An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews: With Preliminary Exercitations - John Owen - Google Books

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in his work, and the undertaking of it. 3. A testimony was

given unto his person and office. 4. Direction is given unto

the church, in all wherein they have to do with God, what they

should attend unto, namely, what is written. 5. The things

which concern Christ the mediator, are the head of what is

contained in the same records,

20. Whereas the apostle doth plainly distinguish and distribute all

sacrifices and offerings, into those on the one side which were

offered by the law, and that one offering of the body of Christ

on the other side, the pretended sacrifice of the mass is utterly

rejected from any place in the worship of God,

21. God, as the sovereign lawgiver, had always power and autho-

rity to make what alteration he pleased, in the orders and insti-

tutions of his worship,

22. Sovereign authority is that alone which our faith and obedi-

ence respects in all ordinances of worship,

23. As all things from the beginning made way for the coming of

Christ in the minds of them that did believe, so every thing was

to be removed out of the way, that would hinder his coming,
and the discharge of the work he had undertaken. Law, tein-
ple, sacrifices, must all be removed to give way unto his coming,

24. Truth is never so effectually declared, as when it is confirmed

by the experience of its power in them that believe it, and make

profession of it,

25. It is a holy glorying in God, and no unlawful boasting, for

men openly to profess what they are madle partakers of by the

grace of God, and blood of Christ,

26. It is the best security in differences in and about religion, (such

as these wherein the apostle is engaged, the greatest and highest

that ever were) when men have an internal experience of the

truth which they do profess,

27. The sovereign will and pleasure of God, acting itself in infi-

nite wisdom and grace, is the sole, supreme, original cause of

the salvation of the church,

1. If all those divine institutions in the diligent observance of them

could not take away sin, how much less can any thing do so,

that we can betake ourselves unto for that end!

ib.

2. Faith in Christ doth jointly respect both his oblation of himself

by death, and the glorious exaltation that ensued thereon,

3. Christ in this order of things is the great exemplar of the church, ib.

4. It was the entrance of sin, which raised up all our enemies

5. The Lord Christ, in his ineffable love and grace, put himself be-

tween us and all our enemies,

6. The Lord Christ by the offering of himself, making peace with

God, ruined all the enmity against the church, and all the ene-

7. It is the foundation of all consolation to the church, that the

Lord Christ, even now in heaven, takes all our enemies to be

his; in whose destruction he is infinitely more concerned thau

8. Let us never esteem any thing, or any person, to be our enemy,

but only so far, and in what they are the enemies of Christ,

9. It is our duty to conform ourselves to the Lord Christ in a quiet

expectancy of the ruin of all our spiritual adversaries,

10 Envy not the condition of the most proud and cruel adversa-

ries of the church,

11. There was a glorious efficacy in the one offering of Christ,

12. The end of it must be effectually accomplished towards all for

whom it was offered,

13. The sanctification and perfection of the church, being that

end designed in the death and sacrifice of Christ, all things ne-

cessary unto that end must be included therein, that it be not

frustrate,

VERSES 15-18.

1. It is the authority of the Holy Ghost alone, speaking to us in

the Scripture, whereunto all our faith is to be resolved,

2. We are to propose nothing in the preaching and worship of the

gospel, but what is testified unto by the Holy Ghost,

3. When an important truth consonant unto the Scripture is de-

clared, it is useful and expedient to confirm it with some express

testimony of Scripture,

1. It is not every mistake, every error, though it be in things of

great importance, while it overthrows not the foundation, that

can divest men of a fraternal interest with others in the heaven-

ib.

2. This is the great fundamental privilege of the gospel, that be-

lievers, in all their holy worship, have liberty, boldness and con-

fidence, to enter with it and by it, into the gracious presence of

3. Nothing but the blood of Jesus could have given this boldness,

nothing that stood in the way of it could otherwise have been

removed, nothing else could have set our souls at liberty from

that bondage that was come upon them by sin,

4. Rightly esteem, and duly improve the blessed privilege which

was purchased for us at so dear a rate,

3. Confidence in an access unto God not built on, not resolved in-

to the blood of Christ, is but a daring presumption which God

abhors,

ib.

