PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 19
John Owen · 284,889 words · 276 reading sections
Section 61
120 NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERO. XXIX. 8-14, And in such declarations of himself he instructs us in what apprehensions we ought to have of his nature; which if it be not gracious and merciful, we are taught by him to err and mistake. So when God showed unto Moses his glory, and made a declaration of h…
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122 NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXIX. plies a contradiction to say that it doth so, and yet that it depends merely on the will of God. And in that book De Deo he hath other conceptions to this purpose: Cap. xxiii. p. 180, “ Est ratio ali- qua honestatis, circa quam Deus juste dispensare non potest;” …
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124 ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. [EXERC. XX1X. the punishment of our disobedience. And so have we closed our first argument in this cause, with our vindication of it. A DIGRESSION Concerning the sufferings of Christ, whether they were of the same kind with what sinners should have suffered, or whether he suffered th…
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. 126 ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. [EXERC. XXIX. may be variously modified, from divers respects. Consider the punish- ment suffered, it may be it was the same; consider the person suffer- ing, and it was not the same, And therefore it may be said, as far as it was a penalty it was the same; as it was a payment it wa…
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It remains that we consider the principal objections that are usu- ally levelled against the truth asserted, and either answer them, or 128 ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. [EXERC. XXIX. show how that which we maintain is not concerned in them nor op- posed by them. First, therefore, it is objected, “ That the punishmen…
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VOL. XIX. 9 130 ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. [EXERC. XXIX. afterwards ensue. 4. Deliverance is no end of punishment, con- sidered merely as such; none is punished properly that he may be delivered; however, the cessation of punishment may be called a deliverance. 5. Mere deliverance was not the whole end of Christ’s …
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and law of the participation of the benefits of the sufferings of Christ, was also free and of grace. The communication of the Holy Spirit 132 NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXX. unto us, enabling us to believe and to fulfil the condition of the covenant, is absolutely free. And other instances of the …
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unto death, the worst that could be feared or suffered, in their own stead, with an imprecation “ quod in ejus caput sit” upon him. 4, Again; what is affirmed in the Scripture concerning the anger 134 NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXX. wrath, and fury of God against sin, and in the punishment of sin-…
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Thirdly, It is necessary that God should do every thing that is requisite wnto his own glory. This the perfection of his nature and existence doth require. So he doth all things for himself. It is ne- cessary, therefore, that nothing fall out in the universe which should absolutely impeach the glory of God, or contradi…
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Others say it was needful the Lord Christ should suffer, for the declaration of the righteousness of God, with his hatred of and severity against sin. So indeed the Scripture says, but it says so on the suppositions before laid down and proved. How they can say so, with any congruity unto or consistency with reason, by…
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‘unto, as they are represented unto us by the apostle in the Epistle itself, Wherefore there would be no necessity of handling the na- ture of this office here apart, were it not for the opposition that is made unto it, and that depravation of the doctrine of the gospel con- cerning it which some have attempted; for wh…
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First, He unto whom all things whatever properly belonging unto @ priest are ascribed, and to whom belongs the description of.a priest in all things essential unto him, such ascription and accommodation being made by the Holy Ghost himself, or persons divinely inspired by him, he is a high priest properly so called. An…
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[1.] That as Aaron was a priest, so there was a necessity, from the prophecy of Ps. cx. 4, that there should be another priest. Now, if this other priest were not a priest properly so called, as Aaron was, there is no consequence in the apostle’s discourse, it proceeding on terms equivocal. [2.] The priesthood, accord…
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[7.] Add unto all these particular instances unto the contrary, that this Socinian fiction of the Lord Christ being not a priest, but only called so, by reason of some similitude between what he doth for the church and what was done by the priests of the law,—which indeed, as by them explained, is none at all,—is direc…
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SECT. 3.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 147 Sacrifices by blood, to be offered by these priests, and by them only, God appointed of various kinds, with respect unto various occasions, of bulls, goats, sheep, fowls; whose nature and differences T have explained in our former Exercitations, Exerc. xxiv. The prin- cipal end …
