PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 10
John Owen · 353,616 words · 352 reading sections
Section 241
But perhaps I do not conceive his mind aright ; peradventure his mind is, that if I do maintain the satisfaction of Christ to procure the end aimed at, ipso facto, as solutio ejusde^n would have done, then to profess himself my adversary. But, — 1. This is not here expressed nor intimated. 2. It is nothing at all to …
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3. To make iip his gracious acceptance in this latter sense, he distinguisheth of payments refusable and not refusable: in the application of which distinction unto the payment made by Christ I cannot close with him ; for a payment is refusable either absolutely and in itself, or upon supposal. The death of Christ, con…
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CHAPTER III. The arguments of Grotius, and their defence by Mr Baxter, about the penalty undergone by Christ in making satisfaction, considered. TiiE State of the question in hand being as above laid down, let us now see what Mr Baxter's judgment is of niy success in that undertaking, concerning which he thus deliver…
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And for the first, about an acquitment ipso facto upon the payment of the idem in the obligation, with my answer, [he] refers it, to be considered in an- other place; which, though I receive no small injury by, as shall be there declared, yet, that I may not transgress the order of discourse set me, I pass it by also u…
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1. The death of Christ, as it is a cause of pardon, is not once mentioned in any of my answers. There is a wide difference (in consideration) between God's impu- tation of sin to Christ, and the death of Christ as the meritorious cause of pardon. So that this is pura ignoratio elenchi. 2. Take pardon in the large sens…
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2. If all this were done by the persons themselves, or any one in their stead procured and appointed by themselves, then were there some difficulty in these questions ; but this being otherwise, there is none at all, as hath been declared. 3. How the payment made by Christ was of grace, yet in respect of the obliga- t…
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The observation, that Grotius' main business is otherwise discovereth the bottom of Mr B.'s mistake, even a supposal that I should oppose Grotius in his main intendment in the place considered ; which was not once in my thoughts. It was merely about the nature of the penalty that Christ underwent that 1 discoursed. How…
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Secondly, The second part of my position is to me confirmed by these and the like arguments. That there is a distinction to be allowed betu-een the penalty and the person suffering is a common apprehension, especially when the nature of the penalty is only inquired after. If a man tliat had but one eye were censured t…
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3. I have proved in the same place that faith, which is this condition, is itself procured by the death of Christ for them for whom he diedj to be freely bpsto^^•ed on them, without the prescription of any such condition as on whose fulfilling the collation of it should depend. These things being considered, as I hope…
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3 '■ Tertium est, cum homo vera fide in Christum credit, et Christus ex foederis formula credentem Deo commendat. Hie jam Deus depouit iram, hominemque id gratiam recipit."— De Satisfact. Christi, cap. vii. 4 Ps. 1. 21 ; E\-od. iii. 14 ; 1 Sam. xv. 21 : Job xxiii. 13 ; Ps. cii. 26, 27 ; Isa. xiv. 27. 5 2 Kings xix. 6…
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6. If God doth only purpose and promise to lay aside his anger upon the death of Christ, but doth it not until our actual believing, — then, first, our faith is the proper procuring cause of reconciliation, the death of Christ but a requisite ante- cedent; which is not the Scripture phrase, Rom. v. 10; 2 Cor. v. 18; Ep…
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Sixthly, All alterations are in the things concerning which the acts of the will of G od are ; none in the will of God itself. These things being premised, what was before proposed I shall now in order make out, beginning with the eternal acts of the will of God towards us, antece- dent to all or any consideration of …
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In particular, the constitution or appointment of the covenant of free grace, for the recovery and bringing home unto God of fallen man, hath immediate depend- ence thereon; I mean in that way of dependence which their order gives unto them. I cannot assent to what Mr Baxter hath asserted in this mattei', thes, 14, exp…
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(2.) Analogy from other eternal purposes of God gives a demonstration hereof. The eternal purposes of the divine will for the creation of the world out of nothing left that nothing as very nothing as ever, until an act of almighty power gave, in the beginning, existince and being to the things that are seen. Things hav…
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Hence it is that the discharge of the debtor doth not immediately follow the payment of the debt by Christ; not because that payment is refusable, but because in that very covenant and compact from whence it is that the death of Christ is a payment, God reserveth to himself this right and liberty to discharge the debto…
