A53715:324
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.
they address themselves for mercy, yea to the Lord in Christ they address themselves for mercy, but yet will keep the sweet Morsel of their Sin under their Tongue,) let them (I say) never think to have true and solid peace. For instance, Thou findest thy Heart running out after the World, and it disturbs thee in thy ⟨p. 151⟩communion with God; the Spirit speaks expressly to thee, He that loveth the World, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 Joh. 2.15. This puts thee on dealing with God in Christ for the healing of thy Soul, the quieting of thy Conscience; but yet withal a through detestation of the evil it self abides not upon thee; yea perhaps that is liked well enough, but only in respect of the Consequences of it; perhaps thou mayst be saved, yet as through fire; and God will have some work with thee before he hath done, but thou wilt have little Peace in this Life; thou wilt be sick and fainting all thy days, Isa. 57.17. This is a Deceit that lies at the root of the Peace of many Professors, and wa•ts it; they deal with all their strength about Mercy and Pardon; and seem to have great Communion with God in their so doing: they lye before him, bewail their Sins and Follies, that any one would think (yea they think themselves) that surely they and their Sins are now parted, and so receive in Mercy that satisfies their Hearts for a little season; but when a through search comes to be made, there hath been some secret reserve for the Folly or Follies treated about; at least there hath not been that through Abhorrency of it which is necessary; and their whole peace is quickly discovered to be weak •nd rotten; scarce abiding any ⟨p. 152⟩longer than the words of begging it are in their mouths.
they address themselves for mercy, yea to the Lord in Christ they address themselves for mercy, but yet will keep the sweet Morsel of their Sin under their Tongue,) let them (I say) never think to have true and solid peace. For instance, Thou findest thy Heart running out after the World, and it disturbs thee in thy