Post published by SAL_VI

Long excerpt from the book, “of temptation and the power of it “ by John Owen. I highly recommend it as part of a three volume work- “overcoming sin and temptation “. Here’s a powerful take on spiritual complacency


“I mentioned before the case of the spouse (Song 5:2-8). She slept, and was drowsy and unwilling to gird up herself to a vigorous performance of duties in a way of quick, active communion with Christ. Before she is aware, she has lost her Beloved; then she moans, inquires, cries, endures woundings, reproaches, and all before she obtains him again. Consider, then, O poor soul, your state and condition! Does your light burn dim? Or though it give to others as great a blaze as formerly, yet you see not so clearly the face of God in Christ by it as you have done (2 Cor. 4:6)? Is your zeal cold? Or if it do the same works as formerly, yet your heart is not warmed with the love of God and to God in them as formerly, but only you proceed in the course you have been in? Are you negligent in the duties of praying or hearing? Or if you do observe them, you do it not with that life and vigor as formerly? Do you flag 19 in your profession? Or if you keep it up, yet your wheels are oiled by some sinister respects from within or without? Does your delight in the people of God faint and grow cold? Or is your love to them changing from that which is purely spiritual into that which is very carnal, upon the account of suitableness of principles and natural spirits, if not worse foundations? If you are drowsing in such a condition as this, take heed; you are falling into some woeful temptation that will break all your bones, and give you wounds that shall stick by you all the days of your life. Yea, when you awake, you will find that it has indeed laid hold of you already, though you perceive it not; it has smitten and wounded you, though you have not complained nor sought for relief or healing.”