The Works of John Owen, Vol. 4: The Work of the Holy Spirit
Despite his other achievements, Owen is best famed for his writings. These cover the range of doctrinal, ecclesiastical and practical subjects. They are characterized by profundity, thoroughness and, consequently, authority. Andrew Thomson said that Owen 'makes you feel when he has reached the end of his subject, that he has also exhausted it.'
Although many of his works were called forth by the particular needs of his own day they all have a uniform quality of timelessness. Owen's works were republished in full in the nineteenth century. Owen is surely the Prince of the Puritans. 'To master his works', says Spurgeon, 'is to be a profound theologian.'
Table of Contents:
A DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT-CONTINUED. | ||
[BOOK VI., PART I.] THE REASON OF FAITH. | ||
PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR, | 4 | |
Preface; | 5 | |
I | The subject stated-Preliminary remarks, | 7 |
II | What it is infallibly to believe the Scripture to be the word of God, affirmed, | 15 |
III | Sundry convincing external arguments for divine revelation, | 20 |
IV | Moral certainty, the result of external arguments, insufficient, | 47 |
V | Divine revelation itself the only foundation and reason of faith, | 69 |
VI | The nature of divine revelations-Their self-evidencing power considered, particularly that of the Scriptures as the word of God, | 82 |
VII | Inferences from the whole-Some objections answered, | 100 |
Appendix, | 109 | |
[BOOK VI., PART II.] | ||
CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS OF UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF GOD. | ||
PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR, | 118 | |
The Preface, | 119 | |
I | Usurpation of the church of Rome with reference unto the interpretation of the Scripture, or right understanding of the mind of God therein… | 121 |
II | The general assertion confirmed with testimonies of the Scripture… | 127 |
III | Other testimonies pleaded in confirmation of the same truth… | 142 |
IV | The especial work of the Holy Spirit in the illumination of our minds unto the understanding of the Scripture declared and vindicated… | 161 |
V | Causes of the ignorance of the mind of God revealed in the Scripture, and of errors about it– What they are, and how they are removed, | 174 |
VI | The work of the Holy Spirit in the composing and disposal of the Scripture as a means of sacred illumination… | 187 |
VII | Means to be used for the right understanding of the mind of God in the Scripture- Those which are prescribed in a way of duty, | 199 |
VIII | The second sort of means for the interpretation of the Scripture, which are disciplinarian, | 209 |
IX | Helps ecclesiastical in the interpretation of the Scripture, | 226 |
[BOOK VII.] | ||
A DISCOURSE OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER. | ||
PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR, | 236 | |
Preface to the Reader, | 237 | |
I | The use of prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit therein, | 251 |
II | Zech. xii. 10 opened and vindicated, | 254 |
III | Gal. iv. 6 opened and vindicated, | 265 |
IV | The nature of prayer-Rom. viii. 26 opened and vindicated, | 271 |
V | The work of the Holy Spirit as to the matter of prayer, | 277 |
VII | The due manner of prayer, wherein it doth consist, | 287 |
VII | The nature of prayer in general, with respect unto forms of prayer and vocal prayer-Eph. vi. 18 opened and vindicated, | 297 |
VIII | The duty of external prayer by virtue of a spiritual gift explained and vindicated, | 301 |
IX | Duties inferred from the preceding discourse, | 816 |
X | Of mental prayer as pretended unto by some in the church of Rome, | 328 |
XI | Prescribed forms of prayer examined, | 338 |
[BOOK VIII.] | ||
A DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. | ||
PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR, | 352 | |
The Preface, | 353 | |
I | The Holy Ghost the comforter of the church by way of office-How he is
the church’s advocate-John xiv. 10; 1 John ii. I, 2; John xvi. 8-11 opened, | 355 |
II | General adjuncts or properties of the office of a comforter, as exercised by the Holy Spirit, | 368 |
III | Unto whom the Holy Spirit is promised and given as a comforter, or the object of his acting in this office, | 379 |
IV | Inhabitation of the Spirit the first thing promised, | 383 |
V | Particular actings of the Holy Spirit as a comforter-How he is an unction, | 389 |
VI | The Spirit a seal, and how, | 399 |
VII | The Spirit an earnest, and how, | 407 |
The application of the foregoing Discourse, | 413 | |
[BOOK IX.] | ||
A DISCOURSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. | ||
I | Spiritual gifts, their names and signification, | 420 |
II | Differences between spiritual gifts and saving grace, | 425 |
III | Of gifts and offices extraordinary; and first of offices, | 438 |
IV | Extraordinary spiritual gifts, I Cor. xii. 5-11, | 453 |
V | The original, duration, use, and end, of extraordinary spiritual gifts, | 474 |
VI | Of ordinary gifts of the Spirit-The grant, institution, use, benefit, end, and continuance of the ministry, | 486 |
VII | Of spiritual gifts enabling the ministry to the exercise and discharge of their trust and office, | 498 |
VIII | Of the gifts of the Spirit with respect unto doctrine, worship, and rule -How attained and improved, | 508 |
Author
Amongst the best known of the Puritans, John Owen (1616-1683) was a profound and thought provoking pastor-theologian. His writings continue to be widely read and greatly appreciated to this day.