A53715:210
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.
Yea know that this Reserve will not long hold out: if thy Lust hath driven thee from stronger Gospel Forts, it will speedily prevail against this also; do not suppose that such Considerations will deliver thee, when thou hast voluntarily given up to thine Enemy those Helps and Means of Preservation which have a thousand times their Strength. Rest assuredly in this, that unless thou recover thy self with speed from this Condition, the thing that thou fearest will come upon thee; what Gospel Principles do not, legal Motives cannot do.
Yea know that this Reserve will not long hold out: if thy Lust hath driven thee from stronger Gospel Forts, it will speedily prevail against this also; do not suppose that such Considerations will deliver thee, when thou hast voluntarily given up to thine Enemy those Helps and Means of Preservation which have a thousand times their Strength. Rest assuredly in this, that unless thou recover thy self with speed from this Condition, the thing that thou fearest will come upon thee; what Gospel Principles do not, legal Motives cannot doe.
(5) When it is probable that there is, or may be somewhat of judiciary hardness, or at least chastening Punishment in thy Lust as disquieting; This is another dangerous symptom. That God doth sometimes leave even those of his own, under the perplexing power at least of some Lust or Sin, to correct them for former sins, Negligence and Folly, I no way doubt. Hence was that complaint of the Church, Why hast thou hardened us from the fear of thy Name, Isa. 63.17. That this is his way of dealing with unregenerate men, no man questions. But how shall a man know ⟨p. 96⟩whether there be any thing of Gods chastening hand, in his being left to the disquietment of his distemper?
(5) When it is probable that there is, or may be somewhat of judiciary hardness, or at least chastening Punishment in thy Lust as disquieting; This is another dangerous symptome. That God doth sometimes leave even those of his own, under the perplexing power at least of some Lust or Sin, to correct them for former sins, Negligence and Folly, I no way doubt. Hence was that complaint of the Church, Why hast thou hardened us from the fear of thy Name,