PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 21
John Owen · 325,389 words · 316 reading sections
Section 121
228 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. cays. The next head of circumspect walking in such a condition, that no semblance of “coming short” may be given, is, a diligent endeavour to avoid “all appearance of evil,” 1 Thess. v. 22,—every thing that may give occasion unto any to judge that we are faint- ing in our profession…
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(1.) Because the difficulties in, and oppositions that lie against, the other part of our profession, with the excellency of the duties of it in such a season, are apt to surprise men into an approbation of themselves in a neglect of those important duties, as was before observed. It is a sad thing to see men suffer fo…
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Kabdwep xcxsivor, “even as they.” It is plain from the context Kal yap. *Ecuiy einy- yiriopetvor. 232 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. who are those whom this relative, xoxeMo, directs unto, namely, the _ fathers in the wilderness, who were before treated of; ager lary *“- those who had, those who disbelieved and …
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234 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. faith in the use of them, they were led unto a participation of the benefits of the promise of the gospel. From what hath been spoken it appears how the gospel was preached unto the fathers in the wilderness, or how they were evan- gelized. It is not a typical gospel, as some speak…
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236 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. to be expected, should recompense and out-balance all the evil that had in an especial manner befallen them. And this consisted in that great privilege, that these people were the jirst that had the gospel preached unto them, as the evanoele manifests in his appli- cation of this pr…
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238 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. This, then, having been given out and established dw) xaraCorgs xéowov, “from the very beginning of the world,” this was the rise of the gospel, which ever since hath been the ground, rule, and mea~ sure of all God’s transactions with the children of men. Whatever new declarations h…
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And these things have we observed from the first part of the confirmation of the preceding exhortation, taken from the parity of state and condition between the present Hebrews and those of old, inasmuch as they had both the same gospel preached unto them. The latter part of it is taken from the especial event of givin…
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If we read svyxexpupévovs, it refers to éxsivovs, and is regulated thereby: “Those who were not mixed with the faith of them that heard.” And this seems to exclude the in- eres terpretation of Chrysostom, which Theophylact, who not only follows him almost constantly, but also transcribes from him, professeth that he co…
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2. If the persons spoken of be to be understood, the text doth not say they were not mixed with them that believed, were not united unto them, or conjoined with them, but not mixed r7 ziores, “to the faith.” Now, there are two difficulties not easily remov- able that do attend this sense and construction of the words:—…
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VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 245 strengthening them unto obedience. - It is not the intention of the words to declare barely and nakedly that they did not believe in any sort or sense, but that these hearers did not receive and im- prove the word of promise in such a way and manner as to obtain the full benefit…
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Obs. VI. There is a failing, temporary faith with respect to the promises of God, which will not advantage them in whom it is. It is known how often the people of old professed that they did believe, and that they would obey accordingly; but, saith the apostle, notwithstanding all their pretensions and professions, no…
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[2.] Faith in its acting towards and on the promise is also said to receive it. By it we receive the word; that is, it takes it into the soul and incorporates it with itself, There is more herein than a mere assent to the truth of what is proposed and apprehended. And sometimes we are said by it to receive the word its…
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Hence is the word of Christ said to dwell or inhabit in us: Col. iii. 16, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” This inhabitation of the word, whereby it makes its residence and abode in the souls of men, is from this spiritual incorporation or mix- VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 251 ing w…
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[2.] Faith sets love at work upon the objects proposed to be be- lieved. There is in the gospel, and the promises of it, not only the truth to be considered which we are to believe and assent unto, but also the goodness, excellency, desirableness, and suitableness unto our condition, of the things themselves which are …
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In this third verse three things are laid down:—First, An asser- tion comprising the whole intendment of the apostle, in these words, “For we which have believed do enter into rest.” Secondly, A proof of that assertion from the words of the psalmist, “ As he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into m…
