A53678:1496
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 18, 19: VER. 18, 19.
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.
But it may be yet farther enquired, Why God did give this Law unto the People, which although it were Good in it self, yet because of the condition of the People it could not attain the End which was intended. The Apostle gives so full an answer unto this enquiry, as that we need not farther to insist upon it. For he giveth two Reasons why God gave this Law. First he saith it was added because of Transgression till the seed should come to whom the Promise was made. Gal. 3. 19. It had a manifold necessary respect unto Transgression. As (1) to discover the nature of Sin, that the Consciences of men might be made sensible thereof. (2) To Coerce and Restrain it by its Prohibition and Threatenings that it might not run out into such an excess as to deluge the whole Church. (3) To represent the way and means, though obscurely, whereby Sin might be expiated. And these things were of so great use, that the very being of the Church depended on them. Secondly, There was another Reason for it, which he declares in the same place, ver. 23, 24; It was to shut up men under a sense of the Guilt of Sin, and so with some severity drive them out of themselves and from all expectation of a Righteousness by their own works, that so they might be brought unto Christ, first in the Promise, and then as he was actually exhibited.
But it may be yet farther enquired, Why God did give this Law unto the People, which although it were Good in it self, yet because of the condition of the People it could not attain the End which was intended. The Apostle gives so full an answer unto this enquiry, as that we need not farther to insist upon it. For he giveth two Reasons why God gave this Law. First he saith it was added because of Transgression till the seed should come to whom the Promise was made. Gal. 3. 19. It had a manifold necessary respect unto Transgression. As (1) to discover the nature of Sin, that the Consciences of men might be made sensible thereof. (2) To Coerce and Restrain it by its Prohibition and Threatnings that it might not run out into such an excess as to deluge the whole Church. (3) To represent the way and means, though obscurely, whereby Sin might be expiated. And these things were of so great use, that the very being of the Church depended on them. Secondly, There was another Reason for it, which he declares in the same place, ver. 23, 24; It was to shut up men under a sense of the Guilt of Sin, and so with some severity drive them out of themselves and from all expectation of a Righteousness by their own works, that so they might be brought unto Christ, first in the Promise, and then as he was actually exhibited.