A53715:274
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.
(2) That the means whereby this is done, namely, by fasting and watching, and the like, be not looked on as things that in Themselves, and by virtue of their Own Power, can produce true Mortification of any Sin; for if they would, Sin might be mortified without any help of the Spirit, in any unregenerate person in the world. They are to be looked on only as ways whereby the Spirit may, ⟨p. 125⟩and sometimes doth put forth strength for the accomplishing of his own work, especially in the Case mentioned. Want of a right understanding and due Improvement of these and the like Considerations, hath raised a Mortification among the Papists that may be better applied to Horses and other Beasts of the Field, than to Believers.
(2) That the means whereby this is done, namely, by fasting and watching, and the like, be not looked on as things that in Themselves, and by virtue of their Own Power, can produce true Mortification of any Sin; for if they would, Sin might be mortified without any help of the Spirit, in any unregenerate person in the world. They are to be looked on onely as wayes whereby the Spirit may, ⟨p. 125⟩and sometimes doth put forth strength for the accomplishing of his own work, especially in the Case mentioned. Want of a right understanding and due Improvement of these and the like Considerations, hath raised a Mortification among the Papists that may be better applyed to Horses and other Beasts of the Field, than to Believers.
This is the sum of what hath been spoken; when the distemper complained of, seems to be rooted in Natural temper and constitution, in applying our Souls to a participation of the Blood and Spirit of Christ, an Endeavour is to be used, to give check in the way of God, to the natural Root of that Distemper.
This is the summe of what hath been spoken; when the distemper complained of, seems to be rooted in Natural temper and constitution, in applying our Souls to a participation of the Blood and Spirit of Christ, an Endeavour is to be used, to give check in the way of God, to the natural Root of that Distemper.