PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 23
John Owen · 307,706 words · 316 reading sections
Section 181
The consideration hereof solves all the appearing difficulties in the nature and manner of the apostle’s argument. The word 13, whereunto respect is here had, is, as we have showed, of a large signification and various use. And frequently it is taken for a “free grant and disposition” of things by promise, which hath t…
945 wordsSECTION 182Section 182
A testament éx/ vexpo7s BzCa/a,— is of force,” say we; that is, firm, stable, not to bedisannulled. For “if it be but a man’s testament, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, Tap, Bebala. or addeth thereunto,” Gal. iii. 15. It is ratified, made unalterable, so as that it must be executed according unto the m…
998 wordsSECTION 183Section 183
And these things belong unto the illustration of the comparison insisted on, although it be only one thing that the apostle argues from it, touching the necessity of the death of the testator. But notwithstanding these instances of agreement between the new tes- tament and the testaments of men, whereby it appears to h…
927 wordsSECTION 184Section 184
Obs. III. As the grant of these things is free and absolute, so the enjoyment of them is secured from all interveniencies by the death of the testator. VERSES 18-22. "Obev od 4 xpdrn xople alwaros eynexcivorcas Aadrndcions yap réong EVTOARS Hard vowoy id Muiotws wari rH haw, AaCoy 7d alum ray mboywy na) Tpayov, merc …
914 wordsSECTION 185Section 185
First, This is taken as fixed, that the apostle wrote this epistle by divine inspiration. Having evidence hereof abundantly satisfac- tory, it is the vainest thing imaginable, and that which discovers a frame of mind disposed to cavil at things divine, if from the diffi- culties of any one passage we should reflect on …
974 wordsSECTION 186Section 186
VER. 18-22. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. B47 [8.] In the dedication of the priests these two sorts of offerings were conjoined, namely, peace-offerings and sin-offerings, or burnt- offerings for sin, as here they were. And therein expressly the blood of goats was used, namely, in the sin-offering, as the blood of bullock…
1,013 wordsSECTION 187Section 187
5. The words which Moses spake unto the people upon the sprink- ling of the blood are not absolutely the same in the story and in the repetition of it by the apostle. But this is usual with him in all his quotations out of the Old Testament in this epistle. He ex- presseth the true sense of them, but doth not curiously…
900 wordsSECTION 188Section 188
3. To manifest the necessity of shedding of blood in the confirma- tion of the covenant, because of the expiation, purging, and pardon of sin thereby. How these things are proved, we shall see in the exposition of the words. THIRDLY, There are in the words themselves, 1. A proposition of the principal truth asserted,…
917 wordsSECTION 189Section 189
(6.) The manner on the part of the people of entering into cove- nant with God, was in two acts before mentioned: [1.] In a previous approbation of the matter of it; [2.] In a solemn engagement into it. And this was the foundation of the church of Israel. This is that covenant whereof there is afterwards in the Scrip-…
909 wordsSECTION 190Section 190
Obs. II. Approbation of the terms of the covenant, consent unto them, and solemn acceptance of them, are required on our part, unto the establishment of any covenant between God and us, and our participation of the benefits of it—Thus solemnly did the people here enter into covenant with God, whereby a peculiar relatio…
903 wordsSECTION 191Section 191
28. Hence he became in a general sense a wedirns, a mediator be- tween God and men, in the giving of the law, Gal. iii, 19. What- ever, therefore, was done by Moses in this whole affair of the dedi- cation of the covenant, on the part of God or of the people, was firm and unalterable, he being a public person authorize…
958 wordsSECTION 192Section 192
Obs. VI. The first eminent use of the writing of the book of the law, (that is, of any part of the Scripture, for this book was the first - that was written,) was, that it might be read unto the people—He gave not this book to be shut up by the priests; to be concealed from the people, as containing mysteries unlawful …
935 wordsSECTION 193Section 193
This rite or way of sprinkling was chosen of God as an expressive token or sign of the effectual communication of the benefits of the covenant unto them that were sprinkled. Hence the communica- tion of the benefits of the death of Christ unto sanctification is called Mere (dares _ the sprinkling of his blood, 1 Pet.…
981 wordsSECTION 194Section 194
Secondly, The principal truth asserted is confirmed by what Moses said, as well as what he did:— Ver. 20,—“ Saying, This [7s] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” The difference between the words of Moses and the repetition of them by the apostle is not material, as unto, the sense of them. N…
904 wordsSECTION 195Section 195
VER. 18-22.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 363 of their mutual consent unto it, and their taking on themselves the performance of the terms of it, on the one side and the other. Obs. XI. The condescension of God in making a covenant with men, especially in the ways of the confirmation of it, isa blessed object of all holy …
