John Owen Quotes

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John Owen (1616-1683) was a prominent English theologian, writer, and pastor. His works have had a profound impact on Christian theology, particularly in the areas of predestination and moral theology.

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Famous John Owen Quotes

“I have known some good men who have been so addicted to their study, that they have thought the last day of the week sufficient to prepare for their ministry, though they employ all the rest of the week in other studies. But your business is to trade with your spiritual abilities. ... A man may preach a very good sermon, who is otherwise himself; but he will never make a good minister of Jesus Christ, whose mind and heart are not always in the work. Spiritual gifts will require continual ruminating on the things of the Gospel in our minds.”

“When the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, he does a complete work in them. He puts into their minds, wills and hearts a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lies in this. This is the new creation.”

Mind Heart Doe Whole Spirit Lying Desire Principles Creation Holy Believer Whole Life Holy Spirit Holiness Gracious Sanctify Desire To Live

Author:John Owen

“When we realize a constant enemy of the soul abides within us, what diligence and watchfulness we should have! How woeful is the sloth and negligence then of so many who live blind and asleep to this reality of sin. There is an exceeding efficacy nad power in the indwelling sin of believers, for it constantly inclines itself towards evil. We need to be awake, then, if our hearts would know the ways of God. Our enemy is not only upon us, as it was with Samson, but it is also in us.”

Ifs Knows Way Needs Should Heart Soul Reality Evil Realizing Sin Enemy Should Have Blind Constant Believer Awake Diligence Sloth Efficacy Incline Negligence Watchfulness Samson

Author:John Owen

“He can make the dry parched ground of my soul to become a pool and my thirsty barren heart as springs of water. Yes he can make this habitation of dragons this heart which is so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations to be a place of bounty and fruitfulness unto Himself”

Heart Soul Water Spring Lust Temptation My Soul Dry Dragons Pool Barren Thirsty Fiery Bounty Mortification Fruitfulness

Author:John Owen

“If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled." When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.”

Ifs Way Heart Soul Lying Prayer Our Lives My Heart Aspect Overcoming Passing Passings Temptation My Soul Preserves Bondage Intercession

Book:Triumph Over Temptation: Pursuing a Life of Purity

Source: Triumph Over Temptation: Pursuing a Life of Purity

“When the heart is once won to rest in God, to repose himself on him, he will assuredly satisfy it. He will never be as water that fails; nor hath he said at any time to the seed of Jacob, "Seek ye my face in vain." If Christ be chosen for the foundation of our supply, he will not fail us.”

Ifs Heart Said Faces Christ Water Sin Failing Foundation Seeds Chosen Vain Repose Jacob

Book:Temptation and Sin

Source: Temptation and Sin

“As a tender and loving friend is grieved at the unkindness of his friend... so is it with this tender and loving Spirit, who hath chosen our hearts for a habitation to dwell in.”

Heart Spirit Sin Chosen Unkindness Loving Friends

Book:Overcoming Temptation and Sin

Source: Overcoming Temptation and Sin

“Consider who and what you are; who the Spirit is that is grieved, what he has done for you, what he comes to your soul about, what he has already done in you; and be ashamed. Among those who walk with God, there is no greater motive and incentive unto universal holiness, and the preserving of their hearts and spirits in all purity and cleanness than this: That the blessed Spirit, who has undertaken to dwell in them, is continually considering what they give entertainment in their hearts unto, and rejoices when his temple is kept undefiled.”

Giving Heart Soul Done Spirit Walks Greater Universal Blessed Entertainment Your Soul Motive Purity Holiness Ashamed Temples Rejoice Considering Incentives Sanctification Walking With God

Author:John Owen

“The most tremendous judgment of God in this world is the hardening of the hearts of men.”

Men World Heart Christianity This World Judgment Judgement

Book:The Works of John Owen

Source: The Works of John Owen

“It is not the distance of the earth from the sun, nor the sun's withdrawing itself, that makes a dark and gloomy day; but the interposition of clouds and vaporous exhalations. Neither is thy soul beyond the reach of the promise, nor does God withdraw Himself; but the vapours of thy carnal, unbelieving heart do cloud thee.”

Heart Doe Soul Earth Dark Sun Promise Distance Clouds Thee Gloomy Withdrawing Vapour

Book:The Golden Book of John Owen: Passages from the Writings of the Rev. John Owen, M.A., D.D., Sometime Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Dean of Christ Church

Source: The Golden Book of John Owen: Passages from the Writings of the Rev. John Owen, M.A., D.D., Sometime Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Dean of Christ Church

“Before the work of grace the heart is ‘stony.’ It can do no more than a stone can do to please God.”

Heart Can Do Grace Please Stones

Author:John Owen

“Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could, every thought of unbelief would be atheism if allowed to develop. Every rise of lust, if it has its way reaches the height of villainy; it is like the grave that is never satisfied. The deceitfulness of sin is seen in that it is modest in its first proposals but when it prevails it hardens men’s hearts, and brings them to ruin.”