PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 20
John Owen · 308,868 words · 307 reading sections
Section 121
3. For the nature and manner of this speaking, when and how God said it, four things seem to be intended in it:—(1.) The eternal decree of God concerning the exaltation of the Son incarnate. So David calls this word the “decree,” the statute or eternal appoint- ment of God, Ps. ii. 7. This is Adyog évdstderog, the inte…
929 wordsSECTION 122Section 122
The kingdom, rule, or reigning of Christ in the first sense, is the authority and power which he puts forth for the conversion, sancti- fication, and salvation of his elect, As he is their king, he quickens them by his Spirit, sanctifies them by his grace, preserves them by his faithfulness, raiseth them from the dead …
1,018 wordsSECTION 123Section 123
VER. 13.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 229 And, 4thly. So likewise the world, John xvi. 33; Gal. i. 4. And against, 5thly. Death, Heb. ii, 14, 15; 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56; with, 6thly. The grave; and, 7thly. Hell, or the wrath to come, 1 Thess. i. 10. They are all meritoriously conquered in his death and resurrection. And all th…
938 wordsSECTION 124Section 124
(3.) We are to consider by whom these enemies of Christ shall be made thus his footstool. ‘I will make them, saith God the Father unto him. And this expression wanteth not its diffi- culty; for is it not the work of Christ himself to subdue and con- quer his enemies? is it not said that he shall do so? So doing is he d…
953 wordsSECTION 125Section 125
And in this sense the term of limitation here expressed seems to be expounded by the apostle, 1 Cor. xv. 24, “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;” for although these words may admit of another interpreta- tion,—namely, that he shall give up an account unto the Fathe…
935 wordsSECTION 126Section 126
It is the administration of the kingdom of Christ in the world that this truth principally respects, Great is the enmity of this world against it; great the opposition that is and hath always been made unto it. But this will be the assured issue of it,—ruin to the ene- mies, joy to the saints, glory to Christ. This is …
967 wordsSECTION 127Section 127
236 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. L several ages, for the greater pledge of his veracity, typed out: as in the victory of Abraham over the four kings, representing the great monarchies of the world, wherein he had a pledge that he should be heir of the world in his Seed; in the conquest of Canaan, the seat and inheritan…
934 wordsSECTION 128Section 128
Ver. 14.— Ody) révres ciod Azirovpyind wvetwara, cig Ssaxoviay aaoa- TEAAGWEVH OI TOS WEAAOITUS HANpOVOLEIY CUTNpIayY ; There is no difference in the reading, nor much about the trans- lation of these words. Ver. 14.—Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to minister to [unto a ministry Jor| them that shall i…
987 wordsSECTION 129Section 129
3. Their execution of their office in their actual employment is here also expressed. They are “ministering spirits, ¢is dianoviaw amrooreAroucva, —“ sent out unto a ministry.” “Sent out,”’—that is, they are daily so, continually so, the word denoting the present time, which is always. They stand be- fore the presence …
1,066 wordsSECTION 130Section 130
Of the nature of this ministry of angels for the good of them that shall inherit salvation, because it belongs not directly unto the present design of the apostle, and would, in the full consideration of it, cause a long diversion from the work in hand, I shall not treat, although it be a matter singularly deserving ou…
959 wordsSECTION 131Section 131
_find how they despised in this world a share and interest in that service which is, and ever was, the glory and honour of angels. II. Such is the love and care of God towards his saints labouring here below, that he sends the most glorious attendants on his throne to minister unto him in taking care of them. He who g…
947 wordsSECTION 132Section 132
2. God is pleased to do this to ewercise the obedience of the angels themselves; and that upon a threefold account :—First, To keep, preserve, and rule them /itly to their state and condition. Being creatures, they have a natural and necessary dependence on God their creator; and being intellectual creatures, they have…
1,127 wordsSECTION 133Section 133
6. A blessed intercourse, society, communion, and fellowship ts maintained and kept wp between the several parts of the family of God,—that of angels above, and this of believers below. It hath been formerly declared how the angels in heaven and all elect be- lievers were reduced into one family, when God reconciled th…
1,211 wordsSECTION 134Section 134
1. They ate sent in an extraordinary manner to make revela- tions of the will of God, about things tending unto the obedience and spiritual advantage of them that do believe, Hereof we have 250 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. I. many instances in the Old Testament, especially in God’s dealing with the patriarchs before …
915 wordsSECTION 135Section 135
8. God sends forth his angels unto this ministry for the good of believers, to preserve them from many dangers and ruinous casual- ties that would otherwise befall them. Much of the design of Ps, Xci. is to acquaint us therewithal; for though the charge of angels is expressed only in verses 11,12, yet as the expression…
