PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 13
John Owen · 215,009 words · 212 reading sections
Section 61
136 THE NATURE AND POWER divested of his power, whereby he thought to accomplish it. Some have their bodies smitten with diseases, that they can no more serve their lusts, nor accompany them in the per- petrating of folly. Some are deprived of the instruments whereby they would work. There hath been, for many days, si…
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138 THE NATURE AND POWER Edom.* So Rev. xii. 16. the dragon, and those acting under him, spirited by him, were in a furious endeavour for the de- struction of the church ; God stirs up the earth to her assist- ance, even men of the world, not engaged with others in the design of Satan, and, by their opposition, hinder…
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of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword V And how is the deliverance of men con- trived from such persons? Psal. Iviii. 6. ' God breaks their teeth in their mouths, even the great teeth of the young lions.' He keeps this fire from burning, or quencheth it when it is ready to break out …
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142 THE NATURE AND POWER lusts, or diverted your thoughts by new providences? know assuredly that you have received mercy thereby. Though God deal not these providences always in a subserviency to the covenant of grace, yet there is always mercy in them, always a call in them to consider the author of them. Had not Go…
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Of the same nature, though the way of it was peculiar, was his dealing with Laban the Syrian, in reference to the same Jacob, Gen. xxxi. 24. By a dream, a vision in the night, God hinders him from so much as speaking roughly to him. It was with him as in Micah ii. 1. he had devised evil on his bed, and when he thought …
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[2dly.] God doth it by an argument taken 'ab incom- mode,' from the inconveniencies, evils, and troubles that will befall men in the pursuit of sin. If they follow it, this or that inconvenience will ensue ; this trouble, this evil, temporal or eternal. And this argument, as managed by the Spirit of God, is the great e…
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OF INDWELLING SIN. 149 Abimelech knew not that the thing he intended was sin; and therefore he pleads that in the * integrity of his heart and in- nocency of his hands ' he did it, ver. 5. God turned about his will and thoughts, that he should not accomplish his in- tention ; but by what ways or means is not revealed.…
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• OF INDWELLING SIN. 151 well nigh slipped.' He was at the very brink of unbelieving despairing thoughts and conclusions about God's provi- dence in the government of the world ; from whence he was recovered, as he afterward declares. So is it with many a believer, he is oftentimes at the very brink, at the very door …
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OF INDWELLING SIN. 153 And these are some of the ways whereby it pleaseth God to put a stop to the progress of sin, both in believers and unbelievers, which at present we shall instance in ; and if we would endeavour farther to search out his ways unto perfection, yet we must still conclude that it is but a little por…
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156 THE NATURE AND POWER And yet what prevalency this law of sin wrought in and over them, we see. And there is no end of the like examples; they are all set up as buoys to discover unto us the sands, the shelves, the rocks, whereupon they made their ship- wreck, to their hazard, danger, loss, yea, and would have done…
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OF INDWELLING SIN. 159 judgment, he is embraced, and it may be admired. This is not zeal for God, but for a man's self. It is not * The zeal o? thine house hath eaten me up,' but ' Master, forbid them because they follow not with us.' Better it were doubtless for men never to pretend unto any zeal at all than to subst…
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ver. 13. the dispensation of the word of the gospel, and the ordinances thereof, is designed for our help, assistance, and furtherance, until the whole work of faith and obedience is consummate. It is appointed to perfect and complete that faith, knowledge, and growth in grace and holiness, which is allotted unto us in…
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OF INDWELLING SIN. 163 in me, the whole of my life being from him alone. Neither doth this living head communicate only a bare life unto be- lievers, that they should merely liv^e and no more, a poor, weak, dying life, as it were, but he gives out sufficiently to afford them a strong, vigorous, thriving, flourishing l…
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' OF INDWELLING SIN. 165 that is, grace sufficient, seasonable, suitable unto any espe- cial trial or temptation that we may be exercised withal. Our merciful High Priest is ready to give out this especial seasonable grace, over and above those constant communi- cations of supplies of the spirit, which we mentioned be…
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(1.) They have a fresh vigorous sense of pardoning mercy. According as this is in the soul, so will its love and delight in God, so will its obedience, be. As, I say, is the sense of gospel-pardon, so will be the life of gospel-love. Luke vii. 47. * I say unto thee,' saith our Saviour of the poor woman, ' her sins, whi…
