PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 6
John Owen · 348,200 words · 344 reading sections
Section 241
Let us, therefore, also mind this evidence in the application of our- selves to God for pardon. It is certain that God might have taken us from the womb, and have cast us into utter darkness; and in the course of our lives we have been guilty of such provocations as God might justly have taken the advantage of to glori…
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We have in our case called in the testimony of the saints in hea- ven, with whom those on earth do make up one family, even that one family in heaven and earth which is called after the name of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. iii. 14, 15. And they all agree in their testimony, as becomes tlie family and cluld…
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You will say, then, " What shall a man do who cannot find or obtain an experience in himself of what is affirmed in the word? He cannot find the death of Christ crucifying sin in him, and he cannot find the Holy Ghost sanctifying his nature, or obtain joy in believ- ing; what shall he, then, do? shall he not believe or…
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originally and really; and from him it is commimicated mito iis by the \^'ord. We are thereby taught and do learn it, for thereby, as the apostle proceeds, " we are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and do put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous- ness and true holiness," verses 23, 24. First, the t…
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This is the meaning of that prayer of the apostle, Col. ii. 2, " That your hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledg- ment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ." Understanding in the mysteries of the gospel th…
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" What course did you take?" — Ans. " I went unto Him by Jesus Christ against whom I have sinned, and have found him better unto me than I could expect or ever should have believed, had not he overpowered my heart by his Spirit. Instead of wrath, which I feared, and that justly, because I had deserved it, he said unto …
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2. Wherefore, all the revenue of glory that God loill receive hy his ^uorslii]) depends merely on his oimi voluntary choice and ajjpoint- ment. All worship, I say, depends now on the sovereign will and pleasure of God. It is true there is a natural worship due from rational creatures by the law of their creation. This …
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4Gi AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [VcT. 4. pleads, Judges xiii. 23: " If," saith she, " the Lord Avere pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-ofierin2: and a meat-offer- ing at our hands." His acceptance of worship from us is an infallible demonstration that he will not execute against us the severity…
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But, as was said, baptism itself, as appointed to be an ordinance of worship for sinners to observe, was a declaration of that forgiveness that is with God. It was so in its first institution. God calls a man in a marvellous and miraculous manner; gives him a ministry from heaven; commands him to go and baptize all tho…
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(3.) What is the end of all church-order, assemblies, and worship? What is a church? Is it not a company of sinners gathered to- gether, according unto God's appointment, to give glory and praise to him for pardoning grace, for the forgiveness of sins, and to yield him that obedience which he requires from us on the ac…
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The end of all these things, as we shall afterward at large declare, is to encourage poor sinners to believe, and to evidence how inex- cusable they will be left who, not'svithstanding all this, do, through the poAver of their lusts and unbelief, refuse to come to God in Christ that they may be pardoned. Yea, the layin…
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Secondty, This being the nature, this the end of a covenant, there must be some gi'eat and important cause to change, alter, and abro- gate a covenant once made and established, — to lay aside one covenant and to enter into another. And yet this the apostle says expressly that God had done, Heb. viii. IS, and proves it…
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Wherefore, we may now return unto our former inquiry : All things being thus excellently and admirably disposed, in infinite wisdom and holiness, in this covenant, the whole duty and blessed- ness of man being fully provided for, and the glory of God absolutely secured upon all events, what was the reason that God left…
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IX. The oath of God engaged and interposed in this matter is another evidence of the truth insisted on. Now, because this is annexed unto the covenant before mentioned, and is its establish- ment, I shall pass it over the more briefly. And in it we may con- sider,— First, The nature of the oath of God. The ai^ostle. t…
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Again : whereas the gTeat means he hath appointed for the forgive- ness of sins is by the mediation of the Lord Christ, as we shall after- ward show, he hath on several occasions confirmed his purpose in him, and the counsel of his will, hy his oath. By this oath he promised him unto Abraham and David of old; which pro…
