X PREFACE.
ascertaining the precise import of its statements, that he often sheds new and striking light on other passages besides the one which it may be the object of the sermon to explain and enforce. Singular tact is evinced in eliciting the general truths or principles raised for consideration by the text. While there are many indications of haste and negligence, it may be safely affirmed, that there is not a para- graph of worthless or frivolous matter which any reader could have wished away, and passages often occur conceived in no common strain of eloquence; while, even amidst the tamest sentences, burning thoughts are found, thrown out freely and at random by the author, as if unconscious of the effect they would produce, or careless whether they produced any effect at all. The depths of Christian experience are admirably unfolded, and the general spirit and tenor of his state- ments are calculated to tell with power upon the unconverted, and to commend themselves with acceptance to the enlightened conscience. No feature, indeed, in his sermons is more prominent and remark- able,— especially in the sermons delivered towards the close of his life, and which labour under the disadvantage of never having been intended for the press, — than the skill with which he can scrutinize character and motives, till his hearers must have felt as if, in gauging their inward being, the preacher had laid his hand, with intuitive discernment, on the deepest secrets of their bosom. Nor does this result from an affected refinement of metaphysical discussion and analysis; but from the simple adaptation of truth, so as to tell on the wide variety of human character. Among uninspired authors, it is pre-eminently true of Owen, that, by the manifestation of the truth, he commends himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. At the same time, the highest qualities of thought and a rare know- ledge of human nature are often evinced; and on joerusing the ser- mons on Popery, " The Chamber of Imagery," and, "On the Autho- rity of Scripture," the reader will be struck with the powers of saga- cious and philosophic analysis displayed in the former, and with the logical point and acumen of the latter, — stamping on them a fresh- ness and value as continued and endming as the importance of the great controversy itself to which they relate. The more, in short, these Discourses of Owen are studied, it will be found that their chief blemish — if it be a blemish — is the tendency of the author, in the fertility of his resources, to compress within the limits of one sermon what, to minds less affluent, would have furnished precious materials for several sermons; and though some may desiderate in them the minor graces of composition, it would be unwise to forget that, apart from any shapes of elegance and utility into which it may be fashioned by art, sterling gold, in the broad market of the world, will always command a value of its own.
Editor.
SERMON L
A VISION OF UNCHANGEABLE, FREE MERCY, IN SENDING THE MEANS OF GRACE TO UNDESERVING SINNERS :
■wnEREDJ god's uncontrollable eternal purpose, in sending antj continuing the
GOSPEL UNTO THIS NATION, IN THE MIDST OF OPPOSITIONS AND CONTINGENCIES,
IS DISCOATERED; HIS DISTINGUISHING MERCY IN THIS GREAT WORK
EXALTED, ASSERTED AGAINST OPPOSERS, REFINERS.
WHEREU.VTO IS ANNEXED
A S30RT DEPENSATIVE ABOUT CHURCH GOVERNMENT,
(WITH A COUNTRY ESSAY FOR THE PRACTICE OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT THERE)
TOLERATION, AND PETITIONS ABOUT THESE THINGS.
VOL. VIII.
niEFATORY NOTE.
The occasion on whicli this sermon was delivered is mentioned in the " Life of Owen," vol. i. p. 34. From tlie title-page of the original eaition of the sermon, Owen aj)pears to have been " minister of the gosj)el at Coggeshall, in Essex," ■when it was publisiied. By some inadvertency, Mr Orme, in his valuable memoir of our author, represents him as called to preach this sermon to the House of Commons before he left the parish of Fordham; a statement which can be re- conciled with the oi'igiual title-page only by the supposition that his removal to Coggeshall had occun-ed in the interval before the publication of the sermon. Asty, however, distinctly informs ns that he was settled at Coggeshall when he first preached before tlie House of Commons.
The sermon was preached on Wednesdiiy the 29th of April 1646; and the time is important, as it was the close of the first civil war. During the previous month, Ilopton and Astley, the last generals who kept the field in the interest of Charles J., liad been compelled to surrender. " You have now done your work," said Astley to his victoi'S, " and may go to play, — unless you will fall out among yourselves." So truly was the work done, that Oliver Ciomwell had returned to his place in Parliament on the 22d of April, and on the follow ing ^Monday the king left Oxfoi d in disguise, and, after some hesitation of purpose, found his way to the Scots army.
A sufficient interval had hardly elapsed to give Owen an opportunity of exhi- biting in his sermon any reflection of these memorable events. It is perhaps inoie to his credit, that, when summoned from the obscurity of his pastoral duties at Coggeshall to preach the gosjiel in " the chief place of concourse," and before the ruleis of the land, he seizes the opportunity to portray the sj^'iitual destitution which existed in Wales, and large districts of England, and to make an appeal for " help," in a strain of holy fervour and commanding eloquence, that will bear comparison with the best productions of the British pulpit. The reasoning at the outset is somewhat abstract, — not unsuited, perhaps, to an assembly of the leading men in the country; but throughout the discouise there is conspicuous that haj)i)y combination of argument and declamation which constitutes genuine oratory. Bogue and Bennett have remarked, " Those who are only acquainted with the general strain of Osven's writings, would not suppose him cajiable of pouring forth that flood of lucid, glowing, popular eloquence, which is displayed in this sermon." — History of Dissenters, vol. ii. p. 228.