whereupon the houshold of God is built , Jesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner-stone . God spake unto the Fathers , God spake to us &c. Note hence that It is God that speaketh in the holy Scriptures of both old and now Testament . Doct. It is the very minde of God that is there set forth unto us , Prov. 1.23 . the expresse patterne and platforme of that truth that is originally in God the fountaine of all truth . It is the very voice of the Almighty , comming , as it were , out of his secret seat , out of his unapproachable light , and disclosing to his creatures his ineffable essence , his unsearchable counsell .

All Scripture is divinely inspired , 2 Tim. 3.16 . saith Saint Paul . And holy men spake it , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2 Pet. 1.21 . as they were acted and carried thereunto by the holy Ghost , saith Saint Peter . Luc. 1.70 . God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets , which have been since the world beganne , saith Zachary in his Canticle . And , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . wee speake ( saith that great Apostle for himselfe and his fellowes ) not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth , 1 Cor. 2.13 . but which the holy Ghost teacheth : whose not onely matter , as vers. 12. but words they are also , that wee utter . These are the very sentences , yea notions that were written ( as I may so say ) of old in the minde of God , and are now clothed with his owne very termes , and expressions : though by some of his servants he hath uttered himselfe more loftily , by some in a lower language , according to the severall abilities of the speakers , and capacitie of the hearers . But it was God that did dictate unto them both matter , and words , 2 Cor. 13.3 . it was Christ that spake in them .

How prove you that ? may some say .