PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 21
John Owen · 325,389 words · 316 reading sections
Section 61
VER. 12-14. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 113 [2dly.] By what means it renders the heart evil when it is brought under the power thereof. [1sé.] It consists in the soul’s receiving impressions from argu- ments and reasonings against profession, in the whole or any de- grees of it. Satan is and will be casting “ fiery dar…
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First, It acts itself in dislike against the purity, simplicity, and spirituality of its worship. This was that wherein our apostle had principally to do with the Jews. They were apt, all of them, to admire the old, glorious, pompous worship of the temple, and so to dislike the naked simplicity of gospel institutions. …
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A VER. 12-14. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 117 of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and de- sired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life, whom …
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VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 119 to confound it, or the presence of God in and with him, with their own pretended light. And whence doth this arise? It is merely from the secret dislike that unbelief hath of this mystery of God. Hence they cannot see that “form and comeliness” in him for which he should be des…
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This is another important part of the mystery of the gospel, and that which unbelief greatly dislikes; that is, it is apt to beget in the soul a dislike of it. And a great instance we have in the world of its power and efficacy to draw men off from the gospel; for un- belief in this matter is the real foundation of the…
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[8dly.] It works by and consists in a growing diffidence of the promises and threatenings of the gospel. The great work and duty of faith is to influence the soul unto universal obedience and an abstinence from all sin, out of a regard unto the promises and threatenings of God. So our apostle directs in 2 Cor. vii. 1. …
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First, With respect unto the gospel and its efficacy for the mor- tification of them; for it takes off, weakens, and disarms those con- siderations which the gospel tenders unto the souls of men for that end. The way and means whereby the gospel of itself worketh towards the mortification of the lusts of the heart is b…
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[2.] The next thing in the words is that especial evil which the apostle cautions the Hebrews against, as that which a heart made evil by the prevalency of unbelief would tend unto, and which is like ts ensue if not prevented in the causes of it; and that is, “ departing from the living God:” ’Ev r@ droorjvas dx @od Ca…
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3dly. (which either alone or in concurrence with these other reasons is certainly in the words), That he might deter them from the sin he cautions them against by the pernicious event and conse- quent of it; and this is, that therein they would depart from him who is the great, terrible, and dreadful God, the living Go…
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Obs. VI. The best way to antidote the soul against sin, is to repre- sent it unto the mind in its true nature and tendency. 1 On Indwelling Sin in Believers, vol. vi. of this edition of the author’s works. —Ep. VOL. XXL. 9 130 AN LXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. III. The hiding of these was the way and means whereby sin f…
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2dly. There is no other way or means whereby men may yield any obedience or worship unto God but only by the gospel, and so no other way whereby men may express their subjection unto him or dependence upon him; and where this is not done, he is necessarily forsaken. Whatever men may say, or do, or pretend, as to the wo…
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And let us all know what care and reverence becomes us in the things of the gospel. God is in them, even the living God. Other- wise he will be neither known nor worshipped. His name, his authority, his grace, are enstamped on them all. Obs. VIII. When a heart is made evil by unbelief, it is engaged in a course of sin…
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Hereunto is added a limitation of the season of this duty as to its continuance: “Axypis of +d ofuepoy xare?ras,— “Whilst it , Aeon is called To-day ;” that is, ‘Be sedulous in the discharge crpspov xuati- of this duty whilst the season of it doth continue. The ™ occasion of this expression is taken from what was befor…
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Lastly, The evil itself particularly cautioned against is expressed in that word oxAnpurd7, “should be hardened;” of the sense and importance whereof we have spoken fully on the foregoing verses. The design, then, of this verse is to prescribe a duty unto the Hebrews, with the manner of its performance, and the season …
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Secondly, And to the right performance of it the things ensuing do appertain :— 1. That they who perform it find in themselves an especial con- cernment in the persons and things with whom and about which they treat in their exhortations. It will not admit of any pragma- tical curiosity, leading men to interpose thems…
