PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 9
John Owen · 335,461 words · 337 reading sections
Section 241
And I shall do it in these following observations, principles, and deductions from it : — First. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath faithfully promised, Matt. xxviii. 20, that he will be present with his church " unto the end of the world." It is his temple and habitation, " wherein he dwells, and in which he walks." And this…
1,071 wordsSECTION 242Section 242
Thirdly. This presence of the Spirit is promised and given unto the church by an everlasting covenant, Isa. lix. 21 : " As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, …
981 wordsSECTION 243Section 243
Fifthly. Let us consider the general end why the Spirit is thus promised unto the church. God hath promised unto Jesus Christ, that he shall have a kingdom and church in the world while the sun and moon endure. Ps. lxxii. 17, "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun;" — that is, t…
1,365 wordsSECTION 244Section 244
There is another testimony given to this (to name one or two among many), in Rom. xii. 4-8, " For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office ; so we, being- many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is …
968 wordsSECTION 245Section 245
Eighthly. That there is a communication of spiritual gifts in all gospel ordinances, we plead experience. We know how this is de- rided by profane scoffers; but we plead the experience of those who are humble and holy, and have a spiritual acquaintance with these things. I hope I may plead against the world the experie…
933 wordsSECTION 246Section 246
Give me leave to speak one word unto you that are the church : — Know what you are to do, in reference unto those you have called and made officers this day. Pray unto God for a fresh communication of gifts unto them ; — they are capable of it. It is a renewed act of grace that prepares and opens the soul for receiving…
1,129 wordsSECTION 247Section 247
What I shall do is, to show you, in some instances, what is required unto this work of teaching or of feeding the congregation with know- ledge and understanding, in this duty of preaching the word : — 1. There is spiritual ivisdom in understanding the mysteries of the gospel, that we may be able to declare the whole …
993 wordsSECTION 248Section 248
6. There is required, too, that we be acted by zeal for the glory of God, and compassion to the souls of men. Having spoken these few plain words, I may say, " Who is suffi- cient for these things V There is required that spiritual wisdom which is necessary to understand the mysteries of the gospel, able to instruct a…
978 wordsSECTION 249Section 249
458 THE DUTY OF A PASTOR. perish ; we fight at hazard, for all the efficacy of the ordinances of preaching and praying doth not depend upon any thing in ourselves, — on our gifts, notions, parts, fervency, — but it depends only upon the presence of Christ. Make this your business, to pray mightily for it in the congre…
986 wordsSECTION 250Section 250
3. Let us take heed in ourselves of any inclination to novel opi- nions, especially in, or about, or against such points of faith as those wherein they who are gone before us and are fallen asleep found life, comfort, and power. Who would have thought that we should have come to an indifferency as to the doctrine of ju…
1,052 wordsSECTION 251Section 251
1 The " indelible character " is the dogma of the church of Rome; — that a man ordained to be a priest ■within its pale never can lose his priestly character; and though he even cease to be a Christian, cannot cease to be a Christian bishop, priest, or deacon, if he has previously held any of these offices in the churc…
1,096 wordsSECTION 252Section 252
And I cannot but observe, by the way, that it is a great mercy when God will engage the natural faculties and abilities of men, espe- cially wherein they are excellent, in any way of his service. David had got an excellency in this faculty, and God engages it in his service. And those that had skill therein, and were n…
1,020 wordsSECTION 253Section 253
2. It is matter of joy to Jesus GJwist. Cant. iii. 11, " Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart." This Solomon was a type of Christ ; and the mother of Christ, that brought forth C…
995 wordsSECTION 254Section 254
2. Let us inquire whether we have found, or do find, this joy in our own hearts. Is the remembrance of the closing of our hearts with Christ a song of loves unto us ? Truly, if our loves be earnest and intent upon other things, we find joy and refreshment in them; but are we not dead and cold to the thoughts of this gr…
918 wordsSECTION 255Section 255
THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST. 469 power of the world. This love hath suffered on purpose to redeem us from all this. 3. The care and tenderness ivhich the Lord Jesus Christ continues to manifest towards us, now he is in heaven, while we are upon the earth, is another fruit of this love. Heb, v. 2, this high priest knows …
933 wordsSECTION 256Section 256
This psalm hath three parts. The title of it is, " A Song of loves," which I have already spoken unto; the preface of it, in the 1st verse; and the song itself, from the 2d verse to the end. 1 This sermon was preached at Stadham, June 7, 1674. THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST. 471 The 1st verse contains a preface to this so…
927 wordsSECTION 257Section 257
Thus I have given you the sense of the words; and I shall now name some observations from them: — First. That the things which concern Jesus Christ are a good matter to believers. They are not only true, — so as the mind may assent unto them and never be deceived, — but they have that in them which is the object of th…
1,170 wordsSECTION 258Section 258
Secondly. Observe from the words, that it is the duty of believers to be making things concerning Jesus Christ: " Things that I have made touching the King." Now, to be making things concerning Jesus Christ, is to meditate upon him, — to have firm and fixed medi- tations upon Christ, and upon the glory of his excellenc…
920 wordsSECTION 259Section 259
Fifthly, and lastly. That profession alone is acceptable to God, and useful in the church, which proceeds from the fulness of the heart. It is to no purpose to have our tongue " as the pen of a ready writer," if our hearts be not full. It must come from the boiling or medita- tion of our hearts, if our profession be go…
935 wordsSECTION 260Section 260
(2.) Without this, no man can secure his love and faith from being selfish, or from beginning and ending in self. For if we regard only those things whereof we have advantage, so that we may have our sin pardoned, our iniquities done away, and our souls saved, we would not care whether there were a Christ to trust in o…
916 wordsSECTION 261Section 261
(1.) In the dignity of his person. He is a more excellent person. Wherein consists the excellency of Christ's person? Truly, not at all in the outward appearance of his human nature, especially while here in the world. It is the foundation of all devotion among some, the making of glorious pictures of Christ ; by which…
1,031 wordsSECTION 262Section 262
[2.] The consideration of these excellencies in Christ is exceed- ingly suited to increase faith and love in us. They are the proper objects in Christ of these graces. What is it we believe and love? Do not we believe in Christ as the Son of God, as God-man in one person? do not we love him as he is so? do not we belie…
994 wordsSECTION 263Section 263
(2.) This grace is the glory of Christ, because it is that which in- clines the heart of Jesus Christ unto all that goodness and kindness that he hath showed unto us. Whence was it that Jesus Christ loved us so as to lay down his life for us? whence does he continue to have compassion on us, even when we were ignorant,…
960 wordsSECTION 264Section 264
2. Concerning this it is said, " Gird thy sword upon thy thigh." The girding of the sword upon the thigh, is the putting of it into readi- ness for use. When David was going up against Nabal, he said unto his men, 1 Sam. xxv. 18, " Gird ye on every man his sword." Where- fore Christ's girding his sword upon his thigh, …
948 wordsSECTION 265Section 265
(1.) Jesus Christ puts forth this mighty power in erecting and building of his church. In Matt. xvi. 18, our Lord saith, "I will build my church;" and the apostle, in Heb. hi. 3, 4, shows that it was an act of divine 'power to build this church of God : " He that built all things is God." No one could build a church in…
977 wordsSECTION 266Section 266
[2.] The second enemy of Christ is the ivorld; and that may be considered either in the men of it or in the power of it : — In the men of it. The Lord Christ puts forth his mighty power THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST. 489 to deal with and subdue all the men of the world that rise up in opposition against him. Whatever suc…
933 wordsSECTION 267Section 267
Thus you see why the Holy Ghost, by the psalmist, calls Christ here the Mighty One, — one that will mightily prevail in every thing. It is because of his divine power, — he is the mighty God. Because of his mediatorial authority there is committed unto him all power in heaven and in earth. He doth put forth this power …
905 wordsSECTION 268Section 268
I will give you two things for the description of such a season as I judge to be manifestly calamitous: — 1. When it exceeds the hounds of affliction, or when the dispensa- tions of God's anger in it cannot be reduced to the head of affliction. Ezek. xxi. 9, 10, 13, " Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord…
971 wordsSECTION 269Section 269
494 THE USE AND ADVANTAGE OF FAITH while we are in this world, and are afraid of the besom of destruc- tion. (2.) There are others who utterly despise these things, — take no notice of them ; who do not think any such distressing calamity shall come upon them: if it does, they shall deal well enough with it. Isa. xxv…
1,011 wordsSECTION 270Section 270
(1.) This ark is Jesus Christ Faith in him is necessary. In this chapter of my text, where inquiry is made what shall be answered unto God, and what course shall be taken upon the coming in of the overflowing flood of the Chaldeans; this is the course to be taken, " The just shall live by his faith." What is that? It i…
1,042 wordsSECTION 271Section 271
