A53678:534
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.
1. As the Head of all other considerations the Lord Christ expresseth it as that which was to be the great Evidence unto the world of the Truth and Power of the Gospel, as also of his own being sent of God, Joh. 17. 21. That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. It is true there is another especial principle of the Union of Believers as they are one in God and Christ. This is that one Spirit whereby they are all united unto him as their mystical Head. But this alone is not here intended, as being that which the world can no way discern, nor consequently be convinced by. He intends therefore their Unity among themselves, the Life and Spirit and Bond whereof is this Love, as hath been declared. There is no other kind of Unity which may be among Christians, that carrieth the least conviction with it, of the Divine Mission, Truth and Power of Christ. For they may be all carnal, from carnal Principles, and for carnal Ends, wherein the world can see nothing extraordinary, as having many such Unities of its own. Herein therefore doth the Testimony consist which we give to the world, that Jesus Christ was sent of God. And if we fail herein, we do what we can to harden the world in its impenitency and unbelief. To see Believers live in Love according to the nature, and acting the Duties of it before mentioned, was in ancient times a great means of the Conviction of the world concerning the Truth and Power of the Gospel, and will be so again when God shall afresh pour down abundantly that Spirit of Light and Love which we pray for. And in some measure it doth so at present. For whosoever shall consider the true Church of Christ aright, will find the Evidences of a Divine Power in this matter. For it doth and ever did consist of all sorts of persons in all Nations and Languages whatever. High and low, rich and poor, Jews, Greeks, Barbarians, Scythians, men of all Interests, Humours, Oppositions, dividing Circumstances, at distances as far as the East from the West, do constitute this Body, this Society. Yet is there among all these, known to each other or unknown, an ineffable Love ready to work and exercise it self on all occasions in all the ways before insisted on.