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4. There are (as is out of controversy) three offices which the Lord Christ, as the mediator and surety of the new covenant, beareth and exerciseth towards the church, namely, those of king, prophet, and priest. And these, as they are distinctly assigned unto him, so they are distinct among themselves, and are names of…
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SECT. 5, 6.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 151 unto him metaphorically. As such he is said to make oblation and intercession to God,—-the things wherein the exercise of the priestly office doth consist. What confidence is it, now, to deny that he doth these things properly and immediately with God as a high priest, by an …
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SECT. 7, 8.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 158 immediate transaction between him and the Father before the world was. This call of his, therefore, may be considered either with re- spect unto designation or manifestation. As it intends the designa- tion of Christ unto his office, so it is expressed in these words of God t…
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In that prayer, therefore, of our Saviour, John xvii, do I place the beginning and entrance of the exercise of his priestly office. Whatever he did after this unto the moment of his death belonged principally thereunto. Sundry things, I confess, fell in occasionally afterwards, wherein he aeted his prophetical office i…
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Thirdly, There was the burning of the sacrifice, or in some cases the principal parts of it, on the altar. This finished or completed the sacrifice. For whereas, in the great anniversary of expiation, some part of the blood of the sacrifice was carried into. the most holy place, it was no part of the sacrifice itself, …
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In the pouring out of his blood, the heavenly altar of his body was sprinkled, and all heavenly things purified, even with this “better sacrifice,” Heb. ix. 23. Thus is he said to “pour out his soul unto death,” Isa. liii. 12. That expression contains the whole nature of a sacrifice: for his soul is said to be poured o…
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1 See vol. xii. Vindiciee Evangelice. SECT. 12.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 161 will of God, he gave up himself unto death for us. This love and obe- dience, the Socinians say, is the sacrifice intended in this place, which is therefore metaphorical; but that Christ offered himself a sacrifice in his death they deny t…
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f 1 Tt is in verse 16 that the translation occurs, but it has no reference to sacri- ce.—Ep, SECT. 13, 14.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 163 plications considered by themselves, and to instance in those only at his death, when he might have mentioned those [which he presented ] when, in the course of his life, he contin…
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SECT. 15-17.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. e 166 action once performed, and then ceasing to be performed, however it continues in its virtue and efficacy, is so expressed. The high priest entered into the most holy place once in the year; that is, his so do- ing was an act that was at once performed, and after that was n…
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What hath been pleaded is sufficient unto our present purpose, as to the declaration of the nature of the priesthood of Christ, his entrance upon it, and discharge of it. But there being another opi- nion concerning it, universally opposite in all particulars unto the truth declared and vindicated, we must, for the sec…
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(8.) “ Whereas his intercession doth belong unto this office of his, and is expressly assigned unto him as a high priest, it is nothing but a note, evidence, or expression, to teach us that the power which the Lord Christ exerciseth and putteth forth mercifully for our relief, he received originally from God, as if he …
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In this controversy he expressly engageth, in Respon. ad Grotium, cap. x. part. 56, p. 543: “(1.) Pontificiam Christi dignitatem a pro- phetica et regia distinctam agnoscimus, quanquam non pari modo distinctam. (2.) Arctius enim cum regia dignitate cohzret quam cum prophetica. (8.) Unde duo ista munera, regium nempe et…
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The argument from Heb. i. 1-8, whereby he attempts to prove that one of these offices is contained in the other “ quodammodo,” whatever that be, (5.) is infirm and weak; yea, he himself knew well enough the weakness of it. It consists in this only, that the apostle in that place makes mention of the prophetical and pri…
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The reason also why the full revelation of the nature of this office of Christ was, in the wisdom of the Holy Ghost, reserved for this Epistle to the Hebrews is so evident that our author need not think so strange of it. It was among them that God of old had in- stituted the solemn representation of it, in their typica…
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SECT. 7.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. WE his kingly power, or any act of it, is included in his intercession, which is so distinctly expressed. Wherefore, (4.) that the apostle should here mention the kingly power of Christ, and name his. in- tercession as the act thereof, seeing he nameth no other, is a fond imaginatio…
