A53715:255
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.
By such ways (I say then) as these, persuade thy Conscience to hearken diligently to what the Law speaks in the Name of the Lord unto thee, about thy Lust and Corruption. Oh! if thy Ears be open, it will speak with a Voice that shall make thee tremble, that shall cast thee to the ground, and fill thee with Astonishment. If ever thou wilt mortify thy Corruptions, thou must tie up thy Conscience to the Law, shut it from all shifts and Exceptions until it owns its Guilt, with a clear and through Apprehension: So that thence, (as David speaks) thy Iniquity may ever be before thee.
By such wayes (I say then) as these, perswade thy Conscience to hearken diligently to what the Law speaks in the Name of the Lord unto thee, about thy Lust and Corruption. Oh! if thy Ears be open, it will speak with a Voyce that shall make thee tremble, that shall cast thee to the ground, and fill thee with Astonishment. If ever thou wilt mortifie thy Corruptions, thou must tye up thy Conscience to the Law, shut it from all shifts and Exceptions untill it owns its Guilt, with a clear and through Apprehension: So that thence, (as David speaks) thy Iniquity may ever be before thee.
(2) Bring thy Lust to the Gospel, not for Relief, but for farther conviction of its Guilt; look on him whom thou hast pierced, and be in bitterness. Say to thy Soul; What have I done? what Love, what Mercy, what Blood, what Grace have I despised and trampled on? Is this the Return I make to the Father for his Love, to the Son for his Blood, to the Holy Ghost for his Grace? Do I thus requite the Lord? Have I defiled the Heart that Christ dyed to wash; that the Blessed Spirit hath chosen to dwell in? And can I keep my self out of the Dust? What can I say to the dear Lord ⟨p. 118⟩Jesus? How shall I hold up my head with any boldness before him? Do I account Communion with him of so little value, that for this vile Lusts sake I have scarce left him any room in my Heart? How shall I escape, if I neglect so great Salvation? In the mean time, what shall I say to the Lord? Love, Mercy, Grace, Goodness, Peace, Joy, Consolation, I have despised them all, and esteemed them as a thing of nought, that I might harbour a Lust in my Heart.