Hindrances to Faithfulness With God in Their Generation

“They ought carefully to consider the temptations which are prevalent, and which unavoidably we are exposed to. Every age and time has its especial temptations; and it is the will of God that the church should be exercised with them and by them. And it would be easy to manifest, that the darkness and ignorance of men, in not discerning the especial temptations of the age in which they have lived, or neglecting of them, have been always the great causes and means of the apostasy of the church. By this means has superstition prevailed in one age, and profaneness in another; as false and noxious opinions in a third. Now, there is nothing that God requires more strictly of us, than that we should be watchful against present prevalent temptations; and he charges us with guilt where we are not so. And those which are not awake with respect to those temptations which are at this day prevalent in the world are far enough from walking well-pleasing before God.”

Owen, John. An Exposition of Hebrews 8:6-13. Wherein, the nature and differences between the Old and New Covenants is discovered. Palmdale, CA: Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2005. 225. Print.

Faithfulness With God in Their Generation

“They ought carefully to consider the times and seasons that are passing over them.  God brings his church under a variety of seasons; and in them all requires especial duties from them, as those in which he will be glorified in each of them.  If they miss it in this, it is that which God greatly blames and complains of.  Faithfulness with God in their generation, that is, in the especial duties of the times and seasons in which they lived, is that which Noah, and Daniel, and other holy men, are commended for.  Thus there are seasons of the great abounding of wickedness in the world; seasons of great apostasy from truth and holiness; seasons of judgment and of mercy, of persecution and tranquility.  In all these, and the like, God requires especial duties of the church; on what his glory in them does much depend. If they fail here, if they are not faithful to their especial duty, God in his word finds fault with them, and lays them under blame.  And as much wisdom is required to this, so I do not judge that any church can discharge its duty in any competent measure without due consideration of it.  For in a due observation of the times and seasons, and an application of ourselves to the duties of them, consists the testimony which we are to give to God and the gospel in our generation.  That church which considers not its especial duty in the days in which we live, is fast asleep; and it may be doubted whether, when it is awaked, it will find oil in its vessel or no.”

Owen, John. An Exposition of Hebrews 8:6-13. Wherein, the nature and differences between the Old and New Covenants is discovered. Palmdale, CA: Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2005. 224-225. Print.