A treatise of the dominion of sin and grace wherein sin's reign is discovered, in whom it is, and in whom it is not : how the law supports it, how grace delivers from it, by setting up its dominion the heart / by John Owen ...

TO THE SERIOUS READER.

ONE of the great Gospel Enquiries that a Christian ought to be most critical and curious in resolving to himself, upon the most impartial Exami∣nation of his own Heart, concerning his spiritual State, and standing in Grace, is, Whether he be in the Faith or no? which doubt can be resolved but Two ways, either by Faith it self, closing with its true Objects as offered in the Gospel in its direct act; and so it evidenceth it self, being the Evidence of things not seen, as all the natural Senses Evidence them∣selves by their own Acts upon their proper Objects: For he that sees the Sun, hath Argument enough to himself, That he is not blind, but hath a seeing Eye, and Faith, therefore is frequently represented to us by seeing as John vi. 40. and else∣where; which Evidence is according to the degrees of Faith, weaker or stronger,

and hence carries lesser or greater assu∣rances with it; but such as are of the highest and best nature, giving the great∣est Glory to the Grace and Truth of God, and the firmest stay to the Soul in the greatest Storms of Temptation, being as an Anchor fastened within the Vail sure and stedfast. Or else additionally, that our joy may be full; and, for further confirma∣tion, especially in such Cases wherein our Faith seems to fail us, and we are like Thomas, God hath out of his abundant Grace in the Gospel provided Arguments for us to raise from spiritual sence, to judge of our State and Standing by. But this requires the teachings of the Spirit, and thence a Spirit of discerning, Expe∣rience of, and insight into our own Hearts and ways, with senses exercised by reason of use, that these Grounds and Arguments may be matter of Comfort and Establish∣ment unto us.

I call these latter Evidences, subordi∣nate ones, and additional to that of Faith, of great use by way of Establishment and Confirmation unto Believers, provided they be not abused to sole resting and reliance upon them, to the great prejudice of our Life, of Faith, for we live by Faith

(so must all repenting Sinners when they have attained to the highest pitch of Ho∣liness in this Life) and not by Sense, no not spiritual Sense; it's a good Hand-Maid to Faith, but no good Mistress to it.

MOREOVER Trials of this na∣ture are often of a marvellous awake∣ning, and convincing nature unto poor secure Sinners, formal and hypocritical Professors, for many of them hold true with great demonstration in the Nega∣tive, 1 Joh. iij. 14. He that loveth not his Brother, abideth in Death. And v. 10. In this the Children of God and the Chil∣dren of the Devil are manifest, whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God, nei∣ther he that loveth not his Brother. Now these Tests come upon an unregenerate Man, as clear and strong Convictions of his undone Estate, when by Gospel Light shining into his dark Heart, it Evident∣ly appears, that there is a Total Absence of such eminent Graces, that are insepara∣ble from a Child of God; but when a poor broken-hearted, self-condemning Sinner comes to try himself by these Tests, espe∣cially under great Temptation, he charg∣eth all that he finds in himself for Hypo∣crisy,

Formality and Sin, sits altogether in darkness in respect of those sparks of in∣ternal Light, and is fain at last when he hath broken all his Flints, and worn out all his Steel, in compassing himself about with sparks of his own kindling, to turn unto Christ by Faith, as a Prisoner of Hope, believing in Hope against Hope; and from him to fetch by a direct act of Faith, as from the Sun of Righteousness, all his Light of Life and Comfort, and then he will be able to light all his small Tapers, yea all inferiour Arguments of his good Estate will, flow in with much enlarge∣ment, and increase of Consolation. As Streams of living Water flowing forth of the Fountain, set open for Sin and for Ʋn∣cleanness, into the Belly of the true Believing Sinner, receiving by Faith of the fulness of Christ through the Spirit, abundantly supplying him with Rivers of true sub∣stantial living Graces and Consolations, be∣ing filled with the Fruits of Righteousness, to the Praise and Glory of Christ.

NOW among disquisitions of this lat∣ter Nature and Use, this is none of the least, Whether we are under the Dominion of Sin or no? Either we are or are not; if we are, our State is most certainly

dangerous; for such are under the Law, and the Law hath concluded all under Wrath. If we are not under Sin's Domi∣nion, we are in a blessed and happy E∣state, being under Grace; for these two Dominions divide the World, and every Son and Daughter of Adam is under one or the other, and none can be under both at the same time. Now our being under Grace can be no way better Evidenced than by our being in Christ by Faith, for he that is so is a new Creature, is passed from Death to Life, will still be morti∣fying Sin, the strong Man in Sin's Domi∣nion being cast out, and therefore Faith is said to be our Victory, through the sup∣ply of all Grace received from Jesus Christ. Indeed it calls for no small spi∣ritual Skill and Understanding to pass a∣right judgment in these Matters: Un∣doubtedly many are deceived in taking wrong Measures to search out these deep things of God, taking them to belong to the mere Faculties and Endowments of a natural Man, not considering that they are of the Spirits Revelation only: And hence it is that many poor Creatures in a Bondage State under the Law, and there∣fore under Sin's Dominion, do work like