930 wordsSECTION 196Section 196
Obs. I. In all things wherein we have to do with God, whereby we approach unto him, it is the blood of Christ, and the application- — of it unto our consciences, that gives us a gracious acceptance with him.—Without this all is unclean and defiled. Obs. II. Even holy things and institutions, that are in themselves cle…
900 wordsSECTION 197Section 197
Obs. III. This variety of institutions was a great part of the bon- dage-state of the church under the old testament; a yoke that they were not able to bear. For it was almost an insuperable difficulty to attain an assurance that they had observed them all in a due manner; the penalties of their neglect being very seve…
1,034 wordsSECTION 198Section 198
The expositors of the Roman church do here greatly perplex themselves, to secure their sacrifice of the mass from this destroying sentence of the apostle. For a sacrifice they would have it to be, and that for the remission of the sins of the living and the dead; yet they say it is an unbloody sacrifice, For if there b…
942 wordsSECTION 199Section 199
2. Of both the things affirmed it is said that “it was necessary” they should bg so; that is, it was so from God’s institu- tion and appointment. There was no necessity im the nature of the things themselves, that the patterns of heavenly things should be purged with these sacrifices; but on supposition that God would …
1,042 wordsSECTION 200Section 200
(4.) The means whereby they were thus to be purified is, “ with these.” In the next proposition, the heavenly things themselves are said to be purified Svofasg, “ with sacri- fices.” But the purification of these patterns was not absolutely confined unto sacrifices. Water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and the ashes of…
963 wordsSECTION 201Section 201
Ist. Christ himself, and the sacrifice of himself, were typed out by these things. To prove this, is the principal purpose of the apostle. They were the “shadow,” he the “body” or substance, as he speaks elsewhere. He was “the Lord from heaven;” “who is in heaven,” “who speaketh from heaven,” 1 Cor. xv. 47; John iti. 1…
991 wordsSECTION 202Section 202
(4.) The modification of the former proposition belongs unto this also. “It was necessary” these things should be thus purified: [1.] As that which the holiness of God required, and which therefore in his wisdom and grace he appointed; [2.] As that which in itself was meet and becoming the righteousness of God, Heb. 1…
914 wordsSECTION 203Section 203
Obs. VII. The sacrifice of Christ is the one, only, everlasting foun- tain and spring of all sanctification and sacred dedication; whereby the whole new creation is purified and dedicated unto God. VERSE 24, The opposition between the high priests of the law and their sacrifices, with their efficacy, and the Lord Chr…
932 wordsSECTION 204Section 204
2. As unto the use of these “holies,” they were duriruma rav &rn- Swev. *Avrfrumrov is sometimes used for Tpay [ue avr TOU rirov,— that which is signified by the type;” and this we commonly call the antitype. So is the word used by the apostle Peter, 1 Epist. ui. 21;—the substance of what is typified. Some- times it is…
906 wordsSECTION 205Section 205
Obs. I. And this serves unto the direction and encouragement of faith—When we apply ourselves unto Christ to seek for aid for the subduing and destruction of our spiritual adversaries by his ruling power,—that mighty power “ whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself,”—we consider him on the throne of majesty…
986 wordsSECTION 206Section 206
3. It supposeth the accomplishment of the work of the redemp- tion of the church. His words in this appearance before God are expressed, John xvii. 4, “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now I come unto thee.” He was sent of God into the world on this great erra…
1,101 wordsSECTION 207Section 207
But to declare their apprehension of these things, the same author adds: “ Porro in pontifice legali, apparitio distincta erat ab oblatione, licet utraque erat conjuncta et simul fieret; nempe quia alius erat pontifex, alia victima; et apparebat quidem pontifex, offerebatur autem victima, seu sanguis victime: at nostri…
1,027 wordsSECTION 208Section 208
The introduction of the apostle’s assertion is by the disjunctive negative, odd¢, “nor yet.” It answers the negative in the first part of the preceding verse: ‘He entered not O23:. 388 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX. into the holy place made with hands, as the high priest; nor yet did what the high priest did after…
1,016 wordsSECTION 209Section 209
The expositors of the Roman church do raise an objection on this place, for no other end but that they may return an answer unto it 390 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX. perniciously opposite unto and destructiye of the truth here taught by the apostle; though some of them do acknowledge that it is capable of another a…
951 wordsSECTION 210Section 210
To sum up the substance of this whole controversy: The sacrifice or offering of Christ was, 1. By hemself alone, through the eternal Spirit. 2. Was of his whole human nature, as to the matter of it. He made his soul an offering for sin. 3. Was by death and blood- shedding ; whereon its entire efficacy as unto atonement…
940 wordsSECTION 211Section 211
