A Puritan at Heart

In the practical direction of the consciences of men, in their application unto God by, Jesus Christ, from deliverance from  the curse due unto the apostate state, and peace with Him, with the influence of the way thereof unto universal gospel obedience, that is alone to be designed in the handling of this doctrine. And therefore, unto him, that would treat of it in a due manner, it is required that  he weigh everything he asserts in his own mind and experience, and not dare to propose that unto others which he doth not abide in himself, in the most intimate recesses of his mind, under his nearest approaches unto God, in his suprisals with danger, in deep afflictions, in his preparations for death, and most humble contemplation of the infinite distance between God and him. Other notions… not seasoned with these ingredients.. are insipid and useless.  [John Owen]

Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves; but our not forgiving others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven. [John Owen]

Not only does God require holiness indispensibly in all believers, but this is all that he requires of them or expects from them; for it comprises the whole duty of man. [John Owen]

There is no man whatever that hath any want in reference unto the things of God, but Christ will be unto him that which he wants..Is he dead? Christ is life. Is he weak? Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Hath he the sense of guilt upon him? Christ is complete righteousness… Many poor creatures are sensible of their wants, but know not where theremedy lies. Indeed, whether it be life or light, power or joy, all is wrapped up in him. [John Owen]

I confess I would rather, much rather, spend all my time and days in making up and healing the breaches and schisms that are amongst Christians than one hour in justifying our divisions, even therein wherein, on the one side, they are capable of a fair defence. But who is sufficient for such an attempt? The closing of differences amongst Christians is like opening the book in the Revelation—there is none able or worthy to do it, in heaven or in earth, but the Lamb; when He will put forth the greatness of His power for it, it shall be accomplished, and not before. In the meantime, a reconciliation amongst all Protestants is our duty, and practicable, and had perhaps ere this been in some forwardness of accomplishment had men rightly understood wherein such reconciliation, according to the mind of God, doth consist. When men have laboured as much in the improvement of the principle of forbearance as they have done to subdue other men to their opinions, religion will have another appearance in the world. [John Owen]

When an important principle of evangelical truth is foresaken and renounced, especially when many of them are so; when the rule of obedience which the gospel prescribeth is habitually neglected; when men believe otherwise than it teacheth, and live otherwise than it requireth, there is a partial apostasy from it, whose guilt and danger answers the degrees and measures which in each kind it proceeds unto… Men are apt to please themselves, to approve of their own state and condition…Churches content themselves with their outward order and adminstration, and contend fiercely that all is well, and the gospel, sufficiently compiled withal, whilst their outward constitution is preserved and their laws of order kept involate…and it is known that the judgement of Christ concerning churches…is oft-times very distant from their own concerning themselves…Only a few remain that fruitlessly complain that, under all these conflicts, the glory, power and purity of the Christian religion are lost in the world. [John Owen]

They will receive nothing, practice nothing, own nothing in his worship but what is of his appointment. They know that from the foundation of the world, he never did allow nor ever will, than in anything the will of the creatures should be the measure of his honour, or the principle of his worship, either as to matter or to manner…

They readily embrace, recieve, and practice everything that the Lord Christ hath appointed. They inquire diligently into his mind and will, that they may know it. They go to him for directions, and beg him to lead them in the way they have not known…This I say they are tender in. Whatever is of Christ, they willingly submit unto, and accept of, and give up themselves to the constant practice hereof. Whatever comes on any ohter account they refuse. [John Owen]

The first and principal duty of a pastor is to feed the flock by diligent preaching of the Word. It is a promise relating to the New Testament, that God ‘would give unto his church pastors according to his own heart, which should feed them with knowledge and understanding’ (Jer. iii.15). This is by preaching or teaching the word, and no otherwise. This feeding is of the essence of the office of a pastor.… The care of preaching the gospel was committed to Peter, and in him to all true pastors of the church under the name of ‘feeding’ (Jn. xxi. 15, 16). According to the example of the apostles they are to free themselves from all encumbrances, that they may give themselves wholly unto to the word and prayer (Acts vi). Their work is to ‘labour in the word and doctrine’ (1 Tim. v. 17), and thereby to feed the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers (Acts xx).… This work and duty, therefore, as was said, is essential unto the office of a pastor.… Nor is it required only that he preach now and then at his leisure; but that he lay aside all other employments, though lawful, all other duties in the church, as unto such a constant attendance on them as would divert him from this work, that he give himself unto it.… Without this, no man will be able to give a comfortable account of his pastoral office at the last day. [John Owen]

