A53715:26
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.
The choicest Believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days, to mortify the indwelling power of sin.
The choisest Believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their dayes, to mortifie the indwelling power of sin.
3. The principal efficient Cause of the performance of this Duty, is the Spirit: [Greek or Hebrew], if by the Spirit. The Spirit here, is the Spirit mentioned vers. 11. the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God, that dwells in us, vers. 9. that quickens us, vers. 11. the Holy Ghost, vers. 14. the Spirit of Adoption, vers. 15. the Spirit that maketh Intercession for us, vers. 26. All other ways of Mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless, it must be done by the Spirit. Men, as the Apostle intimates, Rom. 9.30, 31, 32. may attempt this work on other Principles, by Means and Advantages administered on other accounts, as they always have done, and do; but (saith he) this is the work of the Spirit, by him alone is it to be wrought, and by no other power is it to be brought about. Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by way•s of self-invention, unto the End of a self-Righteousness, is the Soul and substance of all false Religion in the world: And this is a second Principle of my ensuing Discourse.
3. The principal efficient Cause of the performance of this Duty, is the Spirit: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, if by the Spirit. The Spirit here, is the Spirit mentioned vers. 11. the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God, that dwells in us, vers. 9. that quickens us, vers. 11. the Holy Ghost, vers. 14. the Spirit of Adoption, vers. 15. the Spirit that maketh Intercession for us, vers. 26. All other wayes of Mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless, it must be done by the Spirit. Men, as the Apostle intimates,