PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 5
John Owen · 250,432 words · 247 reading sections
Section 61
Whether this trust or confidence shall be esteemed of the essence of faith, or as that which, on the first fruit and working of it, we are 102 ON JUSTIFICATION. found in the exercise of, we need not positively determine. I place it, therefore, as that which belongs unto justifying faith, and is inse- parable from it.…
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104 ON JUSTIFICATION. the transfonmiisf of the souls of them that receive it into his imajje, is a reflection on the wisdom, goodness, and love of God himself. Secondly, That this grace is in them a principle of spiritual life, which in the habit of it, as resident in the heart, is not really distin- guished from that…
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If it be said, that final perseverancey which is so express a condi- 106 ON JUSTIFICATION. tion of salvation in tlie new covenant, is not indeed the condition of our first justification, but it is the condition of the continuation of our justification; then they yield up their grand position, that what- ever is a nec…
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1 08 ON JUSTIFICATION. a meritorious cause, by way of condecency or congniity, in and of our justification. For all these notions of the use of faith are suited and accommodated unto the opinions of men concerning the nature and princiiml causes of justification. Neither can any trial or deter- mination be made as unt…
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110 ON JUSTIFICATION. our minds the meaning and intention of the scriptural expressions so often used, t/ots/, sx 'xianug, dia msnug, there is none so proper as this of an instrument or instrumental cause, seeing a causality is included in them, and that of any other kind certainly excluded; nor hath it any of its own…
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112 ON JUSTIFICATION. by nature, it is assigned unto among all the members of the body. Other uses it hath, and other members, on other accounts, may be as useful unto the body as it ; but it alone is the instrument of receiving and apprehending that which, being given, is to be made our own, and to abide with us. Whe…
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If we may introduce words into religion nowhere used in the Scripture (as we may and must, if we design to bring light, and com- municate proper apprehensions of the things contained [in it] unto the minds of men), yet are we not to take along with them arbitrary, preconceived senses, forged either among lawyers or in …
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\ 116 ON JUSTIFICATION. appoints unto an especial spiritual end, hath an efficacy or operation in one or other of the ways mentioned ; for they either concur with the principal cause in its internal efficiency, or they operate exter- nally in the removal of obstacles and hindrances that oppose the principal cause in …
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118 ON JUSTIFICATION. is the Holy Ghost; whence we are said to be "justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," 1 Cor. vi. 11; and the instrumental cause thereof on tlie part of God, which is the " promise of the gospel," Rom. i. 17; Gal. iii. 22, 23. It would, therefore, be unduly pretended…
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(2.) The Scripture plainly declares that faith as justifying resiiects the sacerdotal office and actings of Christ alone. In the great re- presentation of the justification of the church of old, in the expiatory sacrifice, when all their sins and iniquities were pardoned, and their persons accepted with God, the acting…
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All the actings of the kingly and prophetical offices of Christ are all of them /ro??i God; that is, in the name and authority of God towards us. Not any one of them is totuards God on our behalf so as that by virtue of them we should expect acceptance with God. They are all good, blessed, holy in themselves, and of an…
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CHAPTER IV. Of justification; the notion and signification of the word in Scripture. Unto the right understanding of the nature of justification, the proper sense and signification of these words themselves, justifica- tion and to justify, is to be inquired into ; for until that is agreed upon, it is impossible that …
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But the true and genuine signification of these words is to be de- termined from those in the original languages of the Scripture which are expounded by them. In the Hebrew it is Pl^. This the LXX. render by Alzaiov a^xotpaivo, Job xxvii. 5 ; Aixaiog ava(pa!vojxai, chap. xiii. 18; Aly.aiov xphu, Prov. xvii. 15 ; — to s…
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To the same purpose is the word used, Isa. v. 23, " Which justify the wicked for reward;'' and chap. 1. 8, 9, ''i?'''^>'^ ^iii^, — " He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GoD will help me; who shall condemn me ?" …
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It is not, therefore, in many places of Scripture, as Bellarmii.e VOL. V 9 130 ON JUSTIFICATION. grants, that the words we have insisted on do signify the declaration or juridical pronunciation of any one to be righteous ; but, in all places where they are used, they are capable of no other but Si forensic sense; — e…
