the

WORKS

of

JOHN OWEN, D.D.

edited by

THE REV. WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D.,

edinburgh

VOL. VII

EDINBURGH:

T. & T. CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET

london. hamilton, adams, and co. dublin: john robertson

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mdccclxii

Contents Of Volume VII

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Nature and causes of Apostasy from the Gospel

Prefatory Note by the Editor,

To the Reader,

I.—The nature of apostasy from the gospel declared, in an exposition of Heb. 6:4–6,

II.—Partial apostasy from the gospel—Pretences of the church of Rome against the charge of this evil examined and rejected,

III.—Apostasy from the mystery, truth, or doctrine of the gospel—Proneness of persons and churches thereunto—Proved by all sorts of instances,

IV.—The reasons and causes of apostasy from the truth or doctrine of the gospel, and the inclination of all sorts of persons thereunto in all ages, inquired into and declared—Uncured enmity in the minds of many against spiritual things, and the effects of it a wicked conversation, the first cause of apostasy,

V.—Darkness and ignorance another cause of apostasy,

VI.—Pride and vanity of mind, sloth and negligence, love of the world, causes of apostasy—The work of Satan and judgments of God in this matter,

VII.—Instance of a peculiar defection from the truth of the gospel; with the reasons of it,

VIII.—Apostasy from the holiness of the gospel; the occasion and cause of it—Of that which is gradual, on the pretence of somewhat else in its room,

IX.—Apostasy into profaneness and sensuality of life—The causes and occasions of it—Defects in public teachers and guides in religion,

X.—Other causes and occasions of the decay of holiness,

XI.—Apostasy from evangelical worship,

XII.—Inferences from the foregoing discourses—The present danger of all sorts of persons, in the prevalency of apostasy from the truth and decays in the practice of evangelical holiness,

XIII.—Directions to avoid the power of a prevailing apostasy,

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The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Prefatory Note by the Editor,

Preface,

Part I

I.—The words of the text explained,

II.—A particular account of the nature of this grace and duty of being spiritually minded—How it is stated in and evidenced by our thoughts,

III.—Outward means and occasions of such thoughts of spiritual things as do not prove men to be spiritually minded—Preaching of the word—Exercise of gifts—Prayer—How we may know whether our thoughts of spiritual things in prayer are truly spiritual thoughts, proving us to be spiritually minded,

IV.—Other evidences of thoughts about spiritual things arising from an internal principle of grace, whereby they are an evidence of our being spiritually minded—The abounding of these thoughts, how far, and wherein, such an evidence,

V.—The objects of spiritual thoughts, or what they are conversant about; evidencing them in whom they are to be spiritually minded—Rules directing unto steadiness in the contemplation of heavenly things—Motives to fix our thoughts with steadiness on them,

VI.—Directions unto the exercise of our ...