PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 3
John Owen · 363,303 words · 345 reading sections
Section 181
' " Libertas sine gratia niliil est nisi contumacia, non libei'tas." — August. Epist. Ixxxix. CPIAP. v.] OF REGENERATION. 835 be " of him that willeth, and of him that runneth," and not " of God, that showeth mercy on whom he will have mercy," contrary to the apostle, Rom. ix. 15, 16. And the whole efficacy of the gr…
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' " Quis istls coi'da mutavit, nisi qui finxit singillatim corda eorum ? Quis Imjug rigoris duriticm ad obediendi moUivit affectum, nisi qui potens est de lapidibus Abra- hse filios excitare ?" — Prosp. ad Rufiu. de Lib. Arbit. " riorcmus coram Domino qui fecit nos et homines ct salvos. Nam si illo nos fecit homines, …
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Of the original depravation of our nature we have treated so far as is needful unto our present purpose; yet some things must be added concerning the effects of that depravation, which will conduce unto the right understanding of the way and manner whereby the Spirit of God proceedeth for the healing and removal of it,…
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Thirdly, Unto those more general irregularities actual sins do succeed, — such, I mean, as are against the remaining light of nature, or committed in rebellion unto the dictates and guidance of our minds and consciences, the influence of those intelligences of moral good and evil which are inseparable from the facultie…
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Now, there is commonly a twofold event of men's falling under the power of temptations, and thereby into great actual sins: — 1. God sometimes takes occasion from them to awaken their con- CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 343 sciences unto a deep sense not only of that sin in particular whose guilt they have…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. SiS which I have confessed, deride me that, being sick, was healed of that physician from whom he received the mercy not to be sick, or not to be so sick ; [and therefore let him love thee so much the more, as he sees himself prevented from having fallen into the great maladies…
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1. By some sudden amazing judgments, whereby he " revealeth CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 347 his wrath from heaven against the ungodliness of men/' Rom. i. 18. So Waldo was affected when his companion was stricken dead as he walked with him in the fields; which proved the occasion of his con- version unto…
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Now, there is scarce any of these instances of the care and watch- CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 349 fulness of God over the souls of men whom he designs either to con- vince or convert, for the ends of his own glory, but the holy person whom we have proposed as an example gives an account of them in and t…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. Sol impossible, it is to fix their minds on a due consideration of sin, until it be wrought in them by the exceeding greatness of the power of the Spirit of God. Wherefore, herein consists the first part of this work of conviction, — it fixeth the mind on a due consideration of…
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3. It must be granted that many on whom this work hath been wrought, producing great resolutions of amendment and much re- CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 353 formation of life, do lose all the j^otuer and efficacy of it, with all the impressions it had made on their affections. And some of these Avax worse …
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1 " Libera me, Domine, ab his hoatibus meis, a quibus me liberare non valeo. Per- versum et pessimum est cor meum, ad deploranda propria peccata mea est lapideum ct aridum, ad resistendum insultantibus moUe et luteum, ad iuutilia et noxia pertrac- tanda velox et infatigabile, ad cogitanda salubria fastidiosum et immobi…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. S57 spiritual, conflicted between themselves, and rent my sonl by their disagreement. Then did I understand by experience in myself what I had read, how 'the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." I was myself on both sides, but more in that which …
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(2.) A second thing which befalls men under this work of convic- ■ tion, is a dread and fear as to their eternal condition. There doth befall them an apprehension of that wrath which is due to then sins, and threatened in the curse of the law to be inflicted on them. This CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 35…
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CHAP. YI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. 361 speakable variety. Some he leads by the gates of death and hell unto rest in his love, like the people of old through the waste and howling wilderness into Canaan; and the paths of others he makes plain and easy unto them. Some walk or wander long in darkness; in the souls …
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Fourthly, The last thing, whereby this work of conversion to God is completed, as to the outward means of it, which is the ingenerat- ing and acting of faith in God by Jesus Christ, remains alone to be considered, wherein all possible brevity and plainness shall be con- CHAP. VI.] IN THE INSTANCE OF AUGUSTINE. S63 su…