2. It is affirmed of him, that he “entereth,” in the present tense. Some think that respect is had unto the continuance of the temple-service at that time. “He entereth;’ that is, he continueth so to do. And this the apostle sometimes admits of, as Heb. viii. 4. But in this place he intends no more but the constitution…
992 wordsSECTION 212Section 212
There are two parts of the words: 1. A reason confirming the foregoing assertion, that Christ was not often to offer himself, as the high priest did offer sacrifice every year when he entered into the holy place: “For then must he,” etc. 2. A confirmation of that reason, from the nature and end of the sacrifice of Chri…
992 wordsSECTION 213Section 213
But the argument of the apostle against the repetition of the sacrifice of Christ, from the necessity of his suffering therein, is full of light and evidence; for, — (1.) It was inconsistent with the wisdom, goodness, grace, and love of God, that Christ should often suffer in that way which was necessary unto the off…
973 wordsSECTION 214Section 214
Obs. II. The assured salvation of the church of old from the foun- dation of the world, by virtue of the one offering of Christ, is a strong confirmation of the faith of the church at present to look for and expect everlasting salvation thereby. To this end we may con- sider,— (1.) That their faith had all the difficu…
907 wordsSECTION 215Section 215
in this exposition. It was the time when our Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the flesh, and offered himself unto God. But why he should express that time by “the end of the world,” in the words that our Saviour designeth the end of the world absolutely by, Matt. xxvii. 20, is notso plain; for there was after this a long…
1,068 wordsSECTION 216Section 216
Me@avepuras. VER. 26,] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 403 also to express his glorious manifestation by the gospel, 2 Tim. i. 10, See 1 Tim. iii. 16; 1 John iii. 8; Tit. ii, 13. This, therefore, is the meaning of the word: ‘Christ did not come into the world, he was not manifested in the flesh, often since the foundation of…
990 wordsSECTION 217Section 217
Christ; and all manifested their own insufficiency to give the least real relief unto mankind from under the fruits of their apostasy from God. See 1 Cor. i. 5. To give time unto Satan to fix and establish his kingdom in the world, that the destruction of him and it might be the more conspicuous and glorious. These, a…
1,132 wordsSECTION 218Section 218
VER. 27, 28.] - - EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 407 But there is more in the words and design of the apostle than a bare similitude and illustration of what he treats of, though expo- sitors own it not. He doth not only illustrate his former assertion by a fit comparison, but gives the reason of the one offering’ of Christ,…
979 wordsSECTION 219Section 219
The Socinians do so divide these things, that one of them, mibeely death, they would have to be natural; and the other, or judgmen from the constitution of God: which is not to interpret, but toc tradict the words.) Yea, death is that which in the first place directly is affirmed to-be the effect of this divine constit…
946 wordsSECTION 220Section 220
Kpiois. Christ unto the salvation of believers, which is the great or general — judgment of all at the last day. Kp/oig and xpi, used with re- spect unto this day, or taken absolutely, do signify a condemnatory sentence only. "Avdéoracig xpicewc, “the resurrection of” or “unto judgment,” is opposed unto dvdéoracrs Ca…
1,002 wordsSECTION 221Section 221
He was thus offered for those “many,” to “bear their sins,” as we render the words. It is variously translated, as we have seen be- fore, and various senses are sought after by expositors. Grotius wholly follows the Socinians in their endeavours to pervert the sense of this word. It is not from any difficulty in the wo…
1,026 wordsSECTION 222Section 222
Obs. VI. It is the great exercise of faith, to live on the invisible actings of Christ on the behalf of the church, So also the founda- tion a it doth consist in our infallible expectation of his second appearance, of our seeing him again, Actsi. 11. “We know that our Redeemer liveth;” and we shall see him with our eye…
1,378 wordsSECTION 223Section 223
Xapls apap- Tins. Els cwrnpiuy. VER, 27, 28. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. — 417 Obs, VII. Christ’s appearance the second time, his return from heaven to complete the salvation of the church, is the great funda- mental principle of our faith and hope, the great testimony we have to give against all his and our adversari…
1,009 wordsSECTION 224Section 224
Secondly, The subject spoken of is 6 véuos, the law,—T™\7. That which he immediately intends is the sacrifices of the law, especially those which were offered yearly by a perpetual statute, as the words immediately following do declare. But he refers what he speaks unto the law itself, as that whereby those sacrifices …
910 wordsSECTION 225Section 225
Toy werroy- rw ayubor, VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 421 firstly, principally, and evidently, was the subject of all promises; and whatever else is contained in them is but that whereof, in his person, office, and grace, he is the author and cause. Hence he was signally termed 6 ép7éev0g,—“‘ he who was to come,” “…
950 wordsSECTION 226Section 226
