PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 11
John Owen · 384,374 words · 378 reading sections
Section 61
Ans. First, There is in this reason couched a supposition Avhich, if true, would be far more effectual to shake the confidence and re- solution of believers than the most serious consideration of the apostasies of all professors that ever fell from the glory of their pro- fession from the beginning of the world ; and t…
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I.] TESTIMONY OF CONSCIENCE. 85 healing and recovery it hath had of wounds and from backslidings, with all the spiritual intercourse it ever had with God, to confirm and strengthen itself in the beginning of its confidence to the end.^ And, — Thirdly, In the testimony that it doth give, from its walking with God, and…
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' Owen seems to allude to the case of William Barrett, fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He denied the perseverance of the saints, and assailed Calvin, Bcza, and otlicr reformers, with bitter invectives. He was expelled from the univer- sity in 15'J5.— Ed. a Arniin. Antiperk. Rem. Coll. Hag. art. 5. * "…
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' Isa. vi. 3 ; Josh. xxiv. 19 ; Rev. xv. 4 ; Exod. iii. 14 ; Deut. xxxii. 4 ; Isa. xl. 28, xli. 4, xliii. 10, xliv. 6, xlviii. 12 ; Rev. i. 4, 17; Mai. iii. 6 ; James i. 17 ; 1 Sam. xv. 29; Gen. i. 26; Matt. xix. 17; Eccles. \ii. 29; Ileb. vii. 25; Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27; Isa. iv. 3, 4 ; Rom. vi. 4-6 ; Eph. iv. 22-24. I.…
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1 Luke i. 15 ; Rom. vi. 19, 22 ; 2 Cor. vii. 1 ; Eph. i. 4, iv. 24 ; 1 Thess. iii. 13, iv. 7; Heb. xii. 14, xar' a\n6uay, Kara, lo^cev; Prov. XXX. 12; Isa. Ixv. 5; John vii. 48, 49, ix. 40, 41 ; 1 Thess. v. 3 ; Matt. xxv. 29 ; 2 Pot. ii. 20, 21 ; John vi. GG. 2 2 Pet. ii. 1 ; Act. Synod. Dec. Sent., art. 6, pp. 2G6, 2…
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I suppose I shall not need to put myself to the labour to prove or evince the ground of our charitable procedure, in our thoughts of men professing the ways of God, though their hearts are not upright with him. But says Mr Goodwin, " To say that whilst they stood men were indeed bound to judge them believers, but by th…
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The saints, then, or believers (of whom alone our discourse is), may be briefly delineated by these few considerable concernments of their saintship : — 1. That whereas "by nature they are children of wrath as well as others," and " dead in trespasses and sins," that faith and holiness which they are in due time inves…
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The reasons and causes investing this proposition, that saints, such as we have described, shall so persevere, with a necessity of conse- quence, and on which the truth of it doth depend, both negatively considered and positively ; with the limitation of perseverance, what it directly asserts, what not; with what faili…
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Secondly, Sin procureth, by the way of merit, the taking away of the Spirit and removal of the habit graciously bestowed. Believers deserve by sin that God should take his Spirit from them, and the grace that he hath bestowed on them: they do so indeed; it cannot be denied. But will the Lord deal so with them? Will he …
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With these and the like expressions doth Mr Goodwin adorn and gild over that doctrine which he hath chosen to oppose; Avith these garlands and flowers doth he surround the head of the sacrifice which he intends instantly to slay, that so it may fall an undeplored victim, if not seasonably rescued from the hands of this…
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' Ps. xxiii. 6 ; Jer. xxxi. 33 ; 1 Cor. x. 13, 1 Pet. i. 5. « Eph. ii. 10; 2 Cor. iii. 5. 102 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP. use or abuse that the flesh is apt to make of them? or rather by their suitableness to the divine nature, whereof the saints are made partakers, and serviceableness to their carry…
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But is this indeed Mr Goodwin's doctrine? is this all that he intends his arguments and proofs shall amount unto? "Ad popu- lum phaleras." Strange, that when there is not so much as a proba- bility or danger of falling away, yet so many and so eminent saints should so fall ! How seldom is it that we hear of wise and so…
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First, Concerning its nearness to us, it is indeed in us; and that not as a thing different from us, but it cleaveth to all the faculties of our souls. It is an enemy born with us,^ bred up with us, carried about in our bosoms, by nature our familiar friend, our guide and counsellor, dear to us as our right eye, useful…
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But all this perhaps will be granted. Enemies they have enough, ' John iii. G; Matt. vi. 23, xi. 27; Luke xi. 34-36; Acts xxvi. 18; 2 Cor. vi. 14; Eph. V. 8; Isft. xxix. 18, xx.w. 5, xlii. 7; Koni. ii. 19; Col. i. 13; 1 Pot. ii. 9; Lukq iv. 18; Eph. iv. 18; Rev. iii. 17; Matt, xxiii. 16, iv. 16; John i. 5; 2 Cor. iv. …
