A53708:196
Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ
Meditations and discourses on the glory of Christ, in his person, office, and grace with the differences between faith and sight applied unto the use of them that believe / by the late Reverend John Owen, D.D.
London: printed by B.A., 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 3: The Glory of Christ in the Mysterious Constitution of his Person.
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.
IT were well if all Churches and Possessors now would manifest the same Diligence herein, as did the Church of old in this Example. Many of them, if they are not hardened by the Deceitfulness of Sin, cannot but be sensible that the Lord Christ is variously withdrawn from them, if ever they had experience of the Power of his Presence: Yet are the generality of them far from the frame of heart here described in the Spouse; for they are slothful, careless, negligent, and stir not up themselves to enquire after him, or his return unto their Souls. So was it with Laodicea of old, so was it with Sardis, and so it is to be feared that it is with many at present. But to return.
GENERALLY Christ is nigh unto Believers, and of a ready Access; and the principal Actings of the Life of Faith, consists in the frequency of our Thoughts concerning him; for hereby Christ liveth in us, as he is said to do, Gal. 2. 20. This we cannot do, unless we have frequent thoughts of him, and converse with him. It is often said among Men, that one lives in another; this cannot be but where the Affections of one are so engaged unto another, that night and day he thinks of him, and is thereby as it were present with him. So ought it to be between Christ and Believers. He dwells in them by Faith; but the Actings of this Life in them (as where-ever Life is, it will be in ⟨p. 54⟩act and exercise) are proportionable unto their Thoughts of him, and Delight in him.
GENERALLY Christ is nigh unto Believers, and of a ready Access; and the principal Actings of the Life of Faith, consists in the frequency of our Thoughts concerning him; for hereby Christ liveth in us, as he is said to do, Gal. 2. 20. This we cannot do, unless we have frequent thoughts of him, and converse with him. It is often said among Men, that one lives in another; this cannot be but where the Affections of one are so ingaged unto another, that night and day he thinks of him, and is thereby as it were present with him. So ought it to be between Christ and Believers. He dwells in them by Faith; but the Actings of this Life in them (as where-ever Life is, it will be in