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9. This acting of faith on Christ, through the promise of the gospel, for pardon, righteousness, and salvation, is inseparably accompanied with, and that faith is the root and infallible cause of, a universal engagement of heart unto all holy obedience to God in Christ, with a relinquishment of all known sin, necessari…
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To obviate the pride and wantonness of this filthy spirit, I have, in the summary representation of the work itself now given, confirmed the several instances of it with the experience of the great and holy man so often named; for whereas some of those by whom this doc- trine and work are despised are puffed up with a …
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This title is ascribed unto God only by our apostle, and by him frequently, Rom. xv. 33, xvi. 20; 2 Cor. xiii. 11; Phil. iv. 9; Heb. xiii. 20. Were it unto our present purpose to discourse concerning the general nature of peace, I might show how it is comprehensive of all order, rest, and blessedness, and all that is i…
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One thing we must premise to clear our ensuing discourse from ambiguity; and this is, that there is mention in the Scripture of a twofold sanctification, and consequently of a twofold holiness. The first is common unto persons and things, consisting in the peculiar dedication, consecration, or separation of them unto t…
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2. It is our duty to inquire into the nature of evangelical holiness, as it is a fruit or effect in us of the Spirit of sanctification, because it is abstruse and mysterious, and (be it spoken with the good leave of some, or whether they will or no) undiscernible unto the eye of carnal reason. We may say of it in some …
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Besides, there are other things which pretend to be this gospel holiness and are not, whereby unspeakable multitudes are deluded and deceived. With some, any reformation of life and abstinence from flagitious sins, with the performance of the common duties of religion, is all which they suppose is required unto this he…
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376 THE NATURE OF SAXCTIFICATION [BOOK IV. souls in the enjoyment of God. And this also mauifesteth of how much concernment it is unto us to be acquainted with the doctrine of it, and of how much more to be really interested in it. Yea, — 5. There is spiritual and heavenly glory in it in this world. From hence is the…
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878 THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION [BOOK IV. sins against him, lived in an enmity and opposition to him, and liad contracted insupportable and immeasurable debts upon our own souls, terms of peace being now proposed, who could think but that the first thing required of us would be, that we should make some kind of satis…
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380 THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION [bOOK IV. of an eternal reward by any rule of divine justice. And if any say " That this merit of our works depends not on, nor is measured by, strict justice, but wholly by the gracious condescension of God, who hath appointed and promised so to reward them," I answer, in the first pl…
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3 82 THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION [eOOK IY. lierein. When we find sucli constraining motives unto holiness upon us as will not allow the least subducting of our souls from a univer- sal attendance unto it, purely on the ends of the gospel, without re- spect unto those now discarded, it is an evidence that the wisdom o…
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S81 THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION [BOOK IV. we inquire after. And the reason is plain, even because those things are not wrought in us by the poiuer of the especial grace of God, in the pursuit of the especial promise of the covenant, as all true holi- ness is. If any shall say that they are so wrought in us, they do e…
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8. To come yet nearer unto our principal design, I say it is the Holy Ij Ghost who is the immediate pecidiar sanctifier of all believers, and / the author of all holiness in them. I suppose I need not insist upon the confirmation of this assertion in general. I have proved before that he is the immediate dispenser of a…
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2. This work of sanctification differs from that of regeneration^ as on other accounts, so especially on that of the manner of their | being wrought. The work of regeneration is instantaneous, consist-- ing in one single creating act. Hence it is not capable of degrees in any subject. No one is more or less regenerate …
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(1.) He doth it morally, by proposing their objects suitably and sea- sonably unto them. This he doth by his ordinances of worship, espe- cially the preaching of the word. God in Christ, the promises of the covenant, and other proper objects of our faith and love, being pro- jjosed unto us, these graces are drawn out u…
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CHAP. II.] SANCTIFICATION A PEOGEESSIVE WORK. S91 that in them consists all our consolation. His work and office it is to administer consolation imto believers, as being the only Comforter of the church. Now, he administereth comfort no other way but by giving unto the minds and souls of believers a spiritual, sensibl…