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" Secondly, God hath not only given them the eyes and the light we speak of, wherewith and whereby clearly to see and understand the things manifested, but hath farther endued them with a faculty of consideration, wherewith to reflect upon, and review, and ponder, so oft as they please, what theyemp, understand, and kn…
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First, It is all along magnificently supposed that there is the same power and abiUty in a rational, enlightened man to deliberate and conclude of things in reference unto the j^ractical condition of his spiritual estate as there is of his natural, and that this ability is con- stantly resident with him, to make use of…
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hath promised absolutely to continue some grace in them ; which is all we desire. If conditionally, then would I know what that con- dition is on which God hath promised that believers shall so con- sider the things mentioned. And of the condition which shall be ex- pressed, it may farther be inquired whether it be any…
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VOL. XL ^ 8 114 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP. The foundation of all the following promises lies in the second verse, even the giving out of the "Branch of the Lord" and the "Fruit of the earth" for beauty and glory to the remnant of Israel. Who it is who is the "Branch of the Lord" the Scripture tells …
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' 1 Cor. i. 80; Isa. liv. 17, xlv. 24, 25; Jer. xxiii. 6; Eom. v. 1, viii. 1; Col. ii. 10. 2 Ezek. xi. 1 9 ; John iii. 5 ; Rom. viii. 1 ; John xvi. 8-1 1 ; Ps. xxxviii. 5, 7 ; Prov. xiii. 5, G ; Isa. i. 5, 6, Ixiv. 6 ; Ezek. xvi. 4, 5, xxiv. G ; Hos. viii. 8 ; Zech. xiii. 1 ; Rom. iii. 1 3 ; 2 Pet. ii. 22. 116 DOCTRI…
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As was before shown, there are two parts of our spiritual glory, the one purely extrinsical, to wit, the love and favour of God unto us, his free and gracious acceptation of us in Christ. On this part of our glory there is this defence created, that it shall abide for ever, it shall never be removed. His own glory and …
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Thirdly, Whereas there is a twofold impossibility, — first, that which is absolutely and simply so in its own nature, and, secondly, that which is so only upon some supposition, — we say the total falling away of the saints is impossible only in this latter sense, the unchange- able decree and purpose of God, his faith…
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First, he hath laid the shoulders of the unchangeableness of his own nature to this work : Mai. iii. 6, " I am the Lord, I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." These "sons of II.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE NA.TURE. 121 Jacob" are the sons of the faith of Jacob, the Israel of God, not all the…
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Against this plain expression of the apostle, that " the gifts and calling of God are without repentance," Mr Goodwin puts in sundry exceptions, to weaken the testimony it bears in this case, chap. viii. II.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE NATURE. 123 sect, 57; which because they have been already sufficiently evince…
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Is the case any other as to justification? Doth not God justify the ungodly? Rom. iv. 5. Are we not in filthy robes when he comes to clothe us with robes of righteousness? Zech. iii. 3. Are we not re- conciled to God when aheuated by wicked works? Col. i. 21. ' Isa Ixv. 1; Rom. ix. 25; llos. ii. 23; 1 Pet. ii. 10; Eph…
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Isa. xl. 27-31, "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his und…
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A scripture of the like importance you have, Isa. xliv. 1-8, " Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him t…
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But now what assurance is there that this happy beginning shall be carried on to perfection, that this kindness of God to them shall abide to the end, and that there shall not be a separation between him and his chosen Israel? In the faith hereof the Lord confirms them by that revelation which he makes of himself and h…
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132 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CIIAP. ference to ourselves from any property of God, but only upon the account of the revelation which he hath made thereof unto us for that end and purpose; but this being done, we have a sure anchor, firm and steadfast, to fix us against all blasts of temptation or oppo- s…
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134 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERA^'CE. [CHAP. ordinances and providential exercises of goodness or justice. In tliis there was great variety as to the latter part, comprehending only ex- ternal effects or products of the power of God ; in which regard he can pull down what he hath set up, and set up what he hath p…
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There is also an ambiguity in that expression, "That God expresseth himself this day towards a man or woman that he really intends to save them, and on the morrow expresseth himself to the contrary." If our author intend only God's moral approbation of duties and performances, as was said before, with the conditional a…