976 wordsSECTION 136Section 136
6. God useth the ministry of angels to avenge his elect of their enemies and persecutors, to render unto them a recompense and vengeance even in this world, in the due and appointed season. Thus by an angel he destroyed the army of Sennacherib, when he intended and threatened the destruction of Jerusalem; and by an aug…
914 wordsSECTION 137Section 137
2. Danger should not deter us from duty. Because some have miscarried in this matter, we ought not therefore wholly to neglect it, there being so great a concernment of the glory of God and our own good enwrapped therein. Had others erred or wandered in- deed, because they had neither way to walk in nor guide to attend…
1,001 wordsSECTION 138Section 138
Secondly, As to the Hebrews in particular, he had, as it were, so overwhelmed them with that flood of divine testimonies which he had poured out in the beginning of his epistle, and that heavenly, glorious declaration which he had made of the person of the Mos- siah, that he thought it needful to give them time to cons…
972 wordsSECTION 139Section 139
‘Various Reapines.—Tischendorf reads rapapyvamev, on the authority of ABD J; which, says Ebrard, is nothing more than an Alexandrine orthography. Exposition.—Ilwpap. Stuart remarks, that two senses have been attached to the word:—1, To fall, stumble, or perish. Chrysostom, Theophylact, Theodoret, and others, render th…
1,119 wordsSECTION 140Section 140
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 261 ance unto the gospel, but shows the reasons which they had to attend unto the one and the other, as the following verses clearly manifest. This, then, may be that which the apostle intimates in this word, namely, that they had more abundant cause and a more excellent reason for the…
996 wordsSECTION 141Section 141
Tt is, then, our sinful losing of the word and the benefits there- of which the apostle intendeth. And in the next verses he doth not proceed to prove what he had asserted in this verse, but goes on to other arguments to the same purpose, taken from the unques- tionable event of our neglect of the word, and losing the …
940 wordsSECTION 142Section 142
1. A due valuation of the grace tendered in it, and of the word itself on that account. TIpoozyewv denotes such an attendance unto any thing as proceeds from an estimation and valuation of it answerable unto its worth. If we have not such thoughts of the gospel, we can never attend unto it as we ought. And if we con- s…
987 wordsSECTION 143Section 143
4, Labouring to express the word received, in a conformity of heart and life unto tt, is another part of this attention. This is the next proper end of our hearing. And to do a thing appointed unto an end without aiming at that end, is no better than the not doing it at all, in some cases much worse. The apostle says o…
902 wordsSECTION 144Section 144
2. The ways and means also whereby this wretched effect is pro- duced are various, yea, innumerable. Some of them only I shall mention, whereunto-the rest may be reduced; as, (1.) Love of this present world. This made Demas a leaking vessel, 2 Tim. iv. 10, and chokes one fourth part of the seed of the parable, Matt. xi…
1,129 wordsSECTION 145Section 145
Alia rovro. 270 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [C1HAP. TI. gospel by him. It cannot, then, be neglected without the contempt of all the authority of God. And this will be a sore aggravation of the sin of unbelievers and apostates at the last day. If we attend not unto the word 6n this account, we shall suffer for it. He that d…
945 wordsSECTION 146Section 146
Ver. 2.—For if the word spoken [ pronounced] by angels was sure [steadfast], and every transgression and [ stub- born] disobedience received a just [meet, equal] retri- bution [or, recompence of reward |; Ver. 3.— Tas nweis expevddusda rnrixavrns amerAjouvres owrnpias; Hrig apynv AaGovoa Aursiodas dice rod Kupiov, vod…
981 wordsSECTION 147Section 147
Two things we may observe in this periphrasis of the law:—1. That the apostle principally intends that part of the Mosaical dis- pensation which was given on mount Sinai; and which, as such, was the covenant between God and that people, as unto the privilege of the promised land. 2. That he fixes on this description of…
943 wordsSECTION 148Section 148
And in these words lies the spring of the apostle’s argument, as is manifest in those interrogatory particles, o/ ydp, “ for if;’—‘ Por if the law that was published unto our fathers by angels was so vindicated against the disobedient, how much more shall the neglect of the gospel he avenged?’ Secondly, He affirms con…
952 wordsSECTION 149Section 149
This tite apostle iy down as a thing well known unto the He- brews, namely, that the law, which was delivered unto them by angels, received such a safietion from God, after it was established as the covenant between him and the people, that the transgression of it, so as to disannul the terms and conditions of it, had,…
933 wordsSECTION 150Section 150
Apron AaCovow AaArsiobas VER. 2-4. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 279 himself, and carried on to perfection by those who were appointed and enabled by him thereunto, John i. 17, 18. Thus was it by him declared, in his own person, as the law was by angels. And herein lies the stress of the apostle’s reasonings with refer-…
989 wordsSECTION 151Section 151
