PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 1
John Owen · 319,122 words · 321 reading sections
Section 121
THE FIRST PROMISE CONSIDERED. 123 ment and exercise of the faith of all believers for four thousand years; is to indulge unto thoughts deviating from all rules of sobriety. He that sees not a divine wisdom in this institution, hath scarce seriously exercised his thoughts about it. But I have elsewhere considered the c…
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6. All the promises that God gave afterward unto the church under the Old Testament, before and after giving the law — all the covenants that he entered into with particular persons, or the whole congregation of believers — were all of them declarations and confir- mations of this first promise, or the way of salvation…
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Wherefore the ground of the actual assignation of divine honour unto the person of Christ, in both branches of it, adoration and invo- cation, is faith in him. So he said unto the blind man whose eyes he opened, " Believest thou on the Son of God?" John ix. 85. And he said, " Lord, I believe; and he worshipped him," ve…
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For the places themselves the reader may consult, among others, John i. 12, iii. 16, 18, 36, vi. 29, 35, 41, vii. 88, 39; Acts xiv. 23, xvi. 31, xix. 4, xxiv. 24, xxvi. 18; Rom. ui. 26, ix. 33, x. 11; 1 Peter ii. 6; 1 John v. 10, 13. There is not one of these but sufficiently confirms the truth. Some few others not nam…
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2dly, Again, that we are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, and that distinctly with the Father, is a sufficient evidence of the necessity of faith in his person ; for we are therein given up unto universal spiritual subjection of soul unto him, and dependence on him. Not to believe in him, on his name — that is, …
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And this consideration of the person of Christ — namely, as he is God and man — in our acting of faith on him, is that which renders it peculiar, and limits or determines it unto his person, because he only is so; — the Father is not, nor the Holy Spirit. That faith which hath the person of God and man for its object, …
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Wherefore, in the sense now intended, he is considered as the ordinance, as the servant of God, " who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory." So our faith respects not only his person, but all the acts of his office. It is faith in his blood, Rom. iii. 25. It is the will of God, that we should place our faith…
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In this regard the Gospel is no new law; — only the duties of the moral and eternal law are plainly declared in the doctrine of it, enforced in its motives, and directed as to their manner and end. Nor in this sense did the Lord Christ ever declare himself to be a new lawgiver ; yea, he declares the contrary — that he …
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(2.) God hath given unto the Lord Christ all power in his name, to require this obedience from all that receive the Gospel. Others are left under the original authority of the Lav^, either as implanted in our natures at their first creation, as are the Gentiles; or as delivered by Moses, and written in tables of stone,…
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In the Old Testament the love of God was the life and substance of all obedience. " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, thy mind and strength," was the sum of the law. This includes in it all obedience, and, where it is genuine, will produce all the fruits of it ; and where it was no…
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(1.) That love is not sincere and incorrupt which proceed eth not from — which is not a fruit of faith. Those who do not first really believe on Christ, can never sincerely love him. It is faith alone that worketh by love towards Christ and all his saints. If, therefore, any do not believe with that faith which unites …
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[3.] As it is described by those who applaud it, it is not suited unto the sober, sedate actino;s of the rational faculties of our souls. For whereas all that God requireth of us, is that we love him with all our souls and all our minds, these men cry up a divine love by an immediate adhesion of the will and the affect…
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Again, he is the peculiar object of the love of the Father, of the love of God, as he is incarnate — as he hath taken on him, and hath now discharged, the work of mediation, or continues in the discharge of it; that is, the person of Christ, as God-man, is the peculiar object of the divine love of the Father. The perso…
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[1.] They were all, unto their inexpressible present advantage and security for the future, brought into that recovery and recapitulation of all things which God hath made in him. He hath " gathered together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him," Eph. i. 10. The thi…
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LOVE TO HIM THE LIFE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH. 149 commandments," John xiv. 15. He so requires love unto himself, as not to expect or approve of any obedience unto his commands without it. It is a great and blessed duty to feed the sheep and lambs of Christ ; yet will not he accept of it unless it proceeds out of love …
