Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

by John Owen – January 22nd, 2019

chapel@mountzion.org • www.ChapelLibrary.org  

Chapter 3 THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK IN MORTIFICATION continued

3). Neither will the natural popery that is in others do it. Men are grieved by the guilt of a sin that has prevailed over them; they instantly promise to themselves and God that they will so sin no more. They watch over themselves and pray for a season, until this heat waxes cold and the sense of sin is worn off—and so mortification goes also, and sin returns to its former domination. Duties are excellent food for an unhealthy soul, but they are no physic(32) for a sick soul. He that turns his meat into his medicine must expect no great operation. Spiritually sick men cannot sweat out their distemper with working. But this is the way of men who deceive their own souls, as we shall see afterward.

That none of these ways are sufficient is evident from the nature of the work itself that is to be done. It is a work that requires so many concurrent actings in it as no self-endeavor can accomplish. It is of that kind that an almighty energy is necessary for its accomplishment, as shall be made clear later.

(32) physic – medicine.