PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 7
John Owen · 292,509 words · 290 reading sections
Section 181
. 350 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART 1. which is, to have such a continual prospect of the future state of glory as to lay it in the balance against all that we may undergo; for,— : 1. To have our minds filled and possessed with thoughts: thereof will give us an alacrity in our entrance into sufferings im a way of d…
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> 352 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART-1L come from him and tend unto him. All other things are finite and limited, but they begin and end in that which is immense and infinite. So God is “all in all.” He therefore is, or ought to be, the only su- preme, absolute object of our thoughts and desires; other things are fro…
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VOL. VIL. 23 354 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. judicially harden the hearts and blind the eyes of men, that such means shall be of no use unto them. See Isa. vi. 9, 10; Acts xiii. 40, 41; Rom. i, 21, 28; 2 Thess. 11. 11, 12. (2.) The contempt of gospel light and Christian religion, as it is supernatural (which i…
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356 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. ence. And, for the most part, we need not seek far for evidences of their disregard of God,—the “ pride of their countenances testifies against them,” Ps. x. 4; and if they are followed farther, cursed oaths, licentiousness of life, and hatred of all that is good, will con- firm a…
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(1.) We must distinguish between a time of temptation in some and the ordinary state of mind and affections in others. There may be a season wherein God, in his holy, wise ordering of all things towards us, and for his own glory, in his holy, blessed ends, may suffer a lust or corruption to break loose in the heart, to…
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Qdly. For the relief of them that may be perplexed in their minds about their state and condition, I say there 1s an apparent difference between these things. A lust or corruption arising up or breaking forth into a violent temptation is the continual burden, erief, and affliction of the soul wherein it is, And as the…
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Those that are in this state, of either sort, the first. or the latter, are.remote from being spiritually minded, nor is “ God in all their thoughts” as he ought to be; for,— First, They will not so think and meditate on God. Their delight is turned another way. ~ Their affections, which are the spring of their though…
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I would therefore press this unknown, this neglected duty on the minds of those of us in an especial manner who are visibly drawing nigh unto eternity. The days are coming wherein what God is in himself (that is, as manifested and exhibited in Christ), shall alone be, as we hope, the eternal blessedness and reward of o…
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Ist. It is unimaginable how the subtile disquisitions and disputes of men about the nature, properties, and counsels of God, have been corrupted, rendered sapless and useless, by vain curiosity, and striv- ing for an artificial accuracy in the expression of men’s apprehensions. When the wits and minds of men are engage…
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See CHAPTER IX. What of God or in God we are to think and meditate upon—His being— Reasons of it; oppositions to it; the way of their conquest—Thoughts of the omni- presence and omniscience of God peculiarly necessary—The reasons hereof— As also of his omnipotence—The use and benefit of such thoughts. THESE things m…
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In such a season as this is, upon both the accounts mentioned, those who are spiritually minded will much exercise their thoughts about the being and existence of God. They will say within them- selves, “ Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God who judgeth in the earth.” Hence will follow such ap…
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This shield of faith, managed in the hand of experience, will quench the fiery darts, of Satan, and he will fall under a double de- feat:—l1st. His temptations will be repelled by the proper way of resistance, whereon he will not only desist in his attempt, but eyen flee from you. “ Resist the devil,” saith the apostle…
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374 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. and at his departure from them consider whether his deportment hath been such as became that presence and his being under that eye. But, alas! pretences of business and necessary occasions, engagements of irade, carnal relations, and the common course of communication in the world…
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376 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. they were alone and helpless, but courage and resolution to defy the . tyrant to his face. And when the apostle was brought before Nero, that monster of cruelty and villany, and “all men forsook him,” he affirms that “the Lord stood by him and strengthened him,” 2 Tim. iv. 17. He …
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378 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART L plaints of the church in its greatest dangers and calamities: Isa. xl. 28-31, “ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the ever- lasting God, the Lorp, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He givet…
