What They Said

"If a man teach uprightly, and walk crookedly, more will fall down in the night of his life, than he built in the day of his doctrine."

John Owen

“The glory of Christ’s exaltation cannot be seen or understood in this world except by faith fixing itself on divine revelation.  We cannot behold the glory of Christ by conjuring up pictures of Him in the mind and by trying to form the shape of a person in heaven in our imaginations.  The way to behold the glory of Christ is by the steady exercise of faith on the revelation of this glory of Christ given to us in Scripture.  It is our duty, therefore, constantly to mediate on the glory of Christ.  This will fill us with a joy which will,  in turn, move us to meditate on His glory more and more.”

John Owen

(From: The Glory of Christ)

“We are not so foolish as to think we can learn a trade without the diligent use of helps.  Shall we think that we may become spiritually skillful and wise in the understanding of this mystery without making any real effort to use the helps God has given us?  The most important of them is fervent prayer.  Pray with Paul that ‘the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened to behold’ the glory of God in Christ”

John Owen

(From: The Glory of Christ)

“It is by beholding the glory of Christ by faith that we are spiritually edified and built up in tis world, for as we behold His glory, the life and power of faith grow stronger and stronger.  It is by faith that we grow to love Christ.”

John Owen

(From: The Glory of Christ)

“No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight in heaven who does not, in some measure, behold it by faith in this world.  Grace is necessary preparation for glory and faith for sight.  The soul unprepared by grace and faith is not capable of seeing the glory of Christ in heaven.”

John Owen

(From: The Glory of Christ)

“Only a sight of His glory, and nothing else, will truly satisfy God’s people.  The hearts of believers are like a magnetized needle which cannot rest until it is pointing north.  So also, a believer, magnetized by the love of Christ, will always be restless until he or she comes to Christ and beholds His glory.”

John Owen

(From: The Glory of Christ)

“Indeed, the knowledge of a proud man is the throne of Satan in his mind.”

John Owen

“The growth of trees and plants takes place so slowly that it is not easily seen.  Daily we notice little change.  But, in course of time, we see that a great change has taken place.  So it is with grace.  Sanctification is a progressive, lifelong work (Proverbs. 4:18).  It is an amazing work of God's grace and it is a work to be prayed for (Romans. 8:27).”

John Owen