Reasons of the want of growth in our spiritual affections as unto this assimilation, 4 ; : é
PaGe
282
298
308
332
344
351
367
379
394
410
416
423
430
445
CONTENTS.
CHap.
. XVII.—Decays in spiritual affections, with the causes and danger of them—Ad- vice unto them who are sensible of the evil of spiritual decays, :
XVIUI.—[The state of spiritual affections], .
XIX.—[The true notion and consideration of epiritaal and heavenly ingaie XX —[The application of the soul unto spiritual objects], 5 % XXI.—{Spiritual mindedness life and peace], . “ 5 i :
A TREATISE OF THE DOMINION OF SIN AND GRACE.
Preratory Notre By THE Epiror, . c ; : 2 5 To the serious reader, A : . 7 3 ; :
I.—What sin is consistent with the state of grace, and what not—Sin’s great design in all to obtain dominion: it hath it in unbelievers, and con- tends for it in believers—The ways by which it acts,
II.—The inquiries for understanding the text proposed—The first epeken. to, namely, What is the dominion of sin, which we are freed from and dis- charged of by grace,
IlJ.—The second inquiry spoken to, Whether sin hath Geen in us or not— In answer to which it is showed that some wear sin’s livery, and they are the professed servants thereof—There are many in which the case is dubious, where sin’s service is not so discernible—Several exceptions are put in against its dominion where it seems to prevail—Some certain signs of its dominion—Graces and duties to be exercised for its morti- fication,
IV.—Hardness of heart epoken to as an eainent sign of sin’s eS and it is shown that it ought to be considered as total or partial,
V.—The third inquiry handled, namely, What is the assurance given us, and what are the grounds thereof, that sin shall not have dominion over us —The ground of this assurance is, that we are “ not under the law, but under grace’’—The force of this reason shown, namely, How the law doth not destroy the dominion of sin, and how grace dethrones sin and gives dominion over it, 2 c
Vi—tThe practical observations drawn from, ‘and application mada of, the whole text, 5 : é 3 F : 4 ‘
Vv
PAGE
456 467 ATA. 482 488
500 501
505
508
517
534
542
552
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THE NATURE OF APOSTASY FROM THE PROFESSION OF THE GOSPEL AND THE PUNISHMENT OF APOSTATES DECLARED,
IN
AN EXPOSITION OF HEB. VI. 46; WITH
AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES AND REASONS OF THE DECAY OF THE POWER OF RELIGION IN THE WORLD, OR THE PRESENT GENERAL DEFECTION FROM THE TRUTH, HOLINESS, AND WORSHIP OF THE GOSPEL; ALSO, OF THE PRONENESS OF CHURCHES AND PERSONS OF ALL SORTS UNTO APOSTASY.
WITH REMEDIES AND MEANS OF PREVENTION.
Search the Scriptures.—Joan v. 39.
LONDON: 1676.
VOL. VII. i!
PREFATORY NOTE.
Iv is not uncommon for Christians, in a desponding mood, to ascribe unusual degeneracy in morals and religion to their own age. ‘I'he sudden change, however, from the strict decorum of the Commonwealth to the licence which marked the reign of Charles I. has ‘often been the subject of speculation and inquiry. Mr Macaulay thus confirms our author’s estimate of the rapid decline of morality at this time :—“ A change still more im- portant took place in the morals and manners of the community. Those passions and tastes which, under the rule of the Puritans, had been sternly repressed, and, if grati- fied at all, had been gratified by stealth, broke forth with ungovernable violence as soon as the check was withdrawn.’’—Hist. of Eng., vol. i. p.179. The historian, dealing with the surface of affairs rather than with the springs of conduct, may account the vulgar theory of a reaction against enforced strictness sufficient to explain this sudden lowering of the moral tone of a community; and in regard to a portion of society the theory may be admitted to be correct. The causes of the change, however, must have lain deeper; the blighting influence extended even into Puritan circles, where the con- tamination of courtly vices could hardly reach, and where early training would counter- vail any cessation of restraint, and beyond Britain, into other countries, where a similar decline can be traced, for which it is impossible to account simply on the principle of a reaction. Puritan decorum might as well be said to have been a mere reaction against such irreligious frivolity as bore the stamp of royal sanction in the “ Book of Sports.” . Besides, the austerity ascribed to the Puritans is absurdly exaggerated; many a glimpse we possess into their domestic life shows that in reality it was the chosen scene of every genial influence, and household affections never appeared to more advantage than in the families of the Henrys. Owen, with his usual wisdom, avoids the extreme generalization that would resolve the complex apostasy of his age into any one predominant cause, and reviews in succession various influences which conspired to produce the result deplored. His treatise will be found to be a successful treatment of a deeply interesting question ; and it closes in a strain of solemn appeal, appropriate to a work written, according to its author, “amid prayers and tears.”’