A53715:41
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.
That 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.
That The choicest 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.
So the Apostle, Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore your members, which are upon the earth. Whom speaks he to? such as were risen with Christ, vers. 1. such as were dead with him, vers. 3. such as whose Life Christ was, and who should appear with him in Glory, vers. 4. Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work, be always at it whilst you live, cease not a day from this work; be killing Sin, or it will be killing you; your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work. And our Saviour tells us, how his Father deals with every branch in him that beareth fruit, every true and living Branch; He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit, Joh. 15.2. He prunes it, and that not for a day or two, but whilst it is a branch in this world. And the Apostle tells you what was his practice, 1 Cor. 9.27. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. I do it (saith he) daily, it is the work of my Life, I omit it not; this is my Business. And if this were the work and business of Paul, who was so incomparably exalted in Grace, Light, Revelations, Enjoyments, Privileges, Consolations, above the ordinary measure of Believers; where may we possibly bottom an Exemption from this Work and Duty whilst we are in this world. Some brief account of the Reasons hereof may be given.
So the Apostle, Col. 3.5. Mortifie therefore your members, which are upon the earth. Whom speaks he to? such as were risen with Christ, vers. 1. such as were dead with him, vers. 3. such as whose Life Christ was, and who should appear with him in Glory, vers. 4. Do you mortifie; do you make it your daily work, be alwayes at it whilest you live, cease not a day from this work; be killing Sin, or it will be killing you; your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work. And our Saviour tells us, how his Father deals with every branch in him that beareth fruit, every true and living Branch; He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit,