A53678:1164
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
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.
2. There is Benedictio Authoritativa. This is when Men in the Name, that is, by the Appointment and Warranty, of God, do declare any to be Blessed, pronouncing the Blessings unto them, whereof they shall be made Partakers. And this kind of Blessings was of Old, of two sorts. First, Extraordinary by virtue of especial immediate Inspiration, or a Spirit of Prophecy: Secondly, Ordinary by virtue of Office and Institution. In the first way Jacob Blessed his Sons, which he calls a Declaration of what should befall them in the last days, Gen. 49. 1. And such were all the Solemn Patriarchal Benedictions; as that of Isaac, when he had Infallible direction, as to the Blessing, but not in his own mind as to the Person to be Blessed, Gen. 27. 27, 28, 29. So Moses Blessed the Children of Israel in their respective Tribes, Deut. 33. 1. In the latter, the Priests by virtue of Gods Ordinance were to Bless the People with this Authoritative Blessing. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto Aaron and his Sons, saying, On this wise shall ye Bless the Children of Israel saying unto them; The Lord Bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make his Face shine upon thee, and be Gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee, and give thee Peace; and they shall put my Name on the Children of Israel, and I will Bless them, Numb. 6. The whole Nature of this kind of Blessing is here exemplified. It is founded in Gods Express Institution and Command. And the Nature of it consists in putting the Name of God upon the People; that is, declaring Blessings unto them in the Name of God, praying Blessings for them on his Command. Wherefore the word Bless is used in a two-fold sense in this Institution; ver. 23. Ye shall Bless the Children of Israel is spoken of the Priests; ver. 27. I will Bless them is spoken of God. The Blessing is the same, declared by the Priests, effected by God: They blessed declaratively, He efficiently. And the blessing of Melchizedek in this place seems to have a mixture in it of both these. For as it is plain that he blessed Abraham by virtue of his Sacerdotal Office, which our Apostle principally considereth; so I make no Question but he was peculiarly acted by immediate inspiration from God in what he did. And in this sort of Blessing the Apostolical Maxim maintains its Evidence in the Light of Nature.