A53678:1523
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. Mankind having woefully prevaricated and apostatized from God, it was just and equal that they should not be at once instated in their Reparation. The suddenness of it might have taken off from its Greatness. Wherefore as God left the Generality of the World without the knowledge of what he intended, so he saw Good to keep the Church in a state of Expectancy as to the Perfection of Liberty and Deliverance intended. He could have created the World in an Hour or Moment; but he chose to do it in the space of Six days, that the Glory of his work might be distinctly represented unto Angels and Men. And he could immediately after the Fall have introduced the Promised seed, in whose Advent the Church must of necessity enjoy all the Perfection whereof it is capable in this World. But to teach the Church the greatness of their Sin and Misery, and to work in them an acknowledgement of his unspeakable Grace and Mercy, he proceeded gradually in the very Revelation of him, as we have showed on Chap. 1. ver. 1. and caused them to wait under earnest desires, longings, and expectations, many Ages for his coming. And during this season it was of necessity that they should be kept under a Law that made nothing perfect. For as our Apostle speaketh, if they which are of the Law be Heirs, Faith is made void; Rom. 4. 14. and if Righteousness come by the Law; then is Christ dead in vain; Gal. 2. 21. And if there had been a Law given, which could have given life, verily Righteousness should have been by the Law, Gal. 3. 21. Wherefore until the actual Exhibition of the Promised Seed, it was absolutely necessary that the Church should be kept under a Law that made nothing Perfect.
2. Mankind having wofully prevaricated and apostatized from God, it was just and equal that they should not be at once enstated in their Reparation. The suddainness of it might have taken off from its Greatness. Wherefore as God left the Generality of the World without the knowledge of what he intended, so he saw Good to keep the Church in a state of Expectancy as to the Perfection of Liberty and Deliverance intended. He could have created the World in an Hour or Moment; but he chose to do it in the space of Six days, that the Glory of his work might be distinctly represented unto Angels and Men. And he could immediately after the Fall have introduced the Promised seed, in whose Advent the Church must of necessity enjoy all the Perfection whereof it is capable in this World. But to teach the Church the greatness of their Sin and Misery, and to work in them an acknowledgement of his unspeakable Grace and Mercy, he proceeded gradually in the very Revelation of him, as we have shewed on Chap. 1. ver. 1. and caused them to wait under earnest desires, longings, and expectations, many Ages for his coming. And during this season it was of necessity that they should be kept under a Law that made nothing perfect. For as our Apostle speaketh, if they which are of the Law be Heirs, Faith is made void;