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[2.] By unframing the soul, so that it shall have formal, weary, powerless thoughts of those things whicii should prevail with it unto diligence in thankful obedience. The apostle cautions us, that in dealing with God we should use reverence and godly fear, because of his purity, holiness, and majesty, Heb. xii. 28, 29…
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172 THE NATURE AND POWER 2 Epist. ver. 8. lest they should themselves cast away all their former obedience as lost, and a thing of no value. We have innumerable instances hereof in the days wherein we live. How many are there, who not many years since put an unspeakable value on the pardon of sin in the blood of Chris…
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Now the way and means whereby indwelling sin doth give advantage to Satan for his return, are all those which dispose them toward a declension which shall afterward be mentioned. Satan is a diligent, watchful, and crafty adver- sary ; he will neglect no opportunity, no advantage that is is offered unto him. Wherein the…
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[1.] In the body of professors there is a great number of hypocrites. Though we cannot say of this or that man that he is so, yet that some there are is most certain. Our Saviour hath told us that it will be so to the end of the world. All that have oil in their lamps, have it not in their vessels. Let men take heed ho…
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OF INDWELLING SIN. 179 are not well, they know not what aileth them, and it may be rise violently in an opposition to their distemper; but after a while struggling in vain, the vigour of their spirits and strength failing them, they are forced to yield to the power of a consumption. And now all they can do is little e…
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(7.) Growth in carnal wisdom is another help to sin in producing this sad effect. 'Thy wisdom and thy know- ledge,' saith the prophet, * hath perverted thee ;' Isa. xlvii. 10. So much as carnal wisdom increaseth, so much faith decays. The proper work of it is to teach a man to trust to and in himself, of faith to trust…
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1. It appears in the violence it offers to the nature of man, compelling them unto sins, fully contrary to all the principles of the reasonable nature wherewith they are endued from God. Every creature of God hath in its 184 THE NATURE AND POWER creation, a law of operation implanted in it, which is the rule of all t…
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186 THE NATURE AND POWER to as their best, to impart it to them ; and acting in their behalf to the utmost of their power. Now such is the efficacy, power, and force of indwelling sin in man, an infection that the nature of other creatures knows nothing of, that in many it prevails to stop this fountain, to beat back…
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(2.) There is proposed to men in the preaching of the gospel, as motives unto believing, every thing in conjunc- tion that severally prevail with men to do whatever else they do in their lives. Whatever any one doth with consi- deration, he doth it either because it is reasonable and good for him so to do, or profitabl…
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By this means do they gain the reputation of professors; ' They have a name to live ;' Rev. iii. 1. and are made par- takers of some or all of those privileges of the gospel, that are numbered by the apostle, Heb. vi. 4, 5. It is not ray present business to show how far, or wherein, a man may be effectually wrought up…
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OF INDWELLING SIV. 193 worst of their fears and trials. It is such as they would not part withal for all the world ; and upon all occasions they retreat in their minds unto it, for comfort and relief. Now all this by the power of sin are they prevailed withal to forego. Let heaven go if it will, a blessed immor- tali…
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; : OF INDWELLING SIN. 195 unto but this one consideration, that the world, which is full of the steam, filth, and blood of these abominations, as to their outward actings of them, is a pleasant garden, a paradise, compared to the heart of man, wherein they are all conceived, and hourly millions of more vile abomina- …
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(3.) The law judgeth the person, or lets the sinner plainly know what he is to expect upon the account of this sin. This is the law's proper work, its discovering property is but preparative to its judging. The law is itself, when it is in the throne. Here it minceth not the matter with sin- ners, as we use to do one w…
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[2.] It is so far from being conquered, that it is only enraged. The whole work of the law, doth only pro- voke and enrage sin ; and cause it, as it hath opportunity, to put out its strength with more power, and vigour, and force than formerly. This the apostle shews at large, Rom.vii. 9 — 13. But you will say. Do we n…
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I shall yet touch upon some other evidences of the same truth, that I have under consideration ; but I shall be brief in them. (3dly.) In the next place, then, the great endeavours of men ignorant of the righteousness of Christ for the subduing 202 THE NATURE AND POWER and mortifying of sin, which are all fruitless,…