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380 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART L which they design their meditation towards. Their abilities are small, their invention barren, their memories frail, and their judg- ments, to dispose of things into right order, weak and unable. They know not what to think on, for the most part; and when they fix on any thing, the…
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382 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. watch against, to conflict with, and to seek a conquest over. But it is this internal vanity of mind that endeavours in all things to be- tray us, to weaken us in all our graces, or to hinder their due opera- tion, and to open the doors of our hearts unto our cursed enemies. If ou…
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By the strength of their natural abilities, men may frame thoughts of God and heavenly things in their minds, according unto the knowledge they have of them. They may methodize them by rules of art, and express them elegantly unto others. But even while they _ do so, they may be far enough from being spiritually minded…
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1. A continual watch is to be kept in and on the soul against the VOL. VIL 25 386 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. incursions of vain thoughts and imaginations, especially in such sea- sons wherein they are apt to obtain advantage. If they are suffered to make an inroad into the mind, if we accustom ourselves to gi…
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6. Continual watchful care that no root of bitterness spring up and defile us, that no lust or corruption be predominant in us. When it is so, if persons, in compliance with their convictions, do en- deavour sometimes to be exercised in these duties, they shall labour in the very fire, where all their endeavours will b…
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_ This, therefore, is not that which I invite the common sort of believers unto. Let them that are able and free receive it. The generality of Christians have lawful callings, employments, and busi- nesses, which ordinarily they ought to abide in. That they also may live unto God in their occasions, they may do well to…
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J. Choose and separate a fit time or season, a time of freedom from other occasions and diversions. And because it is our duty to redeem time with respect unto holy duties, such a season may be the more useful the more the purchase of it stands usin. We are not at any time to serve God with what costs us nought, nor wi…
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CHAP. X.] RULES FOR ABIDING IN THOUGHTS OF GOD. 393 do know by former experience what is to be attained by it, if we dig and search for it as for a treasure. If you shall think that the right discharge of this duty may be otherwise attained, if you suppose that it deserves not all this cost and charge about it, judge…
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‘minded ought to be peculiarly exercised. PART II. CHAPTER XI. The seat of spiritual mindedness in the affections—The nature and use of them— The ways and means used by God himself to call the affections of men from the world. In the account given at the entrance of this discourse of what it is to be spiritually mi…
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CHAP. XI.] HOW THE AFFECTIONS ARE CALLED FROM THE WORLD. 397 Affections are in the soul as the helm in the ship; if it be laid hold on by a skilful hand, he turneth the whole vessel which way he pleaseth. If God hath the powerful hand of his grace upon our affections, he turns our souls unto a compliance with his inst…
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CHAP. XI.] HOW THE AFFECTIONS ARE CALLED FROM THE WORLD. 399 Whither so fast, my friend? What meaneth this rising so early and going to bed late, eating the bread of carefulness? Why this diligence, why these contrivances, why these savings and hoardings of riches and wealth? To what end is all this care and counsel? …
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CHAP, XI.] HOW THE AFFECTIONS ARE CALLED FROM THE WORLD. 401 ministry of the gospel from all secular dignities and revenues; yea, some maintained that they were to enjoy nothing of their own, but were to live on alms or the free contributions of the people. But this was quickly condemned as heresy in Wycliffe and othe…
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Secondly, God hath added unto their vanity by shortening the lives of men, reducing their continuance in this world unto so short and uncertain a season as it is impossible they should take any solid satisfaction in what they enjoy here below. So it is expressed by the psalmist, “ Behold, thou hast made my days as an h…
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Fourthly, Things are so ordered in the holy, wise dispensation o God’s providence, that ¢¢ requires much spiritual wisdom to dis- tinguish between the use and the abuse of these things, between a lawful care about them and an inordinate cleaving unto them. Few distinguish aright here, and therefore in these things will…
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But if a man be left in trust with houses and large possessions, as a steward for the right lord, owner, and proprietor of them, if he fall into a pleasing dream»that they are all his own, and use them accordingly, it will be a woful surprisal unto him when he shall be called to account for all that he hath received an…