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SECT. 8.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 179 sacrifice, of his intercession, when all these things, in the proper and only signification of the words, are expressly denied by them. 8. Our author proceeds, in the next place, to give a reason of that which neither is nor ever was, namely, why the holy writers do in some mann…
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SECT. 9.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 181 he who, by his intercession, procures us favourable audience and speeds our requests with God. See our Exposition on the place. Our expectation of relief and aid from the Lord Christ as the king of grace and glory on his throne, ariseth from that all-power in heaven and earth wh…
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(7.) Those words whereby he enlargeth herein, “ That then, when Christ was raised from the dead, God gave unto his people a king according unto his promises, and appointed Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, or, which is the same, the Son of God in power,” for which Acts ii, 36, Rom. i. 4, are urged, are partly ambiguous…
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. He adds another difference :—“ (1.) Deinde cum Christum regem appellamus, eo ipso nisi quid addamus aliud, nec (2.) exprimimus eum hanc potestatem aliunde accepisse, et, quicquid beneficii ab ipso ut rege nostro proficiscitur, (3) id totum Deo qui hane ei potes- tatem largitus fuerit, ascribendum esse. (4) Regium eni…
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He yet proceeds:—“ (1.) Accedit quod cum Christus sacerdos dicitur et quidem talis qui seipsum obtulerit, et mors ipsius, sine qua offerre se non potuit, apertius includitur, quam regni mentio nullo pacto complectitur; (2.) et cura ipsius admodum tenera. et solicita quam pro nobis gerit, et qua expiationem peccatorum n…
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He closeth his discourse in these words:—“ Quare hee quoque fuit causa hujus (1.) appellationis Christo tribuende; ut (2.) omit- tam multas similitudines qua Christo cum sacerdote legali et Mel- chisedeco, qui itidem fuit sacerdos Dei altissimi intercedunt; que huic appellationi causam dederunt; quibus etiam addenda es…
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(3.) In the giving of the law God did renew and multiply the instructive types and representations of these offices of Christ. And herein, in the first place, he takes care to teach the church that he (whom all those things which he then did institute did signify) was to be a priest; for of any prefiguration of his kin…
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SECT. 13, 14.] EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED. 1938 of another kind, which may be more honourable than that of the priesthood, yet if he have not that also, he therein comes behind him that hath it. (2.) It is true, where things fall under the same appellations, some properly, and some metaphorically only, those of the latt…
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SECT. 1, 2.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 195 wholly out of the Scriptures and of expressions therein used; for it is not an agreement in words and the outward sound of them, but the belief and profession of the same truths or things, that is alone to be valued, all that is beyond such an agreement being left at peace…
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3. The second duty of the priestly office is intercession. How frequently this also is ascribed unto the Lord Christ as a high priest hath been declared before. Now, intercession is of two sorts: —(1.) Formal and oral; (2.) Virtual and real. (1.) There is a SECT. 3.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 197 JSormal, oral int…
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5. The First thing we are to inquire into is, the time and place of the exercise of the priesthood of Christ ; and the state of the controversy about them needs only to be touched on in this place, as haying been before laid down. Wherefore with reference hereunto we affirm,— SECT. 4-6.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 1…
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SECT. 6.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 201 which, in what sense soever it be affirmed, is the highest fruit of love, and so the highest act of his sacerdotal office. [2.] The effects of this priestly love and care, they say, consists in the help and aid which he gives unto those that believe on him, whereby they may b…
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SECT. 7.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 203 slew the enmity, made peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles unto God in one body, by the cross, Eph. ii. 15,16. Our adversaries would have the reconciliation intended to be only on our part, or the reconciling us unto God; not on the part of God, or his reconciliation untous. B…
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9. Fourthly, Other priests, who never entered into the sanctuary, were types of Christ in their office and the execution of it; which if he was not a priest on earth, nor thereon offered his sacrifice or executed his office, they could not be; for nothing they did repre- sented the appearance of Christ in heaven. And t…
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unless they are of the same kind with that of Christ, which is not yet affirmed. [38,] The truth is, the whole people under the law were types of believers under the gospel in the highest of their pri- vileges, and therefore the priests were not so. We are now “kings and priests;’ and the apostle Peter expressing this …
