PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 3
John Owen · 363,303 words · 345 reading sections
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IL I B I^ .A. I^ ^S' PBINCETOy. X. J. , The Stephen Collins Donatiun. BX 9315 .08 1850 v. 3 Owen, John, 1616-1683. The works of John Owen TlIK WORKS JOHN OWEN, D.D KBJTiiD BY THE REV. WILLIAM H. GOOLD, EDINBURGH. VOL. TIT. ^EW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 286 BROADWAY. M.DCCC.IJI. CONTENTS OF VOLUME II…
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BOOK II. I. — Peculiar Operations of the Holt Spirit under the Old Testame.\t Pkeparatort for the New. — The work of the Spirit of God in the new creation ; by some despised— Works under the Old Testament prepara- tory to the new creation— Distribution of the works of the Spirit— The gift of prophecy ; the nature, use…
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BOOK III. I. — Work of the Holy Spirit in the New Creation by Regeneration — The new creation completed — Regeneration the especial work of tlie Holy Spirit — Wrought under tlie Old Testament, but clearly revealed ui the New ; and is of the same kind in all that are regenerate, the causes and way of it being the same …
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VI. — The Manner of Conversion Explained in the Instance of Augustine. — Tlic outward means and manner of conversion to God, or regeneration, with the degrees of spiritual operations on the minds of men and their effects, exemplified in the conversion of Augustine, as the account is given tliereof by himself, ........ …
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Vlil. — MOBTIFICATION OF SiN, THE NaTUEE AND CaUST5S OF IT. — MortificatiOD of sin, the second part of sanctification — Frequently prescribed and enjoin- ed as a dutjr— What the name signifies, with the reason thereof; as also that of crucifying sin — The nature of the mortification of sin explained — Indwelling sin, …
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The work, as we may gather from various allusions in it, was written in opposition to the rationalism of the early Socinians, especially as represented by Ciellius ; to the mysticism of the Quakers, a sect which had grown into notoriety within thirty years before the publication of this work ; and to the irreligion of …
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In the Second Book, the peculiar operations of the Holy Spirit under the old testa- ment, and in preparation for the new, are considered, such as prophecy, inspiration, 4 PREFATORY NOTE. miracles, and other gifts, i. The importance of the Holy Spiiit in the new creation is proved by the fact that he is the subject of…
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TO THE READERS. A.v account in general of the nature and design of the ensuing discourse, with the reasons why it is made public at this time, being given in the first chapter of the treatise itself, I shall not long detain the readers here at the entrance of it. But some few things it is necessary they should be acqu…
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Wherefore, the subject of the ensuing discourses being entirely things of this nature, in their several degrees of access unto God or oui'selves, I shall give no TO THE EEADEES. 7 account of any particular endeavours in my inquii-ies into tliem, but leave the judg- ment thereof unto the evidence of the effects produc…
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owe unto God, with our conduct in all the ways thereof, is, in general and parti- cular instances, so appropriated unto him, as that it is withal declared that no- thing of it in any kind can be enjoyed or performed without his especial operation, aid, and assistance ; so careful was God fully to instruct and to secure…
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To obviate these evils in any measure ; to vindicate the truth and reality of divine spiritual operations in the church ; to avow what is believed and taught by them concerning the Holy Spirit and his work who are most charged and reflected on for their profession thereof, and thereby to evince the iniquity of those ca…
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These things, with sundry of the like nature, falling unavoidably under con- sideration, have drawn out these discourses unto a length much beyond my first design ; which is also the occasion why I have forborne the present adding unto them those other parts of the work of the Holy Spirit, in prayer or supplication, in…
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] 2 TO THE READERS. nature and being, or to search them out unto perfection, which are revealed unto us; for we do not directly deal with them by whom the principal mysteries of the gospel are rejected, because they cannot comprehend them, under a pretence that what is above reason is against it. And it may be it will…
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Spii'it, we expose men to be deceived by satanical delusions, [and] open a door to enthusiasms, directing them to the guidance of unaccountable impulses and reve- lations ; so making way unto all folly and villany. By what means this charge can be fixed on them who professedly avow that nothing is good, nothing duty un…
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DISCOURSE CONCEENING THE HOLY SPIEIT. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. GENERAL PEINCIPLES CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK. 1 Cor. xii. 1 opened — Unvf4.aTix,d, spiritual gifts — Their grant unto, use and abuse in, that church — Jesus, how called "anathema" — Impiety of the Jews — How called " Lord" — The foundation of chu…
