A53696:387
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.
That the Sacrifices of Moses's Law in and by themselves, should be a means to deliver men from the guilt of sin, and to reconcile them unto God, is contrary to the Light of Nature, their own proper use, and express Testimonies of the Old Testament. For First, Can any man think it reasonable that the blood of Bulls and Goats should of its self make an Expiation of the sin of the souls of men, reconcile them to God the Judge of all, and impart unto them an Everlasting Righteousness? Our Apostle declares the manifest impossibility hereof, Heb. 10. v. 4. They must have very mean and low thoughts of God, his Holiness, Justice, Truth, of the Demerit of Sin, of Heaven and Hell, who think them all to depend on the blood of a Calf or a Goat. The Sacrifices of them indeed might by Gods appointment represent that to the minds of men which is effectual unto the whole End of appeasing Gods Justice, and of obtaining his Favour; but that they should themselves effect it, is unsuitable unto all the Apprehensions which are inbred in the heart of man, either concerning the nature of God, or the Guilt of Sin. Secondly, Their Primitive and proper use, doth manifest the same. For they were to be frequently repeated, and in all the Repetitions of them, there was still new mention made of sin. They could not therefore by themselves take it away; for if they could, they would not have been reiterated. It is apparent therefore that their use was to represent and bring to remembrance that which did perfectly take away sin. For a perfect work may be often remembered, but it need not, it cannot be often done. For being done for such an End, and that End being obtained it cannot be done again. The Sacrifices therefore were never appointed, never used to take away sin, which they did not, but to represent that which did so effectually.
That the Sacrifices of Moses's Law in and by themselves, should be a means to deliver men from the guilt of sin, and to reconcile them unto God, is contrary to the Light of Nature, their own proper use, and express Testimonies of the Old Testament. For First, Can any man think it reasonable that the blood of Bulls and Goats should of its self make an Expiation of the sin of the souls of men, reconcile them to God the Judge of all, and impart unto them an Everlasting Righteousness? Our Apostle declares the manifest impossibility hereof, Heb. 10. v. 4. They must have very mean and low thoughts of God, his Holiness, Justice, Truth, of the Demerit of Sin, of Heaven and Hell, who think them all to depend on the blood of a Calf or a Goat. The Sacrifices of them indeed might by Gods appointment represent that to the minds of men which is effectuall unto the whole End of appeasing Gods Justice, and of obtaining his Favour; but that they should themselves effect it, is unsuitable unto all the Apprehensions which are imbred in the heart of man, either concerning the nature of God, or the Guilt of Sin. Secondly, Their Primitive and proper use, doth manifest the same. For they were to be frequently repeated, and in all the Repetitions of them, there was still new mention made of sin. They could not therefore by themselves take it away; for if they could, they would not have been reiterated. It is apparent therefore that their use was to represent and bring to remembrance that which did perfectly take away sin. For a perfect work may be often remembred, but it need not, it cannot be often done. For being done for such an End, and that End being obtained it cannot be done again. The Sacrifices therefore were never appointed, never used to take away sin, which they did not, but to represent that which did so effectually.