Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5:1

FOr evy] he proves by all the properies of a Priest, that Christ is one indeed, as he had said, Hebrews 4:15. Taken from] namely, a humane Priest, opposite to Christ who is true God, vers.〈◊〉. and likewise true man, vers. 7. For men] namely, to present themselves before God for man, with sacrifices and prayers, and to be a means to work his peace Gifts] the Italian; offerings; this word set down as different from sacrifices, signifies the offering of things that have no life.

Hebrews 5:2

Who can have] who by the lively feeling which he can have of other mens miseries, which he treth in himself, may be capable of being touched with hearty compassion to relieve them by his sacrifices and prayers inflamed with charity and zeal With infirmity] namely, with sinne, which being referred to Christ, ought to be understood onely of the miseries and punishment of sinne, wherewith he hath burthened himself, and not of any guilt in him.

Hebrews 5:4

And no man] that is to say, He cannot be a lawfull Priest in the Church, unlesse he have his calling from God, by the wayes and according to the Laws which he hath appointed.

Hebrews 5:5

Christ] as he is man he did not put himself into this glorious dignity and office: and as he is the Son of God, he hath no will separate from the Fathers, who is the spring and originall of all things But he] the meaning is, not that the Sonne hath been made high Priest, by these words of Psal. 2. but plainly, that he was so made by the everlasting Father, described by this circumlocution.

Hebrews 5:7

Who] namely, Christ In the dayes] whilest he was yet in the world, in the course of his obedience and humiliation, living a terrestriall and animall life, opposite to the glorious and spirituall state of the celoiall life, see 1 Corinthians 15:44. 2 Corinthians 5:16. When he had] this is to shew, that the substance of Christs Sacrifice consisteth not wholly in his corporall death, but much more in the torments and anguishes of the soul, which he in his life time suffered for sinnes, of the curse whereof he drank the cup in the unspeakable feeling of Gods wrath, and in the inable suspension of the sweet influence of Gods love upon his humanity With strong crying] he th a relation to Christs last agonies and servent prayers, which are set down by the Evangelists Uto him] namely, to God the Father, who might have freed him from the passage to death, if his counsell to save the world thereby had not been against it, Matth. 26. 33. Mark 14:36. and likewise could after he was dead, according to this said order, make him live again by a glorious resurrection Was heard] God having, according to Christs intention in his prayer, strengthned and born him up in his horrible terros, conflicts, and agonie, Luke 22:43. He feared] which in Christ was aer and plain naturall affection apprehending an unspeakable future evill and pain, without diffidence, vice, or excesse.

Hebrews 5:8

Learned he] that is to say, besides what he was in regard of his father by his own nature, namely, his everlasting Sonne: he of his own wil took upon him the new quality of obedient servant, Philip. 2. 8 and through divers degrees of sufferings, was prepared for the last point of them, which was the death of the crosse. Or he tried in effect, and felt how fa that obedience did binde him to which he had subjected himself by his office of Mediatour

Hebrews 5:9

Made perfect] the Italian, fully consecrated; namely, by his death, in which he did not onely fulfill all things for us, John 19 30. but he himself likewise came to the height of his priestly office, having in himself the foundation of the beleevers salvation, by his death and by his resurrection, all the means to apply it unto them, see Luke 13:32. That obey him] by true faith answerable to Gods calling.

Hebrews 5:10

Called] being after his death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven, really invested with his full power, and his Priestly and Kingly dignity joyntly, as Psal. 110. 4. it is said that he was installed in his priesthood, sitting already at Gods right hand, Psal. 110. 1. After the order] of which Priesthood, in its singular properties and circumstances, Melchisedech was a signe, figure, and example. Now even from this place the Apostle begins to shew in what Christs priesthood was different from the Leviticall, which he will begin again to treat of more largely, Chap. 7.

Hebrews 5:11

Of whom] namely, of Christ compared with Melchisedech. And hard] in regard of your dulnesse and incapacity Dull of hearing] Stolid, and of a dull apprehension in spirituall things, like as for want of exercise the memers become benummed and stiffe, see Matth. 13. 15.

Hebrews 5:12

For the time] namely, since you were first instructed in Christian Doctrine First principles] that is to say, the first rudiments, and as it were the alphabet of Gods word.

Hebrews 5:13

For every one] high and profound Doctrine is no fittinger for those who are novices in matters of faith, then solid food is for little children, for that requires a strength equall and proportionable to apprehend and digest it by meditation, wherein a spirituall judgement is necessary, confirmed by much use and practice, which such novices have not In the word]namely, in the doctrine of the Gospell, whose subject is the true and onely righteousnesse of faith, Romans 1:17. Or he knoweth ot yet how to 〈◊〉, which is the true pure, and holy doctrine, from that which is not.

Hebrews 5:14

Of full age] the Italian accomplished; a term signifying ripe age and one that is come to be a compleat man, as 1 Corinthians 14:20. or one that is a good proficient in holy matters, as 1 Corinthians 2:6. By reason of use] by a certaine firme, and permanent quality, and faculty produced in beleevers by the holy Ghost, by reason of a long and continuall practice, and study Their senses] namely, their judgement, and understanding.