A53715:118
Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers
Of the mortification of sin in believers: the 1. Necessity, 2. Nature, and 3. Means of it. With a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto belonging. By John Owen, D.D. a servant of Jesus Christ in the work of the Gospel.
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1668
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.
5. Occasional Conquests of Sin do not amount to a Mortifying of it.
There are two Occasions or Seasons, wherein a man who is contending with any sin, may seem to himself to have mortified it.
(1.) When it hath had some sad Eruption to the disturbance of his Peace, terror of his Conscience, dread of Scandal, and evident provocation of God. This awakens and stirs up all that is in the man, and amazes him; fills him with abhorrency of sin, and himself for it; sends him to God, makes him cry out as for Life, to abhor his Lust as Hell, and to set himself against it. The whole man, spiritual and natural being now awaked, Sin shrinks in its head, appears not, but lies as dead before him. As when one that hath drawn nigh to an Army in the Night, and hath killed a principal person; instantly the guards awake, men are roused up, and strict Enquiry is made after ⟨p. 49⟩the Enemy; who in the mean time, until the noise and tumult be over, hides himself, or lies like one that is dead, yet with firm Resolution to do the like mischief again, upon the like Opportunity. Upon the sin among the Corinthians, see how they muster up themselves for the surprisal and Destruction of it, 2 Epist. chap. 7. vers. 11. So it is in a person, when a breach hath been made upon his Conscience, Quiet, perhaps Credit, by his Lust, in some Eruption of Actual sin; Carefulness, Indignation, Desire, Fear, Revenge, are all set on work about it, and against it, and Lust is quiet for a season, being run down before them; but when the hurry is over, and the Inquest past, the Thief appears again alive, and is as busy as ever at his work.
(1.) When it hath had some sad Eruption to the disturbance of his Peace, terrour of his Conscience, dread of Scandal, and evident provocation of God. This awakens and stirres up all that is in the man, and amazes him; fills him with abhorrency of sin, and himself for it; sends him to God, makes him cry out as for Life, to abhorre his Lust as Hell, and to set himself against it. The whole man, spiritual and natural being now awaked, Sin shrinks in its head, appears not, but lyes as dead before him. As when one that hath drawn nigh to an Army in the Night, and hath killed a principal person; instantly the guards awake, men are roused up, and strict Enquiry is made after