PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 2
John Owen · 248,045 words · 245 reading sections
Section 61
And this is the second part of our first demonstration. Thus the 'knowledge of ourselves, in reference to our supernatural end, is no small portion of our wisdom. The things of the greatest concern- ment hereunto are, sin, righteousness, and judgment; the wisdom of all which is alone hid in the Lord Jesus: which was to…
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2. There is requii"ed acquaintance, also, to walking together. Two may meet together in the same way, and have no quarrel between them, no enmity ; but if they are mere strangers one to another, they 2^88 by without the least communion together. It doth not suffice that the enmity betwixt God and us be taken away; we m…
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110 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SOX JESUS CHRIST. saith St. Paul, Phil. iv. 13, who denies that of ourselves we have any sufficiency, 2 Cor. iii. 5. We that can do nothing in ourselves, we are such weaklings, can do all things in Jesus Christ, as giants; and therefore in him we are, against all oppositions in our way, "more…
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There be two things in the world that do pass under this ac- count:— 1. The one is learning or literature; skill and knowledge of arts, sciences, tongues, with the knowledge of the things that are past. 2. Prudence and skill for the management of ourselves in reference to others, in civil affairs, for public good ; whi…
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(2.) That the loss of it is part of that curse which was inflicted on us for sin. Whatever we come short in of the state of the first man in innocency, whether in loss of good or addition of evil, it is all of the curse for sin. Besides, that blindness, ignorance, darkness, deadncss, which is everywhere ascribed to us …
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Ei^avTaf //.lyaXoio Siou Xoyai c; fa xuXvtth Uccvra ^jsvcf fi^oTirj; »'t^£tto» ■roXviiiia fiZfov. — dreg. Naz. Car. i. de I?eb. Suis. OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 115 most profess to avoid, blindness and folly, — to write upon ifc"vanity and vexation of spirit." I hope I shall not need to add any thing to…
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' " Istliuc est sapere, noii quod ante pedes inodo est, Viileic; si'd etiaiii ilia cjiia^ futtira sunt, Prospicere." — Tereu. Adelpli. 3, .1, 3.3. » Isa. xxix. 14, xlvii. 10; .)er. xlix. 7; Ubad. 8. ' " Prudeiis fiittiri tempiiris cxitum Calif^inosa noct*; prcniit Deus : Ridetquo, si inortalis ultra Fas trcpidat."— IL…
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witli [1.] on that pago. Tlic insertion of it, however, would have ronuircd great cliangos, and rendered the snhsecpient niunemtiun very obscure. — Ed. ' 'liiovh y-aXXov iv n^tfiia tffTis, ri iv Kivnati. — Arisl. Ktll., lib. vii., cap. 14. TlXuci "hi Tri» Incyi'd* >) rilovri. — id. 1. 10, C. 4. OF COMMUNION WITH THE …
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Now, the things which m this communion Christ reveals to them that he delights in, may be referred to these two heads: — 1. Him- self. 2. His kingdom. 1. Himself John xiv. 21, "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him;" — "manifest myself in all my graces, d…
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[3.] Boldness to go unto God. The voice of sinners in them- selves, if once acquainted with the terror of the Lord, is, — " Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" Isa. xxxiii. 14. And no marvel;* shame and trembling before God are the proper issues of sin.…
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' " 'r^iQivTvyx'^viiv, est advocatoruiii qui clientibiis desideria dictant." 2 I Sam. i. 13. s Isa. xxxviii. 14; Exod. xiv. 15. * Isa. Ixiv. 6; Ps. cxxx. 3. 124 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. wherein he had trusted. But yet, men may ask that wliich is in the promise, and yet not have their prayers regulated…
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In that pattern of communion with Jesus Christ which we have in the Canticles, this is abundantly insisted on. The spouse tells us that she sits down under his shadow with great delight. Cant. ii. 3. And this delight to be vigorous and active, she manifests several ways; wherein we should labour to find our hearts in l…
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The reason she gives of this earnestness in her supplications, is that which principally evinces her delight in him: "Love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the gTave," or " hard as hell." This is the intendment of what is so loftily set out by so many metaphors in this and the following verse : — " I am not abl…
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(2.) Having driven this to some issue, the soul appheth itself to the promises of the covenant, wherein Christ is most graciously exhi- bited unto it; considers one, ponders another, to find a taste of him; — it considers diligently if it can see the delightful countenance and favour of Christ in them or no. But now, i…
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"What now follows in this estate? Verse 8, " The watchmen found mo," etc. That these watchmen of the city of God are the watchmen and officers of the churcli, is confessed. And it is of sad consideration, OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 181 tliat the Holy Ghost doth sometimes in this book take notice of them …