3. If we live by faith in the approach of a calamitous season, this will put us upon the search and examination of our own hearts, what accession we have made to the sins that have procured these judg- ments. This is that which faith (where it is in any measure sincere) will assuredly put us upon ; and it is that God d…
924 wordsSECTION 272Section 272
II. I am now, in the second place, to show you how faith will carry- it under other perplexities, that either are present or are coming upon us. And here I shall show you, — 1. How we may live by faith, under all the reproaches and persecutions that do or may befall us, upon the account of that order and fellowship of …
924 wordsSECTION 273Section 273
(1.) Faith will give us such an experience of the power, efficacy, sweetness, and benefit of gospel ordinances and gospel worship, as shall cause us to despise all that the world can do in opposition unto us. Here I would cast my anchor, and exhort you not to be confi- dent of yourselves ; for nothing else will keep an…
1,005 wordsSECTION 274Section 274
UNDER REPROACHES AND PERSECUTIONS. 503 they looked on the fiery furnace on the one hand, and the fiery coun- tenance of terrible majesty on the other. " Know, that God," say they, " whom we serve, is able to deliver us out of thy hand; but if not, — if God will not give us this present deliverance, be it known unto th…
949 wordsSECTION 275Section 275
This is something of what I had to offer unto you, and, I hope, both seasonable and useful. However, it is what I can attain unto in these times of reproach, scorn, and contempt, that are cast upon us, and persecutions approaching. I say, faith will discover to us that efficacy, sweetness, power, and advantage in spiri…
1,107 wordsSECTION 276Section 276
(2.) Another thing that comforts my heart is this, — it is no less glorious to suffer under the beast and the false prophet than it was IF POPERY SHOULD RETURN UPON US. 507 to suffer under the dragon. The book of the Revelation is chiefly made up of these two things, — of the persecutions of the church ; one by the d…
1,025 wordsSECTION 277Section 277
(5.) I would consider very much with myself the greatness of the indignation of God against those that shall in the least comply with Antichristianism when it doth come upon us. In Rev. xiii. 11, there is mention of " a beast that had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon" (which, I think, is the pope), "and …
921 wordsSECTION 278Section 278
This is all I have to offer unto you as to living by faith under the apprehensions of those difficulties we have to conflict withal, in refer- ence to the coming in of profaneness and idolatry, wherewith we are threatened by hell and the world, which are at this day combining to- gether to bring them again upon this na…
1,066 wordsSECTION 279Section 279
The other evil that attends it is this, — that this deadness and in- differency unto ordinances, and want of bringing our necks to the yoke of Christ therein, against all disputings and arguings of flesh and blood, hath taken such place among us, and proceeded so far, that all ways of reformation are useless. Men may m…
945 wordsSECTION 280Section 280
[2.] Faith will also mind the soul that God hath yet the fulness and residue of the Spirit, and can pour it out when he pleases, to recover us from this woful state and condition, and to renew us to holy obedience unto himself. There are more promises of God's giving supplies of his Spirit to deliver us from inward dec…
918 wordsSECTION 281Section 281
4thly. It will put us upon zeal for God and the honour of the gospel, that it may not suffer by reason of our miscarriages. In one word, faith will do something ; but for our parts, we do 516 THE USE OF FAITH, ETC. little or nothing. Faith will do something, I say, wherever it is, when it is stirred up to exercise ;…
1,005 wordsSECTION 282Section 282
If we inquire of the former age, we shall find there flourished in it some of the greatest and best of men ; for whose printed works many acknowledge they have abundant cause to bless God to eternity. Among these, the writings of Dr Owen shine with a peculiar lustre, in the judgment of judicious Christians ; and I am p…
947 wordsSECTION 283Section 283
3. Then there is the merit of Christ; which is another object of faith that we should call over in the celebration of this ordinance. Why was " he made sin"? It was " that we might become the right- eousness of God in him." It is answerable to that other expression in Gal. iii. 3 3, 14, He hath borne the curse, — " was…
988 wordsSECTION 284Section 284
(3.) There is more than this : they are not only considered as dis- tinguished, but as separate also ; — the blood separate from the body, the body left without the blood. This truth our apostle, in this chap- ter and the next, doth most signally insist upon ; namely, the distinct parts of this ordinance, — one to repr…
940 wordsSECTION 285Section 285
Again, there is the instrumental cause; and that is the law of God. Whence did that separation, which is here represented unto us, ensue and flow ? It came from the sentence of the law, whereby he was hanged upon the tree. Moreover, the adjuvant cause was those outward instruments, the wrath and malice of men : " For …
904 wordsSECTION 286Section 286