It is true, there is not an immediate acting of faith upon the Father, but by the Son. He is ‘the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by’ him (Jn 14:6).… But this is that I say: When by and through Christ, we have an access unto the Father, we then … see his love that he peculiarly bears unto us, and act faith thereon. We are then, I say, to eye it, to believe it, to receive it, as in him; the issues and fruits thereof being made out unto us through Christ alone. Though there be no light for us but in the beams, yet we may by the beams see the sun, which is the fountain of it. Though all our refreshments actually lie in the streams, yet by them we are led up to the fountain. Jesus Christ, in respect of the love of the Father, is but the beam, the stream, wherein though actually all our light, our refreshment lies, yet by him we are led to the fountain, the sun of eternal love itself. Would believers exercise themselves herein, they would find it a matter of no small spiritual improvement in their walking with God.… The soul being thus by faith through Christ … brought unto the bosom of God, into a comfortable persuasion, and spiritual perception and sense of his love, there reposes and rests itself. [John Owen]

…his bringing the promises of Christ to remembrance, glorifying him in our hearts, shedding abroad the love of God in us, witnessing with us, as to our spiritual state and condition, sealing us to the day of redemption; being the earnest of our inheritance, anointing us with … consolation, confirming our adoption, and being present with us in our supplications. Here is the wisdom of faith,—to find out, and meet with the Comforter in all these things; not to lose their sweetness, by lying in the dark [as] to their author, nor coming short of the returns which are required of us. [John Owen]

Of this joy there is no account to be given, but that the Spirit worketh it when and how he will; he secretly infuseth and distils it into the soul, prevailing against all fears and sorrows, filling it with gladness, exultations; and sometimes with unspeakable raptures of mind. [John Owen]

A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul, and he that doth not feed on and thrive in the digestion of the food which he provides for others will scarce make it savoury unto them; yea, he knows not but that the food he hath provided may be poison, unless he have really tasted of it himself. If the word do not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us. [John Owen]

Unto him that would treat of it in a due manner, it is required that he weigh every thing he asserts in his own mind and experience, and not dare to propose that unto others which he doth not abide by himself, in the most intimate recesses of his mind, under his nearest approaches unto God, in his surprisals with dangers, in deep afflictions, in his preparations for death, and in his most humble contemplations of the infinite distance between God and him  [John Owen]

The principal end of the Scriptures is of another nature. It is, to beget in the minds of men faith, fear, obedience, and reverence of God—to make them holy and righteous.… Unto this end every truth is disposed of in the Scripture as it ought to be. If any expect that the Scripture should be written with respect unto opinions, notions, and speculations, to render men skillful and cunning in them, able to talk and dispute … they are mistaken. It is given to make us humble, holy, wise in spiritual things; to direct us in our duties, to relieve us in our temptations, to comfort us under troubles, to make us to love God and to live unto him.… Unto this end there is a more glorious power and efficacy in one epistle, one psalm, one chapter, than in all the writings of men.… He that hath not experience hereof is a stranger unto the power of God in the Scripture … sometimes an occasional passage in a story, a word or expressions, shall contribute more to excite faith and love in our souls than a volume of learned disputations.… [John Owen]

The choicest believers, who are assuredly free from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin; The Holy Ghost…only is sufficient for this work…The vigour and power and comfort of our spiritual life depends on our mortification of the deeds of the flesh. [John Owen]

The reason why men do not embrace the way of salvation tendered in the gospel, is because they do not see nor understand how full it is of divine glory, how it becomes God, is worthy of him, and answers all the perfections of his nature. Their minds are blinded, that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not shine unto them, 2 Corinthians 4:4. And so they deal with this way of God as if it were weakness and folly. [John Owen]

Complete Works of John Owen, 16 Volume Set

God speaks by the Church (the true Church we mean); but He speaks nothing by her but what He speaks in the Scriptures, which she does only ministerially declare to us; and therefore the authority of God and His Law is above hers, who, though she publish, yet did not make it, but is herself subject to it. [John Owen]

Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read or hear of to be gone to heaven, went thither because they were so good and holy.. Yet not one of them, not any one that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted) did ever come thither any other way but by forgiveness of sins. [John Owen]

