PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 3
John Owen · 363,303 words · 345 reading sections
Section 241
452 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. thus far wise. And in the use of the means before prescribed, con- sidering his own darkness and the treacheries of his heart, he is to pray fervently that God by his Spirit would guide and assist him in his search after the pravity and defilement of his nature. With- out this he …
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(2.) Some have a boldness a7id confidence in their condition, as that wliich is well and pure enough : " There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are they not washed from their filthiness," Pro v. XXX. 12. Although they were never sprinkled with the pure water of the covenant, or cleansed by the Holy …
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4. It is, therefore, their duty to acquaint themselves with that only remedy in this case, that only means of cleansing, which God hath appointed, and which he makes effectual. One great end of the revelation of the will of God, from the foundation of the world, of his institutions and ordinances of worship, was, to di…
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458 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. rest in the cleansing virtue of the blood of Christ. God hath given this power and efficacy unto it by the covenant. In the promise of the gospel it is proposed and tendered unto us. Faith in that pro- mise is that alone which gives us an interest in it, makes us par- takers of it…
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460 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [BOOK IV. God himself doth teach them to use figurative expressions whereby to declare their own vileuess by nature; which abound in the Scrip- ture. It is true, all declarations hereof, in prayer and confession of sin, are derided and scorned by some, who seem to understand no- thing of th…
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4G2 THE FILTH OF SIN PURGED [eOOK IV. by our apostle, with especial respect unto one kind of sin, but may in proportion be extended unto all, 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17, vi. 15-19. Moreover, where this is not, where the soul hath no respect to the defilement of sin, but only considers how it may shift with the guilt of it, in…
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4. Hence also is manifest the necessity there is of continual ap- 2jlicatio7is to Jesus Christ for cleansing virtue from his Spirit, and the sprinkling of his blood on our consciences, in the efficacy of it, to purge them from dead works. We defile ourselves every day, and if we go not every day to the "fountain that i…
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4. Where the work of sanctification and spiritual cleansing is really begun in any, there the whole person is, and is thence deno- minated, hol}^ As, therefore, Christ the head is holy, so are all the members holy according to their measure; for although there may be defilements adhering unto their actions, yet their p…
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Lastly, To wind up this discourse, there is hence sufficiently evi- denced a comprehensive difference between a spiritual life unto God by evangelical holiness, and a life of moral virtue, though pretended unto God also. Unto the first, the original and continual purifica- tion of our nature and persons by the Spirit o…
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Secondly, The flatter of our holiness consists in our actual obe- dience unto God, according to the tenor of the covenant of gi'ace ; for God promiseth to write his law in our hearts, that we may fear him and walk in his statutes. And concerning this, in general, we may observe two things: — 1. That there is a certain…
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472 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV. the coveuant of works; for therein it should have been our righteous- ness absohitely before God, that whereby we should have been justi- fied in his sight, even the works of the law, and for which, in a due proportion of justice, we should have been eternally rewarded. Bu…
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And this holiness, in the first place, doth not consist in any single acts of obedience unto God, though good in their own nature, and ac- ceptable unto him ; for such acts may be performed, yea, many of them, by unholy persons, with examples whereof the Scripture 474 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV. abouude…
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For the farther explanation of it, I shall only add three things: — (1.) That this habit or principle, thus wrought and abiding in us, doth not, if I may so say, firm its own station, or abide and continue in us by its own natural efficacy, in adhering unto the faculties of our souls. Habits that are acquired by many …
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It is yet more expressly revealed and declared in the New Testa- ment, John iii. 6. There is a work of the Spirit of God upon us in our regeneration ; we are " born again of the Spirit." And there is the product of this work of the Spirit of God in us, that which is born in this new birth, and that is " sj)irit" also. …
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First, We may learn hence not to satisfy ourselves, or not to rest, in any acts or duties of obedience, in any good works, how good and useful soever in themselves, or howsoever multiplied by us, unless CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTinCATION OF BELIEVERS. 479 there be a vital 2)i^inciple of holiness in our hearts. A few hon…