He further yet describes the gospel (3.) By the divine attestation given unto it, which also adds to the force of his argument and exhortation: Zuverimaprupotvrog rov cod. The word is of a double composition, denoting a concurring testimony of God, a testimony given unto or together with the tes- timony and witness of …
1,073 wordsSECTION 152Section 152
This is the scope of the apostle in these verses, this the import-- "Amsdrrioarvrss, Nas ix@evdo- peiba, Xespay Tiyeeplee. VER. 2-4. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 289 ance of the several things contained in them. His main design and intendment is, to prevail with the Hebrews unto a diligent attend- ance unto the gospe…
925 wordsSECTION 153Section 153
[2.] They are so on the part of believers themselves. Even they stand in need to be minded of “the terror of the Lord,” and what a fearful thing it is to “fall into the hands of the living God,” and that even “our God is a consuming fire.” And this,— 1st. To keep up in their hearts a constant reverence of the ma- jest…
963 wordsSECTION 154Section 154
On these grounds it is we say that the threatenings and denun- ciations of future punishment unto all sorts of persons are becoming the gospel; and therefore the using of them as motives unto the ends for which they are designed is evangelical. And this will further appear if we shall yet consider,— 1. That threatenin…
1,160 wordsSECTION 155Section 155
2. That this righteousness or justice of God is in the exer- cise of it inseparably accompanied with infinite wisdom. These things are not diverse in God, but are distinguished with respect unto the various manners of his actings, and the variety of the objects which he acteth towards, and so denote a different habitud…
1,001 wordsSECTION 156Section 156
(2.) This world alone is the time and place wherein you are to look and seek for mercy. Cries will do nothing at the last day, not ob- tain the least drop of water to cool the tongue in its torment. Some men, doubtless, have secret reserves that things will not go at the last day as by others they are made to believe. …
960 wordsSECTION 157Section 157
And this should stir us up unto a diligent search into the word, wherein God hath recorded all the concernments of his law and gospel that are for our use and advantage. That is the cabinet wherein all these jewels are laid up and disposed according to his wisdom and the counsel of his will. A general view of it will b…
1,123 wordsSECTION 158Section 158
tably follow:—(1.) That if men should neglect their duty in giving testimony unto the word, as they may do, because they are but men, then God cannot justly condemn any man in the world for the neglect of his word, or not believing it, or not yielding obedience unto it. And the reason is evident, because if they have n…
1,253 wordsSECTION 159Section 159
VER. 2-4.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 297 mystery,” 1 Cor. i. 7; Eph. i. 9; Col. i. 25, 26; that is, not only a thing secret and marvellous, but such as hath no dependence on any causes that come naturally within our cognizance. Now, whatever men can find out by the principles of reason, and the contemplation of the work…
917 wordsSECTION 160Section 160
2. It is so in the communication of the Spirit unto them that do believe, to furnish them with the gifts and graces of the kingdom of heaven, and to interest them in all those privileges of this salvation which God is pleased in this life to impart unto us and to intrust us withal. So the apostle, dealing with the Gala…
999 wordsSECTION 161Section 161
(3.) And faith itself, whereby we receive the Lord Christ for all the ends for which he is tendered unto us, and become actually interested in all the fruits and benefits of his mediation, is wrought in us by the word of the gospel: for, as we have declared, it is the seed of all grace whatever; and in especial, “faith…
1,010 wordsSECTION 162Section 162
6. Lastly, to instance in no more particulars, the gospel is the word of salvation, and the instrument in the hand of God for the confer- ring of it upon believers, because they shall be taken into the full possession and enjoyment of it at the last day, by and according unto the word and sentence of it. It is the symb…
956 wordsSECTION 163Section 163
304 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL cannot be conceived or expressed. Might we here stay to contem- plate and admire, in our dim and dawning light, in our weakness, according to the meanness of our apprehensions of the reflections of it in the glass of the gospel, the eternity of this contrivance; the transactions betw…
977 wordsSECTION 164Section 164
3. This Son of God, after the course of his obedience to the whole will of God, must die, shed his blood, and “ make his soul an offering for sin.” And herein the glory of this salvation breaks forth like the sun in its strength. He must be “obedient unto death, the death of the cross,” Phil. ii 8. If he will be a “cap…
1,215 wordsSECTION 165Section 165
308 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL whom at present it is despised, when they shall fall and perish under the want of it, and that to eternity. 2. This salvation is great upon the account of the end of it, or that which it brings believers unto. The deliverance of the people of Israel of old out of Egypt was great sal…
1,074 wordsSECTION 166Section 166
