Glory of Christ by John Owen (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the 'Prefatory note' and 'Preface to the reader'.
The Prefatory Note is a quick recommendation of the book from the editor of Owen's works.
Then in the Preface, Owen firstly gives us some general premises of the work:
(i) he it is in whom our nature is exalted above the whole creation;
(ii) in him the relation of our nature unto God is eternally saved;
(iii) it is he in whom our nature hath been carried successfully and victoriously through all the oppositions that it is liable unto, and even death itself;
(iv) he it is who in himself hath given us a pledge of the capacity of our nature to inhabit those blessed regions of light which are far above these aspectable heavens.
Then Owen tells us why the contemplation of the glory of Christ gives rest to the soul:
(i) it will herein be made evident how slight and inconsiderable all these things are from whence our troubles and distresses do arise;
(ii) the minds of men are apt by their troubles to be cast into disorder, to be tossed up and down, and disquieted with various affections and passions;
(iii) it is the way and means of conveying a sense of God's love unto our souls.
And in his Preface Owen lastly teaches us the things which God requireth of us in a way of duty:
(i) peculiar actings of faith to resign and commit our departing souls into the hand of him who is able to receive them;
(ii) that we be ready and willing to part with the flesh wherewith we are clothed;
(iii) a readiness to comply with the times and seasons wherein God would have us depart and leave this world.
Slightly amusing to see someone admit at the beginning that their book is a poor attempt in dealing with their subject matter: 'The design of the ensuing Discourse is to declare some part of that glory of our Lord Jesus Christ which is revealed in the Scripture, and proposed as the principal object of our faith, love, delight, and admiration. But, alas! after our utmost and most diligent inquiries, we must say, How little a portion is it of him that we can understand! His glory is incomprehensible, and his praises are unutterable. Some things an illuminated mind may conceive of it; but what we can express in comparison of what it is in itself, is even less than nothing. But as for those who have forsaken the only true guide herein, endeavouring to be wise above what is written, and to raise their contemplations by fancy and imagination above Scripture revelation (as many have done), they have darkened counsel without knowledge, uttering things which they understand not, which have no substance or spiritual food of faith in them.'
But Owen is right. How can our minds in their considerations ever do justice to the glory of Christ?
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 1 (The explication of the text).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
2 comments:
I enjoyed that passage as well, Pastor!
Also this one:
"In this condition -- lost, poor, base, yea, cursed -- the Lord Christ, the Son of God, found our nature. And hereon, in infinite condescension and compassion, sanctifying a portion of it unto himself, he took it to be his own, in a holy, ineffable subsistence, in his own person. And herein again the same nature, so depressed into the utmost misery, is exalted above the whole creation of God. For in that very nature, God has "set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come."" The glorious love of Christ for us! How little I praise Him for His mighty work on our behalf.
I also found this passage interesting as an enlightenment of the ennui of our times: "The heavenly luminaries which we can behold appear too great and glorious for our cohabitation. We are as grasshoppers in our own eyes, in comparison of those gigantic beings; and they seem to dwell in places which would immediately swallow up and extinguish our natures." The cure is not to continue to consider ourselves as mere atoms of chance in a random universe, mere creatures like these heavenly creatures, or even to look upon ourselves at all, but to consider ourselves as raised far above them in the person of Christ, and focus on Him.
CJ, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Owen is excellent!
Though he has a reputation for being difficult to read, I don't think he is as bad as some of the other books we've read on the blog. Or maybe you don't notice the difficulty because the content is so good!
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