The Works of John Owen Author:John Owen, William H. Goold, Andrew Thomson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE EXPLAINED AND CONFIRMED. CHAPTER I. THE STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY. The various thoughts of men concerning the do... more »ctrine proposed to consideration— The great concernment of it, however stated, on all hands confessed—Some special causes pressing to the present handling of it—The fearful backsliding of many in these days—The great offence given and taken thereby, with the provision made for its removal—The nature of that offence and temptation thence arising considered—Answer to some arguings of Mr G., chap, ix., from thence against the truth proposed—The use of trials and shakings—Grounds of believers' assurance that they are so—The same farther argued and debated —Of the testimony of a man's own conscience concerning his uprightness, and what is required thereunto—1 John iii. 7 considered—Of the rule of self-judging, with principles of settlement for true believers, notwithstanding the apostasies of eminent professors—Corrupt teachings rendering the hand- ling of this doctrine necessary—Its enemies of old and of late—The particular undertaking of Mr G. proposed to consideration—An entrance into the stating of the question—The terms of the question explained—Of holiness in its several acceptations—Created holiness, original or adventitious, complete or inchoate—Typical by dedication, real by purification—Holiness evangelical, either so indeed or by estimation—Real holiness partial or universal—The partakers of the first, or temporary believers, not true believers, maintained against Mr G.—Ground of judging professors to be true believers—Matt, vii. 20 considered—What is the rule of judging men therein given—What knowledge of the faith of others is to be obtained—What is meant by perseverance : how in Scripture it is expressed—The groun...« less