A53696:800
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 seems then evident, that the Decree mentioned by Daniel for the building of the City and Walls, not the Temple, and that given out by Cyrus, for the building of the Temple, and not the City and Walls, were divers. Besides this Decree of Cyrus, although foretold long before, and made famous because it was the entrance into the peoples return and settlement, yet it took effect for so short a space of time, being obstructed within less then three years, and utterly frustrated within four or five, that it is not likely to be the date of this Prophecy, which seems to take place from some good settlement of the people. That alone which is pleaded with any colour for this Decree of Cyrus is the prediction recorded, Isa. 44.28. It is prophesied of him, that he should say to Jerusalem, thou shalt be built, and to the Temple, thy foundations shall be laid: But yet neither is it here foretold that Cyrus should make any Decree for the building of Jerusalem; or that it should be done in his days, as indeed it was not until an hundred years after, as it is evident from the story in Nehemiah. The whole intention of this Prophecy, is only that he should cause the people to be set at liberty from their captivity, and give them leave to return to Jerusalem, which he did accordingly, ⟨p. 191⟩and thereupon both the building of the City and Temple ensued, though not without the intervention of other Decrees; of which afterwards.
It seems then evident, that the Decree mentioned by Daniel for the building of the Citie and Walls, not the Temple, and that given out by Cyrus, for the building of the Temple, and not the Citie and Walls, were divers. Besides this Decree of Cyrus, although foretold long before, and made famous because it was the entrance into the peoples return and settlement, yet it took effect for so short a space of time, being obstructed within less then three years, and utterly frustrated within four or five, that it is not likely to be the date of this Prophecy, which seems to take place from some good settlement of the people. That alone which is pleaded with any colour for this Decree of Cyrus is the praediction recorded, Isa. 44.28. It is prophesied of him, that he should say to Jerusalem, thou shalt be built, and to the Temple, thy foundations shall be laid: But yet neither is it here foretold that Cyrus should make any Decree for the building of Jerusalem; or that it should be done in his daies, as indeed it was not until an hundred years after, as it is evident from the story in Nehemiah. The whole intention of this Prophecy, is only that he should cause the people to be set at liberty from their captivity, and give them leave to return to Jerusalem, which he did accordingly,