A53715:218
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.
CHAP. X.
The Second particular Direction. Get a clear Sense of (1) The Guilt of the Sin perplexing. Considerations for Help therein proposed. (2) The Danger manifold: 1. Hardening. 2. Temporal Correction. 3. Loss of Peace and Strength. 4. Eternal Destruction. Rules for this Management of the Consideration. (3) The Evil of it: 1. In Grieving the Spirit. 2. Wounding the New Creature.
THE Second Direction is this, Get a clear and abiding Sense upon thy Mind and Conscience of the (1) Guilt, (2) Danger, (3) Evil of that Sin wherewith thou art perplexed.
(1) Of the Guilt of it. It is one of the Deceits of a prevailing Lust, to extenuate its ⟨p. 101⟩own Guilt. Is it not a little one? When I go and bow my self in the House of Rimmon, God be merciful to me in This thing. Though this be bad, yet it is not so bad as such and such an Evil, others of the People of God have had such a Frame; yea what dreadful Actual sins have some of them fallen into! Innumerable ways there are whereby Sin diverts the Mind from a right and due Apprehension of its Guilt. Its noisome Exhalations darken the Mind, that it cannot make a right Judgment of things; Perplexing Reasonings, extenuating Promises, tumultuating Desires, treacherous Purposes of relinquishment, hopes of Mercy; all have a share in disturbing the Mind, in its Consideration of the Guilt of a prevailing Lust. The Prophet tells us, that Lust will do thus wholly, when it comes to the height: