PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 8
John Owen · 329,108 words · 326 reading sections
Section 241
(2.) If the matter of the reproof he true in fact, then it is duly to be considered, whether the offence for which any one is reproved be private or puhlic, attended with scandal. [1.] If it be private, then it is to be weighed, whether it was known unto, and observed in and by, the person himself reproved or no, befo…
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2. Wher-eas the light of nature is variously obscured, and its directive 'poiuer debilitated in us, God hath renewed on us an obli- gation unto this duty by particular institutions, both tmder the Old Testament and the Neiu. The truth is, the efficacy of the law of crea- tion, as unto moral duties, being exceedingly im…
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2. Take heed of cherishing hahitually such disorders, vices, and distevipers of mind, as are contrary unto this duty and will frus- trate the design of it. Such are, — (1.) Hastiness of spirit. Some men's minds do with such fuiy apply themselves unto their first apprehension of things, that they cast the whole soul int…
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6. We shall fail in this duty unless ive are always accompanied with a deep sense of our frailty, weakness, readiness to halt or miscarry, and thereon a necessity of all the ordinances and visita- tions of God, which are designed to preserve our souls. — Unless we have due apprehensions of our own state and condition h…
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AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. 499 it, are clearly enough laid down in tlie Scripture; and if tliey believe not these things, and are not persuaded to repentance upon the authority of God in his word, much less will they be moved by the testimony of one coming from the dead." Hence I infer, that the holy Scripture, or wr…
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' Camero De Veibo Doi. AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. 501 not some excellency inherent in itself, or whether it he only some- thino- foreign and extrinsical to it. 3. What we mean hj faith, when it is demanded why we believe the Scripture to be the word of God. Faith, so far as it concerns the nnderstandmg (for in some…
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(3.) That every Christian is bound, with a divine faith to receive the Scripture as the word of God, they grant as well as we do. (4.) That the Holy Spirit hath a hand in men's believing the Scrip- ture to be the word of God, allow the Papists their sense, and they will likewise yield no less than we. That the faith w…
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This they deny ; and this we shall first, though more briefly, prove ; and then disjorove — as well as we deny — what they assert. Argument i. The Holy Ghost, in Scripture, calls us to the Scrip- ture itself, and God's authority only in it, and not to the church, for tlie settling of our belief of its divinity ; and t…
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* Praesentem clamat qurelibet herba Deum, * Vide Rob. Baron., Contra Turnebul. <^0G AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. (a divine one, such as we speak of) being always Luilt upon revela- tion, whatever it be which is the first revelation, whereon our faith is built, must be sufficient to notify itself to us; otherwise, our…
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508 AUTHORITY OF THE SCTjrTUnE. Before I proceed to another argument, let us examine what is ex- cepted against this. To this text, Eph. ii. 20, it is re})Hed by some of the Pa])ists, — Exception I. That " by ' foundation' is not meant the Scripture written by the apostles and prophets, but their preaching." Answer.…
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Arg. II. The doctrine delivered in the Scripture doth not, as to our receiving it, depend iqwn the church; and therefore neither doth the Scripture itself: the doctrine of the Scripture and the Scripture it- self are really the same, and differ hut in an accident of being writ- ten, or not written. The same doctrines w…
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And if we look to the apostles that followed Christ, and preached 512 AUTHOEITY OF THE SCKIPTURE. the same doctrine, we sliall see that it was not received on the account of the church, no more than commanded to the hearers thereon. In Acts ii. 41, upon Peter's preaching, three thousand beheved: " Tliey gladly receiv…
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VOL. VIII. 33 514 AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. notliing that the Council of Nice itself di'l never define which it was ; but acknowledged it as already received. 3. if a council meets to declare the divine authority of the Scrip- ture, we would know by what authority it meets. If the several pastors of the church com…
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Ayis. 1. That the church's testimony is no otherwise the testi- mony of God than as it agrees with the word of God ; and when it doth so, we are to believe what the church says, not merely because the church says it, but because God says it. And if the church holds forth to me any divine truth, and I yield my assent to…
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Arg. VII. If the testimony of the church is necessary, and the only sufficient reason of our believing the divineness of the Scripture, then it will certainly follow, that no man who is out of the church can he called into the church by the Scripture; — which is pretty strange doc- trine, and yet I see not how possibly…
