A53696:654
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.
The occasion of the former words must be enquired after, from the story of § 2 those times in Ezra, and the whole Discourse of the Prophet in that place. The people returning from their Captivity with Zerubbabel in the days of Cyrus had laid the foundation of the Temple; but having begun their work, great opposition was made against it, and great discouragements they met withal, as it will fall out with all men that engage in the work of God in any Generation. The Kings of Persia who first encouraged them unto this work, and countenanced them in it, Ezra 1.7, 8, 9. being possessed with false reports and slanders, as is usual also in such cases; at first began to withdraw their assistance, as it should seem in the days of Cyrus himself, Ezra 4.5. And at length expressly forbade their proceedings, causing the whole work to cease ⟨p. 156⟩by force and power. v. 23. Besides this outward opposition, they were moreover greatly discouraged by their own poverty and disability for the carrying on their designed work in any measure, so as to answer the beauty and glory of their former House builded by Solomon. Hence the Elders of the people who had seen the former House in its glory, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundations of this laid, Ezra 4.12, 13. As fore-seeing how much the splendour and beauty of their Worship would be eclipsed and impaired: for as the measures of the Fabric it self assigned unto it by Cyrus, Ezra. 6.3. did no way answer Solomons Structure, so for the Ornaments of it wherein its magnificence did principally consist; they had no means or ability to make any provision of them. Being therefore thus hindered, and discouraged, the work ceased wholly from the end of Cyrus Reign, unto the second year of Darius Hystiages. For there is no reason to suppose that this intercision of the work continued unto the Reign of Darius Nothus: Between the first year of the whole Empire of Cyrus, to the second of Darius Nothus; there were no less then a hundred years as we shall afterwards declare. Now it is evident in Ezra, that Zerubbabel and Joshua, who began the work in the Reign of Cyrus, were alive, and carried it on in the days of Darius. And it is scarcely credible, that they who it may be were none of the youngest men, when they first returned unto Jerusalem, should live there an hundred years, and then return unto the work again.