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CHAP, ir.] SANCTIFICATION A PROGllESSIVE AVORK. 393 Then doth he cause us to " hear a word behind us, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when we turn to the right hand, and when we turn to the left," Isa. xxx. 21. When Ave are at a loss, and know not what to do, and are ready, it may be, to consult with flesh and…
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But it will be said, "That if not only the beginning of grace, sancti- ^'fication, and holiness be from God, but the carrying of it on and the increase of it also be from him, and not only so in general, but / if all the actings of grace, and every act of it, be an immediate j effect of the Holy Spirit, then what n…
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/ 2. A tree or plant must be watered from above, or it will not thrive and grow by virtue of its own seminal powder. If a drought Cometh, it will wither or decay. Wherefore, where God mentioneth this growth, he ascribes it unto his watering. " I Avill be as the dew," and " I will pour water," is the especial cause of i…
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All believers are, no doubt, in some measure convinced hereof, not only from the testimonies given mito it in the Scripture, but also from their own experience; and there is nothing in themselves which they may more distinctly learn it from than the nature and course of their prayers, with the workings of their hearts,…
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I shall so far consider and remove this objection as that the truth which we have asserted suffer not from it, and so be left as an empty notion ; nor yet those be altogether discouraged who come not up unto a full compliance with it. And this I shall do in the ensuing rules and observations. ^00 SANCTIFICATION A PROG…
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402 SANCTIFICATION A PROGRESSIVE WORK. [BOOK TV. will be continually careful tliat he drive it not farther from him. But the reasons of this difficulty are : — [1.] The work itself, as hath been before declared at large, is secret and mysterious ; and, therefore (as in some), I hope in many, there is the reality and …
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404? SANCTIFICATION A TROGRESSIVE WOEK. [BOOK IV. tlieir spiritual affections, nor that deliglit in spiritual duties, whicli tliey liave done formerly. This makes them sometimes ready to conclude that grace is decayed in them, that the springs of holiness are drying up, and they know neither where nor Avhat they are. …
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(1.) A presumption or groundless persuasion that they are already perfect. This some pretend unto in a proud and foolish conceit, de- 406 BELIEVERS THE OBJECT OF SANCTIFICATION, [BOOK IV. structive of tlie whole nature and duty of evangelical holiness or obedience ; for this, on our part, consists in our willing comp…
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Ans. I could dwell long on this inquiry concerning the especial subject of the Holy Spuit, seeing the right understanding of many 408 BELIEVERS THE OBJECT OF SANCTIFICATION, [BOOK IV. places of Scripkire doth depend thereon; but because I have much work yet before me, I will reduce what I have to offer on this head i…
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(3.) The Spirit is also promised as a comforter, or a Sf)irit of con- ^ solation. In this sense, or for this end and work, he is not promised unto them that are regenerate merely as such; for many may be regenerate who are not capable of consolation, nor do need it, as infants, who may be, and are, many of them, sancti…
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Again, Thirdly, May believers in trouble pray for the Spirit of consolation with respect unto their troubles, it being unto such that he is promised? Ans. 1. They may do so directly, and ought so to do ; yea, when they do it not it is a sign they turn aside unto broken cis- terns, that will yield them no relief 2, Trou…
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2. Our Lord Jesus Christ affirms that men are sanctified by the faith that is in him: Acts xxvi. 18, "That they may receive for- giveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me." If there were any other way or means where- by men might be sanctified or made holy, he would not …
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41 6 EELIEVERS THE OBJECT OF SANCTIFICATION, [BOOK IV. latter account do they grow up in some into penances, vows, uncom- manded abstinences, and various self-macerations, with other pain- ful and costly duties. Where the light they receive is, in the general, accordinof unto truth, there it will eng^age men into refo…
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1. That our entire nature was originally created in the image of God I have proved before, and it is by all acknowledged. Our whole souls, in the rectitude of all their faculties and powers, in order unto the life of God and his enjoyment, did bear his image. Nor was it confined unto the sonl only; the body also, not a…
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is influenced thereby; so this principle of holiness in us, the renova- tion of our natures, is called "The new man," because it possesseth the whole person with respect unto its proper operations and ends. And it extends itself as large as the old man, or the depravation of our natures, which takes in the whole person…