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Arg. IX. Thei/ that believe not the Scripture to be the word of God, when propounded to them as such, thqugh they have not the testimony of the church to confirm, them, in it, yet sin in their not believing it; and are therefore bound to believe it antecedently to the church's testimony (for if they were not bound to b…
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522 AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. marks iriliorent in the church ; for why may not the same be alloAved to the Scripture? And how shall we know these marks to be true, but by the )Scripture ; by which alone we can judge of the nature and properties of the church? And yet still it is supposed that the Scrip- ture is not …
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2. " But noAv, what if we have to do with those that deny the ivhole Scripture, — admit no part of it? how shall we convince them that it is the word of God?" I answer, — 524 AUTHORITY OF THE SCIlirTUKE. (1.) Not by the chuvcli, be sure; for if they have no reverence for any part of the Scrii)ture, they will have as …
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526 AUTHOEITY OF THE SCRIPTURE, usetli in tliis private woi'k; Avhich they say is the testimony of the church, and we say is the Scripture itself. Both of us agree that it is the Spirit's public testimony; but they call one thing so, and we another. If they say that yet this is not enthusiasm, because here is no immed…
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Object. II. " It is necessary for us, in religion, to have the canon of Scripture certain : but this we cannot have, otherwise than by the church ; because its authority is most certain, and the only one which is sufficient, to remove all doubts concerning the divineness of the Scripture out of our minds; both because …
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We say, then, that it may be known which books are canonical, and which are not, otherwise than by the church ; for the church her- self knows them otherwise than by herself, or her own authority. When she declares them to be canonical, she believes them to be canonical; and her believing them to be canonical is antece…
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3. When they say that " some writings of the prophets and apos- tles themselves are not canonical, — and therefore not so, because not acknowledged by the church to be so, — I answer, that some things the prophets and apostles might write as private men, and not by the inspiration and special direction of the Holy Ghos…
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AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTUEE. 533 (1.) Holu dishonourable to God, for the credit of his luord to de- pend upon the testimony of men, and not to he able of itself to dis- cover its author! \st. A dishonour it is to his ivisdom., if he could not othenvise assure men of the divine original of the Scripture, than by having…
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(2.) TJiis doctrine of the Pajnsts is prejudicial, indeed destruc- tive, to Christian religion. It leaves us only the name of Christianity, and no more. What is all religion, if God be not the author of it? and, if the Papists say true, we can never be sure, that God is the author of that which we call Christian. This …
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3d It is as destructive to our obedience as to either of the other. Gospel obedience is the fruit of faith ; and therefore such as is the faith we have, such will be the obedience we yield. If our faith be not right, our obedience can be no better. A human faith is not sufficient to found our duty to God upon ; and tha…
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And here they are at a loss already ; for as much as they fill our ears with a gi'eat noise and din of " the church ! " and can scarcely talk of any thing but " the church ! the church I " yet they are not so much agreed among themselves what this very church is, upon whose authority they build their faith, and would h…
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540 AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. from being saved himself, that he may, as some Papists acknowledge, carry whole cart-loads of souls to hell with him. Yet still he is in- fallible ! — an infallible murderer, an infallible sodomite, an infallible sorcerer ! etc. And you must believe him to be infallible all this while, …
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And, be sure hold on m such a way of painful endeavours for the getting thy faith settled till it be done, and what thou hast hitherto received on the account of man thou now believest for the sake of God himself I deny thee not the testimony of the universal church of Christ in all ages, so far as thou art capable of …
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' Such titles the Papists give their schoolmen, j SERMON XY. THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY IN THE CHURCH OF ROME LAID OPEN; OR, AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST POPERY. VOL. VIIL 36 SERMON Xy. THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY IN THE CHURCH OF ROME LAID OPEN. Question : How is the practical love of truth the best preservative against Popery…
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2. The taste intended follows hereon ; wherein consists the hfe and substance of the experience pleaded for. And this taste is a spiritual sense of the goodness, power, and efficacy of the word and the things contained in it, in the conveyance of the gi"ace of God unto our souls, in the instances mentioned, and others …