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Secondly, For the ordinances, consider the same person. Ps. xlii., Ixxxiv., and xlviii., are such plentiful testimonies throughout, as we need no farther inquiring; nor shall I go forth to a new discourse on this particular. And this is the first mutual consequential act of conjugal affection, in this communion betwee…
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(3.) Foriheir .sakes he so humbled and emptied himself, in taking flesh, as to become therein a servant, — in the eyes of the world of no ' See Viud. Evan., cap. xiii. vol. xii. ' John xiv. 28. ' Isa. liii. 2. OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 135 esteem nor account; and a true and real servant^ unto the Fathe…
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To answer this, believers also value Jesus Cluist; they have an esteem of him above all the world, and all things in the world. You ' " Amorem istum non esse vulgarem osteiulit, diim iios pietiosos esse (licit." — Calv. ill loc. ' (iei). xii. 3; Mic. v. 7, 8. 3 Isa. xxxiv. 8, Ixi. 2, Ixiii. 4. « iMatt, xxv. 41-46. O…
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' Acts xxiii. 1. ' Jlom. x 2, 3. ' Acts xxvi, 7. « John ix. -10; liom. ix. 30, 31. » Isa. xlv. 24. OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 1S9 things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." It is of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the eternal Wisdom of tlie Father, that the Holy Ghost speaks; as is…
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III. The third conjugal affection on the part of Christ h pity and compassion. As a man " nourisheth and cherish eth his ^own flesh, so doth the Lord his church," Eph. v. 29. Christ hath a fellow feel- ing with his saints in all their troubles, as a man hath with his own flesh. This act of the conjugal love of Christ r…
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So mention being made of his compassionateness and fellow-suffer- ing with us, Heb. iv. 15, it is added, verse 16, that he administers X(^P'v ih ivy-aipov iSorjhiav, — seasonable gi-ace, grace for help in a time of need. This is an evidence of compassion, when, like the Samaritan, we afford seasonable help. To lament o…
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[4.] By giving in fresh supplies of grace, according as temptations do grow or increase. So was it in the case of Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 9, " My grace is sufficient for thee." The temptation, whatever it were, grew high ; Paul was earnest for its removal ; and receives only this answer, of the sufficiency of the grace of Go…
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[1.] Temporally, upon persons, kingdoms, nations, and countries, (a type whereof you have, Isa. Ixiii. 1—6) ; as he did it upon the old Roman Avorld, Rev. vi. 15, 16. And this also he doth two ways: — \st. By calling out here and there an eminent opposer, and making him an example to all the world. So he dealt with Ph…
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1 Gal. iii 1. 2 1 Cor. i. 30. ^ Rom. x. 4. * " Porfice hoc precibiis, pietio, ut liseream in parte aliqua tandem," etc. 1 48 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. pose : yea, sometimes they know not whether they have any interest in him or no, — he absents and withdraws himself; they still continue solitary, in a …
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[1.] Bij placing our comforts and joys in other things, and not being filled with joy in the Holy Ghost. When we make creatures or creature comforts — any thing whatever but what we receive by the Spirit of Christ — to be our joy and our delight, we are false with Christ. So was it with Demas,^ who loved the present wo…
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(2.) They readily embrace, receive, and practise every thing that the Lord Christ hath appointed. They inquire diligently iuto his mind and will, that they may know it. They go to him for direc- tions, and beg of him to lead them in the way they have not known. 152 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CURIST. The 119tli P…
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(2.) As him in, for, and by whom we have acceptance with God in our obedience. They know all their duties are weak, imperfect, not able to abide the presence of God ; and therefore they look to Christ as him wdio bears the iniquity of their holy things, who adds incense to their prayers, gathers out all the weeds of th…
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Now, that we have communion with Christ in this purchased grace, is evident on this single consideration, — that there is almost nothing that Christ hath done, which is a spring of that grace whereof we speak, but we are said to do it with him. We are "crucified" with him, Gal. ii. 20; we are "dead" with him, 2 Tim. ii…
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'EiaTTitrfn Vi koi ivr,(rTivfft>, ohx atiri; aToffv-^iui r, vrifriiui •^^I4u» tX"^*) ^ Ka^d^O'tut, 0 Tri ifvffii Kaiapii xai oiyioi, — Clcni. OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 157 that it should be so ; though the effecting of it were by the free ope- rations of the Spirit, Luke ii. 52. He had an all-fulness of…
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This, then, is the obedience of Christ; which was the first thing proposed to be considered. The next is, — [2.] That it hath an influence into the grace of which we speak, wherein we hold communion with him, — namely, our free accepta- tion with God; what that influence is, must also follow in its order. \st. For hi…