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1. Eff'ects are to be considered with respect to their causes. Causes are real or moral. Real or physical causes produce their eflrects immediately, either im- mediatione suppositi or virtutis. Unto them the subject must be existent. I speak not of creating power, where the act produceth its object. Moral causes do ne…
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THE DDIEDIATE EFFECT OF CHEIST's DEATH. 461 failed ; which is as good a causative connection as that between the death of Christ and this suspension. Had not he undertaken the work of redemption, it had not been. If by a rigorous execution you intend the penalty of the law, inflicted in that way which hath pleased the…
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CHAPTER X. Of the merit of Christ, and its immediate efficacy— What it effoeteth— In what it resteth— With the state of those for whom Christ died in reference to his doatli, and of their riglit to the fruits of his death before believing. That they for whom Christ died have a right to the things which he purchased t…
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[2.] The fomidation of God in sending his Son to die for his elect is oppugned hereby; and, — [3.] It is destructive to all the proper fruits and effects of the death of Christ, etc., lib. ii. cap. 2. (2.) In the will of God it seems that the merit and fruits of the death of Christ, whereof we treat, seem better to b…
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2 "Nulla justitia projji-ie esse jiotest, ubi nulla intcroedit oblisitio ; Deus autr'm nulla obligatione tenetur, autequam ipse iitlem suam astrinuat ; ergo ante promiisiouem nulla justitia ctiam Uistrilm- tiva in Deo lepei-itur."— Vas. n. 1, q. 21, a. 1, <iisp. tO. STATE AND RIGHT OF THOSE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED. 465 …
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1. By right I understand _;'hs in general. Now, "Jus est quod justum est," Aug. in Ps. cxliv. sub. fin ; — " That is right which it is just should be." And, " Quidquid rectum est, justum est," Ansel, de Verit. cap. 13; — "It is just all that should be, which hath a rectitude in itself." Farther; what this justum is, Aq…
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3. AU which I prove as followeth : — (1.) The very terms before mentioned enforce no less. If It be justimiheiove their believing that those for whom Christ died should enjoy the fruits of his death, then have they, even before believing, jus, or a right thereunto ; for " jus est quod justum est." That it is right and…
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1. Notwithstanding the right granted them for whom Christ died, upon his death, to a better state and conihtion in due time, — that is, in the season suiting the infinitely wise sovereignty of God, — yet as to the present condition, in point of enjoyment, they are not actually difterenccd from other.<. Their prayers ar…
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[2.] The apostle holds out this very method of the dispensation of grace : Rom. viii. 32, " He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?" First, Christ is given /or us, then to us, then with him (he having the pre-emi- nence in all things) …
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In p. 146 of his Appendix, Mr Baxter endeavours to vindicate a thesis of his from some exceptions that he was by his friend pointed to, unto which it seemed liable and obnoxious. The thesis he lays down is, " That no man is actually and absolutely justified upon the mere payment of the debt by Christ, till they become…
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(1.) I pass the first and second exceptions, notwithstanding that of God's not esteeming of us as in Christ, upon his performance of the acts of his mediation for us, might admit of some consideration. (2 ) The inference here couched, that these things are the immediate effects of Ciirist's Spirit on us, therefore the…
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That which follows in Mr Baxter, from p. 152 unto p. 155, chap, xix., belongs not to me, being only a declaration of his own judgment about the things in hand ; ^'herein, although many things are not only incommodiously expressed, to suit the unscriptural method of these mysteries which he hath framed in his mind, but …
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(3.) Those for whom Christ doth work this deliverance are not as to a simulty of time actually delivered ; they neither enjoy nor are acquainted with any such deliverance until the appointed time be come, but have actual right thereimto, to possess it in due season. This being the sum and plain intendment of that plac…
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(3.) The place where faith justifieth I am not so solicitous about, as the man- ner how; which, of all other ways commonly insisted on, I conceive not to be as it is our new obedience : yet that in this work it looks farther than the conscience I easily grant. The most of what is subjoined to these exceptions is fully…
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[2.] The purchase of Christ being completed, by the performance of all things by divine constitution thereunto allotted,® and himself acquitted and exonerated of ^ 'Paov TO fi&>/^i7ff^ai, ii fii/ii7ff^ai. 2 " Lex aut punit, aut vetat, aut permittit, aut consulit, aut hortatur."— F. de Leg. 1 John iii. 4. " Decretum n…