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Obs. II. Gospel duties have an especial efficacy attending them in their especial seasons: “ While it is called To-day.” Every thing hath its beauty, order, and efficacy from its proper season. Again,— Obs. III. We have but an uncertain season for the due perform- ance of most certain duties. How long it will be calle…
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Tap. Vevyovarsey. Méiroxor rod Xpiorov. VER. 12-14.} EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 143 disciple of Christ, and so really to belong unto him. But the true and precise importance of the words may be learned from the apostle in his use of those of an alike signification with reference unto Christ himself, Heb. ii. 14: “Beca…
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THs Urorrd- ows. VER. 12-14] © ~—sEPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 145 unto the soul, and have a subsistence given them therein. It is not, then, faith itself, but an effect of it, that is there described by the apostle. If, then, by “the beginning of our substance,” “ subsistence,” or “confidence,” faith is intended, it is …
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* See On Communion with God, vol. ii. of this edition of the author’s works. — ED, VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 147 be called, or whatever may be the effects of it, they may wither, die, and perish. Men may be so cut off from the old stock of nature as not to have sin grow or flourish in them, not to bear its…
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Secondly, It is the first in dignity; it is the greatest, most honourable, and glorious of all graces that we are made partakers of. It is called “glory,” 2 Cor. iii 18. The greatest humiliation of the Son of God consisted in his taking upon him of our nature, Heb. ii. 8, 9. And this was “the grace of our Lord Jesus Ch…
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VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 151 formance of good works, without deriving strength for them from their relation unto Christ; for all that they do is either nothing in itself, or nothing as unto acceptation with God. “We are the work- manship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,” Eph. ii. 10. Becomi…
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VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 153 able unto such a work. If they utterly fail herein, however any out of darkness and self-love may flatter and deceive themselves, yet others have a rule to judge them by. But this now we have in daily experience, as there was the same also from the first preaching of the gospel…
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Moreover, we have in this matter the examples of those who have gone before us in the faith, proposed unto our imitation and for our consolation. They had that evidence and assurance of an interest in Christ which we insist upon. So our apostle declares in the name of all believers, Rom. viii. 38, 39: “Iam persuaded,” …
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Fifthly, This also may be added,— Whatever profession hath by any been made, whatever fruits of it have been brought forth, whatever continuance in it there hath been, if it fail totally, it is a sufficient evidence that those who have made it were never “partakers of Christ.” So our apostle, having declared that some …
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Again, It is necessary upon the account of our peace, consolation, and fruitfulness in this world, And these belong to our subsistence in Christ. Without the two former we have no satisfaction in our- selves, and without the latter we are of no use to the glory of God or good of others. Now, as our eternal happiness de…
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Three things the apostle hath stated in his preceding arguing and exhortation:—First, The evil which he would have the He- brews carefully to avoid under the preaching of the gospel unto them, or their hearing of the voice of God; and that is the “ hard- ening of their hearts.” Secondly, The cause hereof, which he per-…
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"Ey +@ raparixpacuo. Beza and the Vulg. Lat., “quemadmodum in illa exacerbatione,”—* as in that provocation;” expressing the article, which Erasmus and most translators omit; neither is it needful to be expressed, it being a mere repetition of the words, and not a reference unto them, that the apostle hath in hand. Syr…
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Obs. I. That every circumstance of the Scripture is instructive. The apostle having before urged the authority of the psalm, and the example recorded in it unto his purpose, here he again resumes the words before insisted on, and from sundry cir- cumstances of them, with the matter contained in them, further argues, r…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 167 ritual eye: always provided that their search and inquiry be regu- lated according to the will of God, in a due use of the means; for to this purpose not only the private endeavours of men are re- quired, but the use also of the public ministry, which is ordained of God to lead…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 169 themselves, nor endeavouring to lead their hearers into the secret and rich recesses of them. And secondly, which is worse, When men without the Scripture design their subjects, and project. the handling of them, and occasionally only take in the words of the Scripture, and tha…
