PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 15
John Owen · 234,856 words · 240 reading sections
Section 181
s Isa. xliii. 18. Psal. xlviii. 42—44. Judges v. 15. 17. 23. ' Numb. xxii. 6. 1 Kings xviii. 26. VOL. XV. 2 F 434 THE ADVA XT AGE OF there the least true consolation in any of these alterations, but what arises from a closing with it. Come we to the second observation. II, The actings of God's providence in can-yi…
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as an abominable branch ; the Scots shaken and broken with unparalleled destruction, in the maintenance of the in- terest and cause, which at first they prosperously opposed ; the iron yoke, pretended to be that of Christ (though it be fleshly, carnal, and cruel, suited to the wisdom of a man, and his rule be spiritual…
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3. God will do it for the hardening of many false empty professors, and others in the world, that the judgments ap- pointed may come upon them to the uttermost.^ The hard- ening of men to their destruction, being a close and inward work, is one of the most eminent acts of the providence of God in governing the world : …
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I shall not say to our brethren, that they have shewed this day, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had been slain, it would have been well pleasing to them: but this I shall say, that it is a sad sign, that our ways please not God, when his ways please not us at all. There being not space for handling the two rema…
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4thly. The full casting out and rejectng of all will-wor- ship, and their attendant abominations; Rev. xi. 2. THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST, &C. 443 5thly. Professed subjection of the nations throughout the whole world unto the Lord Christ; Dan. ii. 44. vii. 28. Isa. Ix. 6 — 8. the kingdoms become, &,c. amongst whom his appe…
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[2.] Consider the constant answer of prayers which those which have waited on God in these dispensations, to their unspeakable consolations, have received ; finding God to be nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for : if in this thing, 'they regarded -iniquity in their hearts, surely God would not have heard t…
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[1.] Inquire diligently into his mind and will, that you may know his paths, and be acquainted with his statutes. I dare say, no temptation in the world presses with more co- lour and violence upon men under mercies, than that to a neglect of walking; and holdino; communion with God in his O o o ordinances : the devi…
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VOL. XV. 2 o i SERMON X* THE LABOURING SAINT'S DISMISSION TO REST. A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY IRETON, LORD DEPUTY OF IRELAND. * This sermon was preached in the abbey church at Westminster, Feb. 6, 1651. THE HONOURABLE AND MY VERY WORTHY FRIEND COLONEL HENRY CROMWELL. Sir,…
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[1.] Wisdom; [2.] Love to his people ; [3.] Uprightness and righteousness in the discharge of that high place, where- unto he was advanced. 454 THE LABOURING SAINt's [1.] For the first, the Holy Ghost beareth ample testi- mony thereunto, Dan i. 17. 20. ' As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill i…
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(2.) It is not then God's laying him aside from his office simply, but also his intimation that he must shortly lay' down his mortality, and so come into the condition wherein he was 'to rest' until the end. This then is his dismission, he died in his work, life and employment go together. ' Go thou thy ways.' Observa…
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Some things are unchangeable and indispensable amongst men, supposing them to live answerable to the general prin- DISMISSTOK TO REST. 459 ciples of their kind : as that a government must be ; without which every one is the enemy of every one, and all tend to mutual destruction, which are appointed of God for mutual …
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Secondly, Then, there is the term allotted to him in this state of his dismission: 'Until the end be.' Three things may be here intended in this word ' end.' 1. The end of his life : * Go thou thy ways to the end of thy life,' and days. But this we before disallowed, not con- senting that Daniel received a dismission…
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The three most eminent works of God, in and about his children, in the days of old, were his giving his people the law, and settling them in the land of Canaan: his recovering them from the Babylonish captivity; and, his promulgation of the gospel unto them. In these three works, he em- ployed three most eminent person…
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Some particular rules may direct you herein : (1.) Compare yourselves with the saints of God, who were faithful in their generations, and are now fallen asleep; what a deal of work did Josiah do in a short season? what VOL. XV. 2 H 466 THE LABOURING SAIXt's a light did John set up in a few years? with what unwearied…
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2. To manifest that he hath better things in store for his saints than the best and utmost of what they can desire or aim at here below. He had a heaven for Moses, and therefore might in love and mercy deny him Canaan. He employeth some eminently, their work is great, their end glorious, at the very last step almost of…
