PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 12
John Owen · 372,421 words · 377 reading sections
Section 301
And this will comprise the laws of this redemption, which are usu- ally given. They are, first. On the part of the redeemer: — 1. " Pro- pinquus esto;" — " Let him be near of kin." 2. " Consanguinitatis jure redimito ;" — " Let him redeem by right of consanguinity." 3. "Injusto possessori praedam eripito;" — "Let him d…
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1. That becaiise redemption is sometimes to be taken metaphori- cally, for mere deliverance, when it is spoken of God without any men- tion of a price or ransom, in such cases as wherein it was impossible that a ransom should be paid (as in the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt and Pharaoh, when it is ex…
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Secondly. It is the delivery of one in captivity. All men, consi- dered in the state of sin and alienation from God, are in captivity. Hence they are said to be "captives," and to be "bound in prison," Isa. Ixi. 1. And the work of Christ is to "bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness" (th…
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2. As for the principal cause of this captivity and imprisonment, it is God; for, — (1.) He is the creditor to whom these debts are due: Matt. vi. 9, 12, "Our Father which art in heaven, forgive us our debts." It is to him that we stand indebted the ten thousand talents. " Against thee, thee only, have I sinned," sa…
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S. Satisfaction is properly made to the law when the penalty ' " Quid ad ca testimonia quoe nos a Christo testantur redemptos respondes ? — Resp. E verbo I'edimcndi non posse effici satisfactionem banc, liinc est planum, quod de ipso Deo ct in novo et in prisco fcedere scribitur, eum redemisse populum suum ex iEgypto,…
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Whence is that of the apostle, Rom. viii. 83, 34, " Who shall lay any thing to their charge? who shall condemn them?" Who should but God? It is God, against whom they have sinned, whose the law is, and who alone can pronounce sentence of condemnation on the offenders, and inflict penalty accordingly. Yea, but " it is G…
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And the great plea of our adversaries, that this redemption is not proper because we are redeemed from our iniquities and vain con- versation, to which no ransom can be paid, will then be freed from ridiculous folly, when they shall give an instance of a ransom being paid to the prisoner's fetters before his delivery, …
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522 VINDICI^ EVANGELICJE. Although enough hath been said already to evince the truth of this, yet I shall farther put it out of question by the ensuing obser- vations and inferences: — 1. To the payment of a price or ransom properly so called, — which, as is acknowledged, is not necessary that it should be money or t…
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2. The price of redemption is to be paid to him who detains the captive by way of jurisdiction, right, and law-power. That God is he who thus detained the captive was also proved before. He is the great householder that calls his servants, that do or should serve him, to an account, ewapai Koyov, Matt, xviii. 23, 24 ; …
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They are [says Grotius] brought to righteousness without that labour that is re- quiredfor lesser,even philosophical virtues. Faithmakes an abridgment of the work.' The rrpuTov -^sudog of the great man, in the whole interpretation of that epistle, as of others of sundry sorts besides himself, is, that to be justified …
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But how are these ends bi'ought about, that we should be BixaioO- fhivoi dupiclv, and yet there should be svdit^ig bix.aioalvrii'i (3.) Ans. The means procuring all this is the blood of Christ; it is bia, TTJs oLToXurpuiffiag ttjs sv Xpiffr^ 'iriffov, — " by the redemp- tion that is in Christ Jesus." And how that rede…
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I " Interventus sanguinis Christi, licet Deum ad liberationem banc a peccatorum nostrorum poena nobis concedendum movcre non potuerit, movit tamen nos ad earn nobis oblatam accipicndam, et Cbristo fidem habendam." — Socin. ubi sup. OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST. 529 whence our translators have in the margin rendered …
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OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST. 531 i. 7, " In whom we have u'Trokhrpueiv Bia rou ai'/z-aros aurou, — redemp- tion by his blood ; " as it is again asserted in the same words, Col. i. 14. But how came we by this redemption? He obtained it of God for us: "He entered into heaven, aicavJav XvTpuaiv elpdfisvog, hav- ing fou…
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OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST. 533 ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job/' etc. The offenders are Eliphaz and his two friends; the of- fence is their folly in not speaking aright of God ; the issue of the breach is, that the wrath or anger of God was towards them. Recon- ciliation is t…
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3. God loves our persons as we are his creatures, is angry with us as we are sinners. 4. It is true that we can have no greater evidence and argument of the love of God's good-will and pleasure in general than in send- ing his Son to die for sinners, and that he is not angry with them with an anger of hatred opposite …