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DIVINE PERFECTIONS THE OBJECT OF OUR LOVE. 151 unto him ? Wherefore, at our first creation, and in our primitive condition, love was the very soul and quickening piinciple of the life of God ; and on our adherence unto him thereby the continuance of our relation unto liim did depend. The law, rule, and measure of it w…
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4. These things being premised, we may consider the especial nature of this divine love, although I acknowledge that the least part of what believers have an experience of in their own souls can be expressed at least by me. Some few things I shall mention, which may give us a shadow of it, but not the express image of …
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(2.) It is a love of assimilation. It contains in it a desire and intense endeavour to be like unto God, according unto our capacity and measure. The soul sees all goodness, and consequently all that is amiable and lovely, in God — the want of all which it finds in itself The fruition of his goodness is that which it l…
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The same love of friendship is expressed by that intimate converse with, and especial residence that is between God and believers. God dwelleth in them, and they dwell in God; for God is love, 1 John iv. 1 6. " If a man," saith the Lord Christ, " love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will …
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Not to insist on particular testimonies, it is evident unto all whose eyes are opened to discern these things, that there is no property of the divine nature which is peculiarly amiable — such as are goodness, grace, love, and bounty, with infinite power and holiness — but it is represented and proposed unto us in the …
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Others there are who abhor these idols, and when they have so done, commit sacrilege. As they reject images, so they seem to do all love unto the person of Christ, distinct from other acts of obedi- ence, as a fond imagination. But the most superstitious love unto Christ — that is, love acted in ways tainted with super…
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And these considerations are taken from all that he did for us, with the reasons and grounds why he did it. We love him princi- pally and ultimately for what he is; but nextly and immediately for what he did. What he did for us is first proposed unto us, and it is that which our souls are first affected withal. For the…
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He is no Christian who lives not much in the meditation of the mediation of Christ, and the especial acts of it. Some may more abound in that work than others, as it is fixed, formed and regular; some may be more able than others to dispose their thoughts con- cerning them into method and order; some may be more dilige…
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Love is that jewel of human nature which commands a valuation wherever it is found. Let other circumstances be what they will, whatever distances between persons may be made by them, yet real love, where it is evidenced so to be, is not despised by any but such as degenerate into profligate brutality. If it be so state…
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(2.) This love of Christ unto the church is singular in all those qualifications which render love obliging unto reciprocal affections. It is so in its reality. There can be no love amongst men, but will derive something from that disorder which is in their affections in their highest actings. But the love of Christ is…
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There is yet farther evidence to be given of this love unto the person of Christ, from all those blessed effects of it which are de- clared in the Scripture, and whereof believers have the experience in themselves. But something I have spoken concerning them formerly, in my discourse about communion with God; and the n…
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He hath " predestinated us to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren," Rom. viii. 29. In the collation of all grace on Christ, God designed to CONFOEMITY TO CHRIST. 171 make him "the first-born of many brethren;" that is, not only to give him the power and authorit…
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God himself, or the divine nature in its holy perfections, is the ultimate object and idea of our transformation in the renewing of our minds. And, therefore, under the Old Testament, before the incarnation of the Son, he proposed his own holiness immediately as the pattern of the church : " Be ye holy, for the Lord yo…
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Lastly, That wherein we are to labour for tliis conformity may be reduced unto two heads. [1.] An opposition unto all sin, in the root, principle, and most secret springs of it, or original cleavings unto our nature. He " did no sin, neither was there any guile found in his mouth." He " was holy, harmless, undefiled, …
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2. Self-denial, readiness for the cross, with patience in sufferings, are the second sort of things which he calls all his disciples to follow his example in. It is the fundamental law of his Gospel, that if any one will be his disciple, " he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him." These things in him, a…