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Thirdly, The discourse of this section hath a contribution of strength, such as it is, from a squaring of the love of God unto the sweet nature and loving disposition of men ; which is perhaps no less gross anthropomorphitism than they were guilty of who assigned him a body and countenance like to ours. And upon these…
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Neither doth it appear to me how the decree of God concerning the sending of his Son into the world can be asserted as absolutely immutable upon that principle formerly laid down and insisted on by our author. He sends him into the world to die, neither is any concernment of his mediation so often affirmed to fall unde…
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III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PUEPOSES. 141 argued from conditional threatenings — The weakness of that argument — The nature of divine threatenings — What will of God, or what of the will of God, is declared by them — No proportion between eternal purposes and temporal threatenings — The issue of the vindicati…
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• Matt. vi. 28-30 ; Luko xii. 6, 7 ; Jolm iv. 4-8. ' Isa. xiv. 24, xix. 12, xxiii. 9; Jcr. li. 29; Rom. viii. 28, ix. 11, 10; Vs. cxxxix. 11, 12; Isa. xl. 28; llcb. iv. 13. III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 1 43 of operation, free, necessary, contingent, as to their existence and event, into an immediat…
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Isa. xlvi. 9-11, The Holy Ghost speaks expressly to our purpose: " Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do al…
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' neb. i. 3; Rev. iv. 11 ; Acts xvii. 28, ii. 23, iv. 28; Gen. 1. 20; Ecclcs. iii. 11. » Isa. viii. 9, 10; Job viii. 9, xi. 12; Eccles. viii. 7, ix 12. III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 147 own good pleasure, who proportions out what efficacy he pleaseth unto the means he useth, — his counsels, his purpo…
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III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 149 complishment of his purposes, and you will quickly see that there can be no possible intervenience, upon the account whereof the Lord should not engage his almighty power for their accomplishment. "He is of one mind, and who can turn him?" " He will work, and who shal…
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The "purpose" according to which these persons are called is none other than that which the apostle, chap. ix. 11, terms the "purpose of God according to election;" the " election of grace," chap. xi. 5 ; as also the knowledge and "foundation of God," 2 Tim. ii. 19; as will in the progress of our discourse be made fart…
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Ill,] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 153 of him unto tliem than unto others whom he hath not so predesti- nated.' By the way, this call doth not necessarily suppose a saving answer given unto it by the called, no whit more than the calling mentioned, Matt. xx. 16, xxii. 14. It only supposeth a real purpose o…
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' Plaut. iu Curcul. 2 cjc. pi-o Flacco. et 2 do Lcgib. pro Plaucio. Plutarchus in Alcibiad, * Lucian. in Proinctli. III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PUKPOSES. 155 Farther; what is the meaning oi pre-approving ? God's approving of any person as to their persons is his free and gracious acceptation of them in Chri…
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Ans. How he hath predestinated them is not expressed, but being so predestinated, God purposes to call them ; — that is, them and only III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 157 tlieni ; for it is a uniform pi-oceeding of God towards all whom he attempts to bring to himself which is here described. That is, w…
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III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 1 59 actual love towards them, "when the whole of their usefulness to the end proposed is resolved ultimately into themselves and their endea- vours, and not into any purpose or act of God? Such as is the foun- dation, such is the strength of the whole building. Inference…
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Ans. The imposing of conditions and provisos upon the decrees and purposes of God, of which himself gives not the least intimation, and the suspending them, as to their execution, on those conditions so invented and imposed, at the first view reflects so evidently on the will, wisdom, power, prescience, and unchangeabl…
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Secondly, The one encompasseth the whole design of the grace of the gospel ; the other mentions not any special grace at all. TJm'dly, The one is wholly expressive of the acts of God, and his design therein ; the other declarative of the duty of man, with the issue thereupon depending. This, then, is the strength of …
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wisdom, and righteousness, or he was not. If he was not, where is his omnipotence, who is not able to fulfil his righteous designs and purposes in ways corresponding to that state of agents and things which, he hath allotted them? How can it be said of him, "He will work, and none shall let him?" That God engageth his …