4. It is a federal ordinance, wherein God confirms the covenant unto us, and wherein he calls us to make a recognition of the cove- nant unto God. The covenant is once made; but we know that we stand in need that it should be often transacted in our souls, — that God should often testify his covenant unto us, and that …
966 wordsSECTION 287Section 287
1 Delivered December 10, 1669. VOL. IX. 34 530 SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. declare, ye manifest — " tlie Lord's death till lie come." These are the two immediate great ends of this ordinance : — a recognition of the death of Christ, which respects our faith and love ; and a repre- sentation of it, which respects our prof…
921 wordsSECTION 288Section 288
2dly. It is unchangeable. It is a state wherein there is no altera- tion, and though all alterations should prove for the worse, yet it is in the nature of man to hope good from them ; but here is no more alteration left: the soul enters into an unchangeable state. And, — [2.] The second reason is, — because the total…
960 wordsSECTION 289Section 289
I answer, In this difficult inquiry two things are to be stated : — first, in reference to his person, That it was impossible Christ should have the indissolubility of his personal union utterly hid from him. He knew the union of his human nature unto the Son uf God could not be utterly dissolved, — that could not be u…
943 wordsSECTION 290Section 290
(1.) Consider his love, which is one of the principal things to be regarded in this obedience of Christ; — the love wherewith it was SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. 535 principled. Gal. ii. 20, " He loved me," saith the apostle, " and gave himself for me." 1 John iii. 16, " Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid…
913 wordsSECTION 291Section 291
(4.) "We are to call over Ms patience under his sufferings, in his obedience, Isa. liii. 7, " He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth;" — the highest expressions of an absolute…
915 wordsSECTION 292Section 292
Now, there are two ways whereby we show forth the Lord's death ; the one is the way of representation to ourselves ; and the other is a way of profession unto others : — I. The way of representation to ourselves. The work of repre- senting Christ aright to the soul is a great work. God and men are agreed in it; and th…
1,109 wordsSECTION 293Section 293
3. The special way whereby we represent Christ unto our souls through faith, is in the administration of this ordinance; which I will speak to upon the great end of showing forth the death of the Lord. Now, the former representations were general, this is particular; and I cannot at this time go over particulars. I bl…
1,049 wordsSECTION 294Section 294
Now profession consists in these two things: — (1.) In an abstinence from all things, with reference to God and his worship, which Christ has not appinted. (2.) In the observation and performance of all things that Christ has appointed. Men are apt to think that abstinence from the pollutions that are in the world thr…
902 wordsSECTION 295Section 295
544 SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. this infinite, wise, holy product of them, the death of Christ ; and [how] that God should call us to represent and show forth this death. The Lord forgive us where we have not longed to perform this work as we ought; for we have suffered carnal fears and affections, and any thing else, to …
987 wordsSECTION 296Section 296
vol. ix. 35 546 SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. change your garments: and let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God." " I will not engage," saith he, " in this great duty without a preparation for it ; and," saith he, " the preparation shall be suitable." Peculiar, special preparation (to ob-…
940 wordsSECTION 297Section 297
This question brings me to, — II. The second general head I propounded to speak unto : I answer, that the general preparation that respects all ordinances hath refer- ence unto God, to ourselves, to the ordinance itself: — 1. It hath respect unto God. This is the first thing to be con- sidered ; for this he lays down…
1,186 wordsSECTION 298Section 298
[2.] The second property which is principally to be considered in God in his ordinances, as he is the object of them, is his holiness. This is the general rule that God gives in all ordinances, " Be ye holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." And Joshua, chap. xxiv. 19 tells the people what they were principally to cons…
1,105 wordsSECTION 299Section 299
(2.) The second head of preparation on our own part is self-abase- ment, out of a deep sense of the infinite distance that is between God and us, whom we go to meet. " I have taken upon myself to speak to the great possessor of heaven and earth, who am but dust and ashes." Nothing brings God and man so near together as…
1,120 wordsSECTION 300Section 300
554- SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSES. DISCOURSE VI.1 " But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." — 1 Cok. xi. 28. I have been treating, in sundry of these familiar exercises, about communion with Jesus Christ in that great ordinance of the Lord's supper, intending principally, i…
983 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.