Quotes from John Owen

It is, moreover, evident from hence that it is a greater matter to be truly and really holy than most persons are aware of. We may learn eminently how great and excellent a work this of sanctification and holiness is from the causes of it. How emphatically doth our apostle ascribe it unto God, even the Father: 1 Thess. v. 23, "Even the God of peace himself sanctify you." It is so great a work as that it cannot be wrought by any but the God of peace himself.

So temptation is like a knife, that may either cut the meat or the throat of a man; it may be his food or his poison, his exercise or his destruction.

It is not to learn the form of the doctrine of godliness, but to get the power of it implanted in our souls.

When we give vent to the soul, to try what grace is there, corruption comes out; and when we search for corruption, grace appears. So

And if a minister be obliged to consider the ways, light, knowledge, and walking of his flock, in his preaching unto them, that what he teacheth may be suited unto their edification, he is no less bound unto the same consideration in his prayers also with them and for them, if he intend to pray unto their use and profit.

It is sufficient unto our present purpose that in and by these promises we are made partakers of the divine nature, and are therein endowed with a constant, habitual disposition and inclination unto all acts and duties of holiness; for our power followeth our love and inclinations, as impotency is a consequent of their defect.

Even the best of saints, being left to themselves, will quickly appear to be less than men—to be nothing! All our own strength is weakness, and all our wisdom folly.

What we cannot comprehend in things divine and infinite, as unto their own nature, that we are not to believe in their revelation.

There is not a day in our lives in which sin does not either defeat us or is defeated, prevails over us or is prevailed over, and it will be like this as long as we live in this world.

testify by what means he would subdue the souls and consciences of men unto the obedience of Christ and the gospel, and by what means he would maintain his kingdom in the world. Now, this was not by force and might, by external power or armies, but by the preaching of the word, whereof the tongue is the only instrument. And the outward sign of this gift, in tongues of fire, evidenced the light and efficacy wherewith the Holy Ghost designed to accompany the dispensation of the gospel.

the "axe is to be laid to the root of the tree," — the deeds of the flesh are to be mortified in their causes, from whence they spring.

4. When a man fighteth against his sin only with arguments from the issue or the punishment due unto it, this is a sign that sin hath taken great possession of the will, and that in the heart there is a superfluity of naughtiness.