A53719:289
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
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. It is an Evidence that the Image of God is begun to be wrought in our own Souls; and we approve of and rejoice in it more than in all other things whatever. ⟨p. 143⟩Whatever Notions men may have of the Divine Goodness, Holiness, Righteousness and Purity, they are all but barren, jejune and fruitless, unless there be a similitude and conformity unto them, wrought in their Minds and Souls. Without this they cannot rejoice in the Thoughts and Remembrance of the Divine Excellencies. Wherefore when we can do so, when such Meditations of God are sweet unto us, it is an Evidence that we have some experience in our selves of the excellency of the Image of those Perfections, and that we rejoice in them above all things in this world.
2. It is an Evidence that the Image of God is begun to be wrought in our own Souls; and we approve of and rejoyce in it more than in all other things whatever. ⟨p. 143⟩Whatever Notions men may have of the Divine Goodness, Holiness, Righteousness and Purity, they are all but barren, jejune and fruitless, unless there be a similitude and conformity unto them, wrought in their Minds and Souls. Without this they cannot rejoyce in the Thoughts and Remembrance of the Divine Excellencies. Wherefore when we can do so, when such Meditations of God are sweet unto us, it is an Evidence that we have some experience in our selves of the excellency of the Image of those Perfections, and that we rejoyce in them above all things in this world.
3. They are so also, in that they are manifest, that we do discern and judge that our Eternal Blessedness doth consist in the full Manifestation, and our Enjoyment of God in what he is, and of all his Divine Excellencies. This Men for the most part take for granted, but how it should be so, they know not. They understand it in some measure whose hearts are here deeply affected with Delight in them; they are able to believe that the manifestation and Enjoyment of the Divine Excellencies will give Eternal Rest, satisfaction and complacency unto their Souls. No wicked man can look upon it otherwise than a Torment, to abide for ever with Eternal Holiness,