The Works of John Owen

‘Commending Volume 13 of John Owen’s Works is a very personal pleasure. Owen is rightly considered the profoundest of the Puritan pastor theologians, and Owen is profound (just read his volumes on The Glory of Christ (vol. 1), Communion with God (vol. 2), and The Holy Spirit (vol. 3)). But before all else, Owen considered himself a pastor, serving the cause of Christ and the good of his church. In volume 13 of his Works , Owen covers a wide spectrum of theological and pastoral concerns: Of Schism, Nonconformity Vindicated, Tracts on the Power of Magistrates , issues that deeply troubled the church in the middle decades of the seventeenth century. However, the jewels in volume 13 are two brief works on The Duty of Pastors and People Distinguished and the quaintly titled Eshcol: A Cluster of the Fruit of Canaan, on the duties of Christian fellowship. Here Owen is at his pastoral best, practically and wisely directing believers to the biblical principles of living rightly and ministering rightly in the church. Owen’s concluding words in Eshcol reflect the pastoral heart of this theological giant, ‘Believers should live and walk in an exemplary way in all holiness and godliness, to the glory of the gospel, the edification of the church, and the conviction of those outside the church.” In other words, Owen is saying that the church is the gospel made visible. When Christians, by God’s grace, actually pursue obedience, the gospel is proclaimed through their fellowship. Biblical ecclesiology is truly evangelistic.

Read and be richly nourished.’

– IAN HAMILTON, Professor of Historical Theology, Westminster Seminary UK.