A53715:322
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) Men certainly speak peace to themselves, when their so doing is not attended with the greatest detestation imaginable of that sin in reference whereunto they do speak Peace to themselves, and abhorrency of themselves for it. When men are wounded by sin, disquieted and perplexed, and knowing that there is no remedy for them, but only in the mercies of God through the blood of Christ, do therefore look to him, and to the Promises of the Covenant in him, and thereupon quiet their hearts that it shall be well with them, and that God will be exalted that he may be gracious to them, and yet their Souls are not wrought to the greatest detestation of the sin or sins upon the Account whereof they are disquieted; this is to heal themselves, and not to be healed of God. This is but a great and strong wind, that the Lord is nigh unto, but the Lord is not in the wind. When men do truly look upon Christ whom they have ⟨p. 148⟩pierced, (without which there is no Healing or Peace,) they will mourn, Zech. 12.10. they will mourn for him even upon this account, and detest the sin that pierced him. When we go to Christ for healing, Faith eyes him peculiarly as one pierced. Faith takes several views of Christ according to the Occasions of Address to him, and communion with him that it hath. Sometimes it views his Holiness, sometimes his power, sometimes his love, his favour with his Father. And when it goes for healing and peace, it looks especially on the blood of the Covenant, on his Sufferings; for by his stripes are we healed, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him, Isa. 53.5. when we look for Healing, his stripes are to be eyed; not in the outward story of them, which is the course of Popish Devotionists, but in the Love, Kindness, Mystery and design of the Cross. And when we look for peace, his Chastisements must be in our eye: Now this I say, if it be done according to the mind of God, and in the strength of that Spirit which is poured out on Believers, it will beget a detestation of that sin or sins, for which healing and peace is sought. So Ezek. 16.60, 61. nevertheless I will remember my Covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant, and what then? then thou shalt remember thy