» Among the preliminary Exercitations which Dr Owen affixed to his Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, there is nothing corresponding to what we usually find in such matter,—a full analysis of the scope and contents of the Epistle. The only thing approaching to it is this Summary, which receives various titles in the different yolumes of the original edition,—sometimes ‘Practical Observations,’ sometimes ‘“Doc-
trinal Observations,” sometimes “ Contents,’ and sometimes “Doctrine.” We give it entire, only adding a few words to mark the leading divisions of the Epistle.—Ep,
462 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [ CHAP. I. 8.
Ver. 3.—1. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, hath the weight of the whole creation upon his hand, and disposeth of it by his power and wisdom. 2. Such is the nature and condition of the universe, that it could not subsist a moment, nor could any thing in it act regularly unto its appointed end, without the continual support, guidance, influence, and disposal, of the Son of God. 3. So great was the work of freeing us from sin, that it could no otherwise be effected but by the sacrifice of the Son of God himself. 4. That there is nothing more vain, foolish, and fruitless, than the opposition which Satan and his agents yet make unto the Lord Christ and his kingdom. 5. That the service of the Lord Christ is both safe and honourable. 6. Great is the spiritual and eternal security of them that truly believe in Christ.
Ver. 4, All pre-eminence and exaltation of one above others depends on the supreme counsel and will of God.
Ver. 5.—1. Every thing in Scripture is instructive. 2. It is lawful to draw consequences from the assertions of Scripture; and such consequences, rightly deduced, are infallibly true and de fide. 3. The declaration of Christ to be the Son of God is the care and work of the Father.
Ver. 6.—1. That the authority of God speaking in the Scripture is that alone which divine faith rests upon, and is to be resolved into. 2, That for the begetting, increasing, and strengthening of faith, it is useful to have important fundamental truths confirmed by many testimonies of Scripture. 3. The whole creation of God hath a great concern in God’s bringing forth Christ into the world, and in his exaltation in his kingdom. 4. The command of God is the ground and reason of all religious worship. 5. That the Mediator of the new covenant is in his own person God, blessed for ever, to whom divine or religious worship is due from the angels themselves. 6. The Father, upon the account of the work of Christ in the world, and his kingdom that ensued on it, gives a new commandment unto the angels to worship him, his glory being greatly concerned therein. 7. Great is the church’s security and honour, when the Head of it is worshipped by all the angels in heaven. 8. It can be no duty of the saints of the new testament to worship angels, who are their fellow-servants in the worship of Jesus Christ.
Ver. 7.—1. Our conception of the angels, their nature, office, and work, is to be regulated by the Scripture. 2. That the glory, honour, and exaltation of the angels, lie in their subserviency to the provi- dence of God.
Ver. 8, 9.—1. The conferring and comparing of Scriptures is an excellent means of coming to an acquaintance with the mind and will of God in them. 2. It is the duty of all believers to rejoice in
CHAP. 1. 12.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS A638
the glory, honour, and dominion of Jesus Christ. 8. It is the divine nature of the Lord Christ that gives eternity, stability, and unchange- ableness to his throne and kingdom: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever.’ 4, All the laws, and the whole administration of the king- dom of Christ by his word and Spirit, are equal, righteous, and holy: “ His sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness.” 5. The righteous administrations of the Lord Christ in his government proceed all from his own habitual righteousness and love thereunto. 6. God is a God in especial covenant with the Lord Christ, as he is the me- diator: “God, thy God.” 7. The collation of the Spirit on the Lord Christ, and his glorious exaltation, are the peculiar works of God the Father: “God, thy God, hath anointed thee.” 8. The Lord Jesus Christ is singular in this unction. 9. All that serve God in the work of building the church, according to his appointment, are anointed by his Spirit, and shall be rewarded by his power, Dan. xii. 3. 10. The disciples of Christ, especially those who serve him in his church faithfully, are his companions in all his grace and lory. , Ven 10-12.—1. All the properties of God, considered in the person of his Son, the head of the church, are suited to give re- lief, consolation, and support unto believers in all their distresses. (1.) The properties of God are those whereby God makes known himself to us. (2.) God oftentimes declares and proposeth these properties of his nature to us, for our support, consolation, and relief in our troubles, ete. (8.) That since the entrance of sin, these pro- perties of God, absolutely considered, will not yield that relief and satisfaction unto the souls of men which they would have done, and did, whilst man continued obedient unto God, according to the law of his creation. (4.) These properties of the divine nature are in every person of the Trinity entirely. (5.) The person of the Word, or the eternal Son of God, may be considered either absolutely as such, or as designed in the counsel, wisdom, and will of the Father. 2. The whole old creation, even the most glorious parts of it, hasten- ing to its period, at least of our present interest in it and use of it, calls upon us not to fix our hearts on the small perishing shares which we have therein, especially since we have Him who is omni- potent and eternal for our inheritance. 38. The Lord Christ, the mediator, the head and spouse of the church, is infinitely exalted above all creatures whatever, in that he is God over all, omnipotent and eternal. 4. The whole world, the heavens and earth, being made by the Lord Christ, and being to be dissolved by him, is wholly at his disposal, to be ordered for the good of them that do believe. 5. There is no just cause of fear unto believers from any thing in heaven or earth, seeing they are all of the making and at