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^ Xlvtv//.aTixa ra, ffrifiUK xaXuv, on Ttnura. epyx rm TTviviAuroi fiovov, ovdiv avCfiuTTiirii tTiKripioovffyts ff-TTouiTis, i'S ''■0 Ta Toiaurct S-ocvf^t.a.'rovp'yiTv. — Chrysost. in loc. bo also Ani- bros. and Theopbylact. in Ijc. * XctpiirfiaTCC Ti iiX'^y "' H-'^ IXxTrovcc, o'l ti TXiia- y.ai rauTO alrmv <r;j;/»'|«…
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" Malus bonum cum simulat, time est pessimus." These things, therefore, can have here no place.^ Hereby, then, the apostle informs them wherein the foundation of all church relation, order, and worship, did consist: for whereas they had all respect unto the Lordship of Christ and their acknowledgment thereof, this was…
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Secondly, With respect imto their general nature, the apostle dis- tributes them into " gifts," ;)^ap/(r^aTa, verse 4; "administrations," bia-Kovtai, verse 5 ; " operations," hipyrifiara, verse 6 ; — which division, with the reasons of it, will in our progress be farther cleared. Thirdly, He declares the general end o…
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1 'Airo^-rsXXsrai jKev cixovofcixa;, Ivifyii Se avn^ovfia;, — Basil. Homil. XV. clc Fide. CHAP. I.] THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK. 23 First, then, we may consider, That tlie doctrine of the Spirit of God, his work and grace, is the second great head or principle of those gospel trutlis wherein the glory of God and the…
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CHAP. I.] THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WOEK. 25 and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."^ This was the great legacy which our Lord J…
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ei det eis vitam jBternam ;' sed ubique de omnibus quibus in eum credentibus vita aetcrna datur." — Aug. Tractat. 106, in Evangel. Joban. " Muuus hoc quod in Chi-isto est, — in consunimationem seculi nobiscum ; hoc expec- tationis nostrae solatium, hoc in donorum operationibus futuroe spei pignus est; hoc mentium lume…
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And these considerations belong unto the first head of reasons of the importance, use, and necessity, of the doctrine proposed to be in- quired into. They are enough to manifest what is the concernment of all believers herein ; for on the account of these things the Scrip- ture plainly declares, as we observed before, …
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Now, these false prophets of old were of two sorts, both mentioned^ Deut. xviii. 20 : — First, Such as professedly served other gods, direct- ing all their prophetic actings unto the promotion of their worship. Such were the prophets of Baal, in whose name expressly they pro- phesied, and whose assistance they invocate…
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Hence is that blessed caution and rule given us by the apostle John, who lived to see much mischief done in the church by this pretence: 1 Epist. chap. iv. 1-3, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God : because many false pro- phets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the…
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The Jews say well that there was a double trial of prophets under the Old Testament, — the one by their doctrine, the other by their predictions. That by their doctrine, — namely, whether i\\ej seduced men from the worship of the true God unto idolatry, — belonged unto all individual persons of the church. Direction fo…
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Thirdly, There is in the days wherein we live an anti-spirit set up and advanced against the Sjjirit of God, in his beijig and all his operations, in his whole work and use towards the church of God; for this new spirit takes upon him whatever is promised to be effected by the " good Spirit of God." This is that which …
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Fifthly, The principal cause and occasion of our present under- taking is, the open and horrible opposition that is made unto the Spirit of God and his work in the world. There is no concernment asticorum vetcrum usurpata sunt, compulsi sumus creberrimEe exhortationi fratrum ccdcre, quocqxie sit nostra de eo opinio et…
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CHAP. I.] THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK. 41 tions and apprehensions, — namely, openly to revile and scorn the very naming and asserting the work of the Spirit of God, in the words which himself hath taught? A boldness this is, which, as whereof the former ages have not given us a precedent, so we hope the future will n…
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These things at present are charged only as the miscarriages of 1 " Adcsto Sancte Spiritus, et paraclesin tuam expectantibus illabere cselitus, sanc- tifica templum corporis nostri et consecra in habitaciilum tuum ; desiclerantes te ani- mas tua prffiseiitia Ijstifica, dignam te liabitatore doinum compone ; adorna tli…
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It may be some will say and plead, that whatever is spoken of the Holy Ghost, his graces, gifts, and operations, did entirely belong unto the first times of the gospel, wherein they were manifested by visible and wonderful effects, — to those times they were confined; and, consequently, that we have no other interest o…
