A53696:374
Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews
Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews also concerning the Messiah wherein the promises concerning him to be a spiritual redeemer of mankind are explained and vindicated, his coming and accomplishment of his work according to the promises is proved and confirmed, the person, or who he is, is declared, the whole economy of the mosaical law, rites, worship, and sacrifice is explained : and in all the doctrine of the person, office, and work of the Messiah is opened, the nature and demerit of the first sin is unfolded, the opinions and traditions of the ancient and modern Jews are examined, their objections against the Lord Christ and the Gospel are answered, the time of the coming of the Messiah is stated, and the great fundamental truths of the Gospel vindicated : with an exposition and discourses on the two first chapters of the said epistle to the Hebrews / by J. Owen ...Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews also concerning the Messiah wherein the promises concerning him to be a spiritual redeemer of mankind are explained and vindicated, his coming and accomplishment of his work according to the promises is proved and confirmed, the person, or who he is, is declared, the whole oeconomy of the mosaical law, rites, worship, and sacrifice is explained : and in all the doctrine of the person, office, and work of the Messiah is opened, the nature and demerit of the first sin is unfolded, the opinions and traditions of the antient and modern Jews are examined, their objections against the Lord Christ and the Gospel are answered, the time of the coming of the Messiah is stated, and the great fundamental truths of the Gospel vindicated : with an exposition and discourses on the two first chapters of the said epistle to the Hebrews / by J. Owen ...
London: printed by Robert White for Nathaniel Ponder, 1668
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.
There is also another head of the Misery of man, and that is the corrupt spring of Moral Evil that is in his nature. This also is Universal and Endless. It mixeth its self with all, and ⟨p. 81⟩every thing, that man doth, or can do, as a Moral Agent, and that always, and for ever, Gen. 6. v. 5. It is then impossible that it should have an end, unless it do either destroy, or spend its self. But seeing it will do neither of these, ever sinning; which man cannot but be, is not the way to disentangle himself from sin.
There is also another head of the Misery of man, and that is the corrupt spring of Moral Evil that is in his nature. This also is Ʋniversal and Endless. It mixeth its self with all, and ⟨p. 81⟩every thing, that man doth, or can do, as a Moral Agent, and that alwayes, and for ever, Gen. 6. v. 5. It is then impossible that it should have an end, unless it do either destroy, or spend its self. But seeing it will do neither of these, ever sinning; which man cannot but be, is not the way to disentangle himself from sin.
If then any Deliverance be ever obtained for mankind, it must be by some other § 17 not involved in the same misery with themselves. This must either be God himself or good Angels. Other Rational Agents there are none. If we look to the latter, we must suppose them to undertake this work either by the Appointment of God, or upon their own Accord, without his previous Command or Direction. The latter cannot be supposed. They knew too much of the Majesty, Holiness, and Terror of the great God to venture on an interposition of themselves upon his Counsels and Ways, uncommanded. To do so would have been a sinful dissolution of the Law of their Creation. So much also they might discern of the work its self, as to stifle unto Eternity, every thought of engaging themselves into it. Besides they knew the Will of God, by what they saw come to pass. They saw his Justice and Holiness glorified in the Evils which he had brought upon the world. That He would not for ever satisfy himself in that Glory, they knew not. And what was man unto them, that they should busy themselves to retrieve him from that condition whereinto he had cast himself by sin, finding Him glorified therein, in conformity unto whose will their Happiness and Perfection doth consist? As remote as men are from thoughts of recovering Fallen Angels, so far were they contriving the Recovery of Man.