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5. In all the instances of duty belonging unto your stewardship of earthly things, attend diligently unto the rule of the word. With- out this the grace exhorted unto may be abused. So of old, under a pretence of a relinquishment of the things of this world, because of the danger in adhering unto them, their own supers…
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These few instances have I given of the arguments and motives whereby God is pleased to deter us from fixing our affections on things here below; and they are most of them such only as he maketh use of in the administration of his providence. There are two other heads of things that offer themselves unto our considerat…
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5. They will not be under the conduct of the mind, its light or convictions. Rebellion against the light of the mind is the very form whereby their corruption acts itself, Job xxiv. 13. Let the appre- hensions of the mind and its notions of good and evil be what they will, they reject them, and lead the soul in pursuit…
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Again; this alteration doth but turn the course or stream of men’s affections, it doth not change the nature of them. They are the same in their spring and fountain as ever they were, only they are habituated unto another course than what of themselves they are inclined unto. You may take a young whelp of the most fier…
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And we ought to use the best of our diligence herein, because the great means whereby multitudes delude and deceive their own souls, persuading themselves that there has been an effectual work of the grace of the gospel in them, is the change that they find in their affections; which may be on many occasions without an…
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There are some so inordinately subject to anger, and passion therein, as if they were absolutely under the power and dominion of it; yet do they also know how to be “angry and sin not,” in being angry at sin in themselves and others: “Yea, what indignation; yea, what revenge!” etc., 2 Cor. vii. 11. Yea, God is pleased …
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[2.] There is a universality that is objective in spiritual things, with respect unto the renovation of our affections; that is, affections spiritually renewed do fix themselves upon and cleave unto all spiritual things, in their proper places, and unto their proper ends: for the ground and reason of our adherence unto…
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But, notwithstanding these differences, affections spiritually re- newed do cleave unto all spiritual things as such; for the true for- mal reason of their so doing is the same in them all,—namely, God in them: only they have several ways of acting themselves towards them, whereof I shall give one instance. Our Saviou…
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1. Men may be greatly affected with the outward part of divine worship, and the manner of the performance thereof, who have no delight in what is internal, real, and spiritual therein: John vy. 35, “ He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.” So, many were delighted…
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_ 2. Men may be delighted in the performance of outward duties 426 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I. of divine worship, because in them they comply with and give some kind of satisfaction unto their convictions. When conscience is awakened unto a sense of the necessity of such duties,—namely, of those wherein divine …
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This made the Jews of old so pertinaciously adhere unto the cere- monies and sacrifices of the law, and to prefer them above the gospel, “the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof,” Rom x. 3. They looked and sought for righteousness by them. Those who for many generations were kept up with great difficulty unto…
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From these and the like considerations, it may be made manifest that the greatest part of the devotion that is in the world doth not spring from the spiritual renovation of the minds of men; without which it is not accepted with God, That which remains to give in instance, farther evidence unto the discovery we are in …
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These things are manifest and unquestionable. But our present inquiry is only, what it is which believers do so delight in in the ordi- nances and institutions of divine gospel worship, and what it is that engageth their hearts and minds into a diligent observance of them, as also how and wherein they do exercise their…
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And those who have no experience hereof in their attendance unto them do, as hath been said, fall into pernicious extremes. Some con- tinue their observance with little regard unto God, in cursed forma- lity. So they make them a means of their ruin by countenancing of them in their security. Others utterly reject them…
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(2.) This design is not general, inactive, useless, and slothful; but such persons diligently endeavour, in the use of these ordi- nances and attendance unto them, to be found in the exercise of these graces. They have not only an antecedent design to be so, but a diligent actual endeavour after it, not suffering their…