Slaves in the Dunghil of their own Hearts, to find out some natural Religion or mo∣ral Goodness in themselves, to recommend them unto God; but such recommenda∣tion must be under the Law, it cannot be under Grace; and therefore such are un∣der the Dominion of Sin infallibly as the Israelites were, which followed after the Law of Righteousness but attained not unto the Law of Righteousness. Wherefore, because they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, for they stumbled at that stumbling Stone, Rom. ix. 32. And it is greatly to be bewailed, that many Professors that sit under the means of Grace, are so tender of their secure and palliated Consciences, that they cannot indure that the Rays of true Gospel Light should shine directly into their Hearts, being contented with a name only, that they do live; they are loath to come to any narrow search or trial, least they should be found out and appear to themselves in their ugly shapes, whilst they are willing that all the World should have a good Opinion of them, under which they can∣not admit of any inward disturbances, but desire to sleep in a whole Skin.

OTHERS there are, sincere, broken-hearted Believers, scared at the Rock of Presumption, on which they see so many Professors wracked daily, are apt to fall upon the other Extream, and too wrong∣fully, to free Grace, condemn themselves, as being under the Dominion of Sin, and therefore censure themselves to be under the Law and Wrath, notwithstanding all their seeming Faith and Holiness, calling that Presumption and this Hypocrisy: Hence re∣turning to a kind of Spirit of Bondage again to fear, their Faith is shaken by prevailing Unbelief, their Peace is broken, and all Gospel Ordinances rendred ineffectual, as to their true Ends of profit, Edification and Comfort. Hence, though they are tru∣ly under Grace, they do not know, or ra∣ther through Temptation, will not ac∣knowledge it, but go mourning all the day long, because of the Oppressor, and the Ene∣my: But I beseech such a poor Soul to consider a little, and not to receive the Grace of God in vain, dost thou groan un∣der the Ʋsurpation and Oppression of remain∣ing Sin, and is this the Dominion of it? Is there no difference between Sin's Domi∣nion, and Sin's Tyranny and Ʋsurpation? Dominion is upon account of right of Con∣quest,

or subjection, there is upon both that Sin reigns in, carnal and unregene∣rate Men, who yield up their Members as instruments of Ʋnrighteousness unto Sin, but you reckon your selves dead unto Sin, having no joy in its prevalency but grief, being planted in this respect, in the likeness of Christ's Death, who died unto Sin once, but dieth no more. Sin shall have no more Do∣minion over him; likewise reckon ye also your selves dead indeed unto Sin, but alive un∣to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, i. e. To be under Grace, to put your self free∣ly and joyfully under the Conduct and Dominion of Jesus Christ, and to keep up a continual fight and opposition against the prevailing Power of Sin. Indeed Sin will often, as an Out-lying watch∣ful Enemy, make its assaults and incur∣sions on the best of God's Children, as it did on David, Hezekiah, Peter, and though it may make breaches upon them, Sin shall not have a Dominion, and set up a Throne of Inquity in their Hearts. Grace will beat out Sin's Throne; for, indeed, the words of this Text, that is, the subject of the ensuing Treatise, carry the force of a promise to the Saints, to animate and en∣courage them to fight against Sin under the

Banner of our Lord Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation made perfect through Sufferings; For Sin shall not have Domi∣nion, &c.

IN treating of which Text, this late Learned and Reverend Author hath acted the part of a good Work Man, that rightly divided the Word of God (as in all his o∣ther Writings of the like nature) giving every one their portion, as it belongs to them, with so much perspicuity and demonstration, that if (Christian Reader) thou wilt afford a little time and pains to read, meditate, dilate and digest well the Truths here laid before thee, through the blessing of the God of all Grace, thou wilt find much satisfaction, and real spi∣ritual advantage unto thy Soul, either to awaken and recover thee from under the Dominion of Sin (the dangerous and pal∣pable Symptoms thereof, being here plain∣ly made manifest) or else to discover thy happy estate in being taken from under the Law, and brought under the Dominion of Grace, whereby thou maist assume great Encouragement to thy self, to proceed more chearfully in running the Race set be∣fore thee.

IT'S enough to say, that the Author hath left his Encomium firmly rooted in the minds of all Pious and Learned Men, that are acquainted with his Writings, Polemick or Practical: Yea, his Renown will always be great in after Generations among the Churches of Christ, and all true Lovers of the great Truths of the Gospel. And that he is the Author of this small Tract is sufficient to recommend it to thy most serious Perusal, taking this assu∣rance, that it was left (among other Writ∣ings of great value) thus perfected for the Press by his own hand, and is now by his worthy Relict published for the Benefit of others besides her self. I doubt not but thou wilt say, that it will answer the seve∣ral Lines that hath been drawn in thy Heart, by Sin or Grace, as Face answereth Face in a Glass, and that this may be the effect of thy Perusal thereof, in order to thy spiritual and eternal Wellfare, is the hearty desire and prayer of

Thy unfeigned Well-wisher, J. C.