A53678:517
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.
All things were at first made in a state of Love. That Rectitude, Order, Peace and Harmony which was in the whole Creation was an Impression from, and an Expression of the Love of God. And our Love towards him was the Bond of that Perfection, and the Stability of that State and Condition. The whole Beauty of the Creation below consisted in this, namely, in mans loving God above all, and all other things in him and for him, according as they did participate of and express his Glory and Properties. This represented that Love which was in God towards all his Creatures, which he testified by declaring them to be all very good.
When man by sin had broken the first link of this Chain of Love, when thereby we lost the Love of God to us, and renounced our own Love unto him, all things fell into disorder and confusion in the whole Creation; all things were filled with mutual Enmity and Hatred. The first Instance of mutual Love among the Creatures was that between Angels and Men, as those which were in the nearest Alliance, and made for the same End of the Glory of God. For as the Angels rejoiced in the whole Creation of God, when those morning Stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy, Job 38. 7. so man being the most capable object of their Love, was their especial Delight. And man being made to love God above all, and all other things in him and for him, his principal Love must be fixed on those who had the most of the Image, and made the most glorious Representation of God. But the Bond of Love being dissolved, mutual Enmity succeeded in the room thereof. And the first Act of Angelical Obedience we read of, was their keeping man from a return into Eden, and eating of the Tree of Life, Gen. 3. 24. and men could look on them only as flaming Swords, ready to execute the wrath of God and the Curse upon him. And this state would have continued unto Eternity, had not God gathered all things again into one, both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth, even in Christ ⟨p. 101⟩Jesus,