PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 8
John Owen · 329,108 words · 326 reading sections
Section 181
' [August. Confes., lib. i. c. 1.] 360 THE LABOURING SAINT's fighting, thougli he be never foiled, he hath not peace. Tliough the saints should have success m every engagement against sin, yet because it will still be rebelling, still be fighting, it will disturb their peace. So also doth the guilt of it; — our Savio…
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There are three points yet remaining. 1 shall speak only to the first of them, and that as an use of the doctrine last proposed, and I have done. Observation IV. There is an apjjointed determinate season, wherein all things and persons, according to the will of God, ^vill run into their utmost issue and everlasting co…
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PREFATORY NOTE. TnE complete title of the earlier editions of tlie following^ sermon indicates tlie design of tlie author, — "Concerning the Kingdom of Christ, and the Power of tiie Civil Magistrate ahout the thinps of the ^V'o)•ship of God." It was preached to the Parliament on October 13, l(J5-2, "a day of solemn hu…
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II. The cause of this perturbation of mind and spirit was from the visions of his head : " The visions of his head troubled him." He calls them " visions of the head," because that is the seat of the internal senses and fantasy, whereby visions are received. So he calls them " a dream," verse 1, " and visions of his h…
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And this is the first thing in this vision at which the prophet was perplexed. 2. There is the approach of the Lord Christ unto the Father, Avith his entrance into his kingdom and dominion, which is everlasting, and passeth not away, verse 14. This being the end of the vision, I must a little insist upon it ; not tha…
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[3.] In caiTying on of this work toAvards the one and the other, he puts forth the power, rule, and dommion, which he hath of his Fa- ther over spirits, both good and bad. \st. Being made head of principalities and powers, and exalted far above every name in heaven or earth, being made the " first-born of every creatu…
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3. Now, because it is here fallen in my way, and is part of the 37^ Christ's kingdom and vision at which the prophet was so much troubled, I shall give you some brief observations of what is clear and certain from Scripture relating hereunto, and so pass on. It is, then, certain, — (1.) That the interest of particul…
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876 Christ's kingdom and then, Euphrates shall he dried up, Turkish power and Popish idolatry he taken out of the world, and these " kings of the east " are come, — when the seed of Abraham, being multiplied like the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea-shore, shall possess the gates of their enemies, and shall ha…
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Take, then, from the words thus opened in these propositions (some whereof I shall do little more than name unto you), — Observation I. In the consideration of God's marvellous actings in the world, in order to the carrying on of the gospel and the in- terest of the Lord Jesus Christ, the hearts of his saints are ofte…
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2. From the manner whereby God will do these things. Many perplexing, killing circumstances attend his dispensations. I shall instance only in one, — and that is, darkness and obscurity, whereby he holds the minds of men in uncertainty and suspense, for his own glorious ends. Such, he tells us, shall his day and the wo…
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^ ^^"!;?) a contemptuous appellation of idolatrous priests. It occurs 2 Kintjs xxili. 5; IIos.x.5; Zepli. i. 4; and is derived from a Syriac word, blackness; in the concrete, one in black attire, an ascetic, a priest. — Ed. 882 Christ's kingdom and ter: and tliore is not a wise man or woman amongst tliem that can dis…
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38 i Christ's kingdom and thereunto are opposed and slighted? When we do sometimes wait upon God, do not many seem to ask amiss, to spend it on their lusts ; — not waiting on him poor, hungry, empty, to know his will, to receive direction from him; hut rather going full, fixed, resolved, settled on thoughts, perhaps p…
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If once it comes to that, that you shall say you have nothing to do ^vith religion as riders of the nation, God will quickly manifest that he hath nothing to do with you as nilers of the nation. The great promise of Christ is, that in these latter days of the world he will lay the nations in a subserviency to him, — th…
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You see here are glorious promises, in the literal expression, look- ing directly to what we assert concerning the subserviency of rulers to the gospel, and the duty of magistrates in supporting the interest of the church. Let us, concerning them, observe these three things ; as, — Is^, To whom they are made; 2dli/, On…
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[?.] The second ground that I would point unto, as a bottom of S90 Christ's kingdom and your actings in this thing, ariseth from sundry undoubted principles, which I shall briefly mention. And the first is, — 1st. That the gospel of Jesus Christ hath a right to be j^^^dched and propagated in every nation, and to eve…