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There is much talk of a plot and conspiracy to destroy the Pro- testant religion, and introduce Popery again amongst us. They may do well to take care thereof who are concerned in public affairs : but as unto the event, there is but one conspiracy that is greatly to lie feared in this matter; and that is, between Satan…
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THE CHAMBEU OF IMAGERY. 553 they found sensible effects, unto theif great satisfaction; for their minds being dark, carnal, and prone to superstition, — as are the minds of all men by nature, — they could see nothing in the spiritual rejire- sentation of him in the gospel that had any power on them, or did in any meas…
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THE CHASIBER OF IMAGERY. DOi> But the principal design of this discourse is, to warn others of these abominations, and to direct unto their avoidance; for if they should be outwardly pressed unto the practice of this idolatry, whatever is of carnal affection, of blind devotion, or superstition in them, mil quickly be …
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(2.) The Son is here considered as a Mediator; — through him we have this access unto the Father. This is the glory that was hidden from former ages, but brought to light and displayed by the gospel. So speaks our blessed Saviour liimsolf unto his discipU's: " Whatso- THE CHAMr.ER OF IMAGERY. 557 ever ye shall ask th…
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THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. 550 garly elements and carnal ceremonies in the worship of the church, with attempts to render it decorous and beautiM by superstitious rites and observances, — wlierewith it hath been defiled and coiTupted, as it was and is in the Church of Rome, — was nothing but the setting up a deformed ima…
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Wherefore, this especial communion with Christ, and participation of liim, is by faith. If it were not, unbelievers ought all to partake of Christ as well as those that believe, — which is a contradiction : for to believe in Clu'ist, and to be made partakers of him, are one and THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. 561 tlie same. …
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4. There is a peculiar exercise of faith in the reception of Christ, as his body and blood are tendered and exhibited nnto iis in the out- ward signs of them; for though they do not contain carnally the flesh and blood of Christ in them, nor are turned into them, yet they really exhibit Christ unto them that believe, i…
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This image, like tliat of Nebuchadnezzar, was once set up in this THE CHAMP.ER OF IMAGERY. 565 nation, with a law, that whoever would not bow down to it, and wor- ship it, should be cast into the fiery furnace. God gi'ant it to be so no more ! But if it should, there is no preservation against the in- fluence of forc…
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But, whereas a head is to be present with the body, or it cannot subsist, the inquiry is, Hoiv the Lord Christ is so present with his church^' And the Scripture hath left no pretence for any hesitation herein; for he is so by his Spirit and liis word, by which he com- municateth all the powers and virtues of a head unt…
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This is he of whom nothing not great, nothing common, nothing not exceeding the ordinary state of mankind, on the one hand or the other, is thought or spoken. Some say he is " the head and husband of the church," " the vicar of Christ over the whole world," " God's vicegerent," " a vice-god," " Peter's successor," " th…
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Look into foreign parts, as Italy and France, where these men pretend their church is in its gl'eate^t glory: what is it but the wealth, and pomp, and power of men, for the most part openly ambitious, sensual, and worldly? Is this the gloiy of the Church of Christ? Do these things belong unto his kingdom? [No;] but by …
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And thus far all who profess themselves Christians are agreed, at least in words. None dare deny any of' these principles; no, not to secure their abuse of them, which is the interest of many. 4. But unto them all we must also add, and that with the same uncontrollable evidence of truth, that the power and efficacy of…
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57 t TIIK CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. some dead form in their room; and this was a universal subjection unto the pope, according unto all the rides, orders, and canons which they should invent. Uniformity herein, and cano7iical obedience, is all the end which they will allow unto their church discipline; and these things hang…
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r.7G THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. in the generality of its rulers, and tliem tliat are ruled ; and in its state cruel, oppressive, and dyed vvitli the blood of saints, and martjTS innumerable. This, I say, is that imago of the holy catholic church, the spouse of Christ, which they have set up. And it hath been as the image…
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But the real image itself consists of these three parts: — 1. The siuord; 2. The inquisition; 3. Plots and conspiracies. By these it is that they design to propagate the faith and promote Christian religion; and if hell itself can invent a more deformed image and representation of the sacred truth and work, which it i…