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204 THE NATURE AND POWER power of sin. And this is the state of most men tliat are kept in bondage under the power of conviction. Hell, death, and the wrath of God, are continually presented unto their consciences ; this makes them labour with all their strength against that in sin which most enrageth their con- scien…
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To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and ma- jesty, dominion, and power, both now and for ever. Amen. ^PONHMA TOY HNEYMATOS; OR, THE GRACE AND DUTY OV BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED, DECLARED AMD PRACTICALLY IMPROVED. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. — Rom. viii. 6. Set your affections on things above…
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Nor can we be, any of us, delivered from this snare, at this season, without a watchful endeavour p 2 CCXll PREFACE. to keep and preserve our minds in the constant con- templation of things spiritual and heavenly, proceed- ing from the prevalent adherence of our affections mito them, as will appear in the ensuing di…
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In the whole verse there are two entire propositions, containing a double antithesis, the one in their subjects, the other in their predicates. And this opposition is the highest and greatest that is beneath eternal blessedness, and eternal ruin. The opposite subjects, are the ' minding of the flesh/ and the ' minding…
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218 " THE GRACt AND DUTV OF 2. Unto this Spirit there is (^p6vi]}.ia ascribed, which, as we have intimated, is translated with great variety. ^p6vr]aiQ, is the principal power and act of the mind. It is its light, wisdom, prudence, knowledge, understanding, and discre- tion. It is not so with respect unto speculation,…
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But before we do proceed, it is not amiss, as I suppose, to put a remark upon those important truths, which are di- rectly contained in the words proposed as the foundation of the present discourse. As, 1. To be spiritually minded is the great distinguishing character of true believers from all unregenerate persons. A…
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Again ; there is a being earthly minded, which consists in an inordinate affection unto the things of this world. It is that which is sinful, which ought to be mortified ; yet it is not absolutely inconsistent with the substance and being of the grace inquired after. Some who are really and truly spiritually minded, ye…
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Thoughts and meditations as proceeding from spiritual affections are the first things wherein this spiritual minded- ness doth consist, and whereby it doth evidence itself. Our thoughts are like the blossoms on a tree in the spring. You may see a tree in the spring all covered with blossoms that nothing else of it appe…
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BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 227 troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt ;' Isa. Ivii. 20. There is a fulness of evil in their hearts, like that of water in the sea ; this fulness is troubled or put into continual motion by their lusts and impetuous desires. Hence the mire and dirt of evil th…
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From hence doth our Saviour give us the great description of spiritual life. It is ' a well of living water springing up into everlasting life;' John. iv. 12. The Spirit, with his graces residing in the heart of a believer, are a well of living water. Nor is it such a well as, content with its own fulness, doth not of …
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And it is an argument of very mean attainments, of a low and weak degree in this frame of heart, or in our being spi- ritually minded, when our thoughts of spiritual things do rise or fall according unto renewed occasional convictions. If when we are under rebukes from God in our persons or relations, in fears of death…
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ledge and understanding, and therefore cannot be without some thoughts of spiritual things. Howbeit for the most part they are, as was said, but like unto waters that run after a shower of rain. They pour out themselves as if they proceeded from some strong living spring, whereas indeed they have none at all. When once…
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Spiritual thoughts may be raised in a person in his own duty, by the exercise of his gifts, when there is no acting of grace in them at all. For they lead and guide the mind unto such things as are the matter of prayer ; that is, spi- ritual things. Gifts are nothing but a spiritual improvement of our natural faculties…
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But ordinarily, under this blessed conduct in the search of ourselves and the concernments of our duty, we may come unto a satisfaction whether they are influenced by faith and have grace exercised in them, especially this duty of prayer, or whether it derive from the power of our na- tural faculties, raised by light a…
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Gifts are gracious vouchsafements of Christ to make grace useful unto ourselves and others ; yea, they may make them useful unto the grace of others, who have no grace in themselves. But as unto our own souls they are of no other advantage or benefit but to stir up grace unto its proper exercise ; and to be a vehicle t…
