A53678:1011
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews viz, on the sixth, seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth chapters : wherein together with the explication of the text and context, the priesthood of Christ ... are declared, explained and confirmed : as also, the pleas of the Jews for the continuance and perpetuity of their legal worship, with the doctrine of the principal writers of the Socinians about these things, are examined and disproved / by J. Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1680
Exegesis of chapter 7 › Exegesis of verses 1, 2, 3: Ver. 1, 2, 3.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. It is Gods Institution that makes all our Administrations Effectual. So did Sacerdotal Benedictions become Authoritative and Efficacious. Innumerable ways and means of blessing things and persons have been found out in the Papacy. They will bless Bells, Steeples, and Churches, Church-yards, Utensils, Fonts, Candles, Salt; and Children by Confirmation. There is in Truth in them all a want of that wisdom, Gravity and Reverence which ought to accompany Men in all Religious Services; but that which renders them all Useless and casts them out of the Verge of Religion, is that they want a Divine Institution.
The Second Sacerdotal Act, or Exercise of Priestly Power ascribed unto Melchizedek is that he received Tithes of all. To whom Abraham also gave the Tenth of 1all. As Abraham gave them in a way of Duty, so he received them in a way of Office. So the Apostle expresseth it, ver. 6. He received Tithes of Abraham, or Tithed him. And the word [Greek or Hebrew] of all, is limited unto the Spoils which he took of the Enemies, ver. 4. To whom Abraham gave the Tenth of the Spoils. This in the Original History is so expressed as to leave it doubtful both to whom the Tenths were given, and of what they were, Gen. 14. 20. [Greek or Hebrew] And he gave him the Tenth of all. The words immediately preceding are the words of Melchizedek, and the Story concerneth him; so that if the Relative included in [Greek or Hebrew] —he gave, do answer unto the next Antecedent, Melchizedek gave the Tenth of all unto Abraham. Nor doth it appear what the [Greek or Hebrew] or, all was that is intended; whether his own whole Estate, or all the Tithable things which he had then with him. But all this Ambiguity is removed by our Apostle according to the mind of the Holy Ghost, and withal declared how great a Mystery depended on the right understanding of those words. It was Abraham that gave the Tenth of all to Melchizedek, whereby he acknowledged him to be the Priest of the High God, and the Type of the Son of God as Incarnate, every way Superior unto him, who but newly received the Promises. And that the Tenth which he gave was only of the Spoils that he took from the Enemies, as a Token and Pledge in particular that the Victory and Success which he had against the Kings was from God.