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580 THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. subtlety, — by plots, conspiracies, and contrivances, — any way but by the foolishness of preaching, which, unto that end, is the power and wisdom of God, — is to declare his own ignorance of it, and uncon- cernment in it. And had not men conceived and embraced another religion than what is…
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Sect. X. from these generals I shall proceed unto more particular 582 THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. instances; .and those, for the most part, in important principles of religion, wherein Christian faith and practice are most concerned: and I shall begin with that which is of signal advantage unto the framers of these image…
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58 i THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. the efficacy of that blood for that end, which is to be obtained by faith alone, Rom. iii. 25. Only, they have placed this image behind the curtain of mortality, that the cheat of it might not be discovered. None, who find themselves deceived by it, can come back to complain or warn others…
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68G THE CHAJIBER OF IMAGERY. ing and cleansing the wLole person may be carried on toward perfec- tion. See 2 Cor. vii. 1 ; 1 Thess. v. 23 ; 1 John iii. 3. And he who is constantly engaged in that work with success, will see the folly and vanity of any other pretended way for the purging of sins, here or hereafter. The…
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588 THE CIIAMRER OF IMAGERY. end but to satisfy the carnal minds of men with a presumptuous supposition, in the neglect of the spiritually laborious exercise of faith. An experience ot the work of faith, in the derivation of all supplies of spiritual life, grace, and strength, with deliverance and supplies, from Jesii…
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1. They place the eminency and height of it in a monastical life, and pretended retirement from the world. But this may be, hath been, in all or the most, without the least real work of mortification in their souls; for there is nothing required in the stx'ictest rules of these monastic votaries but may be complied wit…
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SERMON XVI. AN HUMBLE TESTIMONY UNTO THE GOODNESS AND SEVERITY OF GOD IN HIS DEALING WITH SINFUL CHURCHES AND NATIONS ; OR, THE ONLY WAY TO DELIVER A SINFUL NATION FROM UTTER RUIN BY mrENDENT JUDGMENTS: IN A msCOUESE ON THE WORDS OF OUR I.ORII JESUS CHRIST, Luke xiir. 1—5. '■ Cry akuil, spare not; lift up thy voi…
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That this is the only way for the saving of this nation from impending judgments and wasting desolations, — that this way will be effectual unto that end when all others shall fail, — is asserted and proved in this discourse, from the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, to confront the wisdom of politicians, wh…
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" There were pi-esent at that season some that told hun of the Gahleans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Gali- leans, because they suffered such things ? I tell you. Nay : but, except ye repent, ye sha…
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did, tlierein, approve of and justif}^ all the blood that was shed in the same cause from the foundation of the world; and made themselves justly hable unto the punishment due unto it. Hence, our Sa\'iour tells them, Matt, xxiii. 35, that they, the men of that generation, slew Zechariah, who was actually slain many hun…
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(2.) It is the height of security, in such a time and season, cither THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 601 to neglect the consideration of extraordinary providences, or to mis- interpret them, as any thing hut tokens of approacJiing judgments, if not prevented. Nothing can be questioned herein without an airaignmen…
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THE DESIGN OF mPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 603 The brute elements tremble at the approaches of God in his judg- ment against the inhabitants of the earth. So the prophet expresseth it, Hab. iii. 10, " The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowings of the water passed by : the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up …
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' These things were spoken on the burning of several persons to death in one of tlio hite fires iu London. THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 605 we live, it would be the means of saving a poor nation from othenvise inevitable ruin. The state is so with us, that, unless we repent, we shall perish. I do not prescribe …
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But the princes, the priests, and generally all the people, set them- selves against him herein, and Avould not believe his word. THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. GOT" And by three things they countenanced themselves m their unbe- lief and impenitency, that they should be delivered ; although they did not repent no…
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3. God hereby manifests himself to be a God hearing prayers, regarding the cries of his poor and distressed witnesses in the world. When the world abounds in provoking sins, especially in l)lood and persecution, there is a conjvuict cry unto God of those that have suffered, and those that do suffer, in heaven and earth…
1,112 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.