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480 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALjM cxxx. [Ver. 4. wandering, helpless condition, before the promise was to be accom- plished. But now, when God came to fulfil his promises, and to bring the people, by virtue of his covenant, into the land of Canaan, he reveals himself unto them by, and renews his covenant with them in, the…
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Let us lay together these considerations, and we shall find that they will give us another stable foundation of the truth insisted on, and a great encouragement to poor sinful souls to draw nigh to God in Christ for pardon. God hath no name but what he gives unto himself; nor is it lawful to know him or call him otherw…
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(2.) Involuntary, in some rational creatures. Sinning men and angels have no design, no will, no desire to give glory to God. They do their utmost endeavour to the contrary, to hate him, reproach and blaspheme him. But they cannot yet cast off the yoke of God. In their minds and consciences they are forced, and shall b…
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Sixthly, These things being so, let us consider how it stands in reference unto that which is under consideration, God, in the crea- tion of all things, glorified or manifested his greatness, power, wis- dom, and goodness, with many other properties of the like kind. But his sovereignty, righteousness, and holiness, ho…
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First, The o'ise and spring of it is to be considered. It came forth from the eternal mutual consent and counsel of the Father and the Son : Zech. vi. 1 3, " The counsel of peace shall be between them both." It is of Christ, the Branch, of whom he speaks. " He shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the g…
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Ver. 4.] EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS WITH GOD. 489 being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his per- son, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." This is he who was sent. In nature he was glorious, eve…
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Fourthly, Besides all this, there ensues upon what went before, that great and wonderful issue in the death of the So7i of God. This thing was great and marvellous, and we may a little inquire into what it was that was designed therein. And hereof the Scripture gives us a full account; as, — 1. That he died to make at…
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1. Seeing the Son of God died in that way and manner that he did, according to the determinate counsel and will of God, wherefore did he do so, and Avhat aimed he at therein? Ans. It is plain that he died for our sins, Rom iv. 25; that is, " to make reconciliation for the sins of the people," Heb. ii. 1 7, 1 S. This M…
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What ground is left of questioning the truth in hand? What link of this chain can unbelief break in or upon? If men resolve, not- withstanding all this evidence and assurance that is tendered unto them thereof, that they will not yet believe that there is forgiveness with God, or will not be encouraged to attempt the s…
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3. That God requires this forgiveness in us upon the account of the forgiveness ive receive from him; which is to put the gxeatest obligation upon us unto it that Ave are capable of, and to give the strongest and most powerful motive possible unto its performance. See Eph. iv. 32. 4. That this duty is more directly an…
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Let us now, therefore, put these things together : — God requires of us that there shoidd be forgiveness in us for those that do offend us, forgiveness without limitation and bounds. The grace hereof he be- stoweth on his saints, sets a high price upon it, and manifests many ways that he accounts it among the most exce…
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500 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver.4. ni7pp nan"*^ " -vvill multiply to pardon." He hatli forgiveness with him to outdo all the multiplied sins of any that turn unto him and seek for it. But this is very hard, very difficult for us to appre- hend. This is not the way and manner of men. We deal not thus with profl…
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This, I say, is an encouragement in general unto believers. We have, as I hope, upon unquestionable grounds, evinced that there is forgiveness with God ; which is the hinge on which turneth the issue of our eternal condition. Now this is like himself; such as becomes him; that answers the infinite perfections of his na…
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We can, then, no way so eminently bring or ascribe glory unto God as by our receiving forgiveness from him, he being willing thereunto upon the account of its tendency unto his own glory, in that way which he hath peculiarly fixed on for its manifestation. Hence the apostle exhorts us to " come boldly unto the throne o…
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1. Men in this case are very apt to deceive themselves. Self-love, vain hopes, liking of lust, common false principles, sloth, unwilling- ness unto self-examination, reputation with the world, and it may be in the church, all vigorously concur unto men's self-deceivings in this matter. It is no easy thing for a soul to…
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Let not any so minded flatter themselves that they have any ac- quaintance v/ith the mystery of gospel forgiveness. 3. Let it be inquired of them who pretend unto this persuasion how they came by it, that we may know whether it be of Him who calleth us or no ; that we may try whether they have broken through the diffi…
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5. Of them who profess to believe forgiveness, hoiu fetu are there who indeed know what it is ! They believe, they say; but as the Samaritans worshipped, — they "know not what." With some, a bold presumption, and cr}dng " Peace, peace," goes for the belief of for- giveness. A general apprehension of impunity from God, …
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Let us, then, on this ground also, continue our inquiry upon the ordinary boasters of their skill in this mystery. You believe there is forgiveness with God? Yes. But have you been convinced of sin? Yes. You knotu that you are sinners luell enough. Answer, then, but once more as to the nature of this conviction of sin …
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If any shall say that they thank God they are no such publicans as those mentioned, they are no drunkards, no swearers, no unclean persons, nor the like, so that they are not concerned in this consi- deration (their lives and their duties give another account of them), then yet consider farther, that the Pharisees were…
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Secondly, Others there are who have received it, but being again entangled hy sin, or clouded by darkness and temptations, or weak- ened by unbelief, know not how to improve it to their peace and comfort. This is the condition of the soul represented in this psalm, and which we shall therefore apply ourselves unto in a…
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It is not thus with them who have sinned against the Holy Ghost, though yet alive, and living where the word of forgiveness is preached. God proposeth unto them no terms of reconciliation. "Blasphemy against him," saith Christ, " shall not be forgiven," Matt, xii. 31. There is no forgiveness for such sinners; and we, i…
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Ver.4.] EXHORTATIONS UNTO BELIEVING FORGIVENESS. 519 ceptable year of the Lord ? And tliis is done in the tender of terms of peace with God in this matter. Do not put it off; this belongs unto you ; the great concernment of your souls lies in it. And it is a great matter; for consider, — 5. That when the angels came …
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So the apostle assures us, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, " If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glo- rious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." If you receive not this word, if it be…
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But you will sa}^ "Why, what great matter is there that you have in hand? Why is it urged with so much earnestness? We have heard the same words a hundred times over. The last Lord's day such a one, or such a one, preached to the same purpose ; and Avhat need it be insisted on now again with so much importunity?" But …
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Do you aright consider the nature of this matter? The Scripture proposeth it as an object of eternal admiration: " So God loved the world;" " Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us" first. Live in this admiration, and do your utmost, in your several capacities, to prevail with your friends, relatio…
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526 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4. men proposed to themselves was sufficiently manifested, it pleased him to reveal his way. And what are we, that we should contend about it with him? This rejection of the way of personal righteous- ness, and choosing the way of grace and forgiveness, God asserts: Jer. xxxi. S…
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528 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4. but, " Go, ye cursed souls, perish for ever, Avithout the least compas- sion from God, or any that love him, angels or men/' If you shall say, for your parts you are contented with this course, — let God have the glory, so you may be forgiven and saved ; there is yet just ca…
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It is the known voice of the gospel itself, as Isa. Iv. 1-3; Prov. ix. 1-5. And It is the voice of all the saints in heaven and earth, who have been made partakers of forgiveness; they all testify that they received it freely. Some, indeed, endeavour to abuse this concurrent testimony of God and man. What is spoken o…
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Let us consider, then, whether the infinitely wise and holy God, pursuing his purpose of bringing souls unto himself, — laying aside one way of his own appointment as useless and infirm, because of the coming in of sin, against which there was no relief found in it, and substituting another way in the room of it, — wou…
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a closure with tlie way of coming unto God under proposal. There is nothing wanting that is needful to give infallible security to any soul that shall venture himself into it and upon it. There are terms of peace proposed, as you have heard. These terms are excellent, and holy, ancl chosen of God, tending to the intere…