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Secondly, It will appear from hence whence it is that men pro- pose and steer such various courses with respect unto holiness. All men who profess themselves to be Christians are agreed, in words at least, that holiness is absolutely necessary unto them that would be saved by Jesus Christ. To deny it is all one as open…
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8. As this principle of inherent grace or holiness hath the nature of a habit, so also hath it the properties thereof And the first pro- perty of a habit is, that it inclines and disposeth the subject wherein it is unto acts of its own kind, or suitable unto it. It is directed unto a certain end, and inclines unto acts…
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(3.) It is, moreover, expressed by being spiritually minded : " To be spiritually minded is life and peace," Rom. viii. 6; — that is, the bent and inclination of the mind unto spiritual things is that whereby we live to God and enjoy peace with him; it is "life and peace." By nature we savour only the things of the fle…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 487 have a natural current, which carries them on quickly, evenly, and constantly; and although they may sometimes meet with storms, tempests, and cross winds, yet the stream, the current, which is na- tural, at length worketh its Ava}^, and holds on its course through al…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 489 an open rejecting of the gospel, and contradiction to the experience of all that do believe or know any thing of what it is to live to God. We intend no more but what the apostle so plainly asserts. Gal. V. 17, "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit aga…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVEKS. 491 of the mind and soul, evenly and universally, unto all that is siDiritually good, unto all acts and duties of holiness, with an inward labouring to break through and to be quit of all opposition, is the first fruit and most pregnant evidence of the renovation of our n…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 493 this is that power which belongs unto the new creature, the habit and principle of grace and holiness, which, as we have proved, is ■wrought by the Holy Ghost in all believers. (2.) We may, therefore, inquire into the nature of this spiritual poiuer, what it is, and …
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 495 ever are in bondage unto sin, and that in all the faculties of their souls. They are " sold under sin;" are " not subject unto the law of God, neither indeed can be;" — can neither think, nor will, nor do, nor de- sire, nor love any thing that is spiritually good, acc…
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The properties of this power are readiness and facility. Wherever it is, it renders the soul ready unto all duties of holy obedience, and renders all duties of holy obedience easy unto the soul. (].) It gives readiness by removing and taking away all those encwfribrances which the mind is apt to be clogged with and hi…
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[1.] It introduceth a suitableness between our minds and the duties we are to perform. By it is the law written in our hearts; that is, there is an answerableness in them unto all that the law of God requires. In the state of nature, the great things of the law of God are a strange thing unto us, Hos. viii. 1 2 ; there…
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3dly. The difficulty and burdensomeness complained of may pro- ceed from the interposition of perplexing temptations, which weary, disquiet, and distract the mind. This may be, and frequently is so ; and yet our assertion is not impeached. We only say, that set aside extraordinary occasions and sinful neglects, this pr…
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Least of all can morality, or a course of moral duties, when it is alone, maintain any pretence hereunto. We have had attempts to prove that there is no specifical difference between common and saving grace, but that they are both of the same kind, differing only in degrees. But some, as though this ground were already…
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And this consideration is of itself sufiicient to evince that this holi- ness whereof we treat differs essentially from all other habits of the mind and actions proceeding from them, as having an especial nature of its own. Whatever there may be in any men of virtue and piet}^, or whatever their endeavours may be, in w…
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(2.) The especial procuring cause of this holiness is the me- diation of Christ. We are not, va. this matter, concerned in any thing, let men call it what they please, virtue, or godliness, or holi- ness, that hath not an esj)ecial relation unto the Lord Christ and his mediation. Evangelical holiness is purchased for u…
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508 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV. consists in conformity thereunto, under tliis consideration, that it is the word and doctrine of Christ. Notliino- belons^eth unto holiness materially but what the gospel requireth; and nothing is so in us formally but what we do because the gospel requireth it. And it is …
