"Man was made to know good with his mind, to desire it with his affections once he knows it, and to cleave to it with his will once he has felt its attraction. Accordingly God, who is the supreme good, moves man not by direct action on the affections or will, but by addressing His speech to man's mind, so bringing to bear on him the force of truth." - J. I. Packer (from the Introduction in Triumph over Temptation by John Owen as edited by James M. Houston, p24)I have begun reading Triumph Over Temptation: Pursuing A Life Of Purity. This book, edited by James M. Houston, addresses 3 of John Owen's works of practical theology: Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers(1656), Of Temptation(1658), and The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin(1667). Having read Owen unabridged, I am looking forward to this unabridged and 'modernized' version for comparison.
One more quote in which Packer, in the Introduction, quotes Owen: "When Christ comes with His spiritual power upon the soul to conquer it to Himself, He hath no quiet landing place. He can set foot upon no ground but what he must fight for." (23)
No comments:
Post a Comment