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CHAP. II.] THE NAME AND TITLES OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 47 tliem; but if these things, with those others which, in the appli- cation of them to tlie souls of men, are directly and necessarily deduced, and to be deduced from them, are all but vain and useless imaginations, it is high time the minds of men were disburdened o…
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ii. 11 Sed et in alio loco idem apostolus a nostro spiritu Spiritum Dei secernens ait. Ipse Sjnritus testimonium perhihet spiritui nostro, Eom. viii. ; hoc signiiicans, quod Spiritus Dei, id est, Spiritus Sanctus, testimonium spiritui nostro preheat, quem nunc diximus esse spiritum hominis. Ad Thessalouicenses quoque,…
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The one is Ambrose, who, interpreting these words in his second book, De Spiritu Sancto, lib. ii. cap. 6, being deceived by the corrupt translation mentioned, "Annuncians in homines Christum suum," is forced to give a very strained exposition of that which, in truth, is not in the text, and to relieve himself also with…
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Again, [Fourthly], These words are used for any thing that cannot be seen or touched, be it in ii?,&\i material and corporeal, or absolutely spiritual and immaterial. So the vital hreath which we and other living creatures breathe is called : Every thing wherein was nnTiOC'D £3\'n^ " the breath of the spirit of life," …
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' " Discant (homines) Scripturoe sanctte consuetudinem, nunquam spiritura perver- sum absolute, sed cum additaraento aliquo s^nritum niincupari: sicut ih\, Spiritu forni- cationis sediicii sunt; et in Evangelio, Cum autem qnritus imviundus exierit de homine; et csctera his similia." — Hieron. Comment, in Hab cap. ii. …
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Again; He is called, by way of eminency, the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Ghost} This is the most usual appellation of him in the New Testament; and it is derived from the Old: Ps. li. 11, T^y^ On, ' "Avahv •za.^a 0=au xariooffa, iv) tov; av'hjia,; ayiou; Saij,£«, '/Jv TTytufia ayiov ovof/,u?^ivtriii ot \ifoi "TTfo^nToti.…
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There are, indeed, some actions on men and in the world that are wrought, by God's permission and in his righteous judgment, by evil spirits ; whose persons and actings are placed in opposition to the Spirit of God. So 1 Sam. xvi. 14, 15, "The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord trou…
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Again ; He is commonly called the Spirit of God, and the Sjnrit of the Lord; so, in the first mention of him, Gen. i. 2, D'''V^ 0^"!, " The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." And I doubt not but that the name ^'''?''^, " Elohim," which includes a j^lurality in the same nature, is used in the creation and…
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It will be said, perhaps, that he is called the "Spirit of Christ" be- cause he is promised, given, and poured out by him. So Peter speaks. Acts ii. 83, " Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." But in this regard, namely, as given by Christ the …
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64> DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF THE [BOOK I. from his person also. Without respect hereunto he could not be called properly the "Spirit of Christ ;'' but on that supposition. he may be. He is so denominated from that various relation and respect that he hath unto him in his work and operations. Thus is the Spirit…
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Secondly, The revelation that God is pleased to make of himself unto us gives the ride and measure of all religious ivorship and obedience. His being, absolutely considered, as comprehending in it all infinite, divine perfections, is the formal reason of our worship; but this worship is to be directed, guided, regulate…
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Fifthly, Hence it follows unavoidably that this Spirit of whom i we treat is in himself a distinct, living, poiu erf id, intelligent, divine person; for none other can' be the author of those internal and ex- ' 1 " In hac divini magisterii schola, Pater est qui docet et instruit ; Filiiis qui arcana Dei noljis revelat…
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' 'E^tiS)?*s/> ro 'iiupouf/.tvo'j TO Wiv/j.a, to olyiov i(TTi, KaXiiTai xa) to iajpov ofioivuy.u; ra ^xfia-fiuTi. — Chrysost. " Nee existimare debemus Spiritum Sanctum secundum substantias esse divisum quia multitude bonorum dicatur, — impassibilis enim et indivisibilis atque immutabilis est, sed juxta diiferentes eff…
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72 DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF THE [BOOK I. some men, Sociuians or Quakers, whom we have just cause on many other accounts to suspect, at least, of deceit and falsehood ; and they confidently tell us that what the Scripture speaks concerning the Holy Spirit is indeed true, but that in and ]3y all the expressions …
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^ "Baptizate gentes in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiiitus Sancti. In nomine dixit, non in nominibus. Non ergo aliud nomen Patris. aliud nomen Filii, aliud noincn Spi- ritus Sancti, quam unus Deus." — Ambros. de Spir. Sane. lib. i. cap. 4. 74 DIVINE NATUBE AND PERSONALITY OE THE [BOOK I. note of difference as to deity…
