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THE
WORKS
JOHN OWEN, D.D.
EDITED
BY THE REV. WILLIAM H. GOOLD,
EDINBURGH.
YOL. VI.
:N^EW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS,
285 BROADWAY.
M.DCCC.LI.
CONTENTS OF VOL. VL
OF THE MORTIFICATLON OF SIN IN BELIEVERS, ETC.
Prefatory Note by the Editor ....... 2
Preface ... ........ 3
CHAPTER I.
The foundation of the whole ensuing discourse laid in Rom. viii. 13 — The words of the apostle opened — The certain connection between true mortification and sal- vation—Mortification the work of believers— The Spirit the principal efficient cause of it — What meant by "the body " in the words of the apostle — What by " the deeds of the body " — Life, in what sense promised to this duty
CHAPTER II.
The principal assertion concerning the necessity of mortification proposed to con- firmation— Mortification the duty of the best believers, Col. iii. 5 ; 1 Cor. ix. 27 — Indwelling sin always abides; no perfection in this life, Phil. iii. 12; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; 2 Pet. iii. IS; Gal. v. 17, etc. — The activity of abiding sin in believers, Rom. vii. 23 ; James iv. 5 ; Heb. xii. 1 — Its fruitfulness and tendency — Every lust aims at the height in its kind — The Spirit and new nature given to contend against indwelling sin, Gal. v. 17; 2 Pet. i. 4, 5; Rom. vii. 23 — The fearful issue of the neglect of mortification. Rev. iii. 2 ; Heb. iii. 13 — The first general prin- ciple of the whole discourse hence confirmed — Want of this duty lamented
CHAPTER III.
The second general principle of the means of mortification proposed to confirmation — The Spirit the only author of this work— Vanity of popish mortification dis- covered— Many means of it used by them not appointed of God— Those appointed by him abused— Tlie mistakes of others in this business— The Spirit is promised believers for this work, Ezek. xi. 19, xxxvi. 26 — All that we receive from Christ is by the Spirit— How the Spirit mortifies sin— Gal. v. 19-23 — The several ways of his operation to this end proposed — How his work and our duty . . 1 G
VOL. VI. A
IV CONTENTS.
CILA.PTER IV.
Page The last principle; of tlic usefulness of mortification— The vigour and comfort of our spiritual lives depend on our mortification— In what sense— Not absolutely and necessarily ; Ps. Ixxxviii., Heman's condition— Not as on the next and im- mediate cause — As a means ; by removing of the contrary — The desperate effects / of any unmortificd lust ; it weakens the soul, Ps. xxxviii. 3, 8, sundry ways, and darkens it — All graces improved by the mortification of sin— The best evidence of sincerity . . ....... 21
CHAPTER V.
I'he principal intendment of the whole discourse proposed— The first main case of conscience stated — What it is to mortify any sin, negatively considered— Not the utter destruction of it in this life — Not the dissimulation of it — Not the im- provement of any natural principle — Not the diversion of it — Not an occasional conquest — Occasional conquests of sin, what and when ; upon the eruption of sin; in time of danger or trouble . . . . . • .24
CHAPTER VI.
'J'he mortification of sin in particular described — The several parts and degrees thereof —The habitual weakening of its i-oot and principle — The power of lust to tempt — Differences of that power as to persons and times — Constant fighting against sin — The parts thereof considered— Success against it — The sum of tliis discourse considered ......... 28
CHAPTER VII.
General rules, without Avhich no lust will be mortified — No mortification unless a man be a believer— Dangers of attempting mortification of sin by unregenerate persons — The duty of unconverted persons as to this business of mortification considered— The vanity of the Papists' attempts and rules for mortification thence discovered ......... 3.3
CHAPTER VIII.
The second general rule proposed — Without universal sincerity for the mortifying of every lust, no lust will be morlified — Partial mortification always from a cor- rupt principle — Perplexity of temptation from a lust oftentimes a chastening for other negligences . . . . . . . . .40
CHAPTER IX.
Particular directions in relation to the foregoing case proposed— First, Consider tlie dangerous symptoms of any lust— 1. Inveteratencss — 2. Peace obtained under it; the several ways whereby that is done — 3. Frequency of success in its seduc- tions— i. Tlie soul's fighting against it with arguments only taken from the event — 5. Its being attended with judiciary hardness — 6. Its withstanding particular dealings from God — The state of pei-sons in whom these tilings are found 43
CHAPTER X.
The SECOND pai'ticular dii'cction: Get a clear sense of, — 1. 'J'he guilt of the sin per- plexing— Considerations for help therein proposed — 2. The danger manifold — (1.) Hardening — (2.) Temporal correction — (3.) Loss of peace and strength — (4.) Etcni.al destruction — Rules for the management of this consideration — 3. The evil of it— (I.) In grieving the Spirit— (2.) Wounding the new creature- [(3.) 'J'aking av<'ay a man"s u.sefulness.] , . . . • . .30