Besides those natural distemper and infirmities which accompany the decays of life, troubles of life, and in their affairs, do usually grow upon them, when they look for nothing less, but were ready to say with Job, “We shall die in our nest,” Job 29:18. So was it with Jacob, after all his hard labor and travail to provide for his family, such things fell out in it in his old age as had almost broken his heart. And oft times both persecutions and public dangers do befall them at the same season. Whilst the outward man is thus perishing, we need great supportment, that we faint not. And this is only to be had in an experience of daily spiritual renovations in the inner man. [John Owen]

Men love to trust God (as they profess) for what they have in their hands, in possession, or what lies in an easy view; place their desires afar off, carry their accomplishment behind the clouds out of their sight, interpose difficulties and perplexities — their hearts are instantly sick. They cannot wait for God; they do not trust Him, nor ever did. Would you have the presence of God with you? Learn to wait quietly for the salvation you expect from Him.
John Owen (1616-1683)

Sin aims always at the utmost: every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin of that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery, if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression; every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head. Men may come to that, that sin may not be heard speaking a scandalous word in their hearts; that is, provoking to any great sin with scandal in its mouth: but every rise of lust, might it have its course, would come to the height of villainy. It is like the grave, that is never satisfied. [John Owen]

Many love to walk in a very careless, unwise profession. So long as they can hold out in the performance of outward duties, they are very regardless of the greatest evangelical privileges, - of those things which are the marrow of divine promises, - all real endeavours of a vital communion with Christ. Such are spiritual peace, refreshing consolations, ineffable joys, and the blessed composure of assurance. Without some taste and experience of these things, profession is heartless, lifeless, useless; and religion itself a dead carcass without an animating soul. The peace which some enjoy is a mere stupidity. They judge not these things to be real which are the substance of Christ's present reward; and a renunciation whereof would deprive the church of its principal supportments and encouragements in all its sufferings. It is a great evidence of the power of unbelief, when we can satisfy ourselves without an experience in our own hearts of the great things, in this kind of joy, peace, consolation, assurance, that are promised in the Gospel. For how can it be supposed that we do indeed believe the promises of things future, - namely, of heaven, immortality, and glory, the faith whereof is the foundation of all religion, - when we do not believe the promises of the present reward in these spiritual privileges? And how shall we be thought to believe them, when we do not endeavour after an experience of the things themselves in our own souls, but are even contented without them? But herein men deceive themselves. They would very desirously have evangelical joy, peace, and assurance, to countenance them in their evil frames and careless walking And some have attempted to reconcile these things, unto the ruin of their souls. But it will not be. Without the diligent exercise of the grace of obedience, we shall never enjoy the grace of consolation.[John Owen]

• We must be reconciled to God.  The only way for man to be reconciled to God is through Christ (Rom 5:11, Eph 2:18, Heb 2:17, Gal 3:13, and many other verses).
• We must be friends of God.  Only in Christ can we become God’s friend (1John 5:20, John 1:1
• We must walk in God’s way of holiness.  This way can only be learned from Christ (Heb 10:20, John 14:6, Is 35:8, 42:16)
• We must have strength.  In ourselves, we do not have the strength to walk with God, but our strength is in Christ (Phil 4:13, 2Cor 3:5, Eph 6:10)
• We must have confidence. God is a consuming fire, and no sinful creature can be in His presence, let alone walk with Him, without being in Christ (Eph 3:12, Heb 10:19, Rom 8:15).
• We must have the same purpose as God.  Here again, we cannot hope to be able to walk with our lives completely consummed with the glory of God except through Christ.  [John Owen]

It will therefore be no small advantage unto us to have our souls and consciences always affected with and in due subjection unto the power of this truth, — namely, that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace;” whence it will follow, that whatever we may think otherwise, if we are not so, we have neither of them, neither life nor peace. It will, I say, be of use unto us if we are affected with the power of it; for many greatly deceive themselves in hearing the word. They admit of sacred truths in their understanding, and assent unto them, but take not in the power of them on their consciences, nor strictly judge of their state and condition by them, which proves their ruin; for hereby they seem to themselves to believe that whereof in truth they believe not one syllable as they ought. They hear it, they understand it in the notion of it, they assent unto it, at least they do not contradict it, yea, they commend it oftentimes and approve of it, but yet they believe it not; for if they did, they would judge themselves by it, and reckon on it that it will be with them at the last day according as things are determined therein. [John Owen]