A53696:584
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.
Secondly, Ignorance of the Righteousness of God, both as to what he requireth § 23 that a man may be justified before him, and of his Judgement concerning the desert of sin, hath the same effect upon them. Rom. 10. v. 3, 4. The great End for which the Messiah was promised, as we have in part declared, and shall afterwards farther evince, was to make Atonement for sin, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness, Dan. 9.24. A Righteousness was to be brought in, that might answer the Justice of God, and abide its trial. Of what nature this Righteousness must be, the Scripture declares; and that as well in the Revelation it makes of the Holiness of God, Psal. 5. v. 4, 5. Joshua 24. v. 19. Hab. 1. v. 13. as of the purity and severity of his Law, Deut. 33. v. 2. Chap. 27. v. 26. and the absolute Perfection of his Justice in the Execution of it, Psalm 50. v. 21. An Universal spotless innocency, with a constant unerring Obedience in all things, and that in the highest degree of Perfection, are required to find Acceptation with this Holy and Righteous God. Of the Nature and necessity of this Righteousness the Jews are ignorant and regardless; They and their Masters were so of old, Matth. 5. v. 20. An outside, partial, hypocritical Observance of the Law of Moses, they suppose will serve their Turns. See Rom. 9. v. 31. And indeed there is not any thing that more openly discovers the miserable blindness of the present Jews, then the consideration of what they insist upon, as their Righteousness before God. The Faith and Obedience of their Fore-fathers, the Privilege of Circumcision, some outward Observances of Mosaical Precepts, with anxious scrupulous abstinencies, self macerations in fasts, with prayers by tale and number, Sabbath rests from outward labour with the like bodily exercises, are the sum of what they plead for themselves. Now if these things which are absolutely in their own power, will compose and make up a Righteousness acceptable unto God, cover all the sins whereof they know themselves to be guilty, to what end should they look for a Redeemer to bring in Everlasting Righteousness, or to make Atonement for sin? Why should they look out in this case for Relief, seeing they have enough at home to serve their turns? Let them that are wey and heavy laden seek after such a Deliverer, they have no need of him or his Salvation.