THE NATURE, POWER, DECEIT, AND PREVALENCY OF INDWELLING SIN En Believers : TOGETHER WITH THE WAYS OF ITS WORKING, AND MEANS OF PREVENTION, WITH A RESOLUTION OF SUNDRY CASES OF CONSCIENCE BY JOHN OWEN, D.D. A NEW EDITION, RECOMMENDED BY MANY EMINENT MINISTERS. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE BOOK SOCIETY For Promoting Religious Knowledge, AND SOLD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 19, PATERNOSTER ROW. TO THE FORMER EDITIONS. THE religious world has long been acquainted with the character and writings of the reverend and learned Dr. John Owen, the author of the following Treatise on Indwelling Sin, and therefore ony recommendation from us of the works of that great man, may be altogether unnecessary; but nevertheless, as the Publisher has desired this at our hands, we take the liberty of giving this publia attestation of our value for the above-mentioned Treatise, and that we esteem it worthy of the perusal of all Christians: at the same time uniting in our earnest prayers, that as it has been long of eminent service to the church of God, it may still be rendered more extensively useful, especially among the rising generation. SAMUEL STENNETT, D. D. АВКАНАМ Воотн, BENJAMIN WALLIN, JOHN CONDER, D. D. To the above recommendation it may not be improper to add the testimony of the late reverend and pious Mr. JAMES HERVEY, who, in his Theron and Aspasio, Dialogue XIV. speaking of the following Treatise, thus expresses himself: 66 "The Author's pen is indeed a dissecting knife, goes deep into his subject, and lays open this plague of the "heart. Like a workman that need not be ashamed, he "demonstrates his point from the unerring word of God, " and the acknowledged experience of Christians. Like a compassionate as well as able physician, he all along prescribes the proper antidote; nay, he shews how the poison may be so over-ruled by divine grace, and so "managed by the watchful patient, as to become medi"cinal, salutary, and conducive to the most beneficial purposes." PREFACE. THAT HAT the doctrine of Original Sin is one of the fundamental truths of our Christian profession, hath been always owned in the church of God. And an especial part it is of that peculiar profession of truth which they enjoy, whose religion towards God is built upon, and resolved into, Divine Revelation. As the world, by its wisdom, never knew God aright, so the wise men of it were always utterly ignorant of this inbred evil in themselves and others. With us, the doctrine and conviction of it lie in the very foundation of all wherein we have to do with God, in reference unto our pleasing of him here, or obtaining the enjoyment of him hereafter. It is also known what influence it hath into the great truths concerning the Person of Christ, his mediation, the fruits and effects of it, with all the benefits that we are made partakers of thereby. Without a supposition of it, not any of them can be truly known, or savingly believed. For this cause hath it been largely treated of by many holy and learned men, both of old and of latter days. Some have laboured in the discovery of its nature, some of its guilt and demerit; by whom also the truth concerning it hath been vindicated from the opposition made unto it in the past and present ages. By most these things have been considered in their full extent and latitude, with respect unto all men by nature, with the estate and condition of them who are wholly under the power and guilt of it. How, thereby, men are disenabled and incapacitated in themselves to answer the obedience required, either in the law or the gospel, so as to free themselves from the curse of the one, or to make themselves partakers of the blessing of the other, hath been by many also fully evinced. Moreover, that there are remainders of it abiding in believers, after their regenera |