A53707:624
Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…
Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints under spiritual decays : in two chapters, from John XVII, xxiv / by the late Reverend John Owen ...Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints under spiritual decayes : in two chapters, from John XVII, xxiv / by the late Reverend John Owen ...
London: printed by J.A. for William Marshall, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
HAVING laid the Foundation of this illustrious Testimony, I shall farther declare and confirm my Intention, so to make way for the Application of the Truth under Consideration unto this Case, manifesting, that the way whereby we may be made partakers of this Grace, is by a steady view of the Glory of Christ, as proposed unto us in the Gospel.
THERE is a latter Spring in the Year, a Spring in Autumn: it is indeed for the most part but faint and weak, yet is it such as the Husbandman cannot spare. And it is an evident sign of Barren ground, when it doth not put forth afresh towards the end of the Year. God the good Husbandman looks for the same from us, especially if we had a Summers drought in Spiritual Decays; as the Psalmist complains, Psal. 32. 4. Had we not had a latter Spring the last Year, the Land had greatly suffered under the drought of the Summer. And if we have had such a drought in the Course of our Profession by Spiritual Decays, as God the good Husbandman looks for a latter Spring in us, even in old Age, in the vigorous acting of Grace and fruitful Obedience: So without it we can neither have Peace nor Joy in our own Souls. If a Man therefore hath made a great Appearance of Religion in his former or younger days, and when he is growing into Age becomes dead, cold, worldly, selfish; if he have no fresh Springs of Spiritual Life in him, it is an Evidence that he hath a barren Heart, that was never really fruitful to God. I know that many stand in need of being excited by such warning, ⟨p. 33⟩unto a diligent consideration of their State and Condition.
TRERE is a latter Spring in the Year, a Spring in Autumn: it is indeed for the most part but faint and weak, yet is it such as the Husbandman cannot spare. And it is an evident sign of Barren ground, when it doth not put forth afresh towards the end of the Year. God the good Husbandman looks for the same from us, especially if we had a Summers drought in Spiritual Decays; as the Psalmist complains,