PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 6
John Owen · 348,200 words · 344 reading sections
Section 121
222 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. ever touches upon a wound is throughly felt; so doth the guilt of sin before the wound given by conviction be throughly cured. But now, when affections begin to decay naturally, they begin to decay also as to their sensible actings and motions in things spiritual. Although t…
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224 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. CHAPTER IX. The deceit of sin in drawing off tlie mind from a due attendance unto especial duties of obedience, instanced in meditation and prayer. How^ sill by its deceit eudeavours to draw off tlie mind from at- tending unto that holy frame in walking with God wherein th…
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These duties, I say, amongst others (for we have only chosen them for an instance, not excluding some others from the same place, office, and usefulness with them), do make an esjjecial opposition to the very being and life of indwelling sin, or rather faith in them doth so. They are perpetually designing its utter rui…
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[3.] This is the way appointed and blessed of God to obtain strength and power against sin: James i. 5, " Doth any man lack? let him ask of God." Prayer is the way of obtaining from God by Christ a supply of all our wants, assistance against all opposition, especially that which is made against us by sin. This, I suppo…
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230 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. to be dallied withal by foolish pretences, — it will be drawn off; Avliich is the effect aimed at. [2.] The deceitfulness of sin makes use of corrupt reasonings, taken from the pressing and urging occasions of life. " Should we," says it in the heart, " attend strictly unto…
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282 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. permitted it to Lo filled with the things of the world, and to become negligent in attending unto especial duties, — I had not at this day been thus sick, weak, thriftless, wounded, decayed, defiled. My care- less, my deceived mind, hath been the beginning of sin and trans- …
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234 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. fore, as unto this head of our discourse, the consideration of the charge of the mind in reference unto particular duties and sins; and in the consideration of it we shall do these two things: 1. Show what is required in the mind of a believer in reference unto particular du…
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\st. That it be done in the way and by the means that God hath prescribed with respect unto the outward manner of its performance. And this is especially to be regarded in duties of the worship of God, the matter and outward manner whereof do both equally fall under his command. If this be not regarded, the whole duty …
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Idhj. It draws off the mind from the duties before mentioned by insinuating a secret contentment into it from the duty itself per- formed, as to the matter of it. This is a fair discharge of a natural , conscience. If the duty be performed, though as to the manner of its performance it come short almost in all things o…
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(2.) The deceit of sin, of every sin, the punishment appointed Tmto it in the law, is another thing that the mind ought actually to attend unto, in reference unto every particular evil. And the diver- sions from this, that the minds of men have been doctrinally and practically attended withal, have been an inlet into a…
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THE MIND DIVERTED FROM PARTICULAR DUTIES BY SIN. 241 world knoweth nothing of the blessed condition which we obtain and enjoy thereby: ' The world knoweth us not/ Nay, it is such love, and so unspeakably blessed and glorious are the effects of it, that we ourselves are not able to comprehend them." What use, then, oug…
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1st. Inadvertency. It doth not set itself to consider and attend unto its special concernmenta The apostle, persuading the Hebrews THE MIND DIVERTED FROM PARTICULAR DUTIES BY SIN. 243 with all earnestness to attend diligently, to consider carefully, that they may not be hardened by the deceitfidness of sin, gives thi…
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And this is the first way whereby the law of sin acts its deceit against the soul: — It draws off the mind from attendance unto its charge and oflSee, both in respect of duty and sin. And so far as this is done, the person is said to be "drawn away" or drawn off. He is"tempted ;" every man is tempted, when he is thus d…
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(8.) Inclinations or readiness to attend unto extenuations of sin, or the reliefs that are tendered against sin when committed, manifest the affections to be entangled with it. We have showed, and shall yet farther evidence, that it is a great part of the deceit of sin, to tender lesseninof and extenuatinc: thoughts of…
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(3.) It hides the danger that attends sin ; it covers it as the hook is covered with the bait, or the net spread over with meat for the fowl to be taken. It is not, indeed, possible that sin should utterly de- prive the soul of the knowledge of the danger of it. It cannot dis- possess it of its notion or persuasion tha…