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Now ' rest' holds out two things unto us : A freedom from what is opposite thereunto, wherein those that are at rest have been exercised, in reference whereunto they are said to be at rest ; and something which suits them, and satisfies their nature in the condition wherein they are ; and therefore they are at rest, wh…
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DISMISSION TO RKST. 473 (2.) This will not complete their rest, something farther is required thereto : even something to satisfy, everlastingly- content, and fill them in the state and condition wherein they are. Free them in your thoughts from what you please, without this they are not at rest. This then you have in…
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SERMON XL* C H RIST'S KINGDOM AND THE MAGISTRATE'S POWER. / Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me, J came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. — Dan. vii. …
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1. The subject of these perplexing visions is a represen- tation of the four great empires of the world, which had, and were to have dominion, in and over the places of the church's greatest concernments, and were all to receive their period and destruction by the Lord Christ, and his revenging hand. And these three t…
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The Jews to this very day expect it, as a thing carnal, and temporal, visible, outwardly glorious, wherein, in all manner of pleasure, they shall bear rule over the nations at their will ; such another thing of all the world as the popedom, which the Gentile, or idolatrous worshippers of Christ set up for his kingdom: …
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THE MAGISTRA TK'.S POWER. 4S3 And this looketh to the inward substance of the kingdom of Christ, which is given him of his Father, and is not of this world, though he exercise it in the world to the last day : a kingdom which can never be shaken nor removed : 'the government of it is upon his shoulders, and of the in-…
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(2.) This is certain, that all nations whatever, which in their present stale and government, have given their power to the dragon and the beast, to oppose the Lord Christ withal, shall be shaken, broken, translated, and turned off their old foundations and constitutions, into which the antichristian interest hath been…
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(5.) This is a perpetual antithesis, and opposition that is put between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of Christ; that they rise out of the strivings of the winds upon the sea, he comes with the clouds of heaven : they are brought in by commotions, tumults, wars, desolations, and so shall all the shakings of…
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So did Daniel here ; he went to one of them that minis- tered before the Lord to be acquainted with his will, other- wise thoughts and contrivances will but farther perplex you ; like men in the mire, whilst they pluck one leg out, the other sticketh faster in; whilst you relieve yourselves in one thing, you will be mo…
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2. From the manner whereby God will do these things. Many perplexing, killing circumstances attend his dispensa- tions ; I shall instance only in one, and that is darkness and ob- scurity, whereby he holds the minds of men in uncertainty and suspense, for his own glorious ends ; such he tells us shall his day, and the …
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* Obad. xii. 13. Isa. vi. 494 CHRIS IS KIVGDOAJ AND and the church: say others, you have nothing to do to rule men, but upon the account of being saints. If you will have the gospel, say some, down with the ministers of it, chemarims, locusts, &c. and if you will have light, take care that you may have ignorance and …
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(1.) First then, in reference to the things that God is doing, both as to their greatness, and theirmanner of doing; whose consideration fills men with thoughts, that grieve their spirits in the midst of their bodies : would you have your hearts quieted in this respect ? take my second Ob- servation for your direction …
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[3.] You shall surely know your own particular paths, wherein you ought to walk in serving God in your genera- tion. Those that wait upon him he will guide in judgment, he will not leave them in the dark, nor to distracted, di- vided, piercing thoughts. But whatever others do, you shall be guided into ways of peace : t…
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THE magistrate's POWER. 501 ver. 22, 23. 'Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.' Isa. Ix. looks wholly this way : taste of the nature and intendment of the whole. 'And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the bright- ness of thy rising. Therefore thy gates shall be ope…
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This then being the occasion of those promises, and their accomplishment being as before, in a peculiar manner pointed at, upon the shaking, calling, and new moulding of the kingdoms and nations of the world, which had given their power to the beast, and thereupon framed anew into a due subserviency to the interest of …
