A53678:244
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 6 › Exegesis of verses 4, 5, 6: Verse 4, 5, 6.
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.
The first thing in the Description is, that they were [Greek or Hebrew], once enlightened, 1saith the Syriac Translation, as we observed, once baptized; It is very certain that early in the Church, Baptism was called [Greek or Hebrew], Illumination; and [Greek or Hebrew], to enlighten was used for to Baptize. And the set times wherein they solemnly administered that Ordinance, were called [Greek or Hebrew], the days of Light. Hereunto the Syriac Interpreter seems to have had respect. And the word [Greek or Hebrew] once, may give countenance hereunto. Baptism was once only to be celebrated, according to the constant Faith of the Churches in all Ages. And they called Baptism, Illumination, because it being one Ordinance of the Initiation of Persons into a participation of all the mysteries of the Church, they were thereby translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness into that of Grace and Light. And it seems to give further countenance hereunto, in that Baptism really was the beginning and foundation of a participation of all the other spiritual Privileges that are mentioned afterwards. For it was usual in those times, that upon the baptizing of Persons, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and endowed with extraordinary Gifts peculiar to the days of the Gospel, as we have showed in our consideration of the order between ⟨p. 42⟩Baptism and Imposition of hands. And this Opinion hath so much of probability in it, having nothing therewithal unsuited to the Analogy of Faith, or design of the place, that I should embrace it, if the word it self as here used, did not require another Interpretation. For it was a good while after the writing of this Epistle, and all other parts of the New Testament, at least an Age or two, if not more, before this word was used mystically to express Baptism. In the whole Scripture it hath another sense, denoting an inward operation of the Spirit, and not the outward Administration of an Ordinance. And it is too much boldness to take a word in a peculiar sense in one single place, diverse from its proper signification and constant use, if there be no circumstances in the Text forcing us thereunto, as here are not.
The first thing in the Description is, that they were 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, once enlightened, 1