A53715:235
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.
II. That he who is so entangled (as above described) under the Power of any Corruption, can have at that present no clear prevailing Evidence of his Interest in the Covenant, by the Efficacy whereof he may be delivered from Fear of Destruction. So that Destruction from the Lord may justly be a Terror to him; And he may, he ought to look upon it, as that which will be the End of his Course and ways. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. True! but who shall have the comfort of this Assertion? Who may assume it to himself? They that walk after the Spirit, and not after the Flesh. But you will say, Is not this to persuade men to unbelief? I answer, No; there is a twofold Judgement that a man may make of himself; 1. Of his Person, and 2. Of his Ways. It is the judgment of his Ways, not his Person that I speak of; Let a man get the best Evidence for his Person that he can, yet to judge that an evil Way will end in Destruction, is his Duty; not to do it, is Atheism. I do not say, that in such a Condition a man ought to throw away the Evidences of ⟨p. 110⟩his personal Interest in Christ; but I say, he cannot keep them. There is a two-fold condemnation of a mans self:
II. That he who is so intangled (as above described) under the Power of any Corruption, can have at that present no clear prevailing Evidence of his Interest in the Covenant, by the Efficacy whereof he may be delivered from Fear of Destruction. So that Destruction from the Lord may justly be a Terrour to him; And he may, he ought to look upon it, as that which will be the End of his Course and wayes. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. True! but who shall have the comfort of this Assertion? Who may assume it to himself? They that walk after the Spirit, and not after the Flesh. But you will say, Is not this to perswade men to unbelief? I answer, No; there is a twofold Judgement that a man may make of himself; 1. Of his Person, and 2. Of his Wayes. It is the judgment of his Wayes, not his Person that I speak of; Let a man get the best Evidence for his Person that he can, yet to judge that an evil Way will end in Destruction, is his Duty; not to do it, is Atheism. I do not say, that in such a Condition a man ought to throw away the Evidences of