A53678:1024
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.
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, Hab. 1. 11. (2.) That whatever a Man doth secretly ascribe such Successes unto, That he makes in some sense his God. They Sacrifice unto their Net, and burn Incense unto their Drag, because by them their Portion is fat, and their Meat plenteous, Hab. 1. 16. They ascribed their Successes unto their own strength, endeavours and means that they used. Hereby they Deified themselves as far as in them lay; and therefore these thoughts are called Sacrificing and Burning Incense which were Expressions of Religious Worship. And it is no better with us when in our Successes in our Trades and Affairs we secretly applaud our own Endeavours, and the Means we have used as the only causes of them. (3.) It is a great sign that a Man hath not engaged God in the getting of any thing, when he will not entitle him unto any Portion of what is gotten. There are two Evils common in the World in this case. Some will make no Acknowledgement unto God in the especial Consecration of any part of their Substance unto him, where it is Lawfully gotten. And some will make great Dedications of what hath been gotten by Robbery, Spoils, Oppression and Violence. Many Public Works of Munificence and Charity as they are called, have had no other Original. This is but an Endeavour to entitle God unto injustice, and draw him to a Copartnership with them, by giving him a share in the Advantage. God hateth Robbery for Burnt-Offerings, Isa. 61. 8. and he smites his hand at Mens dishonest Gain, Ezek. 22. 13. He will have nothing to do with such things, nor accept of any Portion of them or from them, however he may over-power things in his Providence unto his Glory. Both these ways are full of Evil, though the latter be the worst. (4.) No Man hath any Ground to Reckon that he can settle what he hath unto himself or his, where this Chief Rent unto God is left unpaid. He will at one time or other make a Re-entry upon the whole, take the Forfeiture of it, and turn the ungrateful Tenant out of Possession.