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Our whole persons, therefore, and in them our whole natures, are the subject of this work, and true holiness invests the whole of it. Now, whether this universal investiture of our nature, in all the faculties and powers of it, by a new principle of holiness and obedi- ence unto God, whereby it is renewed into his imag…
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To the same purpose, among many others, is that promise, Isa. iv. 4, " When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning." Upon what gi-ound the Spirit is compared to fire, …
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Besides, there is no notion of sin and. holiness whereof beUevers have a more sensible, spiritual experience; for although they may not or do not comprehend the metaphysical notion or nature of this pollution and defilement of sin, yet they are sensible of the effects it produceth in their minds and consciences. They f…
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(2.) The holiness of God is the infinite, absolute perfection and rectitude of his nature, as the eternal original cause and pattern of truth, uprightness, and rectitude in all. And this holiness doth God exert, as in all he doth, naturally and necessarily, so particularly in his laAv; which is therefore good, holy, an…
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1. That the spiritual beauty and comeliness of the soul consists in its conformity imto God. Grace gives beauty. Hence it is said of the Lord Christ that he is " fairer," or more beautiful, " than the children of men," and that because " grace was poured into his lips," 4S0 THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN, WHEREIN IT CONSISTS, …
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This uncleanness as it is habitual, respecting our natural defile- ment, is equal in and unto every one that is born into the world ; we are by nature all alike polluted, and that to the utmost of what our nature is capable. But with respect unto actual sins it is not 432 THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN, V/HEREIN IT CONSISTS, […
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4, The institutions of the law for this end, to purge uncleanness, VOL. III. 28 434 THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN, WHEREIN IT CONSISTS, [BOOK IV. could not of themselves reach thereunto. They did, indeed, purify the unclean legally, and sanctified persons as to the "purifying of the flesh," Heb. ix. 13, so that they should n…
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43() THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. ference between good and evil; but this side-wind, that at once pretends to relieve men from the filth of sin, and keeps them from the only ways and means whereby it may be cleansed, insensibly leads them into a quiet pursuit of their lusts, under an expectation of relief when al…
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438 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [bOOK IV. implanted in the whole soul by the Holy Ghost, is pure and purify- ing, clean and holy. 2. The Holy Ghost doth purify and cleanse us by strengthening our souls by his grace unto all holy duties and against all actual sins. It is by actual sins that our natural and habitual pollut…
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410 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. mysteries of his grace, having an experience of the life and power of the things themselves in their own hearts and souls ; and hereby do their faithj love, affiance, and adherence unto God, act and ex- ercise themselves. So is it with them in this matter of the actual present pur…
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442 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. cation tliereunto was to be cut off from the people, verse 20. And it is no otherwise with respect unto the blood of Christ in our spiri- tual defilements ; thence it is called " a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness," Zech. xiii. 1. And he who neglects to make apjilica- tion …
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[3.] It is he who worketh faith in us, whereby we are actually ' interested in the purifying virtue of the blood of Christ. By faith We receive Christ himself, and by faith do we receive all the benefits 414 THE FILTH OF SIN PUllGED [BOOK IV. of his mediation, — that is, as they are tendered unto us in the pro- mises…
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[4.] The Holy Ghost actually communicates the cleansing, puri- fying virtue of the blood of Christ unto our souls and consciences, whereby we are freed from shame, and have boldness towards God ; for the whole work of the application of the benefits of the mediation of Christ unto believers is his properly. And these …
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448 THE FILTH OF SIN rURGED [BOOK IV. dinate actings of our minds and affections towards objects either in their own nature sinful, or such as may be rendered so by an excess in us towards them, whilst we are under the command of loving the Lord our God with all our mmds, souls, and strength, and that always. 3. Affli…
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VOL. III. 29 450 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [bOOK IV. too liite. Unless you are washed by tlie Spirit of God and in the blood of Christ from the pollutions of your natures, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. vi. 9-11. Yea, you will be a horrid spectacle unto saints and angels, yea, to yourselves, unto one …
1,096 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.