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(2.) As to the object of your affections, in an especial manner, let it be the cross of Christ, which hath exceeding efficacy towards the disappointment of the whole work of indwelling sin: Gal. vi. 14, " God forbid that I should glory, .save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me…
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2. There is a tivofold consent of the will unto sin: — (1.) That which is full, absolute, complete, and upon deliberation, — a prevailing consent; the convictions of the mind being conquered, and no principle of grace in the will to weaken it. With this con- sent the soul goes into sin as a ship before the wind with a…
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254 THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. ally, there is no sin. But this is not that which we now speak of ; but, in particular, the consent of the will unto this or that actual sin, so far as that either sin is committed, or is prevented by other ways and means not of our present consideration. And herein consists…
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Now, the mind being entangled with this deceit, drawn off from its 25 G THE NATURE AND POWER OF INDWELLING SIN. Avatcli by it, diverted from the true ends of the gospel, doth several ways impose upon the will to obtain its consent: — [1.] By a sudden surprisal in case of temptation. Temptation is the representation …
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[2.] Enticed affections procure the consent of the will hj fi^equent solicitations, whereby they get ground insensibly upon it, and en- throne themselves. Take an instance in the sons of Jacob, Gen. xxxvii. 4. They hate their brother, because their father loved him. Their affections being enticed, many new occasions fa…
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(2.) Error is a worse part or effect of the mind's darkness, and gives great advantage to the law of sin. There is, indeed, ignorance in every error, but there is not error in all ignorance; and so they may be distinguished. I shall need to exemplify this but with one consideration, and that is of men who, being zealou…
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(1.) When sin is conceived, the Lord obstructs its production by his providence, in taking away or cutting short that j)oiver which is absolutely necessaiy for its bringing forth or accomplishment; [1.] Life is the foundation of all power, the principle of operation; when that ceaseth, all power ceaseth with it. Even …
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2dl'i/. There are some cases wherein God may and doth take away the lives of his oiun, to prevent the guilt that otherwise they would be involved in ; as, — (1st.) In the coming of some great temptation and trial upon the world. God knowing that such and such of his would not be able to withstand it and hold out again…
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OBSTRUCTIONS TO CONCEIVED SIN. 265 God deals thus with them every day, and leaves them to pine away in their sins. They go all their days big with the iniquity they have conceived, and are greatly burdened that they cannot be delivered of it. The prophet tells us that " they practise iniquity that they had conceived, …
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[5.] God doth this by some eminent diversions of the thoughts of men who had conceived sin. Gen. xxxvii. 24, the brethren of Jo- seph cast him into a pit, with an intent to famish him there. Whilst they were, as it seems, pleasing themselves with what they had done, God orders a company of merchants to come by, and div…
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OBSTRUCTIONS TO CONCEIVED SIN. 269 more wicked and hellish than before; and if they do not, they are filled with vexation and discontentment. This is the portion of them who know not the Lord nor the power of his grace. Envy not their condition. Notwithstanding their outward, glittering show, their hearts are full of …
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[1.] God doth this, in the way of restraining grace, by some arrow of particular conviction, fixed in the heart and conscience of the sin- ner, in reference unto the particular sin which he had conceived. This staggers and changes the mind as to the particular intended, causeth the hands to hang down and the weapons of…
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OBSTRUCTIOISIS TO CONCEIVED SIN. 273 ties tliey shall be sure to meet withal, yea, it is likely, if they should attempt it, it would prove impossible for them to accomplish. We owe much of our quiet in this world unto the efficacy given to this consideration in the hearts of men by the Holy Ghost; adulteries, rapines,…
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OBSTRUCTIONS TO CONCEIVED SIN. 275 from the least inclination to his temptation. " It is sin against God, to whom I owe all obedience, the God of my life and of all my mercies. I will not do it." The argument wherewith Abigail pre- vailed on David, 1 Sam. xxv. 31, to withhold him from self-revenge and murder, was of t…
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OBSTRUCTIONS TO CONCEIVED SIK 277 from whence he was recovered, as he afterwards declares, — so is it with many a believer; he is oftentimes at the very brink, at the very door of some folly or iniquity, when God puts m by the efficacy of actually assisting grace, and recovers them to an obediential frame of heart aga…
