Vlil. — MOBTIFICATION OF SiN, THE NaTUEE AND CaUST5S OF IT. — MortificatiOD of
sin, the second part of sanctification — Frequently prescribed and enjoin- ed as a dutjr— What the name signifies, with the reason thereof; as also that of crucifying sin — The nature of the mortification of sin explained — Indwelling sin, in its principle, operations, and effects, the object of mortification — Contrariety between sin and grace — Mortification a par- taking with the whole interest of grace against sin— How sin is morti- fied, and why the subduing of it is so called— Directions for the right dis- charge of this duty — Nature of it unknown to many — The Holy Spirit the author and cause of mortification in us— The manner of the opera- tion of the Spirit in the mortification of sin — Particular means of the mortification of sin— Duties necessary unto the mortification of sin, di- rected unto by the Holy Ghost— Mistakes and eri-ors of persons failing in this matter— How spiritual duties are to be managed, that sin may be mortified — Influence of the virtue of the death of Christ, as applied by the Holy Spirit, into the mortification of sin, .... 53S
BOOK V.
I. — Necessity of Holiness fsom the Consideration of the Natuee of God. — The necessity of evangelical holiness owned by all Ciiristians- Doctrines falsely charged with an inconsistency with it— Though owned by all, yet practised by few, and disadvantageously pleaded for by many— The true natui-e of it briefly expressed — First argument for the necessity of holi- ness, from the nature of God; frequently proposed unto oui- considera- tion for that end— This argument cogent and unavoidable ; pressed, with its limitation — Not the nature of God absolutely, but as he is in Christ, the foundation of this necessity, and a most effectual motive unto the same end — The nature and eiticacy of that motive declared — The argument enforced from the consideration of our conformity unto God by holiness, with that communion and intercourse with him vvfhich depend thereon, with our future everlasting enjo> ment of him— True force of that consi- deration vindicated — Merit rejected, and also the substitution of mora- lity in the room of gospel holiness— False accusations of the doctrine of grace discarded; and the neglect of the true means of promoting gospel obedience charged — The principal argument farther enforced, from the pre-eminence of our natures and persons by this conformity to God, and our accesses unto God thereby, in order unto our eternal enjoyment of him ; as it also alone renders us useful in this world unto others— Two sorts of graces by whose exercise we grow into conformity with God : those that are assimilating, as faith and love; and those wiiith are de- clarative of that assimilation, as goodness or benignity, and truth — An objection against the necessity of holinebs, from the freedom and efficacy of grace, answered, ....... 666
II.— Eternal Election a CAn-SE of and Motive unto Holiness.- Other argu- ments for the necessity of holiness, from God's eternal election — The argument from thence explained, improved, vindicated, . . 591
III. — Holiness necessai;t from the Commands of God.— Necessity of holiness
proved from the commands of God in the law and the gospel, . . 604
IV.— Necessity of Holi.vess from God's sending Jesus (Christ.— The neces- sity of holiness proved from the design of God in sending Jesus Chi-ist, with the ends of his mediation, ...... C28
V— Necessity of Holiness vrom our Condition in this Woe ld.— Necessity of holiness farther argued from our own state and condition in this world ; with what is rcijifired of us with respect unto our giving glory to Jesus Christ, ....... 6 11
IINETMATOAOriA-
A DISCOUESE CONCEENING THE HOLY SPIEIT
AN ACCOUNT IS GIVEN OF HIS NAME, NATUEE, PEESONALITY, DISPENSATION, OPERATIONS,
AND EFFECTS; HIS WHOLE WOEK IN THE OLD AND NEW CEEATION IS
EXPLAINED; THE DOCTEINE CONCERNING IT VINDICATED
FROM OPPOSITIONS AND REPROACHES.
TOE NATCRE ALSO AND NECESSITY OF GOSPLL UGLINESS ; THE DIFFERENCE BETWEFN GRACK
AND MORALITY, OR A SPIRITUAL LIFE UNTO GOD IN EVANGELICAL OBEDXUsCE
AND A COURSE OF MORAL VIRTUES, ARE STATED AND DECLARED.
Search the Scriptures, etc John v. S9.
'Ex run Biiut y^atfuv Bio^ayev/y-iv, aav ^i?.uffiv c'l i^^po), kxv jK»._Chrtsostom.
LONDON: 1074.
VOL III.
PREFATORY NOTE.
The year 1674 saw issuing from the press some of the most elaborate productions of our author. Besides his own share in the Communion controversy, he published in the course of that year the second volume of his Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and another folio of equal extent and importance, the first part of his work on the Holy Spirit ; for what is generally known under the title of " Owen on the Holy Spirit," is but the first half of a treatise on that subject. The treatise was completed in suc- cessive publications: — "The Eeason of Faith," in 1G77; "The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God," etc., in 1678 ; " The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer," in 1682; and, in 1693, two posthumous discourses appeared, "On the Work of the Spirit as a Comforter, and as he is the Author of Spiritual Gifts." From the statements of Owen himself, in various parts of these works, as well as on the authority of Nathaniel Mather, who wrote the preface to the last of them, we learn that they were all included in one design, and must be regarded as one entire and uni- form work. In Owen's preface to the " Reason of Faith," he expressly states, " About three years since I published a book about the dispensation and operations of the Spirit of God. That book was one part only of what I designed on that subject. The consideration of the work of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of illumination, of suppli- cation, of consolation, and as the immediate author of all spiritual offices and gifts, extraordinary and ordinary, is designed unto the second part of it." Uncertain, as he advanced in years, whether he should be spared to finish it, Owen was induced to issue separately the treatises belonging to the second part, according as he was able, under the pressure of other duties, to overtake the preparation and completion of them. They are now for the first time collected, and aiTanged into the order which, it is be- lieved, the author would have made them assume, had he lived to publish an edition comprehending all his treatises on the Holy Spirit in the form and under the title of one work. No other liberty, however, is taken with the treatises than simply to number the four of them which were published separately, and which are contained in the next volume, as so many additional books, continuing and completing the discussion of the subject which had been begun and so far prosecuted in the five previous books em- braced in this volume. To all of them the general designation nNETMATOAOriA is equally applicable. Thus arranged and seen in its full proportions, the work amply vindicates the commendation bestowed on it, as the most complete exhibition of the doctrine of Scripture on the person and agency of the Spirit "to be found in any language." As no author had previously attempted to treat " of the Avhole economy of the Holy Spirit, with all his adjuncts, operations, and effects," Owen urges the circumstance in extenuation of any want of system and lucid order in his work. If such an attempt had never previously been made, it is equally true that no successor has been found in this walk of theology who has ventured to compete with Owen in the full and systematic discussion of this great theme. Treatises of eminent ability and value have appeared on separate departments of it ; but in the wide range embraced in this work of Owen, as well as in the power, depth, and resom-ces conspicuous in every chapter, it is not merely first, but single and alone in all our religious literature.