A53678:1167
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.
It is a great Mercy and Privilege when God will make Use of any in the Blessing of others with Spiritual Mercies. It is God alone who Originally and Efficiently can do so, who can actually and infallibly Collate a Blessing on any one. Therefore is he said to Bless us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things, Ephes. 1. 3. There is no one Blessing but he is the sole Author and worker of it. But yet also he maketh Use of others, severally, in various degrees of Usefulness, for their Communication. And this he doth, both to fill up that Order of all things in dependence on himself, wherein he will be glorified; and also to make some Partakers in his especial Grace and Favour by using them in the Collation of Good things, yea, the best things on others. For what greater Privilege can any one be made Partaker of, than to be an Instrument in the Hand of God, in the Communication of his Grace and Goodness? And a Privilege it is whose Exercise and Improvement ⟨p. 141⟩must be accounted for. I speak not therefore of them whose Benedictions are Euctical and Charitative only, in their mutual Prayers; but of such as are in some sense Authoritative. Now a Man Blesseth by the way of Authority when he doth it as an especial Ordinance, as he is called and appointed of God thereunto. Peculiar Institution gives peculiar Authority. So Parents Bless their Children and Household, and Ministers the Church. Parents Bless their Children in the Name of the Lord, several ways. (1.) By Instruction; the Discharge whereof was the Glory and Honour of Abraham in the sight of God himself, Gen. 18. 17, 18, 19. For whereas the Knowledge and Fear of God, is the greatest Blessing that any one in this World can be made Partaker of, he hath Ordained that Parents shall be Instrumental in the communication of them unto their Children, suitably unto that general Law of Nature, whereby they are Obliged in all things to seek their good. This being the End of the Instruction which God hath appointed them to attend unto, they do therein Bless them in the Name of the Lord. And if Parents did truly consider, how they stand in the stead of God in this matter, how what they do is peculiarly in his Name and by his Authority, they would (it may be) be more Diligent and Conscientious in the Discharge of their Duty, than they are.