This chapter of this treatise is rather long. Starting at the bottom of page 188 and extending to the top of page 202, this is no easy read. I am at a point now where I have to give up any chance to "have you experience Owen" as I have, and let the Holy Spirit convict hearts if that be His work in your heart. Last chapter we considered the aversation of the heart toward God; this chapter considers its opposition to the things of God specifically.
An enemy not only has some sort of aversion with his enemy, but will also try to oppose him in all ways. They are at cross purposes, hence their enmity. If one moves one way, the enemy will try to overt this person's purposes and plans. Owen states,
The second way whereby it exerts itself is opposition. Enmity will oppose and contend with that where with it is at enmity; it is so in things natural and moral. As light and darkness, heat and cold, so virtue and vice oppose each other.
As with any enemy, this enemy may go the way of opposing in two ways, either by Force or by Deceit. Remember Satan is the lion and the serpent. Owen gives 2 ways, in this chapter, in which this enmity expresses itself in opposing the Spirit of God.
1. The general inclination of the law of sin is, "it lusteth" (Galatians 5:7). The flesh lusts against the Spirit. This is the very general description of our enemy within. Owen comments,
When it doth anything, it lusteth; as, because burning is the general acting of fire, whatever it doth else, it doth also burn. When fire doth anything it burns; and when the law of sin doth anything it lusts.
This is how it makes its appeal to your heart. It lusts. It desires and craves for more attention and worship. As we have seen, it can do this with the reward of pleasure, and so lusts after the desired end. Owen believes its lusts in 2 ways:
1. "In a hidden, close propensity unto all evil." Evil infects whatever it touches, and the law of sin can do nothing but evil. There is a continual propensity toward evil, always framing the mind, always producing thoughts of evil in the mind. This brings us to an objection. Let me frame it this way:
The habitual inclination of the heart is denominated from the principle that bears chief or sovereign rule in it; and therefore in believers it is unto good, unto God, unto holiness, unto obedience.
So for believers, the Spirit has sovereignty in our hearts because we belong to Jesus. But the law of sin constantly makes its appeal against the Spirit. It is like "a river." Owen illustrates, and please hear this,
Whilst the springs and fountains of it are open, and waters are continually supplied unto its streams, set a dam before it, and it causes it to rise and swell until it bear down all or overflow the banks about it. Let these waters be abated, dried up in some good measure in the springs of them, and the remained may be coerced and restrained. But still, as long as there is any running water, it will constantly press upon what stands before it, according to its weight and strength, because it is its nature so to do..
It will constantly press upon the soul, especially if you are not about the work of mortifying this sin. This propensity can come about by unexpected surprises. The law of sin will find many avenues to drag and entice you to sin. "Sin produces its figments secretly in the heart." Out of nowhere it seems that it will make the heart jump to serve its lusts. Also this propensity can be seen in that "it is always ready and prompt to lust."
If a castle or fort be ever so strong and well fortified, yet if there be a treacherous party within, that is ready to betray it on every opportunity, there is no preserving it from the enemy. (Page 105).
You might be able to withhold an enemy with just an outside attack. But since there are divisions and factions in your heart, the law of sin within makes an appeal to the outside enemy. This gives the outside party an advantage to overtake your soul. The law of sin is this treacherous party within. He desires to open the door to the enemy that knocks at the door on the outside.
2. "Its lusting consists in its actual pressing after that which is evil, and actual opposition unto that which is good.” This is sin's trade and occupation. It is constantly "raising up in the heart and proposing unto the mind and affections, that which is evil." It is constantly bubbling and acting to entice your heart to serve the law of sin.
NOW, second it not only Lusts, but it
2. It fights and wars with the soul. This is how it makes its conquest. Think about it. If sin just threw up the temptation and left it alone, there might be many victories on our part. Just like in soccer, you must fight for possession of the ball or the opponent will surely get possession. Owen illustrates,
Would it merely stir up and propose things to the soul, and immediately acquiesce in the sentence and judgment of the mind, that the thing is evil, against God and his will, and not farther to be insisted on, much sin might be prevent that is now produced; but it rests on here, it proceeds to carry on its design.
It is fighting with the Spirit to gain sovereign control over your soul. This is how it opposes the Spirit. Its general purpose is for you to walk in conformity to its wishes in all things. Second, it brings particular demands to your mind, so that you will serve it this way or that way. It opposes you generally and then specifically. It fights for ground in these ways. Owen points out that it wars particularly in 3 ways:
1. It, once again, acts positively in stirring up your mind to sin.
2. It presses and makes the matter at hand urgent. Owen illustrates, "Present hellfire unto it; it rusheth into the midst of those flames." It commands that the particular sin at hand is urgent and needs attention, and once you give it permission, it will stop at nothing to bring about the lust at hand to its head.
3. It entangles the affections. It makes your heart long for sin. If it lays hold of this fort of the mind, it will be hard to defeat this stronghold. If you actually desire sin, how can you say no?
Owen concludes this chapter with 2 practical ways we may truly be humbled in this work at hand, given what we have considered:
1. "By walking with God." God only delights in those who are humble and contrite; those who tremble at His word. Owen states, "This will beget reverence of God, a sense of our distance from him, admiration of his grace and condescension, a due valuation of mercy, far above those light, verbal, airy attainments [i.e., giving in to the rewards the law of sin promises], that some have boasted of."
2. "By walking with others." There are times when we rebuke others or make harsh criticisms of other people but wow, "we have been guilty of greater or worse crimes that those which they have raved against in others." This will lead us to meekness, compassion, readiness to forgive, to pass by offenses; even when we shall "consider" our true state. If you truly understand the state of your soul, you will be quick to forgive others there small debt to your soul. Keep in mind your great debt to God.
Know how the law of sin opposes the things of God believers. Study your soul; understand its cravings, its ways, so that you may understand your dependency on Jesus Christ day in and day out. Fill your minds with the Gospel, and therefore oppose the work of this great enemy, for it is the Gospel that your inbred enemy seeks to oppose. Fill it with the ammunition that your enemy seeks to disarm you of.
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