We finally bring you the preface from the pen of John Owen himself on the purpose and direction of his discourse enclosed in this now compiled-book “Overcoming Sin and Temptation”.

I want to set this before you as the main introduction, among other reasons, to prepare you for the language employed by Owen. Speedy and hasty reading will profit little, especially because of the unique nature of Owen’s style of writing. But if you would take the time to read slowly and tread carefully and follow the tracks of Owen’s thoughts diligently, you will find great treasure in this treatise as the Word of God is brought to life, unsheathed in it’s brilliant might to work holiness in the heart and life of the believer.

And it is my sincere desire and prayer for you that you too may find “the chief design of your life in the station wherein the good providence of God has placed you, are that mortification and universal holiness may be promoted in your own and in the hearts and ways of others, to the glory of God.”

Christian Reader,

I shall in a few words acquaint you with the reasons that obtained my consent to the publishing of the ensuing discourse.

The consideration of the present state and condition of the generality of professorsⁱ

—the visible evidences of the frame of their hearts and spirits—manifesting a great disability of dealing with the temptations, from the peace they have in the world and the divisions that they have among themselves, they are encompassed—holds the chief place among them.

This I am assured is of so great importance, that if hereby I only occasion others to press more effectually on the consciences of men the work of considering their ways, and to give more clear direction for the compassingⁱⁱ of the end proposed, I shall well esteem of my lot in this undertaking.

This was seconded by an observation of some men’s dangerous mistakes, who of late days have taken upon them to give directions for the mortification of sin, who, being unacquainted with the mystery of the gospel and the efficacy of the death of Christ, have anew imposed the yoke of a selfwrought-out mortification on the necks of their disciples, which neither they nor their forefathers were ever able to bear [cf. Acts 15:10]. A mortification they cry up and press, suitable to that of the gospel neither in respect of nature, subject, causes, means, nor effects; which constantly produces the deplorable issuesⁱⁱⁱ of superstition, self-righteousness, and anxiety of conscience in them who take up the burden which is so bound for them.

What is here proposed in weakness, I humbly hope will answer the spirit and letter of the gospel, with the experiences of them who know what it is to walk with God, according to the tenor of the covenant of grace.

So that if not this, yet certainly something of this kind, is very necessary at this season for the promotion and furtherance of this work of gospel mortification in the hearts of believers, and their direction in paths safe, and wherein they may find rest to their souls.

. . .

I hope I may own^iv in sincerity that my heart’s desire unto God, and the chief design of my life in the station wherein the good providence of God has placed me, are that mortification and universal holiness may be promoted in my own and in the hearts and ways of others, to the glory of God; that so the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be adorned in all things:

For the compassing of which end, if this little discourse (of the publishing whereof this is the sum of the account I shall give) may in anything be useful to the least of the saints, it will be looked on as a return of the weak prayers wherewith it is attended by its unworthy author,

—John Owen, Preface: Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2006), p41-42

Read more of “Overcoming Sin and Temptation” here.

You can also purchase the book in paperback here, or read it in pdf here.

Footnotes

1. those who make a religious confession; professing Christians [↩]
2. attaining, achieving [↩]
3. results, outcomes [↩]
4. admit, acknowledge, confess to be true [↩]