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Ait Movetws. VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 171 for therein “they were evangelized, even as we,” Heb. iv. 2. And also, their hearing is spoken of as that which was past (“ When they had heard”) before their provoking, which yet signally happened in the second year after their coming out of Egypt. This, then, wa…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 178 unto some “a savour of death unto death,” 2 Cor. ii. 16. Yea, Christ himself, in his whole ministry, was “a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” Isa. viii. 14, Luke ii. 34. And the en- joyment o…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 175 3. God will do this for the work that he hath for some of his in all ages and seasons to do in the world. And this is great and various. He will have some always to conflict with his adversaries and overcome them, and therein give testimony to the power of his grace and truth. …
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In the two next verses the apostle’ proceedeth to evince the ne- cessity and enforce the use of his preceding exhortation, from the circumstances of the example insisted on; and this he doth by way of interrogation. He proposeth in them questions on the matter of fact, and answers them from what is either directly expr…
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Obs. I. God is not displeased with any thing in his people but sin; or, sin is the only proper object of God’s displeasure, and the sinner for sin’s sake: ‘With whom was he displeased, but with them that sinned ?’ IT need not set up my candle in the sun of this truth. I wish it were as seriously considered practically…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 181 siah, Itis literally much more true concerning the believing Gentiles, whose calling is expressly foretold and prophesied of in the foregoing verses, who saw the severe judgment of God on the unbelieving Jews, when, in the fatal destruction of their city and temple, their car- …
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~ VER, 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 183 relation that is between them. Such were the sins of the old world and the flood, of Sodom and the fire, of Dathan and the earth open- ing its mouth to receive him, with the rest of the instances fre- quently enumerated in the Scripture. Such are all stories and reports of t…
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VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 185 shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,” Ps. lviii. 9, 10;—that is, God’s executing of dreadful judgments on wicked men to their destruction, shall justify them in their testimony and profession, and wash off all as- persion…
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The question proposed is annexed unto that foregoing, and declar- ed to be designed unto the same purpose, by the respective copulative dé, which we render “and,” “And to whom.” The words of this question have been explained before on verse 11, Only here is one thing added. For whereas it is there said only that “God s…
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Obs. I. All unbelief is accompanied with contumacy and rebel- lion. VER. 15-19. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 189 It is dwefdesw, and those in whom it is are not persuaded to com- ply with the mind and will of God. Lintend that privative unbelief which hath been before explained. When the object or thing to be believed is …
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3. Consider the manner how the gospel proposeth unto us the object of faith, or the things which it requireth us to believe. It doth not do this by a mere naked revelation or declaration of them unto VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 191 us, attended with a severe command, It adds entreaties, exhorta- tions, reaso…
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Obs. III. The oath of God is engaged against no sin but unbe- lief. As God hath given his oath for the confirmation and consolation of believers, both as to the things which they are to believe and as to their assured safety on their believing, and to nothing else directly in a way of grace, for it is annexed unto his…
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“ And we see;” that is, ‘It is evident from what hath been laid down and proved ;’ or, ‘ This we have evinced, given an ocular demonstration of it.’ “ Now we see;”and this evident conclusion consists of two parts :— 1, An assertion, “That they could not enter in.” 2. The reason of it, “ Because of unbelief.” 1. In the…
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Obs. II. Unbelief is the immediate root and cause of all provoking sins. As faith is the spring and cause of all obedience (for “ without faith it is impossible to please God,” and the obedience that is ac- cepted with him is “the obedience of faith”), so is unbelief of all sin. All sins of flesh and spirit have no ot…
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3. Hence he resumes his exhortation with respect unto his expli- cation and vindication of the prophetical testimony by him pro- duced, verse 11. 4, This he again strengtheneth by a double argument or consider- ation:—(1.) In a way of caution, by proposing unto them the nature of the word of God wherein they were conc…
