A53715:138
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.
1. One lust, or a lust in one man, may receive ⟨p. 54⟩many accidental Improvements, heightnings, and strengthnings, which may give it life, power and vigour, exceedingly above what another Lust hath, or the same lust, that is of the same Kind and Nature in another man. When a Lust falls in with the natural Constitution and Temper, with a suitable course of Life, with Occasions; or when Satan hath got a fit handle to it to manage it, as he hath a thousand ways so to do, that Lust grows violent and impetuous above others, or more than the same lust in another man; Then the steams of it darken the Mind, so that though a man knows the same things as formerly, yet they have no power, nor influence on the Will, but corrupt Affections and Passions are set by it at liberty.
1. One lust, or a lust in one man, may receive ⟨p. 54⟩many accidental Improvements, heightnings, and strengthnings, which may give it life, power and vigour, exceedingly above what another Lust hath, or the same lust, that is of the same Kind and Nature in another man. When a Lust falls in with the natural Constitution and Temper, with a suitable course of Life, with Occasions; or when Sathan hath got a fit handle to it to manage it, as he hath a thousand wayes so to doe, that Lust growes violent and impetuous above others, or more than the same lust in another man; Then the steams of it darken the Mind, so that though a man knowes the same things as formerly, yet they have no power, nor influence on the Will, but corrupt Affections and Passions are set by it at liberty.
But especially, Lust gets strength by Temptation; when a suitable Temptation falls in wi•h a Lust, it gives it a new life, vigour, power, violence and rage which it seemed not before to have, or to be capable of. Instances to this purpose might be multiplied; but it is the design of some part of another Treatise to evince th•s Observation.