PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 6
John Owen · 348,200 words · 344 reading sections
Section 301
These things, I say then, are not to be judged of b}^ spiritual sense, but we are to live by faith al)out them. And no soul ought to con- elude, that because it hath not the one it hath not the other, — that because it hath not joy and peace, it hath no interest in pardon and forgiveness. Rule VII. The seventh rule —…
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Talce heed of spending time in complaints ivhen vigorotis actings of grace are your duty. Fruitless and heartless complaints, bemoanings of themselves and their condition, is the substance of the profession that some make. If they can object against themselves, and form complaints out of their conditions, they suppose…
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You will say, then, " Do you condemn this manner of. proceeding with the souls of men in their doubts, fears, and distresses? or would you have them pine away under the sense of their condition, or abide in this uncertainty all their days?" I answer, No; I condemn not the way ; I would not have any left comfortless in …
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Rule IX. The ninth rule — Take heed of undue expressions concerning God and his ways in distress. Take heed, in doubts, distresses, and perplexities, of hard thoughts of God, hasty unweighed expressions concerning him or his ivays, or of secret resolves that it were as good give over waiting as con- tinue in the sta…
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2. Consider that hard thonr/hts of luhat God ivill do with you, and harsh desponding sentences pronounced against yourselves, will insensibly alienate your hearts from God. It may be when men's perplexities are at the height, and the most sad expressions are as it were wrested from them, they yet think they must justif…
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Rule XI. [Consider where lies the hluJex'ance to peace.] As a close unto these general rules, I shall only add this last di- rection : — Consider in particular luhere the stress and hinderance lies that keeps you off from peace, through an established persuasion of an interest in evangelical pardon. Do not always flu…
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Yer.4.] AFFLICTIONS A SOURCE OF DISQUIETMENT. 577 the God of Israel would not thus pursue a flea in the mountains, nor set himself in battle array against a leaf driven to and fro with the wind ; he would spare me a little, and let me alone for a moment. But as things are with me, I fear ' my way is hidden from the Lo…
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Ver.4.] AFFLICTIONS A SOURCE OF DISQUIETMENT. 579 brought me home again empty : why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" Ruth i. 20, 21. So was it with Job, with the widow of Zarephath, and with her at Nain who was burying her only child. And still in m…
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Ver. 4.] AFFLICTIONS A SOURCE OF DISQUIETMENT. 581 Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the head of the church, had all afflic- tions gathered into a head in him, and yet the Father always loved him, and was always well pleased with him. When God solemnly renewed his covenant with Abraham, and he had prepared the sacrifice …
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5. Learn to distinguish the effect 'of natural distempers from spi- ritual distresses. Some have sad, dark, and tenacious thoughts fi.\ed on their ix^inds from their natural distempers. These will not be cured by reasonings, nor utterly quelled by faith. Our design must be, to abate their efficacy and consequents by co…
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1. It is most certain that there are two estates and conditions that divide all mankind, and every one that lives in the world doth com- pletely and absolutely belong unto one of them. These are, the state of nature and the state of grace, — of sin and of righteousness by Christ. Every man in the world belongs unto one…
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Secondly, They have a real relation unto Christ, as he is the liv- ing, quickening head of the church; for he is so, even the living spiritual fountain of the spiritual life of it, and of all vital acts what- ever: " Christ is our life; and our life is hid with him in God," Col. iii. 2, 3. That eternal life which consi…
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8. This is laid down in the inquiry, " Whether this state may he known unto him who is really jKirtaker of it or translated into it, or unto others that may be concerned therein?" To which I say. The difference that is between these two states, and the constitutive causes of them, as it is real, so it is discernible. I…
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[2.] For the grounds hereof I shall mention one only, which all others do lean upon. This is pressed, 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13, "As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body : so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jew…
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692 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver,4, no real union among the members of any cluirch witliout love, and that acting itself in all tlie duties mentioned. Let not this ordinance be in vain. But we must return from this digression to that which lies before us, which is concerning what a man may discern concerning h…