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For the present, being by God's providence removed for a season from my native soil, attended with more than ordinary weaknesses and infirmities, separated from my library, burdened with manifold employments, with constant preaching to a numerous multitude of as thirsting a people after the gospel as ever yet 1 convers…
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Thomas (Gilbert, so great an admirer of Owen that he was employed to write liis epi- taph, nevertheless combated the views maintained in the Diatriba, in a work ciititlen, "\'indici;e Supremi Dei Domini (cum Deo) Inita;," etc., 1665. Baxter, in a brief pre- monition to his treatise against infidelity, dissented from th…
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skilled " JEre ciere virus, Martcmqwe accondere cantu." We pretend, however, to no such eloquence, nor have we so learned Christ. My THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 485 hope is, that the Lord and Judge of all will find me intently occupied in preaching Christ and him crucified, in season and out of season, and wrestling in…
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Besides ; several of those who had before examined and were acquainted with our sentiments, or to whom, in consequence of our short discourse in the university on the subject, they began to be more acceptable, — and these, too, considerable both for their number and rank, — ceased not to urge me to a more close conside…
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488 PREFACE. who used more than common exertions in building Noah's ark, ^ and who, like bees, work for others and not for themselves in the search of truth, who, relying on their own abilities and industry, use every effort to ascertain and comprehend divine truths, while, at the same time, they continue utterly rega…
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For even all know with what vain arrogance, malice, party spirit, and eager lust of attacking the labours of others, the minds of many are corrupted and in- fected. Not only, then, was it necessary that I should anticipate and digest in my mind the contempt and scoffings which these bantering, saucy, dull-witted, self-…
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There can be no doubt but that many points of doctrine still remain, on which the labours of the godly and learned may be usefully employed: for although many reverend and learned divines, both of the present and former age, [from the time, at least, when God vouchsafed to ovir fathers that glorious regeneration, or ti…
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_ ' "Ab ipsis fert religionis nosti-pe ounis et primordiis." Surely the rendering above is a wide deria,- tion Irom Owen's meaning,— " i'rom the infancy and origin of our religion/' that is, the Christian reli- gion.—Ed. 492 riiEFACE. As to what pertains to theology itself, or that " knowledge of the truth which is a…
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PREFACE. 493 entei-tained hope that, through the goodness of God, in giving me leisure, and re- tirement, and strength for study, the deficiency of genius and penetration might be made up by industry and diligence), was now so circumstanced that the career of my studies must be interrupted by more and greater impedime…
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But not on this account alone would I have been reluctant to return, after so long an interval of time, to this darling university ; but another care, another office, and that by far the most weighty, was, by the concurring voice of the senate of the university, and notwithstanding my most earnest requests to the contr…
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' UnXvs rapayfjios h ti roTg 9-ioT; hi. — Eurip. Iphig. in Taur. 572. * Or justice. — Tr. 496 A DISSERTATION ON DIVINE JUSTICE, [PART I. We think proper to divide this dissertation into two parts. In the FIRST PART, which contains the body of our opinion, after having premised some general descriptions of divine jus…
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The philosopher Aristotle, long ago, as is well known, hath di- vided justice into universal and particular. Concerning the former, he says that he might compare it to the celebrated saying, " In justice every virtue is summarily comprehended," Ethic, ad Nicom., lib. V. cap. 1, 2; and he affirms that it in no wise diff…
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1. They are absolute and perfectly free, — namely, in words. 2. They are necessary, — namely, in actions. For the justice of God is neither altogether one of that kind of perfections which create and constitute an object to themselves, as power and wisdom do, nor of that kind which not only require an object for thei…
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DISTINCTIONS EESPECTING JUSTICE. 601 which has not naturally some respect to another object, are for the most part silent concerning this justice. And once, by the way, to take notice of these [hair-sj^litters], on this, as almost on every other subject, they are strangely divided. Duns Scotus, Durandus, and Paludamus…
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' Snarcz's Lectures of the Justice of Gml. 2 Sect. 5. s Or quality. Tb. * That is, inducing to, or chiiwing forth, the act of punishing. — Tr. ' In the original, " Iiniiio ctiani ex condigno," " And that, too, of condiguity." — Eft DISTINCTIONS RESPECTING JUSTICE. 503 derstancl any thing else by divine justice than…
