In chapter 7, Owen continues the material that began in chapter 6. In chapter 6 Owen considered how the "law of sin" lusts wars with the soul. Chapter 7 deals with two other ways that the law of sin opposes the Spirit of God working in believers' hearts. Generally, the law of sin opposes in to other ways: it leads the soul captive and it enrages with madness once it gains possession of the affections and mind.
What does it mean to be led captive? Someone or something is captive only if it is against the will of the person to be otherwise. If a party is willing to be in subjection it cannot be said to be held captive under its influence; its influence is desired. First, it leads the soul captive. This captivity finds its intended means in two general statements:
1. "It is not directly the power and actings of the law of sin that are here expressed, but its success in and upon its actings." Captivity does not merely imply the actions of the captivating party, but it is expressed in the success of the captivator in his conquest. Sin wars against the soul "to lead it captive," and so to have total victory over the heart. It does not seek anything other than total captivity of the soul.
2. It doesn't lead us captive in some particular sin or lust, but generally "into the law of sin." Its captivity doesn't aim at your soul being captive to one particular sin, though it finds victory that way. It desires you to be captive to the entire "law of sin." It does this so that you will obey all that it commands and prompts. Owen makes sure we are able to see this battle between the law of sin and the Spirit in the believer. The sovereignty belongs to the Spirit, but the law of sin is constantly trying to drag it off its throne.
Since this is true, 3 things can be said when one lust or sin prevails dominant in the person.
1. "When any lust grows high and prevailing more than others, upon its own account [with no footing or ground in the soul], it is from the peculiar advantage that it hath in the natural constitution, or the station or condition of the person in the world; for otherwise the law of sin gives an equal propensity unto ALL EVIL, and equal vigour unto every lust." When you find one sin gaining dominance, rather than the entire "law of sin" you can be sure that this is AN ATTACK FROM SATAN ON YOUR SOUL.
2. If this particular lust brings captivity and it doesn't find its ground to advantage the flesh, you can be sure this is from Satan as well. If there is some sort of spiritual advantage or enslavement in your sin, you can be sure this is an attack from him.
3. "This leading captive argues prevalence against the renitency or contrary actings of the will." Giving consent to a particular lust or sin is the means of the captivity, but "it gives none to the captivity itself; that is against the will wholly." The will of the believer is to glorify God. Believers seek to do the will of their Father who is in heaven. We follow only the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-10).
This shows how powerful this law of sin is. Though believers do not desire to be captive to the law of sin, though they discipline themselves against a certain lust, yet it still gains advantage. This also shows the "wretched and miserable condition" of this captivity. Owen says,
When the neck is sore and tender with former pressures, to be compelled to bear the yoke again, this pierces, this grieves, this even breaks the heart.
How sad this picture is. When we are so beaten down by sin yet we still put its heavy and difficult yoke back on our necks to serve it. Put on the yoke of Christ. Believers, you have the ability in the Spirit to not place this yoke on your neck. It hurts and blisters because it is not natural for any man to have this yoke. This is only peculiar to believers. Men who do not have Christ are not led away and led into captivity by the law of sin. They may be led captive to some particular sin or lust, but only because they are convinced of the evil of it; they are not convinced of the nature of the law of sin. All unregenerate men do is sin. They are too good of friends with sin to see its enmity and opposition.
Secondly, the nature of opposition to the Spirit is in its rage and madness. It makes violent, unreasonable longings toward the evil and corruptness found in sin. It does not regard consequences or dangers. It reaches this height in two ways:
1. It is provoked , enraged, and heightened by some great temptation. It grows violent in the heart. Owen comments, "Though sin be always a fire in the bones, yet it flames not unless Satan come with his bellows to blow it up." It reaches this point by great strides and always presenting lusts to the mind.
2. It gains advantage unto this condition from some former entertainment or victory of temptation. On its first appearance it does not reach this level. It reaches this level once it has reached some comfort or friendship with the soul. Owen commands,
The great wisdom and security of the soul in dealing with indwelling sin is to put a violent stop unto its beginnings, its first motions and actings.
You would not ask something outrageous to someone you hardly know. So sin, once it finds a common ground in the heart after many attempts, it then is able to rage and ask outrageous things of your soul. It will harden you to this particular lust at this point. It will sear your conscience at this point where it no longer feels guilty about the particular lust. Kill sin at its very beginning so that it will not reach this dangerous stage. But how does this rage initially find ground? If it is true that believers have the Spirit of God as their ruler in their soul, how is it that this law of sin still finds so much ground in the soul?
1. "There is in it the casting off, for a time at least, of the yoke, rule, and government of the Spirit and law of grace." The influences of the Spirit of grace will be intercepted by the commands from the law of sin. Though the Spirit has sovereign rule in the heart, the law of sin causes the believer to no longer allow the Spirit to influence their life, giving way to the fruits of sin. The grace in the heart exerts is force with power and efficacy. It does this by working effectually in all parts of the soul and uniting them together to desire God. But the law of sin interrupts this exercise and acts contrary to these purposes. Owen illustrates,
Sin in this case is like an untamed horse, which, having first cast off his rider, runs away with fierceness and rage.
The horse is no longer bridled by the rider, but is free to go about his own rule. If you do this, this will lead to your spiritual ruin. It darkens the mind. Owen continues concerning the Spirit,
Hence that saving light that is in the mind is clouded and stifled, that it cannot put forth its transforming power to changed the soul into the likeness of Christ discovered unto it, which is its proper work (Romans 12:2).
I am about to quote Owen at length because I do not feel that I can express what Owen expresses here without borrowing his words, this is how you give sin its power:
The habitual inclination of the will to obedience, which is the next way of the working of the law of grace, is first weakened, then cast aside and rendered useless, by the continual solicitations of sin and temptation; so that the will first lets go its hold, and disputes whether it shall yield or no, and at last gives up itself to its adversary. And for the affections, commonly the beginning of this evil is in them. They cross one another, and torture the soul with their impetuous violence. By this way is the rule of the law of grace intercepted by the law of sin, even by imposing upon it in the whole seat of its government.
Allow your heart to always be enthroned by the Law of Grace. Let the Spirit rule your heart, because you know that He is a good ruler. Allow Grace and Mercy to fill your affections for Christ. Do not allow the law of sin in your heart to inform your affections for Satan’s purposes. This rage is fearless, it takes into account no consequences or dangers. The Spirit, on the other hand, considers all things, and knows the right path; the path of the Righteous One. Do you not call Jesus Christ "Lord"? Why then are you not giving Him full control of your heart?
God does give us mercy and grace for us to see this work in our hearts to put us to shame. There are times when the Lord simply does not allow us to fall into a particular sin, though we would rush headlong into it. There are times when He warns you of the consequences of judgment in participating in this or that sin. These are all ways where God preserves us from being controlled by this Law of Sin.
The law of sin will bring many weapons and many schemes to have you serve its interests. Remember that you belong to Christ, the one who has saved you. It is with Him that you have died to sin. This is why you are called to be mortifying your sin daily, because the kingdom of God has come and is coming. Are you living in light of this new coming Kingdom or are you serving the law of sin with your members? Cast off the old man and put on Christ. Be on the lookout regarding these things we have considered.
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