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[2dly.'] That whatever Christ did as mediator, he did it for them whose mediator he was, or in whose stead and for Avhose good he executed the office of a mediator before God. This the Holy Ghost witnesseth, Rom. viii. 3, 4, " What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in …
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Secondly, That this obedience was performed by Christ not for himself, but for us, and in our stead. It is true, it must needs be, that Avhilst he had his conversation in the flesh he must be most perfectly and absolutely holy ; but yet the j^rime intendment of his accomj^lish- ing of holiness, — which consists in the …
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So also, Phil. iii. 9, " And be found in him, not having my o^vn i-ighteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." The right- 104 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. eousness we receive is opposed to our own obedience to the law; oppos…
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[1.] It is a. price. " We are bought with a price," 1 Cor. vi. 20; being " not redeemed with silver and gold, and corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ," 1 Pet. i. 18, 19 : which therein answers those things in other contracts.^ He came to " give his life a ransom for many," Matt. xx. 28, — a price …
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[3.] It was also a jiunishment, — -a punishment in our stead. '' He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him," Isa liii. 5. God made all our iniquities (that is, the punishment of them) " to meet upon him," verse 6. " He bare the sins of many," v…
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Not only all causes of quarrel were to be taken away, that so we should not be under displeasure, but also that was to be given unto us that makes us the objects of God's delight and pleasure, on the account of the want whereof we are distanced from God : — (1.) It gives a removal of that for which we are refused. Thi…
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[2.] Taking away the pollutions of all our actual transgressions. There is a defilement attending every actual sin. Our own clothes make us to be abhorred, Job ix. 31. A spot, a stain, rust, wrinkle, filth, blood, attends every sm. Now, 1 John i. 7, " The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." Besides the de…
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These are the things wherein we have communion with Christ as to purchased grace in this life. Drive them up to perfection, and you have that which we call everlasting glory. Perfect acceptance, perfect holiness, perfect adoption, or inheritance of sons, — that is glory. Our process now, in the next place, is to what …
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OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. ] 75 Secondly, To complete this communion on the part of Christ, it is required, — (1.) That there be added to what he hath done, the go^spel tenders of that complete righteousness and acceptation with God which ariseth from his perfect obedience and sufferings. Now, they are t…
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Obj. 2. " If the obedience of the life of Christ be imputed unto us, and that is our righteousness before God, then what need we yield any obedience ourselves? Is not all our praying, labouring, watching, fasting, giving alms, — are not all fruits of holiness, in purity of heart and usefulness of conversation, all in v…
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OF COMiMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 179 xvii.), — founded and built. And here lies the certain, stable founda- tion of our absolution, and acceptation with God. Christ in our stead, acting for us as our surety, being acquitted, absolved, solemnly de- clared to have answered the whole debt that was incumbent on hi…
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2. The second objection is, " That if the righteousness and obedi- ence of Christ to the law be imputed unto us, then ivhat need we yield obedience ourselves?" To this, also, I shall return answer as briefly as I can in the ensuing obsei-vations : — (1.) The placing of our gospel obedience on the right foot of account…
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(1st.) The Father hath ordained or appointed it. It is the -will of the Father, Eph. ii. 10. The Father is spoken of personally, Christ being mentioned as mediator. {idly) The Son hath ordained and appouited it as mediator. John XV. 16, " 'I have ordained you, that ye should bring forth fruit' of obedience, and that i…
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Now, if this that hath been said be not sufficient to evince a neces- sity of our obedience, we must suppose ourselves to speak \vith a sort of men who regard neither the sovereignty, nor love, nor glory of God, Father, Son, or Holy Ghost. Let men say what they please, though our obedience should be all lost, and never…
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[2dhj ] The conversion of others. 1 Pet. ii. 12, " Having your con- versation honest among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, Avhich they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation," Matt. v. 16. Even 186 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. levi…
