Mortification of sin by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 13 & 14.
In Chapter 13 Owen gives his ninth and final direction on how to mortify sin:
(ix) When the heart is disquieted about the guilt of its sin, take heed that you do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks it; rather hear what he says to your soul.
Then in his final chapter Owen moves from his list of nine directions which he says are 'preparatory' to the mortification of sin, and looks at the primary two ways that sin is mortified:
(i) setting faith at work on Christ;
(ii) through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Excellent advice about not speaking peace to your heart when God has given no peace.
Particularly liked the point that you should not be at peace if you do not abhor the sin: 'Let a man make what application he will for healing and peace, let him do it to the true Physician, let him do it the right way, let him quiet his heart in the promises of the covenant; yet, when peace is spoken, if it be not attended with the detestation and abhorrency of that sin which was the wound and caused the disquietment, this is no peace of God's creating, but of our purchasing.'
Do not proclaim, 'Peace, peace' when there is no peace. Fight against your sin until you abhor it.
One sentence final verdict
If you want to crucify the sin in your life, Owen's brilliant book will certainly assist you in nailing it to the cross.
Begin 'Desiring God' by John Piper (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading the Preface, Introduction and Lessons from a Love Poem.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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