310 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II. the law should be punished with punishment eternal and yet the law had provided no relief for any in distress or misery, only taking men as it found them, in the first place it required obedience of them, and then promised a reward. And a good, holy, and right- eous law it was, both…
1,091 wordsSECTION 167Section 167
312 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II. Christ such a common thing as to be so cast away upon the lusts of men? Besides, when should he make an end of dying? They who have once neglected the gospel may do so upon a second trial, nay, undoubtedly would do so, and thence should Christ often die, often be offered, and all st…
1,093 wordsSECTION 168Section 168
ol4 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL dunghills whereon they live, and some stuff their minds with such filthy imaginations as make them an abomination to God, Mie. ii. 1, 2,—they are conversant only about their own lusts, and making provision to fulfil and satisfy them. But yet what are those things which the better and…
1,105 wordsSECTION 169Section 169
316 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II. contemplation by faith on the great unseen things of this salvation, which takes off our minds and spirits from a valuation of the things which we presently suffer and endure. And this experience assures us to be our only relief in afflictions; which undoubtedly it is our wisdom to …
982 wordsSECTION 170Section 170
(2.) Diligent study of the word, wherein this mystery of God is declared and proposed unto our faith and holy contemplation; but this hath been spoken unto in part already, and must again. be considered, and so need not here be insisted on. (3.) Sincere love unto and delight in the things that are by the Spirit of God…
1,095 wordsSECTION 171Section 171
VERSES 5-9. _ The apostle in these verses proceeds in the pursuit of his former design. From the doctrine of the first chapter, he presseth the exhortation at the beginning of this, which we have passed through. The foundation of that exhortation was the pre-eminence of the Lord Christ, the author of the gospel, above…
1,067 wordsSECTION 172Section 172
Boaxy ri, “breve quiddam;” Vul., “ paulo minus;” Syr., Sede, “ paululum,” “a little,” or “ paulisper,” “a little Shite: » ‘wy is faqusdy by the LXX. ren- dered wixpov, “parvum,” “ paululum,”—“a little,” intending quantity; sometimes ‘éaivyov, which they refer to number, “a few;” and sometimes Apexv, and then it constan…
1,140 wordsSECTION 173Section 173
The first verse, as was said, lays down the principal assertion in a negative proposition: “The world to come is not made subject unto angels.” One proof hereof is included in the words themselves; for that expression, “He hath not put in subjection,” is the same with our apostle as, ‘It is nowhere written or recorded …
1,104 wordsSECTION 174Section 174
From what hath been discoursed, we conclude that “the world to come,” here expressed, is the state and worship of the church under the Messiah, called so by the apostle, according to the usual appella- tion which then it had obtained among the Jews, and allowed by him until the Mosaical church-state was utterly removed…
1,187 wordsSECTION 175Section 175
328 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II. the visions of Zechariah and Daniel, with their works in the two great typical deliverances of it from Egypt and Babylon. But we must not here insist on particulars. Thirdly, As to the power of judging and ‘rewarding at the last day, it is openly manifest that God hath not put this…
1,069 wordsSECTION 176Section 176
330 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. II. 1 Cor. xi. 8. He is so to every believer respectively and seve- rally; and that in both those senses wherein he is a head,—that is, according to the natural and metaphorical use of the word. For,— f (1.) He is the only head of vital influence to the whole church and every member t…
911 wordsSECTION 177Section 177
3. It appears from hence that as he is our only head, so he is our immediate head. We have our immediate dependence upon him, and our immediate access unto him. He hath, mdeed, ap- pointed means for the communicating of his grace unto us, and for the exercising of his rule and authority over us. Such are all his ordina…
945 wordsSECTION 178Section 178
‘them all, that we might be his. If a king take a servant into his family, and thereby free and discharge him from being liable unto any other duty or service whatever, may he not justly expect that such a.one will be diligent in the observation of all his commands, especially considering also the honour and advantage …
1,081 wordsSECTION 179Section 179
2. The testimony itself is contained in the words following, verses 6, 7, “What is man,” etc. Before we enter into a particular expli- cation of the words, and of the apostle’s application of them, we may observe that there are two things in general that lie plain and clear before us; as,— First, That all things whats…
962 wordsSECTION 180Section 180
(3.) He expresseth this condescension of God in the affections and acting of his mind towards man: %313!N "3 ,—“ That thou re- memberest him,” or, “art mindful of him.” "Ors pwipvioxn abrot,— “That thou shouldest be mindful of him.” To remember in the Scripture, when ascribed unto God, always intends some act of his mi…
903 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.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.