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First, That the express words here used do assign a present en- trance into rest unto them that do believe, or have believed: Ejsep- 36420,—“ We do enter in.” It may be said, and it is confessed that the present tense doth sometimes express that which is instantly future; as some think it may be proved from Luke xxii. …
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First, It is the rest of God upon the account of the author of it, in whom his soul doth rest. This is Jesus Christ, his Son. Isa. xlii. 1, “Be- hold,” saith God the Father of him, “my servant, whom I uphold ;*?2 vb] MNS,” “mine elect; my soul delighteth (resteth) in him.” Matt. ii. 17, “This is my beloved Son, é 6 edd…
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(1.) By giving unto him “all power in heaven and in earth” upon 260 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. his exaltation. This power, and the collation of it, we have dis- coursed of on the first chapter. It was as if God had said unto him, ‘My work is done, my will perfectly accomplished, my name fully manifested,—I have …
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Obs. I. The state of believers under the gospel is a state of blessed rest; it is God’s rest and theirs. So much was necessary to be spoken concerning the nature of this rest in the opening of the words, that I shall treat but briefly on this observation, though the matter of it be of great importance. God created man…
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_ (1) It is not difficult to remove this objection. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath done it for us, in these words of his to his disciples, “In the world ye shall have trouble; but in me ye shall have peace,” John xvi. 33. The rest we treat of is spiritual; God’s rest, and our rest in God. Now spiritual, inward rest, in and…
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(1.) It is one thing to be in a state of rest, another to know that aman is so. Believers are by faith instated in rest, and have every one of them “peace with God,” being “reconciled unto him by the blood of the cross;” but as to what shall be the measure of their own understanding of their interest therein, this is l…
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268 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. Iv. effectual. Hence every threatening includes a promise in it, and every promise hath also the nature of a threatening in its proposal. There ‘is a mutual inbeing of promises and threatenings in reference unto the ends of the covenant. God expressing his mind in various ways, hath st…
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4, The same grace is administered in the covenant to make the one and the other effectual. Men are apt to think that the pro- mises of the gospel are accompanied towards the elect with a supply of eftectual grace to render them useful, to enable them to believe and obey. This makes them hear them willingly, and attend …
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_ Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” I do acknowledge that these words, as they relate to the preced- ing and ensuing discourses of the apostle, are attended with great difficulties; for the manner of the ratiocination or arguing here used seems to be exceedingly perplexed. But we have…
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But we are yet further to inquire into the nature of the several rests here discoursed of by the apostle, with their relation one to an- other, and the especial concernments of that rest which he exhorts them to enter into, wherein the principal difficulties of the place do lie. And some light into the whole may be giv…
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276 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. proportion of time as was requisite for the worship of God, and ap- pointed as a pledge of his rest under the law of creation, wherein it had:respect unto God’s rest from the works of creation alone; (2dly.) As it received a new institution, with superadded ends and significations, …
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Having taken a prospect into the whole design of this place, I shall now return to the consideration of those particular passages and testimonies by which the whole of what we have observed from the context is cleared and established. And first we must view again the preface, or entrance into the discourse, as it is ex…
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And herein the design of God was to set us an example of that course which, “according to the counsel of his will,” he intended by his command to guide us unto; namely, that a course of work and labour might precede our full enjoyment of rest, This he plainly declares in the fourth commandment, where the reason he give…
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Obs. V. All the works of God are perfect. He “finished” them, and said that they were “good.” “ He is the Rock, and his work is perfect,’ Deut. xxxii. 4. His infinite wis- dom and power require that it should be so, and make it impossible that it should be otherwise. The conception of them is perfect, in the infinite …
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Eipnxs, “he spake,” or “said.” Who or what this re- fers unto hath been showed already. Ilov, “ somewhere,” “in a certain place.” As he allegeth not his author expressly, no more doth he the particular place where the words are recorded. He only refers the Hebrews to the Scripture, which was the common acknowledged pr…
