Gems from Owen's "Mortification of Sin" (Ch. 2)

We're reading this book for our upcoming Manchester Dead Theologians Society meeting. If you're in the area, join us at Wetherspoons, Fallowfield, @ 3:30 on Saturday the 21st. We may cross the street to the Friendship Inn if the weather is actually nice.

These quotes are from chapter 2. Each time I've read the book, I've found this chapter to be especially helpful. BTW - you should be able to read this book at ccel.org.

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. [9]

Indwelling sin always abides whilst we are in this world; therefore it is always to be mortified. The vain, foolish, and ignorant disputes of men about perfect keeping the commands of God, of perfection in this life, of being wholly and perfectly dead to sin, I meddle not now with. [10]

Sin doth not only still abide in us, but is still acting, still labouring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion. [11]

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 in 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… There is not the best saint in the world but, if he should give over this duty, would fall into as many cursed sins as ever any did of his kind. [12]