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Ans. 1. All these reasons prove not that it is the same to be 132 ON JUSTIFICATION. sanctified and to be justified; which must be, if that be the sense of the latter which is here pleaded for. But the apostle makes an express distinction between them, and, as this author observes, pro- ceeds from one to another, by a…
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The last place wherein he grants this signification of the word 134 ON JUSTIFICATION. dizaiou, is Rev. xxii. 11, 'O dix.aiog dixaiuSriToj Iti' — " Qui Justus est, jus- tificetur adliuc;" which place is pleaded by all the Romanists. And our author saj^s they are but few among the Protestants who do not acknowledge tha…
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grace are ye saved through faith ; and not of works," is so to be justified. So it is expressed by pardon, or the " remission of sins," which is the effect of it, Rom. iv. 5, 6 ; by " receiving the atonement," chap. V. 11 ; not " coming into judgment " or " condemnation," John V. 24; "blotting out sins and iniquities,…
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Those of the Roman church do gTound their whole doctrine of justification upon a distinction of a double justification ; which they call i\\e first and the second. The first justification, they say, is the infusion or the communication unto us of an inherent principle or habit of grace or charity. Hereby, they say, ori…
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There is also a twofold justification before God mentioned in the Scripture. First, "By the works of the law," Rom. ii. 13, x. 5; Matt. xix. 16-19. Hereunto is required an absolute conformity unto the whole law of God, in our natures, all the faculties of our souls, all the principles of our moral operations, with perf…
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(3.) This distinction of two justifications, as used and improved by those of the Roman church, leaves us, indeed, no justification at all. Something there is, in the branches of it, of sanctification ; but oi jus- tification nothing at all. Their first justification, in the infusion of a habit or principle of grace, u…
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2. But there seems to be more of reality and difficulty in what is pleaded concerning the continuation of our justification ; for those that are freely justified are continued in that state until they are glorified. By justification they are really changed into a new spiri- tual state and condition, and have a new rela…
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THE CONTINUANCE OF JUSTIFICATION. 14.5 the procurement thereof. [5.] Tliere is hereon nothing to he laid unto the charge of them that are so justified; for " he that beheveth hath everlasting Hfe, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life," John v. 24. And " who shall lay any thing to th…
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Still there abideth the true nature of sin in every inconformity unto or transgression of the law in justified persons, which stands in need of daily actual pardon. For there is " no man that liveth and sinneth not;" and " if we say that we have no sin, we do but deceive ourselves." None are more sensible of the guilt …
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1st. Let the experience of them that do believe be inquired into; for their consciences are continually exercised herein. What is it that they betake themselves unto, what is it that they plead with God for the continuance of the pardon of their sins, and the accept- ance of their persons before him? Is it any thing bu…
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THE CONTINUANCE OF JUSTIFICATION. 151 gives unto us justifying grace, and thereby the remission of sin, in their sense; whence they allow it [to be] the meritorious cause of our justi- fication. But on a supposition thereof, or the reception of that grace, we are continued to be justified before God by the works we pe…
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EVANGELICAL PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. 153 belongs unto the difference that will be among ns in the expression of our conceptions about spiritual things whilst we know but in part, than unto the substance of the doctrine itself And on such differ- ences no breach of charity can ensue, whilst there is a mutual grant of th…
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EVANGELICAL PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. 155 one testimony of Scripture wherein any one is denominated righteous from habitual righteousness (De Justificat., hb. ii. cap. 15); but is forced to attempt the proof of it with tliis absurd argument, — namely, that " we are justified by the sacraments, which do not work in us ac…
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2. Justification before God is a freedom and absolution from a charge before God, at least it is contained therein ; and the instru- ment of this charge must either be the laio or the gospel. But neither the law nor the gospel do before God, or in the sight of God, charge true believers with unbelief, hypocrisy, or the…
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I answer, — 1. According to some authors or maintainors of this opinion, I see not but that the Lord Christ is as much our evangeli- cal righteousness as he is our legal. For our legal righteousness he is not, in their judgment, by a proper imputation of his righteous- EVANGELICAL PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. 159 ness unt…