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(2.) They weigh their own righteousness in the balance, and find it wanting; and this two ways: — [1.] In general, and upon the whole of the matter, at their first setting themselves before God. When men are convinced of the necessity of a righteousness, they catch at every thing that presents 1 88 OF COMMUNION WITH …
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[2.] As full of grace. He knows that sin had shut up the whole way of grace towards him; and whereas God aims at nothing so much as the manifestation of his grace, he was utterly cut short of it. Now, to have a complete righteousness provided, and yet abun- dance of grace manifested, exceedingly delights the soul ; — t…
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(5.) They cordially approve of this righteousness, because it is a way and means oi exceeding exaltation and honom* of the Lord Jesus, whom their souls do Irive. Being once brought to an acquaintance with Jesus Christ, tKeir hearts desire nothing more than that he may be honoured and c^lorified to the utmost, and in al…
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(6.) They cordially approve of this righteousness, this way of ac- ceptation, as that which brings glory to God as such. When they were labouring under the guilt of sin, that which did most of all per- plex their souls was, that their safety was inconsistent with the glory and honour of the great God, — ^with his justi…
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[4.] Having thus by faith given up their sins to Christ, and seen God laying them all on him, they draw nigh, and take from him that righteousness which he hath wrought out for them ; so fulfilling the whole of that of the apostle, 2 Cor. v. 21, " He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God i…
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2. But what shall we say for obedience? " If Christ be so glorified and honoured by taking our sins, the more we bring to him, the more will he be glorified." A man could not suppose that this objection would be made, but that the Holy Ghost, who knows what is in man and his heart, hath made it for them, and in their n…
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OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 199 of holiness, as bestowed on us, unto the mediation of Christ. He is the great ^foundation of the covenant of gi'ace; being himself ever- lastingly destinated and freely given to make a purchase of all the good things thereof Receiving, according to promise, the Holy Ghost, A…
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2dly. From actual grace, which is transient; this making its resi- dence in the soul. ^Actual grace is an illapse of divine influence and assistance, working in and by the soul any spiritual act or duty whatsoever, without any pre-existence unto that act or con- tinuance after it, " God working in us, both to Avill and…
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(2dlij.) Being thus actually vested Avith this power, and privilege, and fulness, he designs the Spirit to take of this fulness, and to give it unto us: " He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you," John xvi. 15. The Spirit takes of that fulness that is in Christ, and in the name of the Lord Jesus bestows it ac…
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(2.) They eye the blood of Christ as the blood of sprinkling. Comipg to " Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant," they come to the * " blood of sprinkling," Heb. xii. 24. The eyeing of the blood of Christ as shed will not of itself take away pollution. There is not only aifiar£x,^v(fia, — a " shedding of blood," with…
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OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 207 pux-ged, our sins mortified, our graces increased, our souls made hum- ble, holy, zealous, believing, — like to him ; to have our lives fruit- ful, our deaths comfortable. Let us herein abide, eyeing Christ by faith, to attain that measure of conformity to him which is allot…
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2. There is another family whereinto they are to be translated, and whereunto of themselves they have neither right nor title. This is that family in heaven and earth which is called after the name of Christ, Eph. iii. 15,— the great family of God. God hath a^ house and family for his children ; of whom some he maintai…
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[3.] Unto the conscience of the person adopted. The Spirit of Christ testifies to the heart and conscience of a believer that he is freed from all engagements unto the family of Satan, and is become the son of God, Rom. viii. 14, 15; and enables him to cry, "Abba, Father," Gal. iv. 6. Of the particulars of this testifi…
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{2dly.) In reference to the moral law: — [1st.] The first thing we have liberty from, is its rigour and terror in commanding. Heb. xii. 18-22, " We are not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, to the Avhirlwind, darkness, and tempest, to the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of words, …
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Hence you may see the difference between the liberty that slaves assume, and the liberty which is due to children : — [Is^.] Slaves take liberty from duty; children have liberty in duty. There is not a greater mistake in the world, than that the liberty of sons in the house of God consists in this, — they can perform …
933 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.