rz Canonical Authority of the to be its fountainand fpring. Did this Epifle proceed from the fame root and prin- . ciple , whence comes it topats, that it no whereputs it.felf forthuntoa difcovery and convì6tion? for that it doth not fo, we (hall afterwards fullydeclare. Betides, to clofe this confideration, the defign of the Writer ofthis EpiJ {le manifefts that he foughtthe Gloryof God inChtift, accordinguntohis will. With this aim and purpofe, an en- deavour to impofe that on the Church, as an immediate Revelation from God, which was the produel ofhis own pains and diligence, is utterly inconfftent. For byno means could he more difhonour God, whofe glory in fincerityhe appears to have fought, nor wrong the Church whofe Good he detired to promote, than by this im- pofing onhim, that whereof he was not the Author, fo adding unto his words, and making himfélf fubjeét to reproof as a lyar, Pray. 3o. 6. and propoting that unto the Church as a firm andgable rule and object of faith, which he knewnot to be fo, lead- ing her thereby into error, uncertainty, and falfhood. For this whole Epii{leis deli- vexed as theWill andWord of God, as comingby Revelation from him, without the leaf} intimation 'ofthe intervention of the Will, Wifdom or Diligenceof man, any other, than isconflantly afcribed unto thofe that declare the will of Godby inJ(+iration. And if it were not fo, the evils mentioned cannot be avoided. And how groundlefs this imputation would be, our following difcourfes will manifeff. And I doubt not but this whole contideration will be, and is of weight and moment with them who have their fenJésexerciid in the Scriptures , and are enabled by the Spirit breathing in them, to difcern between Good and Evil, Wheat andChaff, Jer. 23.28. 24. Unto theGeneral Argument, we may add the Particular Subject Matter of this Epifile asbelonging unto the yrdun of it, further confirming its Divine Original. This for themornpart coatis in things of pureRevelation, and which have no other foundati- on in rerumnatura. Some Books, even of the Scripture it felf, are but the narrations of atlionsdone among{ men, which for the fubf}ance of them, might be alfo recorded by humane diligence. But thethings treated of in this Epiftle, are purely divine, fpi- ritual, and no wayes to beknown butby Revelation. Andnot only fo, but amongft thofe that are fo , There are four things eminent in the Juhjetf matter of this Epiftle. Firft, that the principal things treated of in it, are matters of the greater importance in Chriflian Religion, and fuch as concern the very foundation of faith. Such are the DoE.trines about the Perfon, Offices andSacrifice of Chrif, of the nature ofGofpel Wor- fhip, our Priviledge therein, and Communion withGod thereby. In there things con- flit the very vitally of our Profeffion ; and they are all Opened and declaredin a molt excellent and heavenly manner in this EpiJ{les and that, as we (hall gsanifeff, in an AbfoluteConfonancyunto what istaught concerning them inother places ofScripture. Secondly,In that fome things ofgreat moment unto the faith, obedience and confolation of the Church, that are but abfcurely or fparingly taught in any other places ofHoly Wrist, are hereplainly, fully and excellently taught and improved. Such in particular is the Doétrine of the PriijthoodofChrift, with the nature and excellencyofhis Sacrifice, and the execution of the remaining parts and duty of that Office in Heaven ; and how thewhole of it was typicapy reprefented under the Old Teftament. He that un- derf}ands aright the importanceof theftthings, their ufi in the faith and confolation of the Church, their influence into our whole cóurfe ofobedience , the fpiritual privi- ledge that faith by them interefls a believing Cowl in, the ffrcngth and fupportment, that they afford under Temptations and Trials, will be ready to conclude that the world may as well want the Sun in theFirmament, as the Church this Epiftle. And thisperfwafion we hope through Gods affìftance to further in our Expofntion of it. Thirdly,Gods way in teachingthe Church of the Old 7eJ{ament with the ufe and end of all the operous pedagogic of Moles, manifefting it to be fill of Wifdom, Grace and Love, is here fully revealed, and the whole Aaronical Priefthood with all the duties and Offices of it tranflated unto the ufe of Believers under the Gofpel. How dark MoJàical inftitutions were in themfèlves, is evident from the whole flare of the Church in the daycsofCbrif and hisApoftics, when they could not feeunto the end ofthe things that were tobedone,away. In their nature they were carnal, in their number many,. as to their reafon, hidden; in their obfervation, heavy and burdenfome, in their outward thew, Pompous and glorious; by all which they fo poffeffed the minds of the Church, that very few faw clearly into the ufe, intention,and end of them. But in this Epiftle the veyle is taken offrom Mofees, the myfferie of his inftitutions laid open, a perfect clew given unto Believers to pafs fafely through all the turnings and windings of them, unto Reft and Truth inJefus Chrift. Thofe hidden things of the 01d7ef{ament appeal now
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