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3dly, A conviction that a real interest in, and participation of, these things cannot be obtained any other way but by the actual exercise of faith on the person of Jesus Christ. These things were necessary to be handled at large with reference unto the end proposed. But, for sundry reasons, the whole of this labour i…
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Whereas wisdom, therefore, is that lioly excellency or power of the Divine Being, wherein God designs, and whereby he effects, the glory of all the other properties of his nature, we cannot trace the paths of it in any work of God, unless we know the interest and con- cernment of those other properties in that work. Fo…
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182 THE PERSON OF CHRIST. of all other glosses and expositions. The properties of the divine nature principally and originally considerable, in all external opera- tions, (as we have newly observed,) are goodness, wisdom, and power. In this great work, di"\dne goodness exerted itself eminently and effec- tually in the…
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Evident it is that these were the principal ends of God in the creation of all things. Wherefore this constitution of our nature, and the fumishment of it with the image of God, was the most eminent effect of infinite wisdom in all the outward works of the divine nature. (2.) In the entrance of sin, and by apostasy fr…
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(3.) Sin brought disorder and disturbance into the whole rule and government of God. It was necessary, from the infinite wisdom of God, that all things should be made in perfect order and harmony — all in a direct subordination unto his glory. There could have been no original defect in the natural or moral order of th…
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This, therefore, also belonged unto the care of divine wisdom, ■ — namely, that the glory of God in none of the holy properties of his nature did suffer any diminution hereby. All this, and inconceivably more than we are able to express, being contained in the sin of our apostasy from God, it must needs follow that th…
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The nature of man was in like manner made capable of the eternal enjoyment of God. This was the end for which it was created, unto the glory of him by whom it was made ; for it became the divine wisdom and goodness, to give unto everything an operation and end suited unto its capacity. And these, in this race of intell…
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(2.) I grant the nature of man was not reparable nor recoverable by any such actings of the properties of God as he had exerted in the creation and rule of all things. Were there not other properties of the divine nature than what were discovered and revealed in the crea- tion of all — were not some of them so declared…
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man's aversion to his own recovery. 193 that which the Gospel requireth in the room thereof. For they seem to supjDose that the Gospel is not much more but an accommodation of the rule of obedience unto our present reason and abilities, with some motives unto it, and an example for it in the personal obedience and suf…
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OBEDIENCE NEEDED IN MAN'S RECOVERY. 195 and for itself ; and to suppose that satisfaction Avill be made for a former fault by that whose omission would have been another, had the former never been committed, is madness. An old debt cannot be discharged with ready money for new commodities ; nor can past injuries be co…
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REDEMPTION WROUGHT IN HUMAN NATURE. 197 8. It was necessary that Satan should be justly despoiled of his advantage and power over mankind, inito the glory of God ; for he was not to be left to triumph in his success. And masmuch as man was, on his part, rightfully given up unto him, his deliverance was not to be wroug…
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The first disco veiy of the wisdom of God herein was in that pri- mitive revelation, that the Deliverer should be of " the seed of the woman," Gen. iii. 15. No other but he who was so could "break the serpent's head," or " destroy the work of the devil," so as that we might be delivered and restored. He was not only to…
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First, We are to give in rational evidences that the recovery of mankind was not to be effected by any one who was a mere man, and no more, though it were absolutely necessary that a man he should be ; he must be God also. Secondly, We must inquire into the suitableness or condecency unto divine \visdom in the redempti…
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NECESSITY OF CHEIST's MEDIATORSHIP. 203 or apprehensions. But it became the wisdom of God, in the dispen- sation of himself herein unto the church, so to order things as that faith might have an immovable rock to build upon. This alone it hath in the person of Christ, 'God and man, his obedience and suf- ferings. Wher…
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On these suppositions, v.diich are full of light and evidence, infinite Wisdor)i did interpose itself, to glorify all the other concerned excel- DIVINE WISDOM IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 205 lencies of the glory of God, in such a way as might solve all diffi- culties, and satisfy all the ends of God's glory, in the reco…
