The Equity of God’s Constitution: Repentance as the Sole Condition of Deliverance, by John Owen. скачать в хорошем качестве

The Equity of God’s Constitution: Repentance as the Sole Condition of Deliverance, by John Owen.

The Equity of God’s Constitution: Repentance as the Sole Condition of Deliverance, by John Owen. The following contains Section Four of his work, "An Humble Testimony Unto The Goodness And Severity Of God In His Dealing With Sinful Churches And Nations; Or, The Only Way To Deliver A Sinful Nation From Utter Ruin By Impendent Judgments: In A Discourse On The Words Of Our Lord Jesus Christ." London, 1681. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. — Luke 13:1-5. Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. — Isaiah 58:1 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. — Matthew 3:10-12 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. — Job 1:19 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. — Ezekiel 18:30 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: — Acts 7:51-52 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. — Psalm 6:4 That which, in the next place, we are to speak unto is,"The equity of this divine constitution,—that, in the ordinary way of God's rule and dispensation of his providence, repentance and reformation shall turn away impendent judgments, and procure unto a people a blessed deliverance; and nothing else shall do it:" "Except ye repent, ye shall perish." That upon repentance they shall be saved and delivered, is intended in the same rule. This is the unalterable law of divine Providence; this shall do it, and nothing else shall so do. The wisdom and power of men shall not do it. Fasting and prayer, whilst we continue in our sins, shall not do it. Repentance alone is made the condition of deliverance in this state of things. Upon this rule did God vindicate the equity of his ways against repining Israel (Ezek. 18:29–32): Can any thing be more just and equal? Ruin and utter desolation are ready to fall upon the whole people. This you have deserved by your iniquities and multiplied provocations. In strict justice, they ought immediately to come upon you. But "my ways are equal;" I will not deal with you in a way of strict justice; I will do it in equity, which is a meet [suitable] temperature of justice and mercy. And this I make evident unto you herein, in that, whilst the execution of judgment is only threatened and suspended, if you make unto yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, in sincere repentance—if you cast away all your transgressions by thorough reformation of your lives —iniquity shall not be your ruin. What can be more just, righteous, and equal? Who can complain if, after all this, evil should overtake you, and you shall not escape? The same he pleads again, chap. 33:10, 11, as in many other places. Why This Constitution is Just and Right That this divine constitution (namely, that repentance and reformation shall save a church, people, or nation, in the state before described, and that nothing else shall do so, however men may please and pride themselves in their own imaginations) is equal, just, and good—that it is meet it should be so—that it hath a condecency [fitness] unto the divine excellencies, and the rule of righteousness in government—is evident; for: 1. It is Inbred in Human Nature The notion of this rule is inbred in mankind by nature, as was mentioned before. There is no man, unless he be atheistically profligate, but, when he apprehends that evil and ruin, especially as unto his life... https://takeupcross.com takeupcross