A53678:1022
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.
5. On these Suppositions it is that the Apostle treating of this Matter makes no Use of the Right or Law of Tithing, though directly unto his purpose, if it had not been abrogated. For intending to prove that the Ministers of the Gospel ought to be Liberally supported in their works with the Earthly things of them unto whom they do Administer the things of God, he Argueth from the Light of Nature, the general Equity of other Cases, the Analogy of Legal Institutions, the Rules of Justice with the especial Institution of Christ in the Gospel, but makes no mention of the Natural or Legal Right of Tithing, 1 Cor. 9. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. And farther I shall not at present divert on this Subject. And we may Observe, That
Whatsoever we receive signally from God in a way of Mercy, we ought to return a ⟨p. 111⟩Portion of it unto him in a way of Duty. That this was the Practice of the Saints of old, might easily be proved by an Induction of Instances, from this Act of Abraham, (yea, from the Sacrifice of Abel) down to the Vow of Jacob, the Dedications of David, Solomon, and others in their respective places and Generations. The light of Nature also counted it as a Duty among all the Civilized Heathens. The Offerings and Sacred Dedications of Nations and Private Families, are Famous on this Account. And it was laid as a lasting blemish on good Hezekiah that he returned not unto the Lord according to the Mercy which he had received.
And we may do well to consider, (1.) That no Man hath any great or signal Success in any Affair or Occasion, more than others, or more than at other time, but there will be in his Mind an ascription of it unto one cause or another. This the Nature of things makes Necessary, nor can it be avoided,