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As, then, at the beginning of the old creation, the Spirit of God ^?0"'9j "incubabat," came and fell on the waters, cherishing the whole, and communicating a prolific and vivific quahty unto it, as- a fowl or dove in particular gently moves itself upon its eggs, until, with and by its generative warmth, it hath communi…
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Now, I say that this appearance of the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape, wherein he was represented by that which is a substance and hath a subsistence of its own, doth manifest that he himself is a sub- stance and hath a subsistence of his own; for if he be no such thing, but a mere influential effect of the power of God,…
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It will not relieve the adversaries of the Holy Ghost, though it be pleaded by them that he is compared with and opposed unto the " spu'it of a man," 1 Cor. ii. 11, which, they say, is no person; for no comparisons hold in all circumstances. The spirit of a man is his rational soul, endued with understanding and knowle…
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Thirdly, Another property of a living person is 'power. A power whereby any one is able to act according to the guidance of his un- derstanding and the determinations of his will, declares him to be a person. It is not the mere ascription of power absolutely, or ability unto any thing, that I mtend; for they may signif…
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First, He is said to teach us: Luke xii. 12, "The Holy Ghost shall teach you what ye ought to say.'' John xiv. 26, " The Com- forter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your re- membrance." 1 John ii. 27, He is the " anointing which teac…
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There are two other places of this nature, both to the same pur- pose, sufficient of themselves to confirai our faith in the truth pleaded for; and these are, Acts xiii. 2, 4, "As they ministered unto the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. So …
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88 DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF THE [BOOK I. the words, verse 4, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." These things are so plain and positive that the faith of believers will not be concerned in the sophistical evasions of our adversaries. In / like manner, he is said to be resisted, Acts vii. 51 ; which is…
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First, he is expressly called Qod; and having the name of God [ properly and directly given unto him, with respect unto spiritual things, or things peculiar imto God, he must have the nature of God also. Acts v. 3, Ananias is said to "lie to the Holy Ghost." This is repeated and interpreted, verse 4, "Thou hast not lie…
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I have but one thing more to add concerning the being and per- sonality of the Holy Spirit; and this is, that in the order of sub- sistence, he is the third person in the holy Trinity. So it is expressed in the solemn numeration of them, where their order gives great direction unto gospel worship and obedience: Matt, x…
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1. That all divine operations are usually ascribed unto God ah- | solutely. So it is said God made all things; and so of all other works, whether in nature or in grace. And the reason hereof is, because the several persons are undivided in their operations, acting all by the same will, the same wisdom, the same power. …
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' " Hoc non est inaequalitas substantiae, sed ordo naturae ; non quod alter esset prior altero, sed quod alter esset ex altero." — Aug. lib. iii. contra Maxentium, cap. 14. * Xlaffa Wioytia, h 9-iohv It/ t'/)v kt'ktiv "imKov^oc, »ai Kara, to.; 'mXvrf'oi'ovs ivvoias ovi/,i.a- ^ofiivfl ix. ^arpos a<po-f^aTai, xai §;a <r…
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Now, the forming and perfecting of this host of heaven and earth is that which is assigned peculiarly to the Spirit of God; and hereby the work of creation was completed and finished. First, for the heavens: Job xxvi. 1 3, " By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent;" — or ra…
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This, therefore, was the work of the Holy Spirit of God in refer- ence unto the earth "and the host thereof: The whole matter being created out of- which all living creatures were to be educed, and of which they were to be made, he takes upon him the cherishing and preservation of it ; that as it had its subsistence by…
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100 PECULIAR WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [BOOK L " And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became a living soul." 1. There is the matter whereof he was formed; 2. The quickening principle added thereunto; and, 8. The effect of their conjunction an…
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Secondly, We may consider the moral state and condition of man, Avith the furniture of his mind and soul, in reference unto his obedi- ence to God and his enjoyment of him. This was the principal part 102 PECULIAR WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [BOOK I. of that image of God wherein he was created. Three things were require…
1,140 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.