Chapter 11 [Kapic and Taylor edition] of John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers
Third Direction: Load your conscience with the guilt of [sin] (103).
Begin with generals and so descend to particulars:
Charge your conscience with that guilt which appears in it from the rectitude and holiness of the law.
Bring your lust to the gospel – not for relief, but for further conviction of its guilt. . .
Descend to Particulars
Consider the infinite patience and forbearance of God toward you in particular (105).
All God’s gracious dealings with you, in providential dispensations, deliverances, afflictions, mercies, enjoyments, all ought here to take place (106).
While the conscience has any means to alleviate the guilt of sin, the soul will never vigorously attempt its mortification.
Fourth: being thus affected with your sin, in the next place get a constant longing, breathing after deliverance from the power of it (106).
Fifth: Consider whether the distemper with which you are perplexed be not rooted in your nature, and cherished, fomented, and heightened from your constitution
(107).
This is not in the least an extenuation of the guilt of your sin.
That you have to fix upon this account, in reference to your walking with God, is, that so great an advantage is given to sin, as also to Satan, by this your temper and disposition, that without extraordinary watchfulness, care, and diligence, they will assuredly prevail against your soul.
For the mortification of any distemper so rooted in the nature of a man, unto all other ways and means already named or further to be insisted on, there is one expedient peculiarly suited; this is that of the apostle, ‘I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection’ (1 Corinthians 9:27) (108).
The outward weakening and impairing of the body should not be looked upon as a thing good in itself.
The means whereby this is done – namely, by fasting and watching, and the like – should be looked on as things that in themselves, and by virtue of their own power, can produce true mortification of any sin . . .
Sixth: Consider what occasions, what advantages your distemper has taken to exert and put forth itself, and watch against them all (109).
Consider what ways, what companies, what opportunities, what studies, what businesses, what conditions, have at any time given or do usually give, advantages to your distempers, and set yourself heedfully against them all.
Know that he that dares to dally with occasions of sin will dare to sin. He that will venture upon temptations unto wickedness will venture upon wickedness.
Seventh: Rise mightily against the first actings of your distemper, its first conceptions; suffer it not to get the least ground. Do not say, ‘Thus far it shall go, and no further.’ If it have allowance for one step it will take another (109-110).