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VOL. VI. 38 594 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4. Rule II. If you are doiibtful concerning your state and condition, do not expect an extraordinary determination of it by an immediate tes- timony of the Spirit of God. I do grant that God doth sometimes, by this means, bring in peace and satisfaction nnto the so…
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59 G AN EXPOSITION uroN rsALM cxxx. [Ver.4. James i. 18; " We are Lorn again by the word of God, which livetli and abideth for ever," 1 Pet. i. 23. Wherever, then, a man is regene- rate, there hath been an effectual work of the Spirit and of the word upon the soul. This is to be inquired into and after. Ordinarily it …
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2. It is hence evident, that an assurance of being regenerate is no way previously necessary unto the helieving of an interest in forgiveness ; so that although a man have not the former, it is, or may be, his duty to endeavour the latter. When convinced persons 698 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4, cried out, "…
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2, Even in this matter also, we must, it may be, be content to live by faith, and to believe as well what God hath done in us, if it be the matter and subject of his promises, as what he hath done for us; the ground whereof also is the promise, and nothing else. GOO AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver. 4. Objections …
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2. As to Avhat was alleged as to the nothingness, the selfishness of duty, I say, it is certain, whilst we are in the flesh, our duties will taste of the vessel whence they proceed. Weakness, defilements, treachery, hypocrisy, will attend them. To this pm^pose, whatever some pretend to the contrary, is the complamt of …
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6. Is this an argument to keep thee from believing? The reason why thou art no more holy is because thou hast no more faith. If thou hast no holiness, it is because thou hast no faith. Holiness is the purifying of the heart by faith, or our obedience unto the truth. And the reason why thou art no more in duty is, becau…
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These and the like considerations attending the actings of indwell- ing sin, do oftentunes entangle the soul in making a judgTiient of itself, and leave it in the dark as to its state and condition. A few things shall be offered unto this objection also: — 1. The sensible powerful actings of indwelling sin are not in…
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Paul seems to have exjiressed this word to the full, Rom. viii. 19, by drroxapadoKia, — an intent or earnest expectation, expressing itself by putting forth the head, and looking round about with earnestness and diligence. And this is also signified expressly by this word, Ps. Ixix. 21, ^^3? n^pN^ • — " And I looked fo…
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You see the reading of the words, and how far the sense of them ' ">ens itself unto us by that consideration. Ver. 5, 6.] verses 5 and 6 opened. 609 Let us, tlien, next see briefly the several parts of them, as they stand in relation one to another. We have, then, — 1. The exjjression of the duty wherein he was exer…
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The first j^roper fruit of faith's discovery of forgiveness in God, unto a sin-distressed soid, is waiting in patience and expectation. This the i)salmist openly and directly applies himself unto, and expresseth to have been as his duty, so his practice. And he doth it so emphatically, as was manifested in the opening…
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2. Diligence, in opposition unto spiritual sloth, is included in it also. Diligence is the activity of the mind, in the regular use of means, for the pursuit of any end proposed. The end aimed at by the soul is a comforting, refreshing interest in that forgiveness that is with God. For the attaining thereof, there are …
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Ver.5,6.] WHEREIN WAITING ON GOD CONSISTS. 615 life of it, tliat whicTi is principally intended in it. The prophet calls it his " standing upon his watch tower, and watching to see what God would speak unto him," Hab. ii. 8, — namely, in answer unto that prayer which he put up in his trouble. He is now waiting in expe…
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2. Perseverance in waiting is assuredly prevalent; and this ren-t ders it a necessary part of the duty itself If we continue to wait for Ver.5,6.] wherein waiting on god consists. 617 the vision of peace it will come, it will not tarry, but answer our ex- j)ectation of it. Never soul miscarried that abode in this dut…
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2. Remember that diligent use of the means for the end aimed at is a necessaiy concomitant of, and ingredient unto, waiting on God. Take in the consideration of this direction also. Do not think to be freed from your entanglements by restless, heartless desiring that it were otherwise with you. Means are to be used tha…
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Secondly, This duty in the occasion mentioned is necessary upon the account of the greatness and sovereignty of him with whom we have to do: " My soul waiteth for Jehovah." Indeed, waiting is a duty that depends on the distance that is between the persons con- cerned in it, — namely, he that waiteth, and he that is wai…