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^dly. The rejection of the gospel hy any lyeople or nation to whom it is tendered, is alivays attended tvith the certain and inevitable destruction of that people or nation; which, sooner or later, shall, with- out any help or deliverance, be brought upon them by the revenging hand of Christ. When the word of grace wa…
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To gather up, now, what hath been spoken : — considering the gos- pel's right and title to be propagated, with all its concernments, in every nation under heaven ; the blessing, peace, prosperity, and pro- tection wherewith it is attended when and where received; and the certain destruction and desolation which accompa…
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Should I now descend unto particulars in all the things mentioned, and insist on them, time would wholly fail me, — neither is it a work for a single sermon; and, therefore, in one word I shall wind up the whole matter, and end. Know them, then, that are faithful and quiet in the land ; regard the truth of the gospel;…
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be said, This is Zion, that no man careth for ; but that those who love the Loi-d Jesus Christ in sincerity, and are, by faith and obedience, separated from the perish- ing world, following the Lamb, according to the light which he is graciously pleased to impart unto them, and engaged, by the providence of God, in tha…
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The words of my text are the result of things upon God's dealings and dispensations before mentioned. Uncertain it is, whether they ought to be restrained to the immediate prophecy before-going concern- ing Palestina, or whether they relate not also to that in the beginning of the chapter, concerning the destruction of…
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1. The first thing in the answer to be given in is the work of God. " The Lord hath founded Zion;" — Zion, that is, his church, his people, his chosen ones, called Zion from the place of their solemn worship in the days of David, the figure and type of the gospel church, Heb. xii. 22, " Ye are come unto mount Zion, and…
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(2.) What shall they do ? They " shall trust in it;" ^DH^ nai^ « and in it they shall trust;" — that is, being "in it, they shall trust," confide, acquiesce, namely, in the Lord, who hath -svrought this work ; or, "in it," that is, either in the work of God, or in Zion so established by God. The word here used for " t…
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Through the providence of God you dwell alone; that is, as to your main design and interest. You are not reckoned among the nations, as to the state of being the people of God. So far, and under that consideration, they count you not worthy to be reckoned or esteemed a nation. They envy to see the men of their contempt…
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II. The issue of God's dealing with and dispensations among his 410 GOD S WOKK IN FOUNDING ZION. people, shall he so perspicuous and glorious, that one, any one, every one, shall he ahle to give an answer to them that make inquiries about them. " What shall one then say?" Whether it be for judgment or mercy, all is …
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412 GOD S WORK IN FOUNDING ZION. or other, may not see this with half an eye ? But such is our state and condition, such our frame and temper, so full arc we of our own desires, and so perplexed with our own disappointments, that we can see nothing, know nothing, nor are able to give any word of account that may tend …
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41 -i god's work in founding zion. of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." All the shakings of the nations are, that the unshaken interest of the saints may be estab- lished. Isa. li. 15, 16, " But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, w…
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41 6 god's work in founding zion. temper, or rather distemper, of the people of God in this nation now for sundry years; and what it may yet produce I know not. Only, for the present, the work of God in founding Zion, in pursuing his people's common interest, is despised, thought light of, and all the pleasant things …
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But you will say. What, then, is this great design of God among his people ? Let the Holy One of Israel bring nigh his work, that we may know it. What is that true and general interest of Zion that he hath founded ? Let us know it, that we may be able to give an answer to them that inquire after it. Ask themselves, — t…
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This, I say, then, " God hath founded Zion ;" he hath taken care of the generation of the righteous, the children of Zion, however differenced among themselves ; — hath broken the yoke of their oppressors, given them peace, ordered the affairs of this nation so, that they do or may 420 god's work in founding zion. al…
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Use 2. If this, then, be the work of God, let us repair to it. The poor of the people shall tiiist therein, or join themselves thereunto. That you may do this in judgment, be pleased to take these direc- tions, which, with all humility, I offer to you, and I hope from the Lord : — (1.) Engage in no luay, no counsels, …