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3. The reconciliation we have with God is a thing tendered to us, and we do receive it: Verse 11, KaraXXay^v kXaZo/izv^ " We have re- ceived the reconciliation (or atonement)." Now, this cannot be spoken in reference to our reconciliation to God as on our side, but of his to us, and our acceptation with him. Our reconc…
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(3.) This reconciling of us to himself is the matter committed to the preachers of the gospel ; whereby, or by the declaration whereof, they should persuade us to be reconciled to God. " He hath com- mitted to us rov Xoyov TT^g y.arak'h.ayrig, this doctrine concerning recon- ciliation mentioned, ' we therefore beseech …
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640 VINDICIiE EVANGELIC^. The observations given on these texts have been suited to obviate the exceptions of Socinus, treating of this subject in his book " De Ser- vatore," without troubhng the reader with the repetition of his words. That which in the next place I thought to do is, to prove that we have this recon…
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6. Did Christ by his death show us a way whereby we might come to be reconciled to God or convert ourselves? What was that way ? Is it that God lays punishment, and affliction, and death, on them who are no way liable thereunto? What else can we learn from the death of Christ, according to these men? The truth is, they…
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' " Qua ratione ? — Quod ad id quod fallax sit et erronea, attinet, id hinc perspi- cuum est, quod non solum de ea nihil extet in Scripturis, verum etiam Scripturis et BaniB rationi repugnat? " 2 " Demonstra id ordine ?— Id non haberi in Scripturis argumento est, quod istius opinionis assertores nunquam perspicuas scr…
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What little relief this plea will afford our adversaries will quickly appear; for, — 1. I have proved that Christ underwent that death that was due unto sinners, which was all that justice, law, or reason required. He underwent it, though it was impossible for him to be detained by it. 2. If the Racovians do not thin…
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And this is that which they have to make good their charge against the common faith, that "it is false, erroneous, and pernicious" ! Such worthy foundations have they of their great superstruction, or rather so great is their confidence and so little is their strength for the pulling down of the church built upon the R…
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OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST. 549 (1.) Christy say they, "brought us eternah salvation from heaven;" that is, " he preached a doctrine in obedience whereunto we may obtain salvation/' So did Paul. (2.) " He died that we might receive it;" that is, " rather than he would deny the truth which he preached, he suffered …
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Also, that Christ made satisfaction for our sins appears from hence, that he was our mediator. Concerning this, after their attempt against proper redemption by his blood, which we have already con- sidered, question 28, they inquire, — Q. What say you to this, that Christ is the mediator betiveen God and men, or [the…
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A. John iii. 16, 17, vi. 33, iv. 42; 1 John iv. 14; John xii. 46, 47; Mark xvi. 15, 16; Col. i. 23, 28; 1 Tim. ii. 1-4; 2 Pet. iii. 9; 2 Cor. v. 19; 1 John ii. 1, 2. 1. That God is good to all men, and bountiful, being a wise, power- ful, liberal provider for the works of his hands, in and by innumer- able dispensatio…
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554 VINDICI^ EVANGELIC^. ground there is none, nor can be offered by the assertors of the pre- tended universality of God's love. Nor is this proposition, "He that believeth shall be saved," founded on the universality of love pleaded for, but on the sufificiency of the means for the accomplishment of what is therein …
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Moreover, in all eminent effects and fruits of love, in all the issues and ways of it, for the good of and towards the sons of men, God abundantly manifests that his eternal love, that regards the ever- lasting good of men, as it was before described, is peculiar, and not universally comprehensive of all and every one …
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It appears, then, from the consideration of this first most eminent effect of the love of God, in all the concernments of it, that that love which is the foundation of all the grace and glory, of all the spiritual and eternal good things, whereof the sons of men are made par- takers, is not universal, but peculiar and …
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4. Not, then, to insist on any other particular effects of the love of God, as sanctification, justification, glorification, this in general may be affirmed, that there is not any one good thing whatsoever that is proper and peculiar to the covenant of grace, but it proceeds from a distinguishing love and an intention …
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Q. Did Christ rise by his own power, yea, did he raise himself at all? or ivas he raised by the power of another, and did another raise him ? What is the per- petual tenor of the Scripture to this purpose? In answer hereunto, many texts of Scripture are rehearsed, where it is said that God raised him from the dead, an…