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The other egress of this justice is in judgment, the last member of the divi.sions of which, above mentioned, — namely, that by which ' Or class.— Te. DISTINCTIONS RESPECTING JUSTICE. 505 God punishes the crimes of rational beings, to whom a law hath been given, according to the rule of his right, — is the vindicato…
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But these are not the only adversaries we have to do with: tliere are others, pious, worthy, and very learned divines, who, respecting the point of Christ's satisfaction, are most strictly orthodox, and who, though they cannot find in their hearts directly to deny that such an attribute or power is essential to God, ye…
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1. There are some attributes of Deity which, in order to their exercise, require no determined object antecedent to their egress; of this kind are wisdom and potuer. These attributes, at least as to their first exercise, must be entirely free, and dependent on the mere good pleasure of God only ; so that antecedent to …
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Let our adversaries, therefore, dream as they please, that we deter- mine God to be an absolutely necessary agent when he is a most free one, and that his will is so circumscribed, by some kind of justice which we maintain, that he cannot will those things which, setting the consideration of that justice aside, would b…
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512 A DISSERTATION ON DIVINE JUSTICE. [PART I. the liberty of the divine will diminished in any respect more by the necessary egresses of divine justice than by the exercise of other attri- butes; for these necessary egresses are the consequence, not of an abso- lute but of a conditional necessity, ^namely, a rational…
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Moreover, it is manifest that God meant this holiness in that promulgation of his glorious name, or of the essential properties of his divine nature, made face to face to Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 5—7; which name he had also before declared, chap, xxiii. 7. That non- absolution or punishment denotes an external effect of the…
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1. That it is universally acknowledged; nay, it is not unknown even to the most abandoned of mankind, and to those schools of every kind of wickedness which the apostle is there describing. Whence they derive this knowledge of the divine law and justice shall be made to appear hereafter. 2. That it is the cause, sourc…
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II. The universal consent of mankind furnishes us with a second, from which we may reason in this manner : " What common opinion and the innate conceptions of all assign to God, that is natural to God; but this corrective justice is so assigned to God: therefore, this justice is natural to God." The major proposition …
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tiou, and is reaJy beforehand, by anticipation, as the word •jep'o^Ti-^'i; simply means, to respond to the abstract idea of equity, or to confirm the concrete application of it iu the common awards of good or evil. — Ed. ' "Uifia/^a xayai vpos Tixiia/v ^iifeufiivt!;. TciXaiv livj-rav. -Kurip. Elec, 1103. AEGUMENTS F…
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Wiiither, ah! whither art thou flying? To what dai-k undiscovered shore ? 'J'hou sccm'st all troml)ling. shiv'ring, dying, And wit and humour arc no more." Tii. ARGUMENTS FOR VINDICATORY JUSTICE— CONSENT OF MANKIND. 521 " That which is truly evil," says Tertullian, " not even those who are under its influence dare …
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But a respectable writer objects, — namely, Rutherford on Provi- dence, chap. xxii. p. 355, — that this argument, that that which men know of God by the natural power of conscience must be naturally * Socin., de Autlioritate Scripturoc; lib. edit, sub nomino Dominici Lopez, Soc. Jc3. ARGUMENTS FOR VINDICATORY JUSTICE…
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In this way of apj^easing the Deity, mankind, I say, formerly agreed ; whence it is evident that an innate conception ^ of this sin- avenging justice is natural to all, and, therefore, that that justice is to be reckoned among the essential attributes of the divine nature ; concerning which only, and not concerning the…
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Ditmarus, in his first book, testifies " That the Normans and Danes sacrificed yearly, in the month of January, to their gods, ninety-nine human creatures, as many horses, besides dogs and cocks." But what Procopius, on the Gothic war, writes, is truly astonishing, — namely, " That the Francs made use of human victims …
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Of the same kind was the religion of the Decii, devoting them- selves for the safety of the city. Hence a suspicion arose, and was everywhere rumoured, among the Gentiles, concerning the sacred rites of the Jews, with which they Avere unacquainted, — namely, that they were wont to be solemnized with human sacrifices : …
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" Tu quuni pro vitula, statuis dulccra Aulide natam, Ante urns, spai-gisque niola caput, improbe, salsa, Rectum auiuii son'as?" — Her., lib. ii. sat. iii. v. 199. " When your own child you to the altar led, And pour'd tlie salted meal upon lier head; AVhcn you beheld the lovely victim slain, Umiatural fathci' ! were y…
926 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1850–1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.