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WISDOM IN REDEMPTION BY THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 207 was not liis own, nor due unto him. And this being inconsistent with his o^vn divine nature, he performed it by taking our nature on him — making it his own. He descended as much beneath himself in his self-humiliation, as Adam designed to ascend above himself in his p…
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The recompense, with respect unto the glory of God, for disobe- dience must be by obedience, as hath been before declared. And if there be not a full obedience yielded unto the law of God in that nature that sinned, man cannot be saved without an eternal violation of the glory of God therein. But the disobedience of hi…
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Sinners generally live in a neglect and contempt of God, in an enmity against him ; but whenever they are convinced of a necessity to endeavour a return unto him, the first thing they have to conflict withal is fear. Beginning to understand who and what he is, as also how things stand between him and them, they are afr…
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212 THE PERSON OF CHRIST. restore us; so he would do it in a way of obedience on our part — of that obedience which we had forsaken. The design of man, which was imposed on him by the craft of Satan, was to become wise like unto God, knowing good and evil. The folly of this endeavour was quickly discovered in its effe…
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214 THE PERSON OF CHRIST. vides that a second forfeiture shall not be made of it. Wherefore the grant of it is not made immediately unto any of those for whose use and benefit it is prepared and granted. They had been once tried, and failed in their trust, unto their own eternal beggary and ruin, had not infinite grac…
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[2.] Any failure in his own person was absolutely impossible. The subsistence of the human nature in the person of the Son of God, rendered the least sin utterly impossible unto him; for all the moral operations of that nature are the acts of the person of the Son of God. And hereby not only is the inheritance secured,…
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For the power which Satan had over mankind was in itself unjust. For, (1.) He obtained it hy fraud and deceit: " The serpent beguiled" Eve. (2.) He possessed it with injustice, with respect unto God, being an invader of his right and possession. (3.) He used and exercised it "with malice, tyranny, and rage ; — so as th…
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THE SPECIAL FITNESS OF THE SON TO BE OUR REDEEMER, 219 restored in us, there was a condecency that it should be done by him who was the essential image of God ; for it consists in the commu- nication of the effects and likeness of the same image unto us which was essentially in himself (2.) We were by nature the sons…
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This is that which the prophets of old inquired into and after with all diligence, even the mystery of God manifest in the flesh, with the glory that ensued thereon, 1 Pet. ill. Yet had they not that light to discern it by which we have. The " least in the kingdom of God," as to the knowledge of this mystery, may be ab…
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[3.] Abounding in this duty is the most effectual means of freeing us, in particular, from the shame and bane oi profession in earthly- mindedness. There is nothing so unbecoming a Christian as to have his mind always exercised about, always filled with thoughts of, earthly things. And according as men's thoughts are e…
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What the Scripture represents of the wisdom of God in this great work may be reduced unto these four heads : — I. The assumption of our nature into personal subsistence with the Son of God. II. The union of the two natures in that single person which is consequential thereon. III. The mutual communication of those dist…
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These things may be safely affinned, and ought to be firmly be- lieved, as the sense of the Holy Ghost in those expressions: " He took on him the seed of Abraham " — " He took on him the form of a servant ; " and the like. And who can conceive the condescension of divine goodness, or the actings of divine wisdom and po…
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^ The first four of these terms were adopted by the Fourth (Ecumenical Coun- cil, hell] at Chalcedon, a.d. 451. — Ed. 228 THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 2. It is used also by many and designed to express the peculiar dignity of the human nature of Christ. This is that wherein no crea- ture is participant, nor ever shall be un…
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(3.) There are other unions in things natural, which are by mix- ture of composition. Hereon something is produced composed of various parts, which is not what any of them are. And there is a conversion of things, when one thing is substantially changed into another, — as the water in the miracle that Christ wrought wa…
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[2.] He allowed an especial presence, xara sjisiv, as some call it ; that is, by such a union of affections as is between intimate friends. The soul of God rested always in that man [Christ] ; — in him was he well pleased : and he was wholly given up in his affections unto God. This also is true; but there is that whic…
1,018 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.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.