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2. The second is, because they are the means of the communica- tion of a sense of divine love and supplies of divine grace unto the souls of them that do believe. So far as our affections are renewed, this is the most principal attractive to cleave unto them with delight and complacency. They are, as was observed befo…
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CHAP. XY.] DELIGHT IN THE DUTIES OF DIVINE WORSHIP. 439 not, nor do ever examine themselves whether they have done so or no? It is not for persons who walk in such ways ever to attain a due delight in the ordinances of divine worship. Believers have other designs herein; and among the rest this in the first place, th…
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All grace and spiritual strength is originally seated in the nature of God, verse 28. But what relief can that afford unto us who are weak, feeble, fainting? He will act suitably unto his nature in the communication of this grace and power, verse 29. But how shall we have an interest in this grace, in these operations?…
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CHAP. XV.] DELIGHT IN THE DUTIES OF DIVINE WORSHIP. 443 impressions it hath made on them, what engagements it hath brought their souls into, what encouragements unto faith and obedience it hath furnished them withal, and [they] long after [the] renewed sense of its enjoyment. When we do not find in ourselves this foun…
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There are yet other things, accompanied with the same evidence of the difference between affections spiritually renewed and those which have only a general change wrought in them by convictions and some outward occasions, which must in one or two instances more be insisted on, with the consideration of such cases as de…
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2. Faith hath a clear prospect into and apprehension of spiri- tual things, as they are in themselves and in their own nature. It CHAP, XVI.] ASSIMILATION UNTO HEAVENLY THINGS. 447 is true, the light of it cannot fully comprehend the nature of all those things which are the objects of its affections: for they are inf…
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In like manner, when by faith men come to embrace heavenly things, through the effectual working of a principle of spiritual life and grace in them, they are every day made more and more heavenly: “The inward man is renewed day by day.” Love is more sincere and ardent, delight is more ravishing and sensible, desires ar…
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So it is in this case. Men falling under the power of convictions, and those restless fears wherewith they are accompanied, will stir up themselves and inquire how they may “flee from the wrath to come,” how they may be delivered from the state of sin, and the eternal misery which will ensue thereon. In the gospel, no…
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[4.] It ts that which hath lost the reputation and glory of re- ligion in the world, and therein the honour of the gospel itself: for the most of professors do take up with such measures as put no lustre upon it, as give no commendation unto the religion they pro- fess; for their measures allow them such a conformity u…
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Ist, A desire to retain some thing or things that is or are incon- sistent with such a progress; for unless the heart be ready on all occasions to esteem every thing “as loss and dung, so as we may win Christ,” the work will be accompanied with insuperable diffi- culties. This is the first principle of religion, of gos…
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2. Ir must be acknowledged that there is yet that which is worse than what we have yet insisted on, and more opposite unto the growth of affections in conformity unto heavenly things, which is the proper character of those that are spiritually renewed; and this is their spiritual decay, manifesting itself in sensible a…
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458 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART IL. years. And this may be so when there is no decay of grace in the affections as renewed. But,— [1.] When it is so, it is a burden unto them in whom it is. They cannot but mourn and have a godly jealousy over themselves, lest the decays they find should not be in the outward but t…
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When a wise, tender, and careful parent, [who] hath been diligent in the use of all means for the education of his child, and he for some time hath given good hopes of himself, finds him to slacken in his 460 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART II. diligence, to be careless in his calling, to delight in evil company,— how…
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462 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. ~ [PART II. power of a destructive seetuti unless they are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, they cannot but think it their duty to examine how things stand with them, whether they ever effectually closed with Christ, and had the faith of God’s elect, which works by love, seeing i…
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[2.] They are prone to suppose that this decay doth not arise from themselves and the evil of their own hearts, but from their circum- stances, businesses, present occasions, and state of life; which when they are freed from, they will at least return unto their former love and delight in spiritual things. But this is …
1,160 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.