A53715:239
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. It grieves the Holy and Blessed Spirit, which is given to Believers to dwell in them and abide with them. So the Apostle, (Ephes. 4.25, 26, 27, 28, 29.) dehorting them from many Lusts and Sins, gives this as the great Motive of it, vers. 30. Grieve not the holy ⟨p. 111⟩Spirit, whereby you are sealed to the day of Redemption. Grieve not that Spirit of God (saith he) whereby you receive so many and so great Benefits; of which he instances in one signal and comprehensive one, Sealing to the day of Redemption. He is grieved by it, as a tender and loving Friend is grieved at the unkindness of his Friend, of whom he hath well deserved; so is it with this tender and loving Spirit, who hath chosen our Hearts for an Habitation to dwell in, and there to do for us all that our Souls desire. He is grieved by our harbouring his Enemies, and those whom he is to destroy in our Hearts with him. He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve Us, Lam. 3.33. and shall we daily grieve Him? Thus is he said sometimes to be vexed, sometimes grieved at his heart, to express the greatest sense of our provocation. Now if there be any thing of gracious Ingenuity left in the Soul, if it be not utterly hardened by the Deceitfulness of Sin, this Consideration will certainly affect it. Consider Who and What thou art, who the Spirit is that is grieved, what he hath done for thee, what he comes to thy Soul about, what he hath already done in thee; and be ashamed. Among those who walk with God, there is no greater Motive and Incentive unto universal Holiness, and the preserving of their Hearts and Spirits in all Purity and Cleanness, than this, ⟨p. 112⟩That the blessed Spirit who hath undertaken to dwell in them as Temples of God, and to preserve them meet for him who so dwells in them, is continually considering what they give Entertainment in their Hearts unto; and rejoiceth when his Temple is kept undefiled; that was an high Aggravation of the Sin of Zimri, that he brought his Adulteress into the Congregation in the sight of Moses, and the rest, who were weeping for the Sins of the people, Numb. 25.6. and is it not an high Aggravation of the countenancing a Lust, or suffering it to abide in the Heart, when it is (as it must be, if we are Believers) entertained under the peculiar Eye and View of the Holy Ghost; taking care to preserve his Tabernacle pure and holy?