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Ver.4.] EXHORTATIONS UNTO BELIEVING FORGIVENESS. 535 be free from that bondage, that galling yoke in duties of obedience ? would you have all that you do towards God a delight and 23leasant- ness unto you? This, and this alone, will effect it for you. (3.) This tvill 2}lace all your obedience upon a sure foot of ac- …
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(2.) Com2mratively, in reference unto the vengeance due to the breach of the law, 2 Cor. ii. 1 6. We are in the preaching of forgive- ness by Christ, unto them that perish, " a savour of death unto death," a deep death, a sore condemnation. So Heb. x. 29, " Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought wo…
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(2.) That you would diligently consider to what ends and jmrposes you have received, and do make use of, this gospel forgiveness. Hath it been to make up what was wanting, and to piece up a peace in your own consciences? that whereas you could not answer your convictions with your duties, you would seek for relief from…
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(8.) If the Lord be pleased to carry on your souls thus far, then stir vp yourselves to choose and close tuith the way of forgiveness that hath been revealed. Choose it only, choose it in comparison with and opposition unto all others. Say you will be for Christ, and not for another; and be so accordingly. Here venture…
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Ver.4.] CHRIST THE JUDGE OF OUR SPIKITUAL CONDITION. 543 one part of the soul's depths to have false apprehensions of its condi- tion. Sin is a madness, Eccles. ix. 3 ; so far as any one is under the power of it, he is under the power of madness. Madness doth not sooner nor more effectually discover itself in any way …
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Ver.4] CHEIST THE JUDGE OF OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION. 54iO truth, is as much otherwise as can possibly be thought or ima- gined. To what purpose is it for men to be passing a judgment upon themselves, when there is no manner of certainty in their determi- nations, and when their proceeding thereon will probably lead th…
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3. He also by his Spirit hears witness with our sjnrits as to our state and condition. Of this I have spoken largely elsewhere, and therefore shall now pavss it by. This, then, is our first general rule and direction : — Self-determina- tions concerning men's spiritual state and condition, because their minds are usua…
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1. (1.) A cleejJ sense of the evil of sin, of the guilt of man's own sin, is no way inconsistent with gospel assurance of acceptance with God through Christ, and of forgiveness in him. By a sense of the guilt of sin I understand two things : — First, A clear conviction of sin, by the Holy Ghost saying unto the soul, " …
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(4.) Douhtings, fears, temptations, if not ordinarily prevailing, are consistent with gospel assurance. Though the devil's power be limited in reference unto the saints, yet his hands are not tied; though he cannot prevail against them, yet he can assault them. And although there be not " an evil heart of unbelief " in…
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(3.) It gives the soid a hope and expectation of " the glory that shall be revealed," and secretly stirs it up and enlivens it unto asup- portment in sufferings, trials, and temptations. This is the " hoi)e which maketh not ashamed," Rom. v. 5, and that because it will never expose the soul unto disappointment. Whereve…
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Ver.4.] UNBELIEF AND JEALOUSY DISTINGUISHED. 555 a defence, he shall never be moved nor be shaken; but I am thus settled of God : therefore I shall not be moved." And therein he re- joiceth. It is an expression of exultation that he useth ; but what is the issue of it? In the midst of these pleasing thoughts of his, "…
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Now, for them who would seriously accomplish a diligent search in this matter, which is of such importance unto them, let them take these two directions: — 1. Let them go over the consideration of those sins, and others Ver.4.] SEARCPI OF SIN NECESSARY TO CONSOLATION. 557 of the like nature, wliicli may be reduced u…
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Ver.4.] UNBELIEF AND JEALOUSY DISTINGUISHED. 559 in the world : every one supposeth he hath those that are more cogent than any other hath to question the promises of grace, pardon, and forgiveness; and therefore the questioning of them is not their sin, but their duty. But pretend what we will, this is speaking again…
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But the jealousy that is exercised about the person and love of Christ unto the soul is quite of another nature, and jii'oduceth other effects. It cheers, enlivens, and enlargeth the soul, stirs up to ac- tivity, eaniestness, and industry in its inquiries and desires after Clirist. " Jealousy," saith the spouse, " ' is…
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1. Of the first, or the spiritual sense that we have of acceptance with God, there are sundry parts or degrees; as, first, hereunto belongs peace with God: Rom. v. 1, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." This peace is the rest and composure of the soul emerg- ing out of troubles, upon the account of the …
1,014 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.