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Q. Wliat speaketh the righteousness which is of faith ? A. Rom. X. 8, 9, " The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach ; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou sh…
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The title of the sixteenth chapter in our catechist is, " Of keeping the commandments and having an eye to the reward; of perfection in virtue and godliness to be attained ; and of departing from right- eousness and faith." What the man hath to offer on these several heads shall be considered in order. His first questi…
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(2.) That an unregenerate person should keep any one of God's commandments as he ought is impossible, not from the nature of God's commands, but from his own state and condition. (3.) That a person, though regenerate, yet being so but in part, and carrying about with him a body of death, should keep the commands of Go…
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A. Rev. xxii. 14; Rom. ii. C-S ; Tit. ii. 11-13; 2 Thess. i. 5. Ans. 1. In what sense it is possible to keep the commandments, in what not, hath been declared. 2. How it is necessary, or in what sense, or for what end, Mr B. hath not yet spoken, though he sup- poseth he hath ; but we will take it for granted that it i…
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His next is, " Is it the tenor of the gospel that we should live uprightly in expectation of the hope hereafter?" . Doubtless, neither shall I need to give any answer at all to this part of the inquiry but what lies in the words of the scripture produced for the proof of our catechist's intention, " The grace of God th…
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Not to make long work of that which is capable of a speedy despatch : By " virtue and godliness," Mr B. understands that uni- versal righteousness and holiness which the law requires ; by " perfec- tion " in it, an absolute, complete answerableness to the law in that righteousness and holiness, both as to the matter wh…
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3. That Paul is very troublesome to all the Phaiisees of this age ; who therefore turn themselves a thousand ways to escape the au- thority of the word and truth of God, by him fully declared and vindicated against their forefathers, labouring to fortify themselves with distinctions, which, as they suppose, but falsely…
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Q. What ansiuer, then, would you give to a man ivho, ivrestmg the words of Paul in certain places of his Epistles to the Romans and Oalatians, should hear you in hand that all good luorks ivhatever are excluded from justification and salvation, and that it is enough onhj to believe? A. James ii. 20-2G. OF PERFECT OBE…
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* Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance Explained and Confirmed, vol. xi. OF PRAYER. 577 CHAPTER XXXIV. Of prayer; and whether Christ prescribed a form of prayer to he used hy believers ; and of praying unto him and in his name under the old testament. The first question is: — Ques. 7s prayer a Christian duty ? An…
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Our Saviour says, " When ye pray, say. Our Father," etc. On supposition of the sense contended for, and that a form of words is prescribed, I ask whether we may at any time pray and not say so, seeing he says, " When ye pray, say," — whether we may say any OF PRATER. 579 thing else, or use any other words? whether th…
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I say, these things being premised, — 1. That before Christ's com- ing into the world, the saints of the old testament did pray, and were appointed of God to pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, inas- much as, in all their addresses unto God, they leaned on him, as pro- mised to them, through whom they were to receive th…
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I shall only say, by the way, that if Mr B. may be expounded by his masters,^ he will scarce be found to give so clear an assent to the resurrection of the dead as is here pretended ; that is, to a raising again of the same individual body for the substance and all substan- tial parts. This his masters think not possib…
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584 YIXDICIJi: EYAXGELICiE. v/itli life, attended Avith all the evils which come under that name and are in the first commination. Those who are dead in trespasses and sins are not nothing, though they have no life of grace. But Mr B. proceeds, and saith, — Q. Thovgh this passage which you have quoted seems clearly t…
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A very few words will put an issue to this controversy, if our blessed Saviour may be accepted for an umpire. Saith he, Matt. 586 VINDICI^ EVANGELICiE. XXV. 46, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Certainly he that shall be everlast- ingly ^;r<?M'5Aec? shall he ever…
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' " Bene et composite Cnesar .... disseruit, falsa, credo, cxistimans, quae de irifcrnis memorantur ; diverso itinero nialos a bonis loca tctra, inculta, fceda atque formidolosa, habere." — Cato, apud Sallust. Bell. Catilin. 52. 588 VINDICI^ EVANGELIC^. To close this whole discourse, I shall present Mr B/s catechumen…
