Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1:1

SUndry times] The Greek word signifieth by sundry degrees and parts, now more, now lesse, now one thing, and now another By the Prophets] the Italian, In the Prophets; A manner of speaking very frequent in the old Testament, to shew the internal revelation of Gods mysteries in the soules of Prophets, for them afterwards to reveal them to the Church.

Hebrews 1:2

In these last] In the accomplishment of times, and in the dayes of the Church, while it is in the world, which shall now suffer no more alteration, nor innouation in its general forme, but after it shall come eternitie: Spoken] Hath fully declared his councel concerning the salvation of man-kinde, John 15:15. and sealed and fulfilled the prophecies, Daniel 9:24. and established a perpetuall and invariable forme of governing and instructing his Church by the Gospel By his Son] the Italian, In his Son; in whom the Deitie inhabits corporally, and in whom are hidden all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom, Col. 2. 3. 9. Whom] namely, in the qualitie of Mediatour, having taken humane flesh, in which God hath exalted him after his humiliation Heir] that is to say, Lord and possessour of the whole world, by his eternal Fathers gift, Matth. 28. 18. John 3. 35. and 5. 22 Php 2:9-10. He made] As by his eternal wisdom, and by way of a joyntcooperating and equal cause, Proverbs 8:27. John 5:17. 1 Corinthians 8:6. Now this and the beginning of the next verse hath a relation to Christs divine nature, out of the qualitie of Mediatour, to which belongs that which is spoken in the end of the next verse The worlds] and all temporal things, subject to the course, divisions, and successions of time, Hebrews 11:3. or all the parts of the world, according to the manner of the Hebrewes.

Hebrews 1:3

The brightnesse] A figurative terme, taken from the luminous bodies which cast forth their beames, to shew that the Son proceeds from the Fathers Essence, and is inseparable from him, and doth manifest him, the Father remaining in his inaccessible glorie, hidden from men, Matth. 11. 27. John 1. 18. and 4. 29. 1 Timothy 6:16. Expresse Image] the Italian, the character; and Image that is not vain; nor composed of a shadow, but a living, expresse, subsisting, and most perfect one; such a Son is imprinted (as one should say) in him by the Fathers person, who is the Fountain of all Deitie Upholding] upholding them in their being, moving them in their actions, and governing them in all their motions, by his almightie command, and according to his will Of the Majestie] namely, of God; the Hebrewes using the word Majestie for God himselfe.

Hebrews 1:4

Being made] by God the Father, in his exaltation, in qualitie of Mediatour, to which belongs that which is spoken in the end of the following verse As he hath] for the Father hath conferred the command of the whole world upon him, as to his universal Vigerent, Phil. 2 9, 10. and in this power his Godhead is fully manifested, for he could neither bear it nor exercise it if he were not God Alinightie, and therefore in regard as well of his eternal generation, Psal. 2. 7. as in regard of his royal Office, figured by that of Solomon; 2 Samuel 7:14. the tide of Son of God is attributed to him, as it said in the following verse.

Hebrews 1:5

Said he] namely, God, in the Scripture.

Hebrews 1:6

When he] namely, when God by the Psalmist describes the comming of his everlasting Son into the world, who is his first-borne, that is to say, the Head of the house, his Fathers Vicegerent, and Master over all the other adoptive brethren, to take possession of his Kingdom. See Hebrews 10:5.

Hebrews 1:7

His Angels] See upon Psal. 104. 4. the reason of this allegation.

Hebrews 1:10

Hast laid the foundation] the meaning of this passage, as it is here alleaged, is nothing, but that Christs Kingdom, which is there manifestly spoken of, Psal. 102. 28. is eternal, and not mutable, as the state of the world.

Hebrews 1:12

Fold them up] The Greekes have in this manner translated the Hebrew word, Thou shalt change them; for the terme of Folding up, is taken from those garments that are folded and laid up when they are changed. See Isai 34. 4.