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2dly. That wherever the gospel is by any nation owned, received, embraced, it is the blessing, benefit, prosperity, and advantage of that nation. They that love Zion shall prosper; Psal. cxxii. 6. * Godliness hath the promise of this life, and is profitable unto all;' 1 Tim. iv. 8. The reception of the word of truth, a…
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Now the things that are opposite to the good of any na- tion or people, are of two sorts. (1st.) Such as are really, directly, and immediately op- posed to that state and condition, wherein they closed toge- ther, and find prosperity. In general, seditions, tumults, disorders ; in particular, violent, or fraudulent br…
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510 Christ's kingdom and [3.] For the rules which I intimated, I shall but namn them, having some years since delivered my thoughts to the w^orld at large on this subject;^ and I see no cause as yet to recede from any thing then so delivered. Take then only for the present these brief directions following. 1st. Labou…
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Farther I shall not need to suggest any thing of the ensuing discourse : they who take themselves to be concerned therein, will acquaint themselves with it, by its perusal. I shall only add, if the general principles asserted therein be in your hearts, if in pursuit thereof you endeavour, that in no corner of the natio…
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It is, it seems, no new thing, that the season of the enemies' rejoicing, built upon the outward appearance and state of things among the people of God, is the beginning of their disappointment and desolation. The Lord make it so in this day of England's expectation, that the rod of it may be strengthened again, yet to…
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1. What God hath done. 2. What his people shall, or ought to do. Wrap up at any time the work of God, and the duty of his people together, and they will be a suflScient answer to any man's inquiry after the state of things among them. As to our wisdom in reference unto providential dispensations, this is the whole of…
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(1.) 'The poor of his people;' verse 30. they are called, ' the first-born of the poor and needy :' that is, those who are very poor. Now this expression may denote either the 522 GODS WORK IN FOUNDING ZION. people in general, who had been poor and aflBicted ; and so * the poor of his people' is as much as ' his poor…
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524 god's work in founding zion. derstanding people ;' Deut. iv. 6. and the keeping of those laws was their wisdom and understanding among all nations), nor yet merely the laws of their religious worship ; but the whole way, interest, design, profession of that people, is comprised in this expression, they * are diver…
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This is the issue of this proposal. If we are not a se- parated people unto God ; if our portion be as the portion of the men of the world, and we are also as they, reckoned among the nations ; if we have had only national works, in the execution of wrath on men fitted thereunto amongst us; woe unto us that we were eve…
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2. Private enmities, private disappointments, private prejudices, are things of the same consideration. Let a man of a free and large heart and spirit abstract his thoughts from the differences that are among the people of God in this nation, and keep himself from an engagement into any particular design and desire : i…
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3. Providential dispensations are discoveries of the wis- dom of God in disposing of the condition of his people, so god's work in founding zion. 531 as they may best glorify him. To dispute against the con- dition wherein at any time we are cast by his providence, is to rise up against his wisdom in disposing of thi…
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If it be in the infinite, wise counsel of God, to give his saints in this nation peace and tranquillity, they shall not god's work in founding zion. 533 have it precariously upon the wills of menj for he will not leave moulding and disposing of the affairs of the nation, until it find, that it is its proper interest …
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god's work IX FOUNDING ZIO\. 535 that you could do it with one heart and lip, with one con- sent, and judgment ! On whom are the eyes of this nation, and of those round about ? from whom are the expectations of men ? to whom should we go to inquire what God hath done in this nation, what he is doing, what are the effe…
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GODS WORK IN FOUNDING ZION. 537 they did desire it. But that those who have their share in it indeed, should be thus broken among themselves, should bite one another, devour one another, and scarce allow one another to be sharers in the common interest of the saints, in that day, this is a lamentation, and shall be fo…
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(1.) This is an interest comprehensive of all the sons of Zion, whose founding God intends ; it excludes none that can claim a share in the city of the living God. God takes equal care of all the dwelling-places of Zion. Every dwelling- place of Zion hath its beauty, hath its glory; Isa. iv. 5. The glory of one may be …