6. The way of our entrance into the holiest, is solemnly dedicated

and consecrated for us, so as that with boldness we may make

7. All the privileges we have by Christ are great, glorious and ef-

ficacious, all tending and leading unto life,

S. The Lord Christ doth peculiarly preside over all the persons,

duties, and worship of believers in the church of God,

9. The heart is that which God principally respects in our access

10. Universal internal sincerity of heart, is required of all those

that draw nigh unto God in his holy worship,

11. The actual exercise of faith is required in all our approaches

unto God, in every particular duty of his worship,

12. It is faith in Christ alone, that gives us boldness of access unto

13. The person and office of Christ, are to be rested in with full

assurance, in all our accesses to the throne of

14. Although that worship whereby we draw nigh unto God be

wrought with respect to institution and rule, yet without internal

sanctification of heart we are not accepted in it,

15. Due preparation, by fresh applications of our souls unto the ef-

ficacy of the blood of Christ, for the purification of our hearts,

that we may be meet to draw nigh to God, is required of us,

16. Universal sanctification upon our whole persons, and the mor-

tification in an especial manner of outward sins, are required of

us in our drawing nigh unto God,

17. These are the ornaments wherewith we are to prepare our

souls for it, and not the gaiety of outward apparel,

18. It is a great work to draw nigh unto God, so as to worship

him in spirit and in truth,

19. There is an internal principle of saving faith required unto

our profession of the doctrine of the gospel, without which it

will not avail,

20. All that believe, ought solemnly to give themselves up unto

Christ and his rule, in an express profession of the faith that is

in them, and required of them,

21. There will great difficulties arise in, and opposition be made.

unto, a sincere profession of the faith,

22. Firmness and constancy of mind, with our utmost diligent en-

deavours, are required unto an acceptable continuance in the

profession of the faith,

23. Uncertainty and wavering of mind, as to the truth and doc-

trine we profess, or neglect of the duties wherein it doth con-

sist, or compliance with errors for fear of persecution and suffer-

ings, do overthrow our profession, and render it useless,

24. As we ought not on any account to decline our profession, so

to abate of the degrees of fervency of spirit therein, is danger-

ous unto our souls,

25. The faithfulness of God in his promises, is the great encou-

ragement and supportment, under our continual profession of our

faith against all oppositions,

1. The mutual watch of Christians, in the particular societies.

whereof they are members, is a duty necessary unto the preser-

vation of the profession of the faith,

2. A due consideration of the circumstances, abilities, temptations

and opportunities for duties, in one another, is required hereunto, ib.

3. Diligence, or mutual exhortation unto gospel duties, that men

on all grounds of reason and example may be provoked unto

them, is required of us, and is a most excellent duty, which in

an especial manner, we ought to attend unto,

1. Great diligence is required of us in a due attendance unto the

assemblies of the church for the ends of them, as they are in-

stituted and appointed by Jesus Christ,

2. The neglect of the authority and love of Christ in the appoint-

ment of the means of our edification, will always tend to great

and ruinous evils,

3. No church order, no outward profession, can secure men from

4. Perfection, freedom from offence, scandal, and ruinous evils, are

not to be expected in any church in this world,

5. Men that begin to decline their duty in church relations, ought

to be marked, and their ways avoided,

6. Forsaking of church assemblies, is usually an entrance into
apostasy,

7. When especial warnings do not excite us unto renewed dili

gence in known duties, our condition is dangerous as unto the

continuance of the presence of Christ amongst us,

8. Approaching judgments ought to influence unto especial dili-

gence in all evangelical duties,

9. If men will shut their eyes against evident signs and tokens of

approaching judgments, they will never stir up themselves, nor

engage into the due performance of present duties,

ib.

10. In the approach of great and final judgments, God, by his

word and providence, gives such intimations of their coming, as

that wise men may discern them,

11. To see evidently such a day approaching, and not to be sedu-

lous and diligent in the duties of divine worship, is a token of a

backsliding frame, tending unto final apostasy,

1. If a voluntary relinquishment of the profession of the gospel,

and the duties of it, be the highest sin, and be attended with the

height of wrath and punishment, we ought earnestly to watch

against every thing that inclineth or disposeth us thereunto,

2. Every declension in or from the profession of the gospel, hath

a proportion of the guilt of this great sin, according unto the

proportion that it bears unto the sin itself,

3. There are sins and times wherein God doth absolutely refuse to

hear any more from men in order unto their salvation,

4. The loss of an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, on what ac-

count, or by what means soever it fall out, is absolutely ruinous

unto the souls of men,

6. God oftentimes visits the minds of cursed apostates, with dread-

ful expectations of approaching wrath,

5. There is an inseparable concatenation between apostasy and

ncaten

544

7. When men have hardened themselves in sin, no fear of punish.

ment either will rouse or stir them up to seek after relief,

8. A dreadful expectation of future wrath, without hope of relief,

is an open entrance into hell itself,

9. The expectation of future judgment in guilty persons, is and
will be at one time or another, dreadful and tremendous,

10. There is a determinate time for the accomplishment of all di-

vine threatenings, and the infliction of the severest judgments,

which no man can abide or avoid,

ib.

11. The certain determination of divine vengeance on the enemies

of the gospel, is a motive unto holiness, a supportment under

sufferings in them that believe,

12. The highest aggravation for the greatest sins, is, when men

out of a contrary principle of superstition and error, do set

themselves maliciously to oppose the doctrine and truth of the

gospel, with respect unto themselves and others,

13. There is a time when God will make demonstrations of his

wrath and displeasure, against all such adversaries of the gospel,

as shall be pledges of his eternal indignation,

14. The dread and terror of God's final judgments against the

enemies of the gospel, is in itself inconceivable, and only sha-

dowed out by things of the greatest dread and terror in the

world,

VERSES 28, 29.

1. It is the contempt of God and his authority in his law, that is

the gall and poison of sin,

2. When the God of mercies will have men shew no mercy, as in

the temporal punishment, he can and will, upon repentance,

shew mercy as to eternal punishment,

3. Though there may be sometimes an appearance of great seve-

rity in God's judgments against sinners, yet when the nature of

their sins, and the aggravation of them, shall be discovered,

they will be manifest to have been righteous, and within due

ib.

4. We ought to take heed of every neglect of the person of Christ,

or of his authority, lest we enter into some degree or other of

the guilt of this great offence,

5. The sins of men can really reach neither the person nor autho-

rity of Christ,

6. Every thing that takes off from a high and glorious esteem of

. the blood of Christ, as the blood of the covenant, is a danger-

ous entrance into apostasy,

7. However men may esteem of any of the mediatory actings of

Christ, yet are they in themselves glorious and excellent,

8. There are no such cursed pernicious enemies unto religion as

9. The inevitable certainty of the eternal punishment of gospel

despisers, depends on the essential holiness and righteousness of

God, as the ruler and judge of all,

10. It is a righteous thing with God thus to deal with men,

11. God hath allotted different degress of punishment unto the

different degrees and aggravations of sin,

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