Tuesday, July 18, 2006
"A vision of unchangeable, free mercy" by John Owen
"A Vision of unchangeable, free mercy, in sending the means of grace to underserving sinners" was the full title of the sermon by John Owen.
"They want Jesus Christ, for he is revealed only by the gospel. Austin refused to delight in Cicero's "Hortensius," because there was not in it the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is all, and in all; and where he is wanting there can be no good. Hunger cannot truly be satisfied without manna, the bread of life, which is Jesus Christ; and what shall a hungry man do that hath no bread? Thirst cannot be quenched without water or living spring, which is Jesus Christ; -and what shall a thirsty soul do without water? A captive, as we are all, cannont be delivered without redemption, which is Jesus Christ; -and what shall the prisoner do without his ransom? Fools, as we are all cannont be instructed without wisdom, which is Jesus Christ; -without him we perish in our folly. All building without him is on the sand, which will surely fall. All working without him is in the fire, where it will be consumed. All riches without him have wings, and will away. A dungeion with Christ is a throne; and a throne without Christ, a hell. Nothing so ill, but Christ will compensate. The greatest evil in the world is sin, and the greatest sin was the first; an yet Gregory feared not to cry, "O happy fault which found such a Redeemer!" All mercies without Christ are bitter; and every cup is sweet that is seasoned but wih a drop of his blood; he is truly is "the love and delight of the sons of men", -without whom they must perish eternally; "for there is no other name given unto them, whereby they may be saved," Acts 4:12. He is the Way; men without him are Cains, wanders, vagabonds: -he is the Truth; men without him are liars, like the devil, who was so of old: -he is the Life; without him men are dead, dead in trespasses and sins: -he is the Light; without him men are in darkness, and go they not whither: -he is the Vine; those that are not grafted in him are withered branches, prepared for the fire: -he is the Rock; men not built on him are carried away with a flood: -he is Alapha and Omega, the first and last, the author and the ender, the founder and finisher of our salvation. He that hath him not, hath not neither beginning of good, nor shall have end of misery. O blessed Jesus! how much better than not to die in thee! A thousand hells come short of this; eternally to want Jesus Christ, as men do that want the gospel."
p. 35-36
This sermon is in vol 8 of the "Works of John Owen".
Related Tags: John Owen, Sermons to the Nation, Jesus Christ, salvation, gospel
"They want Jesus Christ, for he is revealed only by the gospel. Austin refused to delight in Cicero's "Hortensius," because there was not in it the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is all, and in all; and where he is wanting there can be no good. Hunger cannot truly be satisfied without manna, the bread of life, which is Jesus Christ; and what shall a hungry man do that hath no bread? Thirst cannot be quenched without water or living spring, which is Jesus Christ; -and what shall a thirsty soul do without water? A captive, as we are all, cannont be delivered without redemption, which is Jesus Christ; -and what shall the prisoner do without his ransom? Fools, as we are all cannont be instructed without wisdom, which is Jesus Christ; -without him we perish in our folly. All building without him is on the sand, which will surely fall. All working without him is in the fire, where it will be consumed. All riches without him have wings, and will away. A dungeion with Christ is a throne; and a throne without Christ, a hell. Nothing so ill, but Christ will compensate. The greatest evil in the world is sin, and the greatest sin was the first; an yet Gregory feared not to cry, "O happy fault which found such a Redeemer!" All mercies without Christ are bitter; and every cup is sweet that is seasoned but wih a drop of his blood; he is truly is "the love and delight of the sons of men", -without whom they must perish eternally; "for there is no other name given unto them, whereby they may be saved," Acts 4:12. He is the Way; men without him are Cains, wanders, vagabonds: -he is the Truth; men without him are liars, like the devil, who was so of old: -he is the Life; without him men are dead, dead in trespasses and sins: -he is the Light; without him men are in darkness, and go they not whither: -he is the Vine; those that are not grafted in him are withered branches, prepared for the fire: -he is the Rock; men not built on him are carried away with a flood: -he is Alapha and Omega, the first and last, the author and the ender, the founder and finisher of our salvation. He that hath him not, hath not neither beginning of good, nor shall have end of misery. O blessed Jesus! how much better than not to die in thee! A thousand hells come short of this; eternally to want Jesus Christ, as men do that want the gospel."
p. 35-36
This sermon is in vol 8 of the "Works of John Owen".
Related Tags: John Owen, Sermons to the Nation, Jesus Christ, salvation, gospel
