A53678:1282
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.
6 There is also an especial Joy belonging unto this state. For this Kingdom of God is Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. Neither was this attainable by the Levitical Priesthood. Indeed many of the Saints of the Old Testament did greatly Rejoice in the Lord, and had the Joy of his Salvation abiding with ⟨p. 167⟩them. See Psal. 51. 12. Isa. 25. 9. Hab. 3. 17, 18. But they had it not by virtue of the Levitical Priesthood. Isaiah tells us that the ground of it was the swallowing up of Death in Victory, ver. 8. which was no otherwise to be done, but by the Death and Resurrection of Christ. It was by an Influence of Efficacy from the Priesthood that was to be introduced, that they had their Joy: Whence Abraham saw the Day of Christ, and Rejoiced to see it. The Prospect of the Day of Christ was the sole Foundation of all their Spiritual Joy, that was purely so. But as unto their own present state, they were allowed and called to Rejoice in the abundance of Temporal things; though the Psalmist in a Spirit of Prophecy, prefers the Joy arising from the light of God's Countenance in Christ, above all of that sort, Psal. 4 6, 7. But ordinarily their Joy was mixed and allayed with a respect unto Temporal things. See Lev. 23. 39, 40, 41. Deut. 22. 11, 12, 18. Chap. 16. 11. 27. 7. This was the end of their Annual Festivals. And those who would introduce such Festival Rejoicings into the Gospel-state, do so far degenerate into Judaism, as preferring their Natural Joy in the outward manner of Expression, before the Spiritual ineffable Joys of the Gospel. This it is that belongs unto the state thereof; such a Joy in the Lord, as carrieth Believers with an Holy Triumph through every condition, even when all outward causes of Joy do fail and cease. A Joy it is unspeakable and full of Glory,