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BEING SPIIIITUALLY MINDED. 243 own prayers. But it is not so with all of this sort. Some judge themselves sincere and in good earnest in their prayers, not without some hopes and expectations of success. I will not say of all such persons, tliat they are among the number of them concerning whom the wisdom of God says,…
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Wherefore the inquiry remains, How we may know unto our own satisfaction, that the thoughts we have of spiritual things in the duty of prayer, are from an internal fountain of grace, and so are an evidence that we are spiritually minded, whereunto all these things do tend. Some few things I shall offer towards satisfac…
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248 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF Hence a gracious repose of mind and great satisfactoriness doth ensue. If we have no experience of these things, it is evident that we walk at random in the best of our duties ; for they are among the principal things that we do or ought to pray for. And if we have not experience of the effe…
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4. When spiritual affections and due preparation of heart unto the duty do excite and animate the gift of prayer, and not the gift make impressions on the affections, then are we spiritually minded therein. Gifts are servants, not rulers, in the mind ; are bestowed on us to be serviceable unto grace, not to lead, but t…
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From tb^se causes it is, that the thoughts of spiritual things are with many as guests that come into an inn, and not like children that dwell in the house. They enter occa- sionally, and then there is a great stir about them, to provide meet entertainment for them. Within awhile they are dis- posed of, and so depart u…
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BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 255 minds are filled by those of a contrary nature, the greater and more firm is our evidence of a translation out of that depraved state and condition. There is nothing so unaccountable as the multiplicity of thoughts of the minds of men. They fall from them like the leaves of trees when th…
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1. Consider what proportion your thoughts of spiritual things bears with those about other things. Our principal interest and concern, as we profess, lies in things spiritual, heavenly, and eternal. Is it not then a foolish thing to sup- pose that our thoughts about these things, should not hold some proportion with th…
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s 2 260 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF be the principal thing in your thoughts and consciences. We may therefore conclude, that at least they must hold an exceeding proportion with them. Let a man industriously engaged in the way of his calling, try himself by this rule every evening. Let him consider what have been his thou…
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If we are spiritually minded, if thoughts of spiritual things do abound in us, they will ordinarily, and that with constancy, possess these seasons, look upon them as those which are their due, which belong unto them. For they are expressly assigned unto them in the way of rule, express- ed in examples and commands. Se…
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This is the first thing that belongs unto our being spirit- ually minded ; for, although it doth not absolutely or essen- tially consist therein, yet is it inseparable from it, and the BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 265 most undeceiving indication of it. And thus of abounding and abiding in thoughts about spiritual things…
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2. A diligent endeavour to live in a holy resignation of our persons, our lives, our families, all our enjoyments, unto the sovereign will and wisdom of God ; so as that we may be in readiness to part with all things upon his call without repining. This also is plainly declared in the voice of pre- sent providences. Go…
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270 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF perhaps be increased ; if your desires are strong to secure the things of this life unto you and yours ; if the daily coia- trivance of your minds be not how you may attain a con- stant resignation of yourselves and your all unto the will of God, which will not be done without much thoughtful…
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But this season calls in an especial manner for the exer- cise of the thoughts of men, about the ways and means of deliverance from the snare wherein they are taken, or the danger they find themselves exposed unto. Think of the guilt of sin, that you may be humbled. Think of the power of sin, that you may seek strength…
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BEING SPIIUTUALLV MINDED. 275 ritual pride and self-exaltation. Hence the apostle will not admit a novice, one unexperienced in the ways of grace and deceits of sin, into the office of the ministry, lest he should be lifted up with pride, and fall into the condemnation of the devil; ITim. iii. 6, He himself was not wi…
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278 THJi GRACE AXD DUTY OV defective in this duty, partly for want of light into them, partly for want of delight in them ; they think little of an eternal country. Wherever men are, they do not use to neg- lect thoughts of that country wherein their inheritance lies. If they are absent from it for a season, yet will …
1,283 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.