A53696:597
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.
It is acknowledged that there are many Promises of Mercy and Glory unto the § 33 Church in the Days of the Messiah expressed in Words, whose first literal sense represents things outward and temporal. And there is a threefold Interpretation of them contended for. The first is that of the Jews, who would have them all understood according unto their literal importance, without the allowance of any Figure or Allegory in them. But no thing can be more vain then this imagination; nor do they make use of it, but where they suppose that it will serve their present design. For whereas the Wisest of them do grant, that in the days of the Messiah the Nature of things shall not be changed, but only their use, many of these Promises in their first literal sense, import a full and direct alteration in the Heavens and Earth and all things contained in them. So Isa. 11. v. 6, 7, 8. Lions, Bears, Leopards, Cockatrices, Asps, Calves, and young Children are said all to live, feed, and play together. And Chap. 60. v. 7. That the Flocks of Kedar, and the Rams of Nebaioth should minister unto the Church; ver. 16. that they should suck the Milk ⟨p. 140⟩of Kings; and ver. 19. that the Sun should no more give light by day; and yet ver. 20. that it should no more go down. Chap. 65. v. 17. That new Heavens, and a new Earth shall be created, and that the old shall be remembered no more; that Trees and Fields shall rejoice and clap their hands for gladness; with other things innumerable in the same kind. Now if they grant, as they must, unless they intend to expose all Sacred Truth to the scorn and contempt of Atheists, that these expressions are figurative and Allegorical, they must do the same in all other Promises of earthly things, as of Peace, Plenty, Victory, long Life, Dominion, Wealth and the like, being set out in the same kind of Allegorical Expressions. At least they cannot make them in the strict literal sense of the words the object of their Faith and Expectation, unless they can by some infallible rule declare, what is figuratively to be understood in them, what properly, or which Promises are expressed Allegorically, which not. And this they can never do. The Event therefore is the only infallible Interpreter of the meaning of such Prophetical Predictions; what ever precedes that, is but conjecture. Wherefore,
It is acknowledged that there are many Promises of Mercy and Glory unto the § 33 Church in the Dayes of the Messiah expressed in Words, whose first literal sense represents things outward and temporall. And there is a threefold Interpretation of them contended for. The first is that of the Jews, who would have them all understood according unto their literall importance, without the allowance of any Figure or Allegory in them. But no thing can be more vain then this imagination; nor do they make use of it, but where they suppose that it will serve their present design. For whereas the Wisest of them do grant, that in the dayes of the Messiah the Nature of things shall not be changed, but only their use, many of these Promises in their first literall sense, import a full and direct alteration in the Heavens and Earth and all things contained in them. So