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And hence it appears how little force there is in that argument which some pretend to be of so great weight in this cause. "As every one," they say, " shall he judged of God at the last day, in the same way and manner, or on the same grounds, is he justified of God in this life ; hut by tvorks, and not by faith alone, …
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Under the New Testament there was a necessity of a more full and clear declaration of the doctrine of it; for it is among the first and most principal parts of that heavenly mystery of truth which was to be brought to light by the gospel. And, besides, there was from the first a strong and dangerous opposition made unt…
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The judgment of the Reformed churches herein is known unto all, and must be confessed, unless we intend by vain cavils to increase and perpetuate contentions. Especially the church of England is in her doctrine express as unto the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, both active and passive, as it is usually dist…
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" Imputare" is a word that the Latin tongue owns in the sense wherein it is used by divines. " Optime de pessimis meruisti, ad quos pervenerit incorrupta rerum fides, magno authori suo imputata," Senec. ad Mart. And Plin., lib. xviii. cap. 1, in his apologj'- for the earth, our common parent, " Nostris earn criminibus …
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Concerning this imputation it must be observed, that whatever is our own antecedently thereunto, which is an act of God thereon, can never be imputed unto us /or any thing more or less than what it is really in itself For this imputation consists of two parts, or two things concur thereunto : — First, A judgment of the…
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(2.) There is an imputation of sin unto others, " ex justitia 170 ON JUSTIFICATION. propter relationem naturalem/' — on the account oi d^ natural relation between them and those who had actually contracted the guilt of it. But this is so only with respect unto some outward, temporary effects of it. So God speaks conc…
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From what hath been discoursed concerning the nature and grounds of imputatio7i, sundry things are made evident, which con- tribute much light unto the truth which we plead for, at least unto the right understanding and stating of the matter under debate. As, — 1. The difference is plain between the imputation of any …
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Wherefore, — (2./ Positively. /This imputation is an act of God " ex mera gratia," — of his mere love and grace; whereby, on the con- sideration of the mediation of Christ, he makes an effectual grant and donation of a true, real, pe7fect righteousness, even that of Christ himself unto all that do believe; and accounti…
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Thus much may suffice to be spoken of the nature of imjnitation of the righteousness of Christ; the grounds, reasons, and causes whereof, we shall in the next place inquire into. And I doubt not but we shall find, in our inquiry, that it is no such figment as some, ignorant of these things, do imagine; but, on the cont…
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I have transcribed this passage at large because, as I said, what I intend to prove in the present discourse is declared fully therein. Thus, therefore, he speaks: " How, then, did he make our sins to be his own, and how did he bear our iniquities ? Is it not from thence, that we are said to be his body ? as the apostl…
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1. The first spring or cause of this union, and of all the other causes of it, lieth in that eternal compact that was between the Father and the Son concerning the recovery and salvation of fallen mankind. Herein, among other things, as the effects thereof, the assumption of our nature (the foundation of this union) wa…
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2dly. The signification of the word is known from the use of it, and what it signifies among men ; so that no question can be made of its sense and importance, though it be but once used : and this on any occasion removes the difficulty and danger, rHv a-ra^ Xsyof^svuv. Sdly. The thing itself intended is so fully decla…
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On the other hand, the generality of expositors, ancient and modern, of the Roman and Protestant churches, on the place, affirm that the Lord Christ, as the surety of the covenant, was properly a surety or undertaker unto God for us, and not a surety and under- taker unto us for God. And because this is a matter of gre…
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SURETISHIP. ] 85 any one or any means that may give evidence that so it is, — that is, of a "witness. But upon a supposition that what is proposed is his word or promise, there can be no imagination or fear of any defect on his part, so as that there should be any need of a surety for the performance of it. He doth th…
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6. It is the priesthood of Christ that the apostle treats of in this place, and that alone: wherefore he is a surety as he is a priest, and in the discharge of that office ; and therefore is so with God on our behalf. This Schlichtingius observes, and is aware what will ensue against his pretensions ; which he endeavou…