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SECT. 10.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 209° tory, might be delivered from so pernicious an error. And in like manner it was so with respect unto them who, being satisfied in their -cessation and removal, were to be instructed in what. was the design of God in their institution, and what was their use; whereby they mi…
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SECT. 11.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 211 é expressions as whereby the dignity of Christ is diminished, and less is ascribed unto him than is due. Certainly men have used to make very bold with the Scriptures and their own consciences who can satisfy themselves with such imaginations. But yet when all is done, all …
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SECT. 11.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 213 Ans. (1.) I understand not the force of the proof from this testi- mony unto the purpose of our author. The high priest did enter into the most holy place with the blood of the sacrifice. What will thence ensue? Had it been common blood before, and now first conse- crated un…
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Ans. (1.) These properties of “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” which the apostle ascribes unto our Lord Jesus as our SECT. 12.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 215 high priest, Heb. vii. 26, as also his offering himself “ without spot,” chap. ix. 14, this man ascribes unto Christ as exalted in heaven,…
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SECT. 13, 14. OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 217 of Christ’s intercession, “Cum igitur de Christo dicitur eum pro nobis interpellare, aliud nihil dicitur quam eum potentia illa sua sibi data curam nostri gerere.” It is not easily conceivable how a greater violence can be offered unto a sacred expression. By such interpr…
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15. But because we have resolved on a particular examination of all that can be pretended in this matter on the behalf of our adver- saries, we may consider his plea at large in his own words: “ ql) Grotius ita verba ea proculdubio intelligit, ac si dictum esset sacri- ficiis moveri Deum, ut hominibus benefaciat, et ex…
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SECT. 15. ] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 221 of sacrifices he would pardon it, and would have such sacrifices offered, not because he was angry, but that he might not be so, is a vain imagination; for all sacrifices were offered for sins that were past, and all application we can make unto God by the sacrifice of Chri…
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SECT. 16, 17.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 223 account, on this supposition, can be given of the intercession of Christ, which is his second great sacerdotal duty? Doth this also consist in a powerful efficiency in us of what God hath decreed concerning his pardoning, blotting out, and extinguishing of sin? Is this t…
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SECT. 17.] OF TITE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 225 cording to the opinion of our adversaries, we deny that there is any such likeness or similitude between what Christ doth in taking away of sin and what was done by the priests of old, as that any denomi- nation could or ought thence to be taken, or any name assigned unto i…
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SECT. 17.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 2a% sin, without respect unto any procuring cause or means whatever. And if propitiatory or expiatory sacrifices had no influence into the remission of sin, if they made not atonement for it, they were of no use at all. Nor is there any thing fond in the application ot ~ these t…
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SECT. 18.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 229 terms affirms it; but he would make a show of reasons why though the thing be not so indeed, yet it is mentioned as though it were; which is first to assign a falsehood to the holy writers, and then to excuse it. His ensuing discourse in this place, wherein he designs to pro…
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But he yet undertakes to prove that what is here mentioned is the whole of what Christ doth as a priest for us, his discourse whereof, because it compriseth the substance of all that he hath to plead in this cause, I shall at large transcribe and examine:— 19. “ Ad ea vero confirmanda et illustranda adhibentur a D. au…
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*. SECT. 19.] _ OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 233 ter of great consolation and encouragement unto believers, but it is not to be asserted unto the exclusion of that which is the fountain of all the benefits which we receive by his mediation. And now it may be considered whether any thing be here offered by this author,…
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s,” with the like magnificent expressions of sacerdotal actings, do Recta unto ,—namely, that he frees us by his power from tempta- tions and afflictions, with all the efficacy they have to destroy us? Is this, I say, to offer himself to God a true, perfect, complete expia- SECT, 19.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 235 …
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1. SunprRy things concerning the priesthood of Christ, and those the most material that relate thereunto, we have now passed through. But we know withal that although the foundations hereof were laid in the eternal counsels of God, and a revelation was made of them in the first promise, immediately upon the entrance of…
1,120 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.