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Karérauety. VER. 4.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 285 copies, as also followed by some ancient translations, as the Sama- ritan and the Syriac. The occasion of this corruption was to avoid a pretended difficulty in the text, seeming to assert that God rested on the seventh day, and yet that he finished his work on that da…
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VER. 5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 287 contend withal; yet this he undertakes on the sole authority of the Scriptures, and testimonies to his purpose thence taken, and glo- riously accomplisheth his design, Certainly whilst we have the same warranty of the word for what we avow and profess, we need not despond for those…
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Considering, as the apostle here doth, what is said sd, and what again év rodrw, what in one place, and what in another, then compar- ing them together with their mutual respect, with the due use of other means, we shall, under the conduct of God’s Spirit and grace, come to an acquaintance with his mind and will. The h…
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Secondly, He assumes that those to whom that rest was first preached “entered not in, because of their disobedience.” It is manifest whom the apostle intends in these words, namely, those who came out of Egypt under the conduct of Moses, whose sin and punishment he had so fully expressed in the foregoing chapter. Now t…
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Thirdly, God’s rest after the creation of the world at first was on the first seventh day; which he therefore “blessed and sanctified,” that it might be a pledge and token both of his own acquiescency in his works and in the law of obedience that he had assigned unto them all; as also unto men of that eternal rest whic…
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Obs. II. 1 The promises of God are such as belong only to the grace of the covenant, or such as respect also the outward administration of it in this world. Those of the first sort are always, at all times, actu- ally fulfilled and made good unto all believers, by virtue of their union unto Christ, whether themselves h…
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VER. 6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 297 filling up Christ’s promised kingdom, gave countenance thereby unto their own violence, rapine, and filthiness: (2.) That we be not peremp- tory, troubling our own faith and that of others about the future ac- complishment of such promises as probably are fulfilled already, and tha…
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Ans. Believe, and pray; and then take the encouragement given, Isa. lx, 22, “I the Lorp will hasten it in its time.” It hath its ap- pointed time, which cannot be changed; but if you will consider the oppositions that lie against it, the unlikelihood and improbabi- lity of its accomplishment, the want of all outward me…
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Obs. VI. 5. Some concerns of the glory of God in the world may sus- pend the full and outward accomplishment of some promises for a sea- son. Thus there are many promises made to the church of deliverance out of afflictions and persecutions, and of the destruction of its ad- versaries. When such occasions do befall the…
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VERSE 7. Tlddw rive opiCes nuepay, Simepor, ev Aalld Aeyov, were rooovroy xpéovov, xa0MG Eipyras, SH wEpoy, Ed” THS Quvhs adrod anxovonre, wr) onAnpLYNTE Tas AO POIAS YMG. ; Some MSS. for efonres, “said,” or “spoken,” read xpos/pyres, “forespoken,” or “foretold.” Mera rosotrov xpcvov, “ post tantum tempus,” or “ temp…
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Mera rosotrov xpovov, “ after so long a time,” namely, spent and bygone. The date of this time is to be taken from the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, or from the second year after, when the spies were sent to search the land, and all that ensued thereon, which our apostle hath so considered and improved. From …
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And this concerns the word preached as well as read. Provided, —1. That those that preach it are sent of God; 2. That what is preached be according to the analogy of faith; 3. That it be drawn from the written word; 4. That it be delivered in the name and authority of God. Obs. II. Divine inspiration, or the authority…
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2. There is in it the whole counsel of God concerning his own worship, and the whole of that obedience which he requires of us _ that we may come to be accepted with him here, and to the eternal enjoyment of him in glory. For “all Scripture is given by inspi- ration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, …
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I confess, some think it strange that this one book, and that whereof so great a part is taken up in genealogies, histories, and laws, antiquated as to their original use, should contain all sacred spiritual truth; and therefore they have endeavoured to help it with a supply of their own traditions and inventions. But …
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This is the great preparation for the soul’s admittance into the treasury of sacred truths: Go to the reading, hearing, studying of the Scripture, with hearts sensible of your own unworthiness to be taught, of your disability to learn, ready to receive, embrace, and sub- mit unto what shall be made known unto you,—this…
