A53678:383
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 7, 8: VERSE 7, 8.
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.
5. These Fruits when they are brought forth, God approveth of, accepteth, and farther blesseth them that bear them, which is the last thing in the words. Some think there is no use of these Fruits unless they are meritorious of Grace and Glory. But Gods Acceptation of them here, is called his Benediction, his Blessing of them that bring them forth. Now a Blessing cannot be merited; it is an act of Bounty and Authority, and hath the nature of a free Gift, that cannot be deserved. What doth a Field merit of him by whom it is watered and tilled when it bringeth forth Herbs meet for his use; they are all but the Fruits of his own Labour, Cost and Pains. The Field is only the subject that he hath wrought upon, and it is his own. All the Fruits of our Obedience are but the Effects of his Grace in us. We are a subject that he hath graciously pleased to work upon. Only he is pleased in a way of infinite condescension to own in us, what is his own, and to pardon what is ours. Wherefore the Blessing of God on Fruit-bearing Believers, consists in three things. (1) His Approbation and gracious Acceptance of them. So it is said that he had respect unto Abel and his Offering, Gen. 4. 4. He graciously accepted both of his Person and of his Sacrifice, owning and approving of him, when Cain and his were rejected. So he smelt a savour of Rest from the Sacrifice of Noah, Gen. 8. 21. And to testify his being well pleased therewith, he thence took occasion to renew and establish his Covenant with him and his Seed. (2) It is by increasing their fruitfulness; Every Branch in the Vine that beareth Fruit, he purgeth that it may bring forth more Fruit, Joh. 15. 2. He multiplies the Seed that is sown, and increaseth the Fruits of their Righteousness, 2 Cor. 9. 10. This is the constant way of God in his Covenant dealings, with thriving fruitful Christians; he so blesseth them as that their Graces and Fruits shall more and more abound, so as that they shall be flourishing even in Age, and bring forth more Fruit unto the End. (3) He blesseth them in the preparation he hath made for to give them an everlasting Reward. A Reward it is indeed of Grace and Bounty, but it is still a Reward, a recompense of Reward.