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[2.] Take heed lest any who have formerly desired the day of the Lord, considering the purity and holiness wherewith it will be at- tended, gTow weaiy of it and its work, as not being able to abide it, and so lay aside all thoughts of growing up with it in the will of God;— lest any say. Is this the day of the Lord, th…
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(1.) Wherever you see any work of real reformation, tending to the advancement of the gospel, discarding of old useless forms received by tradition from our fathers, separating the precious from the vile, according to the several measures of light which God, in his infinite god's work in founding zion. 425 wisdom, li…
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Frllai/, Ike 3lst October 1656. Ordered by the Parliament, That the thanks of this House be given unto Dr Owen, Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Clianccllor of the University of Oxon, for his great pains taken in his sermon before this House yesterday, in JIargaret's ('lunch, Westminster, being a day set apart for solemn…
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Before I enter upon the opening of the words themselves, I cannot pass by the earnest preface of the prophet, " Hear ye me, O Asa." He saw the people, upon their success, taken up with many thoughts, thinking of many businesses, full of many contrivances, — one ima- gining one thing, another another; all of them, it ma…
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(2.) Special; — attended with peculiar love, favour, good-will, spe- cial care towards them Avith whom he is so present. So Abimelech ob- served that he was with Abraham, Gen. xxi. 22, " God is with thee in all that thou doest," — with thee to g-uide thee, bless thee, preserve thee, as we shall see afterward. So he pro…
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A PEOPLE S PROSPEEITY. 437 of tliy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to sei-ve with th}^ sms, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities/' What, then, shall be done Avith this people? — depart from them, destroy them, let them die? No, verse 25, " I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake…
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These things being premised, I shall give the proposition some confirmation, and so descend to the due improvement of it. I suppose I need not go for proof beyond the obscn-ation of the constant tenor of God's proceedings Avith his people of old. When did he not deal thus with them ? What instance can be given of tran…
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Now, this presence of God with them symbolically did consist in, or rather was represented by, two things: — [1.] The pillar of the cloud and fire, which was with them ordinarily ; [2.] The appear- ance of his glory, which they enjoyed on extraordinary occasions. [1.] The first, with the first use of it, is mentioned,…
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I cannot stay to show you the several ways whereby God now com- municates direction to a people ; — how he inclines their hearts insen- sibly, yet powerfully ; fixes the bent of their spirits effectually, their hearts being in his hand as the rivers of water, which he turns as he pleaseth; supplies them with reasonings…
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4-1-4 god's pkesence then will God relieve them by some especial appearance of his glory. " In the mount will the Loed be seen." This will give a relief when all is at a loss. And in tliis lies the most discriminating evidence of special providence. Glorious appearances in great straits are eminent testimonies of God'…
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This, then, I say, is pre-required, as a quahfication of any person to the performance of this duty of abiding with God. It is the psalmist's advice, Ps. ii. 11, 12. Let this principle be always owned amongst you ; by it honour Christ in the world. Give him the pre- 4IG god's PRESENCE eminence ; it is the Father's wi…
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2dli/. Another thing wherein we are to be with God, is by trust- ing in him for protection. " 0 trust in the LoRD for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength. This man made the LoRD his refuge. He that trusteth in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, that shall never be removed. Commit your ways to the …
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And these are some of the conditions of God's special presence with you. Pleasant conditions ! their perfoiTnance is your gloiy, your rest, your blessedness; — not your bondage, not your burden. .Not one duty doth God on this account require of you, but it is also your re- ward. O blessed terms of peace and agreement! …
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Use 4. Fix, then, your thoughts on the things which lie in a ten- dency towards the confirming of God's special providential presence wdth you. You have heard of the tenure of it, the means whereby it is procured and retained: these things I have spoken to in general before. Besides your own dependence on God, and comp…
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It ajipears, from the dedication, that some exception had been taken to certain views which he had exjiressed in tlie sermon about civil government. The only passage in it which bears on civil government will be found at the foot of p. 466; in which he mentions, that although ho does not think a man may not be lawfully…