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166 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP. and no condition in terms expressed; — but yet being made and granted upon the condition of obedience, which is clearly expressed once and again, that the continuance of it was also suspended on that condition, as to the glory and beauty of that office, the thing princi…
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The other instances, in the case of Saul and Paul, being more hetei-ogeneous to the business in hand than that of Eli, which went before, require not any particular help for the removal of them out of the way. Though they are dead as to the end for which they are produced, I presume no true Israelite in the pursuit of …
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Notwithstanding, then, any thing that hath l)een objected to the contrary, the foundation of God mentioned in this place of Scripture stands firm, and his eternal purpose of safeguarding the saints in the love of Christ, until he bring them to the enjoyment of himself in glory, stands clear from the least shadow of cha…
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In the meantime, till answers come to hand, Mr Goodwin proffers to prove by two arguments (one clear answer had been more fair), that these acts of God, calling, justification, and so the rest, have no such connection between them, but that the one of them may be taken and be put in execution, and yet not the other, in…
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Ans. But "carbones pro thesauro." If it be possible, this, being of the same nature with that which went before, is more weak and in- firm, as illogical and sophistical as it. The whole strength of it lies in a supposal that those who are so called as here is intimated in the text, — called according to the purpose of …
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" But," says Mr Goodwin, "this is otherwise." Well, let that pass. III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 1 75 He adds, secondly, "Suppose it be granted that tlie calling here spoken of is that kind of calling which is always accompanied with a saving answer of faith, yet neither doth this prove but that even…
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III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. J 77 phrase, " Never come to be called," used by him who maintains all to be called ; but this is but a demurrer. The answer follows. For the great regard I bear unto the author's abilities, I shall nob say that his ensuing discourse doth not deserve to be transcribed an…
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Ill] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PURPOSES. 179 spiritual and temporal, have a conditional futurition^ antecedent to any act of the will of God : when, I say, he shall have proved these, and some things like to these, we shall farther consider what is offered by him, yea, we will confess that " hostis habet muros," …
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III.] THE IMMUTABILITY OF THE DIVINE PUEPOSES. 181 this is produced. This, therefore, the apostle doth by an excep- tion to the inference which they made, or through temptation might make, upon the former considerations. Mh roi are exceptive par- ticles, and an induction into the exemption of some from the con- dition…
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This, then, beyond all colourable exception, is the intendment of the apostle in the words under consideration: "Though many profes- sors fall away, yet you that are tnie believers be not sliaken in your confidence ; for God hath laid the foundation of your preservation in his eternal purpose, whereby you are designed …
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2. The case being su}>posed as above, I ask whether the apostle intended a removal of the scruple and answer to the objection, as far, at least, as the one was capable of being removed and the other of being answered? This, I suppose, will not be scrupled or objected against, being indeed fully granted in stating the o…
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But, 2. Let it be granted that these two places of the apostle are of a parallel signification, what will it advantage the interpretation im- posed on us? What is the " faith of God" here intended ? and what the " unbelief" mentioned? and whereunto tends the apostle's vehement interrogation? The great contest in this e…
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That which I shall next fix upon is that eminent place of John, chap. vi. 37-40 : "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me 1 will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent m…
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Something is by Mr Goodwin offered to take off the strength of this testimony, but yet so little, that had I not resolved to hear him out to the utmost of what he can say in and unto the case in hand, it would scarce be thought needful to divert to the consideration of it. This place of Scripture he binds up in one bun…
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" Yea, but," says Mr Goodwin, " it may be thus, in case them- selves shall not comport with Christ in his act of preserving them, with their care and diligence in preserving themselves;" that is, Christ will surely keep them in case they keep themselves. Alas! poor sheep of God ! If this were the case of the flocks of …
1,024 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1850–1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.