A53678:285
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.
From the consideration of this Description, in all the parts of it, we may understand what sort of Persons it is, that is intended here by the Apostle. And it appears, yea is evident,
1. That the Persons here intended, are not true and sincere Believers in the strict and proper sense of that name, at least they are not described here as such; so that from hence nothing can be concluded concerning them that are so, as to the possibility of their total and final Apostasy. For (1) There is in their full and large Description no mention of Faith or Believing, either expressly, or in terms equivalent. And in no other place in the Scripture are such intended, but they are mentioned by what belongs essentially to their state. And (2) There is not any thing ascribed to these persons, that is peculiar to them as such, or discriminative of them, as taken either from their especial Relation unto God in Christ, or any such Property of their own, as is not communicable unto others. For instance, they are not said to be called according to Gods purpose, to be born again not of the Will of Man, nor of the Will of Flesh, but of God, not to be justified, or sanctified, or united unto Christ, or to be the Sons of God by Adoption, nor have they any other characteristical note of true Believers ascribed to them. (3) They are in the ⟨p. 48⟩following Verses compared to the Ground, on which the rain often falls, and beareth nothing but Thorns and Briars. But this is not so with true Believers. For Faith it self is an Herb peculiar to the enclosed Garden of Christ, and meet for him by whom we are dressed. (4) The Apostle afterwards discoursing of true Believers, doth in many particulars distinguish them from such as may be Apostates, which is supposed of the Persons here intended, as was before declared. For (1) He ascribeth unto them in general better things, and such as accompany Salvation, ver. 9. (2) He ascribes a work and labour of Love, as it is true Faith alone which worketh by Love, ver. 10. whereof he speaks not one word concerning these. (3) He asserts their Preservation, (1) On the account of the Righteousness and Faithfulness of God, ver. 11. (2) Of the Immutability of his counsel concerning them, ver. 17, 18. In all these and sundry other Instances doth he put a difference between these Apostates and true Believers.