A53707:649
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.
AND herein lieth a signal difference in this matter, between sincere Believers, and those who believe only for a time; for those of the latter sort do either not perceive their Sickness and Decays, their Minds being taken up and possessed with other things; or if they do find that it is not with them as it hath been formerly, they are not much concerned, and on any occasional new Conviction they cry, Yet a little more slumber, a little more sleep, a little more folding of the hands to sleep: But when the other do find any thing of this Nature, it makes them restless for a Recovery. And although through the many Snares, Temptations, and Deceits of Sin, or through their Ignorance of the right way for their Healing, they do not many of them obtain a speedy Recovery, yet none of them do approve themselves in such a Condition, or turn unto any undue Reliefs.
AND herein lyeth a signal difference in this matter, between sincere Believers, and those who believe only for a time; for those of the latter sort do either not perceive their Sickness and Decays, their Minds being taken up and possessed with other things; or if they do find that it is not with them as it hath been formerly, they are not much concerned, and on any occasional new Conviction they cry, Yet a little more slumber, a little more sleep, a little more folding of the hands to sleep: But when the other do find any thing of this Nature, it makes them restless for a Recovery. And although through the many Snares, Temptations, and Deceits of Sin, or through their Ignorance of the right way for their Healing, they do not many of them obtain a speedy Recovery, yet none of them do approve themselves in such a Condition, or turn unto any undue Reliefs.
NOW that Believers are subject to Decays in both the ways mentioned, we have full Testimony in Scripture: For as unto that general gradual Decay in the loss of our first Faith, Love, and Works, in the weakening of the internal Principle of Spiritual Life, with the loss thereon of Delight, Joy and Consolation, and the Abatement of the Fruits of Obedience, our Lord Jesus ⟨p. 45⟩Christ doth expressly charge it on five of the seven Churches of Asia,