2. They were a just representation of Christ only, the second pro- perty of such a shadow. They did not signify any thing more or less but Christ himself, and what belongs unto him. He was the idea in the mind of God, when Moses was charged to make all things according to the pattern showed him in the mount. And it is …
1,022 wordsSECTION 227Section 227
Fourthly, This being the state of the law, or first covenant, the apostle makes an application of it unto the question under debate in the last words of the verse: “Can never with those sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make the comers there- unto perfect.” We must first speak unto the reading of t…
938 wordsSECTION 228Section 228
(2.) He describes them from the time and season of their offer- ing. It was xu’ énauriv, “yearly, every year, year by year.” It is hence manifest what sacrifices he princi- pally intends, namely, the anniversary sacrifices of expiation, when the high priest entered into the most holy place with blood, Ley. xvi. And he …
1,038 wordsSECTION 229Section 229
(3.) That wherein the law failed, as unto the appearance it made of the expiation of sin, was that it could not effect it eg +d dim- vexés, “absolutely,” “completely,” and “for ever.” It made an expiation, but it was temporary only, not for ever. It did so both in respect unto the consciences of the worshippers and the…
912 wordsSECTION 230Section 230
by any duty or sacrifice, cannot be effected by its reiteration or re- petition.—Those generally who seek for atonement and acceptation with God by their own duties, do quickly find that no one of them will effect their desire. Wherefore they place all their confidence in the repetition and multiplication of them; wha…
936 wordsSECTION 231Section 231
1 Various READING.—Though the textus receptus omits odx, it is restored in most of the critical editions. Tischendorf in its favour appeals to all the uncial mss., by far the most of the others, most of the versions, and many fathers. This passage is one in which the a. v. differs from the tewtus receptus.—Ep. 432 AN …
954 wordsSECTION 232Section 232
And we may see herein both the obstinacy and miserable state thereon of the present Jews. The law doth plainly declare, that without atonement by blood there is no remission of sins to be ob- tained. This they expect by the sacrifices of the law, and their fre- quent repetition; not by any thing which was more perfect,…
1,006 wordsSECTION 233Section 233
‘sin, that is, disquieting, judging, condemning for sin. 4, The apostle speaks on the one side and the other of them, who were really interested in the sacrifices whereunto they might trust for the expiation of sin. The way hereof, as unto them of old, and the legal sacrifices, was the due attendance unto them, and pe…
954 wordsSECTION 234Section 234
?AAAG. > ~ YV HUTA, of sins.” The sacrifices intended are principally those of the solemn day of expiation: for he speaks of them that were repeated yearly ; that is, “ once every year.” Others were repeated every day, or as often as occasion did require; these only were so yearly. And these are peculiarly fixed on,…
1,106 wordsSECTION 235Section 235
VERSE 4. *Adlwaroy yap alua ratpuv xual rpdyuv apuspen amaprins. There is no difficulty in the words, and very little difference in the translations of them. ‘The Vulgar renders &@aipsiv by the passive: “Impossibile est enim sanguine taurorum et hircorum auferri peccata,’—“It is impossible that sins should be taken aw…
1,035 wordsSECTION 236Section 236
These things do evidently express the wisdom of God in their institution, although of themselves they could not take away sin. And those by whom these ends of them are denied, as they are by the Jews and Socinians, can give no account of any end of them which should answer the wisdom, grace, and holiness of God. This …
997 wordsSECTION 237Section 237
(1.) Nothing can be more alien from the design of the apostle and scope of the context. They are both of them to prove that the sacrifices of the law could not expiate sins, could not make atone- ment for them, could not make reconciliation with God,—could not produce the effect which the sacrifice of Christ alone wa…
1,104 wordsSECTION 238Section 238
. namely, such an one as should by his suffering and dying bring more glory unto the righteousness, holiness, and law of God, than either was derogated from them by the sin of man, or could be restored unto them by his eternal ruin,—yet was it not consistent with the veracity of God in that sanction of the law that …
1,043 wordsSECTION 239Section 239
A blessed and divine context this is, summarily representing unto us the love, grace, /and wisdom of the Father; the love, obedience, 1 Bxposition.—Five views have been taken in regard to the difference between the Hebrew original and the L.XX. rendering, as given in verse 5, 1, Even before the days of Kennicott some …
902 wordsSECTION 240Section 240
3. The words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “ When he cometh into the world, he saith.” And it is a vain inquiry, when in particular he spake these words; unto whom or where any men- tion is made of them in the story of him. It is no way needful that they should be literally or verbally pronounced by him. But …
913 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (19th century); 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.