!§'
C\J
£^^w
THE
WORKS
OF
JOHN OWEN, D.D
EDITED BY
THE REV. WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D.,
EDINBURGH.
VOL. XVII.
EDINBURGH: T. & T. CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET.
LONDON : HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO. DUBLIN : JOHN EOBERTSON
MDCCCLXII.
eEOAOrOTMENA TIANTOAAIIA-
SIVE,
DE NATURA, OBTU, PROGRESS!!, ET STUDIO, VER^l THEOLOGIES,
LIBRI SEX;
QUIBUS ETIAM ORIGINES ET PROCESSUS VERI ET FALSI COITUS KELIGIOSI,
CASUS ET INSTAURATIONES ECCLESI^ ILLUSTRIORES AB IPSIS
RERUM PRIMORDIIS, ENARRANTDR.
ACCEDUNT DIGRESSIONES
DE GRATIA UHIVERSALI, SCIENTIARUM ORTU, ECCLESLE ROMANCE NOTIS, LITERARUM ORIGINE,
AHTIQUIS L1TERI8 HEBRAICIS, PUNCTATIONE HEBRAICA, VERSIONIBUS SS.
RITIBUS JUDAICIS, ALIISQUE.
AUCTORE JOHANNE OWENO.
Deus nobls haec otia fecit
E. RECENSIONE GULIELMI H. GOOLD, D.D.
EDINBUKGI: T. ET T. CLARK.
MDCCCLXII.
MURRAY AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
INDEX
LIBROEUM ET CAPITUM.
PAG. NOT A ET ANALYSIS AB EDITOB.B, . . . . . . 2, 3
Ad Lectorem Epistola, ........ *11
In Johannis Oweni, S. T. D., Qn>\oyt>v^» carmen, ..... 24
LIBER I. CAP.
I.-III.—De theologia in genere, .... 27
39 45 54 55 78 80 116
IV. — De theolcgia naturali, sen primi hominis,
V.— De theologise naturalis corruptione et amissione, VI— De insufficientia theologise naturalis ad salutem,
Digressio de gratia universali, VII.-IX.— De theologiee naturalis totali corruptione,
Dig. I. De philosophise et scientiarum ortu, Dig. II. De notis ecclesiee Romanse Bellarminiis,
LIBER II.
I. — De theologise post lapsum instauratione, .... 133
II.— De novse theologiae ad normam theologise postlapsarise institutione, 143
IIL — De reformatione ecclesiee antediluvianoe secunda, . . . 148
LIBER IIL
I.— De Noacho, fcedere Noachico, et ecclesia Noachica, . . ^ . 155 II. — De quibusdam fabulis et oraculis Sibyllinis ; linguarum confusione et lingua primseva, ......
III.-XIV.— De ortu et progressu idololatrise, 179
LIBER IV.
I.— De theologia Abrahamica, ...... 261
IL-IV.— De theologia Mosaica, 268
Dig. I. De origine literarum, ..... 273 Dig. II. De literis antiquis Hebrseorum, . . . .286
LIBER V.
I.-XL— De theologize MosaicsB corruptione et reparatione solenni ; deque ejus
abolitione, ....... • 317
XIL-XIV.—De ecclesias Judaicae reformatione Ezraitica, . . . .346
Dig. I. De punctationis Hebraicse origine, . . • 350
Dig. II. DeversioneGrgecasacrarumScripturarumLXX.seniorum, 377 Dig. III. De origine T£» Targumim, ....
XV. — De apostasia ecclesiae Judaicae finali, ..... 385
Dig. IV. De ritibus Judaicis a Christo observatis, • 391
XVI.— De apostasia ecclesioa Judaicse finali, ..... 405
LIBER VI.
I.-VIII. — De theologia evangelica, ... ... 409
Digressio de philosophise cum theologia mistura, . • • 458
IX.— De theologiae studio, . 469
PEEFATOEY NOTE.
THE first edition of the following work was published at Oxford in 1661. After a reference to theology in general, the author discusses the natural theology of the first man, with its corruption on the fall, and afterwards theology in all its subsequent phases ; as Adamic or antediluvian, Noachic or postdiluvian, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Evangelical. Numerous digressions are inserted, on universal grace, the origin of the sciences, the notes of the Romish church, the origin of letters, the ancient Hebrew let ters, the Hebrew points, the versions of Scripture, the religious rites of the Jews, and on the admixture of philosophy with theology. The work is introduced by a long pre face, followed by a curious poem, containing an analysis of it. The initials appended to the poem are T. G. ; which are supposed to represent the name of Thomas Goodwin. The work was reprinted at Bremen in 1684, and at Franeker in 1700. In these re prints great professions of accuracy are made, which a careful examination of them by no means tends to confirm. The original edition was disfigured with errata on almost every page, and the subsequent editions are hardly entitled to much praise for the correction of those numerous blunders, while errata of their own are not uncommon. The present is the fourth edition of the work, as it was not included in the collection of the author's works edited by Mr Russell, and published in 1826.
Mr Orme mentions that a Rev. John Hooper had prepared a translation of the work ; which, however, seems never to have been published. There is a translation of the last book of it by the Rev. John Craig of Avonbridge.
The treatise is simply a historical dissertation on the origin and progress of theology, in a spirit thoroughly evangelical, and in a style somewhat remarkable for the power and compass of its Latinity. At times, in the strokes of the author directed against Popish error, there are specimens of the same quiet and effective sarcasm which marks his replies to Vincent Cane. While many of the views broached on the collateral topics considered in the various digressions with which the work abounds are obsolete, and superseded by modern investigation, the work, as a whole, is full of scriptural truth and pious sentiment. The last book is especially valuable, as conveying to us the ripe experience of England's greatest theologian in regard to the best method of prose cuting sacred studies. Mr Ryland of Northampton describes the work as entitled to rank in theological literature on a level with the Principia of Newton in science, — as " an incomparable work, perhaps the very greatest of the kind ever written by a Bri tish divine." We doubt if most readers would acquiesce in this very fervent eulogy, while there can be little hesitation in acceding to the more cautious and studied lan guage of Mr Orme, who affirms that " the work discovers a vast extent of reading, and a profound acquaintance with the whole compass of profane and sacred learning." Indeed, no work of Dr Owen in his native tongue leaves such an impression of the ex tent and variety of his erudition ; and, to judge from it, no contemporary name bears away the palm of decided superiority to our author, either in respect of spiritual wisdom or general learning. The compression requisite to overtake the vast field before him obliges him occasionally to condense within narrow limits an amazing extent of truth ; so that no diffuseness appears in his narrative, and the attention of his readers sel dom flags under the prolix heaviness which too often mars the effect of his other pro ductions. — ED.