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As to our purpose, we have considerable in the chapter,— the per- sons to whom these promises are given ; the condition wherein they were ; and the 2}t'omises themselves that are made to them, for their siipportment and consolation. First. The persons intended are the remnant, the escaping, the " evasion of Israel,"' …
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Only ye may observe the order and dependence of these promises ; — the promise of holiness, verse 4, lies in order before that of safety, verse 5. Unless our filth and our blood be purged away by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning, it is in vain for us to look for the pillar and the cloud. If we are not inter…
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1. That whereas the end of all human wisdom in nations, or the rulers of them, is to preserve human society in peace and quietness, within the several bounds and allotments that are given unto them by the providence of God, it so comes to pass, for the most part, through the righteous judgment and wise disposal of God,…
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Now this is the glory of any people, upon a threefold account. [1.] This alone makes them honourable and precious before God. So says God of them, Isa. xliii. 1, "I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine ; " — those are they of whom I spake. What then? Verse 4, " Thou art precious in my sigh…
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THE GLORY OF A NATION, 465 fates lie in them; as is their deportment towards tins remnant, such will their issue be. But what shall this remnant do ? Why, it shall be " as dew from the Lord," and " as showers on the grass/' It shall be that alone which makes them fiTiitful, flourishing, and prosperous. It may be, it w…
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(1.) Labour personally, eveiy one of you, to get Christ in your own hearts. I am very far from thinking that a man may not be lawfully called to magistracy, if he be not a believer; or that, being called, he should be impeded in the execution of his trust and place because he is not so. I shall not suspend my obedience…
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Is^, Then, I shall willingly lay this down for a principle, that he is not religious who is not also righteous; as also, I shall not much value his righteousness who is not religious. He that is righteous doth righteousness ; he doth so, in the bent of his spirit, and course of his ways and walkings. If a man hefroivar…
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[2.] But it will be said, secondly, We are still at a loss; for what wo- fal divisions are there amongst this generation of professors ! Some are for one way, and some for another ; some say one sort are the people of God, some another; some say the Prelatists are so, some the Pres- byteiians; some the Independents, so…
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These lectures at I'iniier's Hall were only tlie revival of a similar course of public instruction which had been instituted sevei'al years previously, and dropped at the llestoration. Neal, in his History of the Puritans, gives the following ;.c- count of its origin: — " Most of the citizens of London ha\ ing some rel…
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476 now WE ]\rAY learn wliicli sometimes fierce and imreasonaltle cnielties will wrest from very sedate and moderate spirits. But it was the desire of this holy psalmist, as, in like cases, it should be ours, that his heart might be always pre- served in such a frame, under the conduct of the >Spu-it of God, as not to…
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But there is no need to wrest the word to such an imusual sense; for the psalmist intends to show, that so he may be delivered from the society of ungodly men, and enjoy the communion of the righ- teous, he would not deprecate the gi'eatest severities which, according to rule, might be exercised in rebuking or reprovin…
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2. Reproofs do always respect a fault, an evil, a miscarriage, or a sill, in them that are reproved. There may be mutual admonitions and exhortations among Christians, with respect unto sundry things in the course of their faith and obedience, without a regard unto any evil or miscamage. The general nature of a reproof…
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' This euunciation of the topics in the discourse differs slightly from what appears in " The Morning Exercises," where the order of the second and third lieads is reversed. We pi-efer the arrangement adopted above, because it is con- sistent witii the actual order of the tojiics in the discourse itself, and because it…
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48-i now WE MAY LEARX being a matter of universal acknowledgment. I shall only say, tliat whereas there is, on many accounts, an immediate impress of divine authority on parental reproofs, that which children ought to consider and know for themselves is, that a continuance in the neglect or contempt of them is a token…
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[2.] If the reproof be false in matter of fact, wherein that is charged on us, and reproved in us, whereof we are no ways guilty, three things are to be considered, that it may not be unuseful unto us : — 1st. The circumstances of the reprover; as, first, Whether he do proceed on some probable mistake; or, secondly, C…
917 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.