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There are some things that I am afraid of, that lie con- trary to what I am exhorting you unto. I wish the event .)42 (iODS WORK IX FOUN'DING ZIO.V. manifest that I am afraid without cause. However, give me leave to caution you of them, because I cannot be faithful to my call if I do not. [1.] Take heed, lest that e…
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544 god's M'ohk in founding ziox. like kind is capable of. What is this, you will say? It is in brief, let the work of God as stated be your guide in all your consultations, and it will direct you to aim at these two ends. [1.] To preserve peace, to compose differences, to make up breaches, to avoid all occasions of …
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[2.] Keep alive this principle (which whether any will hear, or whether any will forbear, I know not ; but this I am sure of, in the latter end it will be found to be true) ac- cording as you regard, cleave to, promote, protect, on the one side ; or despise, contemn, and oppose on the other, the common interest of Zion…
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This is done in my text to Asa and Judah by Oded ; and I desire in my sermon that it may with the same spirit, and the same success, be done by me unto you. The words 1 intend principally to insist on, having the same thing for substance three times repeated in them, the opening of the A people's prosperity. 551 firs…
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A people's prosperity. 553 and exhibited in it. But neither is this the presence of God here intended; though this be something that flows from it, and does attend it. For, (1.) That presence of God with his people hath not such a conditional establishment, as this here mentioned ; it stands on other terms, and bette…
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(1.) They have a very different rise. The foundation, and principal law of special grace, dispensed in the cove- nant is this; that some sinned, and another was punished. So it is laid down expressly, Isa. liii. 6 .* All we like sheep have gone astray : we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on…
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558 GO us PllF.SJ-N'CK with God, yet lie hatli made with me an everlasting cove- nant, ordered in all things and sure ; for this is all my salva- tion, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.' David had a promise for the prosperity of his house ; he had also an engagement of the sure mercies of the covenan…
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(2.) That the whole work be good, and have a tendency to God's glory, wherein they are engaged. David's counsel for the killing of Uriah prospered and took effect ; yet was not God with him therein. The work engaged in must be according to his mind. And, (3.) Made useful and subservient to his glory. When the hearts o…
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A people's prospeuity. 563 to seek out a resting-place for them ; Numb. x. 33. It was carried on, to see where the pillar, or cloud of direction would stay, and there they rested v/herever it was. When God gives a people so- much direction, as that they see it is their duty to go on, and to trust him in so doing, thou…
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1 A PEOPLES PROSPERITY. 565 ix. 19. It is not every entanglement, every disappointment, every defeat, that argues God's departure, as to his special presence. It may be good for us sometimes to be in such a condition; and then that desertion, that carries into it, is from the presence of God. We are now grown to that…
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It is true, for some particular actions or works a wicked man may be anointed particularly ; as Jehu, and Jeroboam the son of Joash. But you have no instance, that ever God was with a people to bless them indeed, in a course of spe- cial providence, when wicked men by their own consent were their rulers, where the unio…
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I hope, T need not stay to give you directions how this duty is to be performed. The unction wall teach it you, and your * fellowship,' I hope, ' is with the Father, and with his Son Christ Jesus.' Only now take these few words with you. (1st.) Captivate all your desires to his glory. Set your hearts on nothing, with …
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572 god's presence (3dly.) It is to commit your affairs to the Lord with sub- mission to his will, as to their issue and accomplishment. Trust respects protection, but it prescribes not, as to par- ticular events. It is to commit our affairs to God with thoughts of his infinite wisdom, sovereignty, and goodness; with …
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574 GODS I'RESEXCE were bound to follow them with his presence in all their passions, in all their wanderings. It would, I confess, be more desirable unto me than life itself, to see all those at least, who stick to the cause of God in its greatest difficul- ties and trials, and then when it ceased to be carried on in…
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[1,] For the things of God, or the pubhc profession of religion in the land, my time is too far spent for me to enter into a serious discourse on the subject. Some things have of late been done, which when envy, and anger, and disap- pointment shall cease to operate, the whole people of God in this nation will have cau…
455 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.