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200 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. Ver. 1, 2.—Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should seem at any time to come short [to fail]. For unto us was the gospel preached, even as unto them [we were evangelized even as they|; but the word of hearing did not profit them,…
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x vy, Sobndawev. 202 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. ‘ consuming fire.” The fear of dread and terror in God, requires the fear of reverence in us, in all that we have todo with him. A respect hereunto is expressed by sinners, Isa, xxxiii. 14, and Mie. vi. 6, 7. (2.) Fear expresseth that frame of heart and spirit w…
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Thirdly, There is a fear of reverence,—a reverential fear of God. This is that which most commonly is intended by the name of the “fear of God,” both in the Old Testament and the New. And it is not an especial duty, suited unto some seasons and occasions, but that which concerns us in our whole course, in all our ways …
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Obs. I. The gospel, in the dispensation thereof, is not only at- tended with promises and rewards, but also with threatenings and punishments. This, for the substance of it, hath been already spoken unto, on chap. ii. 2, 3. Obs. II. Gospel comminations ought to be managed towards all sorts of professors promiscuously,…
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(2.) There are such as respect their futwre condition, or threaten- ings of eternal wrath and indignation with especial regard unto that apostasy whereunto they are liable. It is manifest that there are such comminations denounced against deserters, apostates, such as forsake the profession which they have made; which …
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[2.] This denouncing of threatenings unto believers is suited unto their good and advantage in the state and condition wherein they are in this world; for believers are subject to sloth and security, to wax dead, dull, cold, and formal in their course. These and many other evils are they liable and obnoxious unto whils…
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(2.) There belongs unto it a due consideration of the greatness, terror, and majesty of God, who is the author of these commina- tions, and who in them and by them doth express unto us those glorious properties of his nature. So our apostle adviseth us to “serve God with reverence and godly fear,” because he is “a cons…
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Karwasirw is of an ambiguous signification. Sometimes it is used for “ desero,” “ negligo,” to “ desert,” “neglect,” or “forsake” in a culpable manner. Frequent instances of this sense occur in all au- thors, And if that sense be here admitted, it confines the meaning of the words unto the latter interpretation; “Lest …
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Expositors generally grant that it is the rest of glory which is here intended. This is the ultimate rest which is promised unto believers under the gospel. So they who are in glory are said to “rest from their labours,” Rev. xiv. 13, and to have “ rest,” 2 Thess. i. 7,—the rest of believers in heaven, after they have …
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and consciences of believers. This is that which the people of God in all ages looked for, and which in the preaching of the gospel was proposed unto them. Fifthly, The true nature of this rest may be discovered from the promise of it; for a promise is said to remain of entering into this rest. Now, this promise is no…
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VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 219 boldness, enlargedness of mind, and plainness of speech, in crying, “ Abba, Father.” Thirdly, Evangelical rest consists in a delivery from the yoke and bondage of Mosaical institutions. Yor as the people of old had a spirit of bondage within them, so they had without upon them …
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From the consideration hereof, with that of the threatening in- cluded in the severity of God towards unbelievers before insisted on, doth the apostle educe his monitory exhortation, “Let us fear, there- fore.’ He knew the concernment of the souls of men in such a condition, and the danger of their miscarriages therein…
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3. This proposal of the promise of the gospel unto men is decre- tory and peremptory, as to God’s dealings with them about their salvation. “ He that believeth not shall be damned,” Mark xvi. 16. There is no other way for us to escape “the wrath to come.” God hath indispensably bound up mankind to this rule and law: he…
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Aozy, “should seem.” It refers unto wf wore, “lest at any time.” There is a threefold probable sense of this word or expression:—1. Some suppose it to be added merely to give an emphasis to the caution. And so there is no more intended but that “none of you come short of it.” And this manner of speech is not unusual,— …
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Obs. VII. Many to whom the promise of the gospel is proposed and preached do, or may, through their own sins, come short of the en- joyment of the things promised. The caution here given unto the Hebrews, with the foundation of it in the example of those who did so miscarry, not only warrants, but makes necessary this…
925 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.