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Q. 30. How then did he save them, or was he their saviour, who died before his teaching and dying ? A. He did not save them, nor was their saviour, nor did they ask any thing in his name, or receive any thing on his account. Q. 31. Did Christ raise himself, according as he spake of the temple of Ids body, " Destroy t…
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1 An account of the controversy to wliieh this Appendix relates will be found in a prefatory note to Owen's treatise " Of the Death of Christ," in reply to Baxter. See vol. x. p. 430. — I'.v. 2 Sophocles, Aj- 866. ' Chrysost. Con. i. mpi frpovtiKs. i Sueton. in Vit. Tib. 592 OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, arietinum, adamas…
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''Nam qui lepide postulat alterum frustrari, Quem frustratur, frustra euni tlicit frustra esse. Nam qui sese frustrari quem frustra, sentit, Qui frustatur is frustra est, si non, ille est frustra." What, then, shall I do? I am imposed on to lay the foundation of all Antinomian- ism (as Mr Bui'gess is also), — to maint…
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What shall I do, then? Shall I put forth a creed or an apology to make it appear that indeed I am not concerned in any of Mr Baxter's contests ? But, — 1 . I dare not look upon myself of any such consideration to the world, as to write books to give them an account of myself (with whom they very little trouble their t…
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To have passed over, then, this whole business in silence would have seemed to me much the best course, had I not seen a man of so great integrity and impar- tiality as Mr B. (who so much complains of want of candour and truth in others) counting it so necessary to vindicate himself from imputations as to multiply book…
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" For the present I shall only say, that there 'being too great evidence of a very welcome entertainment and acceptation given by many to an almost pure Socinian justification and exposition of the covenant of grace," etc. To M'hich Mr B. subjoins: — " But to be almost an error is to be a truth. There is but a thread…
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598 OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, Jo. Schlichting. Di^put. pro Faust. Socin. ad Meisner. p. 129-131. "De eo quod homo justitiam accipiat, nihil legitui- in sacris Uteris ; et si id explicetur ex mente adversari- orum, ridicula est fabula. Fides vero non est, accurate loquendo, causa instrumentalis, sed causa sine qua non (e…
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5. That our justification is our absolution from the guilt of sin, and freedom from obnoxiousness unto punishment for it, and nothing else. Our regeneration is the condition of our absolution, and in them both, in several respects, is our right- eousness. " Justificatio est cum nos Deus pro justis habet, quod ea ratio…
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8. That the denial of our faith and obedience to be the condition of our justi- fication, or the asserting that we are justified by the obedience of Christ imputed to us, is the ready way to overthrow all obedience, and drive all holiness and righteousness out of the world. '• Quod Christus factus sit nobis a Deo just…
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'O Se o.uv rovs vificv; Aiav dxfiZus (Tuxofavrris fainTUl. G02 OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, But that is in the matter of laws ; these are but words. Now, though I have just cause to abstain from calling in associates in my judgment, lest I should bring them under the suspicion of Antinomianism, though not of the ruder so…
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That this is my sense I profess I knew not before, and should be sorry I should dwell so little at home that Mr B. should know me and my mind better than I do myself. I look upon him as my friend, and, — Tat rat (f'lXuv xoiv, ov f/,o\iov ra ^^ni/.wra, \i.a,] tov; Oi, Kcci ^oovriffius xoiva/via. But yet he may possibl…
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" En cor Zenodoti, en jecur Cratetis." What is most admirable in this discourse I know not. 1, I am suggested to maintain "'justification from eternity;" I am "one that write that way ;" I am " one that, by the doctrine of justification from eternity, overthrow justification by faith and the merits of Christ." What I…
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But, p. 228, from words of mine, which from several places of my treatise are 606 OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST, put together, he makes sundry inferences, and opposes to them all two conclusions of his own, p. 229. " This man," says he, " seems to judge that the name of complete justification is proper to that in conscienc…
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After I know not how many arguments brought forth to confirm this position, my arguments against it are produced and answered : but what the learned man means I profess I know not, unless " disputandi prurigine abreptus," he cares not what he says, nor against whom, so he may multiply arguments and answers, and put for…
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These things being premised, Mr B. proceeds to answer my arguments, which were produced to prove that upon the death of Christ there was a right obtained for the elect to all the benefits of his death, this right residing in the justice of God, or in the equalling of these things by divine constitution (as I fully decl…
963 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.