▶ DESCRIPTION
“Do you think you came into this world to spend your whole time and strength in your employments, your trades, your pleasures, unto the satisfaction of the will of the flesh and of the mind? Have you time enough to eat, to drink, to sleep, to talk unprofitably—it may be corruptly—in all sorts of unnecessary societies, but have not enough time to live unto God, in the very essentials of that life? Alas, you came into the world under this law: ‘It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment’ (Heb 9:27), and the end (purpose) why your life is here granted unto you, is that you may be prepared for that judgment. If this be neglected, if the principal part of your time be not improved with respect unto this end, you will yet fall under the sentence of it unto eternity” (John Owen, 1670).
▶ CONTENTS
Introduction
I. “Keep Thy Heart”
1. A Good Conscience
2. Set the Lord Always Before Us
3. Watch Diligently
4. Attend to Holiness
II. Diligent Effort
1. Shut Out All That Is Opposed to God
2. Bring into Conformity with the Word
3. Keep Tender unto Sin
4. Look after Cleansing
III. “The Lord Looketh on the Heart”
IV. Distinctive and Critical Seasons
1. In Times of Prosperity
2. In Times of Adversity
3. In Times of Public Danger
4. In Times of Trouble in the Church
5. In Times of Great Injuries and Abuses
6. In Times of Spiritual Gloom
7. In Time of Critical Illness
V. Other Issues
1. The Nature verses the Heart
2. Supreme Importance
3. Corollaries and Consequences
VI. Benefits of Keeping the Heart
1. Understanding the Deep Things of God
2. The Best Evidence of Sincerity
3. Delight in Spiritual Duties
4. Stability in Resisting Temptation
5. Improving One’s Graces
6. Profitable Christian Fellowship
7. Fitting Us for God’s Providences
8. Removing Ourselves as Stumbling Blocks
Conclusion
Description:
▶ DESCRIPTION “Do you think you came into this world to spend your whole time and strength in your employments, your trades, your pleasures, unto the satisfaction of the will of the flesh and of the mind? Have you time enough to eat, to drink, to sleep, to talk unprofitably—it may be corruptly—in all sorts of unnecessary societies, but have not enough time to live unto God, in the very essentials of that life? Alas, you came into the world under this law: ‘It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment’ (Heb 9:27), and the end (purpose) why your life is here granted unto you, is that you may be prepared for that judgment. If this be neglected, if the principal part of your time be not improved with respect unto this end, you will yet fall under the sentence of it unto eternity” (John Owen, 1670). ▶ CONTENTS Introduction I. “Keep Thy Heart” 1. A Good Conscience 2. Set the Lord Always Before Us 3. Watch Diligently 4. Attend to Holiness II. Diligent Effort 1. Shut Out All That Is Opposed to God 2. Bring into Conformity with the Word 3. Keep Tender unto Sin 4. Look after Cleansing III. “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” IV. Distinctive and Critical Seasons 1. In Times of Prosperity 2. In Times of Adversity 3. In Times of Public Danger 4. In Times of Trouble in the Church 5. In Times of Great Injuries and Abuses 6. In Times of Spiritual Gloom 7. In Time of Critical Illness V. Other Issues 1. The Nature verses the Heart 2. Supreme Importance 3. Corollaries and Consequences VI. Benefits of Keeping the Heart 1. Understanding the Deep Things of God 2. The Best Evidence of Sincerity 3. Delight in Spiritual Duties 4. Stability in Resisting Temptation 5. Improving One’s Graces 6. Profitable Christian Fellowship 7. Fitting Us for God’s Providences 8. Removing Ourselves as Stumbling Blocks Conclusion