A53696:668
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.
But this wresting of the Text is evident. There is no condition intimated in the § 13 words, but rather the contrary; God promising to be with them, as he was in the days of their coming out of the Land of Egypt, wherein the work that he wrought for them, depended not on their Obedience, but was a mere effect of his own faithfulness, as he often declares. And those words [Greek or Hebrew], and my Spirit standing, abiding, or remaining, in the midst of you, among you, is no Promise of any thing that was future; but a declaration of the presence of God by his Spirit then amongst them, to carry them through all difficulties and discouragements that they had met withal. And this is evident from the Inference that is made thereon, [Greek or Hebrew], fear ye not. For as the presence of God with them by his Spirit and power, was their great encouragement; so a Promise of any thing that was future, was not suited unto that purpose. And hence the Targum of Jonathan, supposing the Spirit of Prophecy to be intended, referreth the words to the Prophets that w•re then amongst them, who instructed them in the Will of God. But by the Spirit, nothing is there intended, but the efficacious working of the Providence of God, in their Protection, as it is explained, Zech. 4.6. Not by Might, nor by Power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts. And the trajection of the words invented by Kimchi, is a bold corruption of the Text, and contrary to the whole design of the Prophets message to the people. His business was to encourage them to go on with the building of the Temple: To this end, he bids them be strong and do their work, [Greek or Hebrew], saith Rabbi Levi: Work on this building; carry on this Fabric. [Greek or Hebrew], saith Jonathan, fall to your labour, and thereunto he adds the encouragement from the presence of God, who was ⟨p. 160⟩powerfully present with them by his Spirit, as in the days that he brought them out of the Land of Egypt.
But this wresting of the Text is evident. There is no condition intimated in the § 13 words, but rather the contrary; God promising to be with them, as he was in the days of their coming out of the Land of Aegypt, wherein the work that he wrought for them, depended not on their Obedience, but was a meer effect of his own faithfulness, as he often declares. And those words 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and my Spirit standing, abiding, or remaining, in the midst of you, among you, is no Promise of any thing that was future; but a declaration of the presence of God by his Spirit then amongst them, to carry them through all difficulties and discouragements that they had met withall. And this is evident from the Inference that is made thereon, , fear ye not. For as the presence of God with them by his Spirit and power, was their great encouragement; so a Promise of any thing that was future, was not suited unto that purpose. And hence the Targum of Jonathan, supposing the Spirit of Prophesie to be intended, referreth the words to the Prophets that wre then amongst them, who instructed them in the Will of God. But by the Spirit, nothing is there intended, but the efficacious working of the Providence of God, in their Protection, as it is explained,