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CHAPTER XIV. The power of sin fortlier demonstrated by the eft'ccts it liatli had in the lives of professors — First, in actual sins — Secondly, in habitual declensions. We ai-e now to proceed unto other evidences of that sad truth which we are in the demonstration of But the main of our work being passed through, I …
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POWER OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF PROFESSOES. 281 Hezekiali, who appealed to God himself, that he had served him tip- rightl}^, with a perfect heart ? And yet what prevaleucy this law of sin A^TOught in and over them we see. And there is no end of the like examples. They are all set up as buoys to discover unto us the sand…
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POWER OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF PEOFESSORS. 283 become daily a scorn and reproach through their miscarriages, and that justly, to the men of the world? Is it not with them as it was of old with the daughters of Zion, Isa. iii. 24, when God judged them for their sins and wantonness? Hath not the world and self utterly rui…
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1. It appears to be a work oi great jioiuer and efficacy from the provision that is made against it, wdiich it prevails over. There is in the covenant of grace plentiful provision made, not only for the pre- venting of declensions and decays in believers, but also for their con- tinual carrying on towards perfection; a…
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POWER OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF PROFESSORS. 287 in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." The end of all communications of grace and supplies of life from this living and blessed head, is the increase of the whole body and every member of it, and the edifying of itsel…
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POWER OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF PROFESSORS. 289 holy, more zealous, useful, fruitful ; tliey desire it above life itself. They know it is their duty to watch against this enemy, to fight against it, to pray against it ; and so they do. They more desire his destruction than the enjoyment of all this world and all that it …
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[2.] The fresh, taste they have had of spiritual things keeps up such a savour and relish of them in their souls, as that worldly con- tentments, whereby men are drawn off from close walking with God, DECAY IN GRACE FROM THE PREVALENCE OF SIN. 291 are rendered sapless and undesirable unto them. Having tasted of the w…
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DECAY IN GRACE FROM THE PREVALENCE OF SIN. 293 likeness in liis imagination ; because he doth it only slightly, and with a transient look. So is it with men that will indeed think of gospel truths but in a slight manner, -svithout endeavouring, with all their hearts, minds, and strength, to have them ingrafted upon th…
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(2.) Indwelling sin doth this hy taking men off from their watch against the returns of Satan. When our Lord Christ comes first to DECAY IN GRACE FROM THE PREVALENCE OF SIN. 295 take possession of any soul for himself, he hinds that strong man and spoils his goods; he deprives him of all his power, dominion, and inte…
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DECAY IN GEACE FROM THE PREVALENCE OF SIN 297 tations. He comes clown upon our duties of obedience as the fowls upon Abraham's sacrifice; so that if we watch not, as he did^ to drive them away (for by resistance he is overcome and put to flight), he will devour them. [3.] Indwelling sin takes advantage to put forth i…
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[4.] Sin doth this work by cherishing some secret jKirticuIar lust in the heart. This the soul contends against faintty. It contends against it upon the account of sincerity; it cannot but do so: but it doth not make thorough work, vigorously to mortify it by the strength and power of grace. Now, where it is thus with …
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DECAY IN GRACE FROM THE PREVALENCE OF SIN. 301 of their insinuation subtile and imperceptible, there is an alloy of gifts, which sometimes even devours the pure gold of grace, which should be the chief and principal in them. In these there is imme- diate intercourse between God and that which is of himself in the soul…
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POWER OF SIN IN UNKEGENERATE PERSONS. 303 CHAPTER XVL The strength of indwelling sin manifested from its power and effects in persons unregenerate. It is of the power and efficacy of indwelling sin, as it remains in several degrees in believers, that we are treating. Now, I have else- where showed that the nature an…
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For instance, it is common to man with other creatures to take care for the nourishing of his children, of the young, helpless ones that receive their being by him. There is implanted in him, in the principles of his nature, concreated with them, a love and care for them; so is it with other living creatures. Now, let …
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(2.) The like may be spoken of all other sins against the prime dic- tates of the law of nature, that mankind is or hath been stained and defamed withal, — murder of parents and children, of wives and hus- bands, sodomy, incest, and the like enormities ; in all Avhich sin pre- vails in men against the whole law of thei…
