John Owen

Until we are tested, we think that we are living on our own strength. It is, however, God alone who keeps us from falling by his preventing grace. We might say, “All men may do this or that, but we will not!” When the trial comes, however, we quickly see that only God’s preservation upholds us. So it was with Abimelech (Gen. 20:6), God withheld him from sinning. God also reveals his renewing grace through our testings. Paul in his prayer for deliverance from his thorn in the flesh, found God’s sufficiency and renewing grace (2 Cor. 12:9). We do not realize the power and strength that God puts forth on our behalf, and the sufficiency of his grace, until we compare our trials with our weaknesses. God’s power and grace are then seen clearly in our lives. The effectiveness of an antidote is not realized until one has been exposed to the poison. The preciousness of a medicine is revealed by the presence of the disease. We will not know the power of grace until we feel the power of testing. We must be tried, to realize the glory of being preserved.
—John Owen “Temptation”

The spiritual beauty and comeliness of the soul consists in its conformity to God… Grace gives beauty… The beauty originally consisted in the image of God in us, which contained the whole order, harmony, and symmetry of our natures, in all their faculties and actions, with respect to God and our utmost end… Sin has a deformity in it, brings spots,  stains, and wrinkles on the soul… Holiness and conformity to  God is the honour of our souls. It is that alone which makes them truly noble…This we have only by holiness, or that image of God wherein we are created. Whatever is contrary to this is base, vile, and unworthy.
—John Owen, “Discourse on the Holy Spirit”

It is fit that professors of all sorts should be reminded of these things; for we may see not a few of them under visible decays, without any sincere endeavours after a recovery, who yet please themselves that the root of the matter is in them. It is so, if love of the world, conformity unto it, negligence in holy duties, and coldness in spiritual love, be an evidence of such decays. but let none deceive their own souls; wherever there is a saving principle of grace, it will be thriving and growing unto the end. And if it falls under obstructions, and thereby into decays for a season, it will give no rest or quietness unto the soul, wherein it is, but will labour continually for a recovery. Peace in a spiritually decaying condition is a soul ruining security; better be under terror on the account of surprisal into some sin, than be in peace under evident decays of spiritual life.
—John Owen

Take heed of being deluded by common presumptions. Most men have some thoughts in general about what their state is, and what it will be in the issue; but they make no diligent search into this matter, because a number of common presumptions do immediately insinuate themselves into their minds for their relief; and they are such as all whose force and efficacy unto this end lies in this, that they differ from others, and are better than they; — as that they are Christians, that they are in the right way of religion, that they are partakers of the outward privileges of the Gospel, hearing the word, and participating of the sacraments; — that they have light and convictions, so as that they abstain from sin, and perform duties so as others do not; and the like. All those with whom it is not so, who are behind them in these things, they judge to be in an ill state and condition, whence they entertain good hopes concerning themselves; and this is all that most trust unto. It is not my present business to discourse the vanity of presumptions; — it has been done by many. I give only this warning in general, unto those who have the least design or purpose to come to Christ, and to be made partakers of him, that they put no trust in them, that they rely not on them; for if they do so they will eternally deceive their souls. This was a great part of the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist, Matthew 3:9, “Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.” This was their great comprehensive privilege, containing all the outward church and covenant advantages. These they rested in and trusted to unto their ruin; herein he designed to undeceive them.–John Owen, “Meditation and Discourses concerning the glory of Christ.”

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Consider carefully the difference between a reproof and a reproach. They may both be false alike, and that in which  we are reproved may have no more truth in it than that in which we are reproached. Yes, we may be honestly reproved for that which is false, and wickedly reproached with that which is true. Augustine states this when he referred to the maid who confronted his mother about drinking wine, as a hard and unjust reproach, although the matter itself was true enough. But a reproach is an acting of the mind designing of and rejoicing in evil. Regarding a reproof it is essential that it springs  from love. “Whom I love, I rebuke,” is the absolute rule of these things. Let a man rebuke another, and though for something which indeed is false, if it is done in love, it is a reproof; but let him rebuke another, though for something which is true, if it be the product of a mind delighting in evil it is a reproach…

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