Puritan Wisdom

“This is one main reason why the Spirit and the new nature is given to us, -- that we may have a principle within whereby to oppose sin and lust.  ‘The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.’  Well! and what then?  Why ‘The Spirit also lusteth against the flesh,’ Gal. v. 17.  There is a propensity in the Spirit, or spiritual new nature, to be acting against the flesh, as well as in the flesh to be acting against the Spirit:  so 2 Pet. i. 4, 5. It is our participation of the divine nature that gives us an escape from the pollutions that are in the world through lust; and, Rom. Vii. 23, there is a law of the mind, just as there is a law of the members.  Now, this is, first, the most unjust and unseasonable thing in the world, when two combatants are engaged, to bind one and keep him from doing his utmost, and to leave the other at liberty to wound him at his pleasure; and, secondly, the foolishest thing in the world to bind him who fights for our eternal condition, [salvation?] and to let him alone who seeks and violently attempts our everlasting ruin.  The contest is for our lives and souls.  Not to be daily employing the Spirit and new nature for the mortifying of sin, is to neglect that excellent succour which God hath given us against our greatest enemy.  If we neglect to make use of what we have received, God may justly hold his hand from giving us more.  His graces, as well as his gifts, are bestowed on us to use, exercise, and trade with.  Not to be daily mortifying sin, is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who hath furnished us with a principle off doing it.”  -- John Owen, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, 12-13, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin.