- Brief Declaration and Vindication of The Doctrine of the
Trinity
Description: Few of Owen’s treatises have been more extensively circulated
and generally useful than his Brief Declaration and Vindication of the
Doctrine of the Trinity. At the time when the treatise was published,
the momentous doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement were violently
assailed; but it was not so much for the refutation of opponents as for
“the edification and establishment of the plain Christian,†that our author
composed the following little work. The reader will find in it traces of
that deep and familiar acquaintance with opposing views, and with the
highest theology involved in the questions which might be expected from Dr
Owen on a subject which he seems to have studied with peculiar industry and
research.
- Brief Instruction in the Worship of God
Description: In A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God, which
came to be known as “The Independents’ Catechism,†Owen outlines the
constitution and ordinances of a Christian Church, and explains the duties
of office-bearers and members.
- Christologia
Description: The object of John Owen in this treatise is to illustrate the
mystery of divine grace in the person of Christ. It bears the title,
Christologia; but it differs considerably from many works of the
same title or character. It is not occupied with a formal induction from
Scripture in proof of the supreme Godhead of the Saviour. Owen assumes the
truth of this doctrine, and applies all his powers and resources to expound
its relations in the Christian system, and its bearings on Christian duty
and experience. The Christology of Owen has always been highly valued, and
will be of use to all ages of the church: — “A work,†says Dr M’Crie,
“which, together with its continuation, the Meditations on the Glory of
Christ, of all the theological works published by individuals since the
Reformation, next to Calvin’s Institutions, we would have deemed it
our highest honour to have produced.â€
- Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Description: The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is John
Owen’s definitive work on the extent of the atonement. It is a polemical
work, designed to show among other things that the doctrine of universal
redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. It was called
forth by the progress in England of Arminianism and the half-way house of
Amyraldianism adopted by Baxter, Davenant and Usher.
- Discourse concerning Evangelical Love, Church Peace, and
Unity
Description: Evangelical Love, Church Peace and Unity was written at
a time when Owen could speak of ‘a sinful decay of love among professors of
the gospel in this nation,’ and deals with the importance of these virtues
at all levels of church life.
- Dissertation on Divine Justice
Description: A Dissertion on Divine Justice refutes the teaching
that God could pardon sin by a mere act of will, and without any
satisfaction to his justice i.e. without an atonement. It deserves to be
read with interest as the conclusive settlement of a question of vital
moment and one of the most vigorous productions of Owen’s
intellect.
- Doctrine of Justification by Faith
Description: Owen’s masterly account of justification by faith is
distinguished from the two other classical 17th-century English
treatises on this subject (those of Downame and Davenant) by its
non-speculative, non-scholastic character and its dominating pastoral
concern. The resurgent Roman challenge, and current Protestant confusion,
obliged Owen to write controversially at certain points, but the core of
his discourse is straightforward biblical exposition, massive, fresh,
compelling and practical. Of all the many Puritan treatments of
justification, Owen’s is without doubt the richest.
- Doctrine of the Saints’ Perseverance Explained and
Confirmed
Description: Written to answer Redemption Redeemed by the Arminian, John
Goodwin, this treatise contains a minute refutation of Goodwin’s views but
nevertheless would, in the words of Andrew Thompson “be almost as complete
were every part of it that refers Goodwin expunged, and undeniably forms
the most masterly vindication of the perseverance of the saints in the
English tongue.â€
- Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God’s
Elect
Description: What are the evidences on which the elect of God, in any
process of self-scrutiny, may ascertain the reality of their own faith?
Ascribing to faith all the importance which is due to it as the
instrumental cause of justification, John Owen suspends the entire question
of the genuineness of conversion upon the existence of a fourfold
development or operation of that gracious principle in the hearts of all
who may be anxious to discover whether they have been really quickened and
born of God.
- Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ
Description: This treatise may be regarded as a series of Discourses on
John xvii. 24. The subject is the Glory of Christ, as the representative of
God to the church, — in the mystery of his Person, — in his office as
Mediator, — in his exaltation on high, — in his relation to the church
during every age of its history, — and in the final consummation of his
work, when all things are to be gathered into a blessed unity, as the
result of his mediation. The treatise is concluded by a statement of the
difference between our views of the Glory of Christ as beheld by faith in
this world, and as it shall be beheld by sight in heaven.
- Of Communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Description: In 1657, John Owen produced one of his finest devotional
treatises, probably the substance of a series of sermons. He examines the
Christian’s communion with God as it relates to all three members of the
Holy Trinity. He leads us by green pastures and still waters, and lays
open the exhaustless springs of the Christian’s hidden life with God.
Twenty years after its publication, Of Communion with God provoked
the scoffing remarks of a Rational ecclesiastic. In his reply, Owen
vindicates himself from the various mystical sentiments that were ascribed
to him.
- Of Temptation
Description: John Owen was essentially a pastoral theologian, and in his
best writings, his pastoral concern and acute doctrinal instinct are
inseparable. On Temptation, an exposition of Jesus’ words ‘Watch
and pray, lest ye enter into temptation,’ describes the nature of entering
into temptation, and offers valuable teaching on watching against
it.
- Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers
Description: John Owen was essentially a pastoral theologian, and in his
best writings, his pastoral concern and acute doctrinal instinct are
inseparable. On the Mortification of Sin, the substance of a series
of addresses on Romans viii. 13, provides teaching in a vital but neglected
aspect of Christianity. Owen takes up many of the questions that occur to
every believer in the battle against sin.
- Pneumatologia
Description: ‘Owen on the Holy Spirit’, as the work has generally been
called, is perhaps one of the best known, and most highly esteemed of
Owen’s treatises. ‘We are favoured with many excellent books in our
tongue’, wrote John Newton to a correspondent, ‘but I with you agree in
assigning one of the first places as a teacher to Dr Owen. I have just
finished his discourse on the Holy Spirit which is an epitome, if not the
masterpiece of his writings.’
- Sacramental Discourses
Description: The height and depth of a man’s ministry is always best tested
at the preparation for the Lord’s table. Owen comes well out of the test.
There is ‘sweet savour of Christ’ in his words; ‘Taste and
see.’
- Sermons of John Owen
Description: The merits of Owen as a preacher have not been sufficiently
appreciated. In this respect he seems to have stood higher in the
estimation of his contemporaries than he has subsequently done. Perhaps
the value of his other works diverted attention from his minor productions;
and his style of careful and elaborate, though often prolix and cumbrous,
discussion, was deemed incompatible with the condensation of statement and
the vigour of appeal which constitute the main value and charm of a good
discourse. Yet from the contemporary accounts transmitted to us the
ability with which Owen could secure and sustain the attention of an
audience must have been great. His Discourses themselves, however, will
best illustrate the position and rank to which he is entitled among the
lights and ornaments of the British pulpit.
- Several Practical Cases of Conscience Resolved
Description: Casuistry — the science and doctrine of conscience — is
designed to resolve cases of doubt and uncertainty in regards to points of
subjective morality. Owen’s discourses deal with momentous questions of
religious experience, and are replete with suggestions and
advices.
- Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace
Description: The treatise is founded on Rom. vi. 14, and three facts are
presupposed in the discussion that follows:— that sin dwells in believers;
seeks to renew its dominion over them; and endeavours to accomplish this
object by deceit and force. Three leading inquiries are proposed:— 1. Into
the nature of this dominion; 2. The evidence by which we ascertain whether
it exists in us; and 3. The reason or ground of the assurance that it shall
not have dominion over believers.
- Two Short Catechisms
Description: The Two Short Catechisms were designed to help and
instruct the members of John Owen’s congregation at Fordham. According to
Owen himself, they represent the substance of the teaching he gave in his
regular preaching ministry.
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