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It is by all confessed that exami^les are most effectual ways of 510 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT FbOOK IV. instructioDj and, if seasonably proposed, do secretly solicit the mind unto imitation, and almost unavoidably incline it thereunto. But when unto this jDOwer which examples have naturally and morally to inst…
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512 THE POSITIVE WOllK OF THE SPIRIT [bOOK IV. Sjoirit of tlie Lord." That which is proposed unto us is, the " glory of God," or the " glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," chap, iv. 6 ; that is, God gloriously manifesting himself in the person of Christ. This are we said to "behold with open face." The' veil of …
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[5.] That which principally differenceth evangelical holiness, VOL. m. 33 514 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT [BOOK IV. with respect unto the Lord Christ, from all natural or moral ha- bits or duties, and whereby he is made sanctification unto us, is, that from him, his person as our head, the principle of spiritual …
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(^dly.) God communicates nothing in a way of grace unto any but in and by the person of Christ, as the mediator and head of the church, John i. 18. In the old creation, all things were made by the eternal Word, the person of the Son, as the Wisdom of God, John i. 3 ; Col. i. 16. There was no immediate emanation of divi…
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But it may be said, " That if hereby we are united unto Christ, — namely, by his Spirit, — then we must be holy and obedient before we so receive him, wherein our union doth consist; for certainly Christ doth not unite ungodly and impure sinners unto liimself, which would be the greatest dishonour unto him imaginable. …
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CIlAr. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 519 members. The Romanists, indeed, cast some distvirbance on the former, by interposing another immediate, ruling, governing head, between him and the catholic church; yet do they not deny but that the Lord Christ, in his own person, is the absolute, supreme king, head,…
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS. 521 our union. That now which is expected from you is, that ye brino- forth fruit ; that is, that ye live in hoHness and obedience, unto the glory of God. Unless ye do so ye are no true, real branches in me, whatever outward profession ye may make of your so being." But h…
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To conclude, we have all grace and holiness from Christ, or we have it of ourselves. The old Pelagian fiction, that we have them from Christ because we have them by yielding obedience unto his doctrine, makes ourselves the only spring and author of them, and on that account [it was] very justly condemned by the church …
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CHAP. VI.] IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF EELIEVEES. 525 pliical notions and terms, and those the most common, obvious, and vulgar that ever obtained among the heathen of old. "Virtuous liv- ing," they tell us, "is the way to heaven ;" but what this virtue is, or what is a life of virtue, they have added as little in the de…
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5. If it be said that by this moral virtue they intend no exclusion of Jesus Christ, but include a respect unto him, I desire only to ask whether they design by it such a habit of mind, and such acts thence proceeding, as have the properties before described, as to their causes, rise, effects, use, and relation unto Ch…
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(1.) By the duties of holiness that are internal only, I intend all acts of faith, love, trust, hope, fear, reverence, delight, that have God for their immediate object, but go not forth nor exert them- selves in any external duties. And in these doth our spiritual life unto God principally consist; for they are as the…
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It is so as unto our spiritual life. We are, by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, furnished with a principle of it, in the way and for the ends before described. Hereby are we enabled and dis- posed to live unto God, in the exercise of spiritually vital acts, or the performance of duties of hohness. And he who hat…
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Our apostle confirmeth the same truth, 2 Cor. iii. 4, 5, " And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward : not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves ; but our sufficiency is of God." It is a great and eminent grace which he declare th that he was acting, — namely, trust in God throu…
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/ 534 OF THE ACTS AND DUTIES OF HOLINESS. [BOOK IV. Rom. viii. 4, " Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." To walk after the flesh is to have the principle of indwelling sin acting itself in us unto the production and perjaetration of actual sins. Wherefore, to walk after the Spirit is to have the Spirit ac…
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536 OF THE ACTS AND DUTIES OF HOLINESS. [BOOK IV. lie worketh them " to will" in us, so also " to do," — that is, effectu- ally to j)erform those duties whereunto the gracious actings of our wills are required. And wliat hath been spoken may suffice to prove that the Holy Spirit, as the author of our sanctijication, …
