Temptation: Resisted and Repulsed (John Owen) (#40)

Temptation: Resisted and Repulsed

In this abridgement of John Owen’s classic work Of Temptation, the famous Puritan theologian opens up Matthew 26:41, carefully explaining what temptation is and what it means to enter into it. Owen then shows how Christ teaches two means for Christians to use in order to guard against this danger, namely watching and praying:

“These two”, Owen says, “comprise the whole endeavour of faith for the souls preservation from temptation”, and he insists that it is the duty of every believer to follow diligently Christ’s instructions to avoid falling into temptation. Owen helpfully applies his teaching, explaining how we can know whether we have entered into temptation, what practical steps we should take to preserve our souls from entering into it, how to identify those particular times when people tend to enter into temptation, and showing us the best ways of watching the heart itself.

Sinclair B. Ferguson has written:

“Many of Owen’s readers have come away from reading him on such themes as temptation feeling that Owen knew them through and through.’ However, not only does Owen’s penetrating writing open up areas of need in our own hearts; it also opens up correspondingly profound assurances of grace in Jesus Christ.”

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The General Nature of Testing
3. What is Temptation?
4. Entering Into Temptation
5. Temptation’s Hour
6. Our Great Duty: To Avoid Temptation
7. The Folly of Trusting in Our Own Hearts
8. Temptation Darkens the Mind
9. Public Temptations
10. Private Temptations
11. Why Must we Fear Temptation
12. Knowing Our Danger
13. Means of Preservation
14. Praying for Protection
15. Seasons of Special Danger
16. Watching Our Hearts
17. Watching for the Approach of Temptation
18. When Surprised by Temptation
19. Keeping the Word of Christ’s Patience
20. A Sure Preservative
21. Considerations That Keep us Safe
22. Help in Watching Against Temptation
23. General Exhortations

About the Author

John Owen’s life from 1616 until 1683 spans one of the most momentous epochs in the history of Britain. It is challenging to assess this man of so many talents.  His varied charges were to be, a country pastor, an army chaplain, head of an Oxford college and vice-chancellor, before becoming a leader among the persecuted Nonconformists.  He wrote extensively, the Puritan Paperbacks series alone containing almost a dozen of his works.  His most famous are his writings about resisting temptation, mortification of sin, and his majestic writings about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.