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(2.) That those who were to be taken into this covenant should receive grace enabling them to comply with the terms of it, fulfil its conditions, and yield the obedience which God required therein; for, by the ordination of God, he was to procure, and did merit and procure for them, the Holy Spirit, and all needful sup…
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(2.) This opinion is liable unto a great prejudice, in that, Avhereas it is in such a fundamental aiiicle of our religion, and about that wherein the eternal welfare of the church is so nearly concerned, there is no mention made of it in the Scripture ; for is it not strange, if this be, as some speak, the sole effect …
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1 See Exercit. xxviii. in the preliminary dissertations to the " Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews." 192 ON JUSTIFICATION. xxiii. 5; Jer. xxxii. 40. This declaration of tlie grace of God, and the provision in the covenant of the mediator for the making of it effectual unto his glory, is most usually called the…
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^dhj. He thereby underwent and performed all that which, in the righteousness and wisdom of God, was required ; that the efi-'ects, fruits, benefits, and grace, intended, designed, and prepared in the new covenant, might be effectually accomplished and communicated unto sinners. Hence, although \\e p)rocured not the co…
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196 ON JUSTIFICATION. the law is not disannulled, but established. Lastly, The Lord Christ was the mediator and surety of the neio covenant, in and by whom it was ratified, confirmed, and established: and therefore by him the constitution of it was not procured ; for all the acts of his ofiice belong unto that mediati…
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In the New Testament he that is guilty is .said to be WohiKog, Rom. iii. 19; that is, obnoxious to judgment or vengeance for sin, one that ri dixri ^/jc oux s'/adiv, as they speak. Acts xxviii. 4, " whom vengeance will not suffer to go unpunished ;" — and ho^og, 1 Cor. xi. 27, a word of the same signification; — once b…
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And if this distinction should be apprehended to be of " reatus," from its formal respect unto sin and punishment, it must, in both parts of the distinction, be of the same signification, otherwise there is an equivocation in the subject of it. But "reatus pcense" is a liableness, an ohnoxiousness unto punishment accor…
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[2.] None ever dreamed of a transfusion or propagation of sin from us unto Christ, such as there was from Adam unto us. For Adam was a common person unto us, — we are not so to Christ : yea, he is so to us ; and the imputation of our sins unto him is a singular act of divine dispensation, which no evil consequence can …
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First, It is certain that the Lord Christ's taking on him the guilt of our sins was a high act of obedience unto God, Heb. x. 5, 6; and for which the "Father loved him," John x, 17, 18, There was, therefore, no reason why God should hate Clnist for his taking on him our debt, and the payment of it, in an act of the hig…
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5. This was represented in all the sacrifices of old, especially the great anniversary [one], on the day of expiation, with the ordinance of the scape-goat ; as hath been before declared. 6. Without a supposition hereof it cannot be understood how the Lord Christ should be our Avri-^w^og, or suffer dvTi 7],ujSjv, in o…
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The substance of the inquiry wherein alone we are concerned, is. What is that righteousness luherehy and ivherewith a believing sin- ner is justified before God; or whereon he is accepted with God, hath his sins pardoned, is received into grace and favour, and hath a title given him unto the heavenly inheritance ? I sh…
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1. The foundation of the imputation asserted is union. Hereof there are many grounds and causes, as hath been declared; but that which we have immediate respect unto, as the foundation of this imputation, is that whereby the Lord Christ and believers do actually coalesce into one mystical person. This is by the Holy Sp…
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3. The most of the objections which are levied against the truth in this cause do arise from the want of a due comprehension of the FORMAL CAUSE OF JUSTIFICATION. 211 order of the work of God's grace, and of our compliance therewithal in a way of duty, as was before observed; for they consist in oppos- ing those thin…
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FORMAL CAUSE OF JUSTIFICATION. 213 weakened by the doctrine of the miputation of the righteousness of Christ, yea, it is strengthened and made efiectnal thereby; for with- out it, in the order of the gospel, an interest therein is not to be attained. And this is that which, in the Old Testament, is so often proposed a…
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[1.] That this righteousness of Christ should be communicated unto us, and be made ours, in such a way and manner as that he himself might be glorified therein, seeing he hath disposed all things, in this whole economy, unto " the praise of the glory of his grace," Eph. i. 6. This was to be done by faith, on our part. …
923 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.