JOHN OWEN: CHRISTOLOGIA
OR A DECLARATION OF THE GLORIOUS MYSTERY OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST — GOD AND MAN:
In his preface writes....
Unto them that believe unto the saving of the soul, he (Jesus) is, he always has
been, precious — the sun, the rock, the life, the bread of their souls —
every thing that is good, useful, amiable, desirable, here or unto eternity.
In, from, and by him, is all their spiritual and eternal life, light, power,
growth, consolation, and joy here; with everlasting salvation hereafter. By
him alone do they desire, expect, and obtain deliverance from that woeful
apostasy from God, which is accompanied with — which containeth in it
virtually and meritoriously whatever is evil, noxious, and destructive unto
our nature, and which, without relief, will issue in eternal misery. By him
are they brought into the nearest cognation, alliance, and friendship with
God, the firmest union unto him, and the most holy communion with him,
that our finite natures are capable of, and so conducted unto the eternal
enjoyment of him. For in him “shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and
shall glory;” (Isaiah 45:25;) for “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an
everlasting salvation;” they “shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world
without end:” verse 17.
On these and the like accounts, the principal design of their whole lives
unto whom he is thus precious, is to acquaint themselves with him — the
mystery of the wisdom, grace, and love of God, in his person and
mediation, as revealed unto us in the Scripture, which is “life eternal;”
(John 17:3;) — to trust in him, and unto him, as to all the everlasting
concernments of their souls — to love and honor him with all their hearts
— to endeavor after conformity to him, in all those characters of divine
goodness and holiness which are represented unto them in him. In these
things consist the soul, life, power, beauty, and efficacy of the Christian
religion; without which, whatever outward ornaments may be put upon its
exercise, it is but a useless, lifeless carcass. The whole of this design is
expressed in these heavenly words of the apostle: (Philippians 3:8-12:)
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means
I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of
Christ Jesus.”
This is a divine expression of that frame of heart of that design — which is
predominant and efficacious in them unto whom Christ is precious