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1. His eternity. This Moses proposeth, to bring the souls of be- lievers to submission, trust, and Avaiting: Ps. xc. 1, " From everlast- ing to everlasting thou art God ;" — " One that hath his being and subsistence not in a duration of time, but in eternity itself" So doth Habakkuk also, chap. i. 1 2, " Art thou not f…
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624 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver. 5, 6. is perverse and evil. Hence tlie prophet who had a representation of the glory of God in a vision, and heard the seraphim proclaiming his holiness, cried out, " Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips," Isa. vi. 5. He thought it impossible that he s…
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The end why I have insisted on these things is, to show the rea- sonableness of the duty v/hich we are pressing unto, — namely, to wait on God quietly and patiently in every condition of distress ; for what else becomes us when we have to do with this great and holy One? VOL. VL 40 626 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. …
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G28 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver.5,6. gi'eatness and sovereignty of God, against which there is no rising up; and this God himself afterward calls him unto. Deep and serious thoughts of God's sovereignty and absolute do- minion or authority over all the works of his hands, are an effectual means to work the so…
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8. The righteousness of God is also to be considered in this matter. That name in the Scripture is used to denote many excellencies of 630 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Ver.5,6. God, all which are reducible unto the infinite rectitude of his nature. I intend that at present which is called "justitia regiminis," his…
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[2.] He doth so that his own people may learn to know his terror, and to rejoice always before him with trembling. Therefore Job affirms, that " in the time of his prosperity he was not secure," but still trembled in himself with thoughts of the judgments of God. Doubtless much wretched carnal security would be ready t…
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2. Consider that in this frail condition we have all greatly sinned against God. So did Job, chap. vii. 20, " I have sinned; Avhat shall I do unto thee, 0 thou Preserver of men?" If this considera- tion will not satisfy thy mind, jet it will assuredly stop the mouths 634 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Vcr.5,G. of al…
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636 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.5,6. itself in all the disjDensations of God, And if I would here enter upon the benefits that, through the sanctif3ang hand of God, do redound tmto believers by afflictions, calamities, troubles, distresses, tempta- tions, and the like eifects of God's visitations, it would be …
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So saith the psalmist, " In his word do I hope ; " that is, the word of promise. As the word in general is the adequate rule of all our obedience unto God and communion with him, so there are especial parts of it that are suited unto these especial actings of our souls to- Avards him. Thus the word of promise, or the p…
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640 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.5,6, if their wounds prove difficult to be cured, if they despise ordinary remedies, if their diseases are of long continuance, this is that which they must betake themselves unto: — They must search into the word of promise, and learn to measure things, not according to the pre…
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"And with him is plenteous redemption:" i'^V, "with him," as before, speaking unto God, verse 4, ^'pV, "with thee there is;" the meaning of which expression hath been opened at large. " Redemp- YOL. VL 41 612 AN EXPOSITION uroN PS ALII cxxx. [Ver.7,8, tion:" nna^ from nns^ "to redeem;" the same with li^"]?>, Xurpusis…
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[2.] There is none of them, whatever their present condition be, but they may fall into the like depths with those of the psalmist. There is nothing absolutely in the covenant, nor in any promise, to GM- AN EXPOSITION UPON PSAL!<T cxxx. [Ver.7,8, secure them from it. And what befalleth any one behever may be- fall th…
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[1.] The conclusion is drawn from the nature of God. There is forgiveness and redemption with him, and he will act towards his people suitably to his own nature. There is redemption with him, and therefore he will redeem; forgiveness with him, and therefore he will forgive. As the conclusion is certain and infallible, …
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Ohs. 3. Inexhaustihle stores of mercy and redemption are need- ful for the encouragement of sinners to rest and wait on God: " With him is plenteous redemption." Such is your miser}^, so press- ing are your fears and disconsolations, that nothmg less than bound- less grace can relieve or support you; there are, therefo…
499 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.