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(3.) It is indwelling sin that both disenableth men unto and hinders them from believinof, and that alone. Blindness of mind, stubbornness of; the will, sensuality of the affections, all concur to keep poor perisldng souls at a distance from Christ. Men are made blind by sin, and cannot see his exceUencies; obstinate, …
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But now unto all these is there check and control given by in- dwelling sin. It prevails against this whole work of the Spirit by the word, with all the advantages of providential dispensations, in afflictions and mercies, wherewith it is attended. When sin is once enraged, all these things become but like the withes a…
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(4.) It evinces its strength in them by prevailing with them unto a total ^^enunciation of God as revealed in Christ, and the jDower of all gospel truth, — in the sin against the Holy Ghost. I do not now precisely determine what is the sin against the Holy Ghost, nor wherein it doth consist. There are different apprehe…
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2. The law not only discovers sin, but discovers it to be a very had inmate, dangerous, yea, pernicious to the soul: Rom. vii. 13, " Was then that which is good," — that is, the law, — "made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, Avorking death in me by that which is good ; that sin by the comman…
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man armed, being prevailed against, he is bound and his goods are spoiled. But now neither of these befalls indwelHng sin by the as- saults of the law. It loseth not one jot of its dominion nor strength by all the blows that are given unto it. The lav*' cannot do this thing, E,om. viii. 8 ; it cannot deprive sin of its…
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1st. Though the course of sin may be repelled for a season by the dispensation of the law, yet the spring and fountain of it is not dried up thereby. Though it withdraws and hides itself for a season, it is, as I bave elsewhere showed, but to shift out of a storm, and then to return again. As a traveller, in his way me…
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Some of the ways whereby they endeavour to suppress the power of sin, which casts them into an unquiet condition, and then' insuf- ficiency for that end, we must look into : — (1.) They will promise and bind themselves by vows from those sins which they have been most liable unto, and so have been most perplexed witha…
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(2.) Beyond bare voivs and promises, with some Avatchfulness to observe them in a rational use of ordinary means, men have put, and some do yet put, themselves on extraordinary ways of mortifying sin. This is the foundation of all that hath a show of wisdom and religion in the Papacy : their hours of prayer, fastings ;…
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The original imprimatur of the volume bears date 1G68; and such, according to all authoi-ities, Avas the year in which it first appeared. We have seen an edition printed in KHJ'i, and another i)riiited in KiSO. The latter must corrcsiwnd with, and must have been jninted froju the first edition, for it contains some sen…
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Into this ti-easury, towards the service of the house of God, it is that I have cast my mite in the ensuing exposition and discourses on the 130th Psalm. The design of the Holy Ghost was therein to express and reijresent, in the person and condition of the psah^iist, the case of a soul entangled and ready to be over- w…
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Verse 5. — And herein, upon the account of the forgiveness that is with thee, O Lord, do I wait with all patience, quietness, and perse- verance. In this work is my whole soul engaged, even in an earnest expectation of thy approach unto me in a way of grace and mercy. And for my encouragement therein hast thou given ou…
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I. The present state of the soul under consideration is included in that expression, " Out of the depths." Some of.jilie ancients, as Chrysostom, suppose this expression to T-er*V Wnt(\and nlPths of the heart of the psalmist : T/ sstiv ix jSaOsuv 110+ 4lf and comino-' Ol' tongue only, uXX' d~b Kaphiag px^vrdri^g, — …
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It is a sad truth that we have proposed unto consideration. He that hears it ought to tremble in himself, that he may rest in the day of trouble. It speaks out the apostle's advice, Rom. xi. 20, " Be not high-minded, but fear;" and that also, 1 Cor. x. 12, " Let^^ him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." …
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2. Perplexed thoughtfulness about their great and wretched nn- Jcindness towards God is another part of the depths of sin-entangled souls. So David complains: Pa Ixxvii. 3, "I remembered God," saith ho, " and was troubled." How comes the remembrance of God to be unto him a matter of trouble? In other places he professe…
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5. There may he added hereunto prevailing fears for a season of heing utterly rejected by God, of being found a reprobate at the last day. Jonah seems to conclude so, chap. ii. 4, " Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;" — " I am lost for ever, God Avill own me no more." And Heman, Ps. Ixxxviii. 4, 5, " I am counted…
936 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.