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538 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV. are sanctified, and regardeth. not those which for the outward matter and manner of performance are the same witli them (as unto Abel and his offering lie had respect, but he had no respect unto Cain and his offering, Gen. iv. 4, 5), is not taken from the state and con- dition of th…
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And concerning this great duty we may consider three things: — (1.) The name of it, whereby it is expressed; (2.) The nature of it, wherein it consists; (3.) The means and way whereby it is effected and wrought. * See vol. vi. of his works. 540 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV. (1.) For the name, it is two ways expres…
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[3.] Inchvelling sin, which is the object of this duty of mortification, falls under a threefold consideration: — 1st. Of its root and principle; 2dly. Of its disposition and operations ; 3dly. Of its effects. These in the Scripture are frequently distinguished, though mostly under metaphorical expressions. So are they…
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[5.] There being this universal contrariety, opposition, contending, and warfare, between grace and sin, the Spirit and the flesh, in their inward principles, powers, operations, and outward effects, the work and duty of mortification consists in a constant taking part with grace, in its principle, actings, and fruits,…
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First, It is evident, from what hath been discoursed, that it is a work which hath a gradual progress, in the proceed whereof we must continually be exercised ; and this respects, in the first place, the principle of sin itself Every day, and in every duty, an especial eye is to be had unto the abolition and destructio…
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sues it not constantly to death. Sin will after a while revive, and the man must die. It is a great and fatal mistake if we suppose this work will admit of any remissness or intermission. Again, the prin- ciple to be slain is in ourselves, and so possessed of our faculties as that it is called ourselves. It cannot be k…
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1st. By a tacit concession that they will both of them be found true towards all who live and die under the law, without an interest in Jesus Christ; for, affirming that " there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," he grants that those who are not so cannot avoid it. Such is the guilt of this sin, and…
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Whereas, therefore, in every duty two things are principally con- sidered,— first, The life and spring of it, as it is wrought in us by grace; secondly. The principal reason for it and motive imto it, as it is to be performed in ourselves by the way of duty ; both these, as to this matter of inortijication, do centre i…
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This, therefore, is the first luay whereby the Spirit of God morti- fieth sin in us; and in a compliance with it, under his conduct, do we regularly carry on this work and duty, — that is, we mortify sin by cherishing the principle of holiness and sanctification in our souls, labouring to increase and strengthen it by …
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, (Sdly.) It is the Holy Spirit which dh^ects us unto, and helps I us in, the performance of those duties, which are appointed of God I unto this end, that they may be means of the mortification of sin. • Unto the right use of those duties (for such there are), two things are required: — \\stl\ That we know them aright…
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Thirdly, The like may be said of the Qualcers amongst ourselves. That which first recommended them was an appearance of mortifica- tion ; which it may be also some of them really intended, though it is evident they never understood the nature of it : for in the height of their outward appearances, as they came short of…
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Secondly, All these duties, rightly improved, work two ways to- wards the end designed: first, Morally, and by way of impetration, — namely, of help and assistance; secondly. Really, by an immediate opposition unto sin and its power, whence assimilation unto holiness doth arise: — (First.) These duties work morally an…
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(4thly.) The Holy Spirit carrieth on this work by applying in an especial manner the death of Christ unto us for that end. And this is another thing which, because the w'orld understandeth not, it doth desjjise. But yet in whomsoever the death of Christ is not the death of sin, he shall die in his sins. To evidence thi…
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All the inquiry is, How the death of Christ is applied unto us, or, which is the same, How we apply ourselves to the death of Christ for this purpose. And I answer, we do it two ways: — [1st.] By faith. The way to derive virtue from Christ is by touch- ing of him. So the diseased woman in the gospel touched but the he…
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564 MORTIFICATION OF SIN, [BOOK IV. First, The object of it is Christ himself, in his unsearchable grace, his unspeakable love, his infinite condescension, his patient suffer- ing, and victorious power, in his death or dying for us. It is not his death absolutely, but himself, as all these graces conspicuously shine f…
948 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.