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(2.) Another end of God was, that we might have a safe rule and infallible guide for the due performance of all the duties, towards himself and one another, which he requires of us in the whole course of our obedience, 2 Tim. iii. 15-17. God hath, in infinite wisdom, treasured up in this book every thing that, either f…
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6. In our search after truth our minds are greatly to be influ- enced and guided by the analogy of faith. He that “ prophesieth,” —that is, interpreteth Scripture,—must do it xard riy dvaroyiav ris wiorews, Rom. xii. 6; “according,” say we, “to the proportion of faith.” There is a harmony, an answerableness, and a prop…
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This that hath been spoken may serve, as for the reproof of some, so for the direction of others. Whence is it that some receive so little benefit by their studying of the Scripture, at least in their pretending soto do? Alas! their manifold miscarriages are manifest unto all, Without diligence, without humility, witho…
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VER. 8.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 319 *Inoods is of no signification at all in the Greek tongue, it being only their man- ner of pronunciation of 279, “ Jeshua,” which is “a saviour ;” which name was given to the Lord Christ because of the work he had todo. So also was it to this Jesus the sonof Nun. The wickedness of …
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VER. 8.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 321 pestilences, famines, earthquakes, inundations, eruptions of sub- terraneous vapours, conflagrations, and the like; all testifying the indignation of God against the works of his own hands, because of the sin of man, to whom he had given them for a possession, and put them in subje…
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It is surely, therefore, our wisdom, in our inquest after rest,—which; whether we take notice of it or no, is the main design of our lives, in all that we project or execute,—not to take up in any thing be- neath him or without him. All those things, the enjoyments of the world, the righteousness of the law, the outwar…
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2. It is a pledge of the recovery of this rest for us, and that it is not absolutely the same rest in God whereunto we were made, but another rest, a better and more sure. And therefore it is “another day” that is given unto us, and not the same day as of old. God kept the people under the law in an intermediate estate…
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326 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV. would have us remember to keep. Now, our apostle having proved that the con- sideration of that original rest of God, as to its first ends and purposes, is re- moved, and consequently the day itself founded thereon, and another rest intro- duced, to be expressed in and by another da…
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1. Because their being of “the people of God,” that is, in covenant (for where a people is God’s people, he is their God, Hos. ii. 28), was the greatest and most comprehensive privilege that the Hebrews had to boast of or to trust in. This was their glory, and that which exalted them above all nations in the world. So …
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» Obs. IL. It is the people of God alone who have a right unto all 330° AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. the privileges of the gospel, and who in a due manner can perform all the duties of it. The rest of the gospel and all that is comprised in it, is for them, © and for them only. All others who lay hand on them, or…
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332 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. I shall not contend with any, but with all humility propose my own thoughts and reasons to the consideration of them who are wise, learned, and godly. I am not, then, satisfied with the exposi- tion mentioned of this place, but look upon it as that which neither suits the design of …
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334 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv. must suffer no more, die no more, but only continue the work of his grace, in the preservation of the new creature, and orderly in- crease and propagation of it by the Spirit: (2.) In his delight and satisfaction which he taketh in his works, which Jesus Christ hath to the utmost. “…
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Here lieth the foundation of our sabbatizing, of the sabbatism that remains for the people of God. This reason doth the apostle give of it. He had before asserted it; and there remained no more for him to do but to manifest that as those other rests which were past, the one at the beginning of the world, the other at t…
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Hicsndety eis exeivyy thy xatemavoiv. These words have been all opened be- fore; nor do translators vary in the rendering of them. “Ive po) ty @ wdTO Tis UTOdElymari weoy THS awetbelas. Vulg. Lat., “ut ne in id ipsum quis incidat incredulitatis exemplum.” Rhem., “that no man fall into the same example of incredulity;”…
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Obs. I. That great oppositions will and do arise against men in the work of entering into God’s rest; that is, as unto gospel faith and obedience. First, The very first lessons of the gospel discourage many from look- ing any farther. So when our Saviour entertained the young man that came to him for instruction with …
905 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.