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Several Practical Cases of Conscience Resolved - Enhanced Version
Several Practical Cases of Conscience Resolved is a series of discourses answering questions about sin, grace, faith, prayer, God's providence, and the preparation for Christ's second coming. Published in 1721, this series of short discourses was included amongst a collection of John Owen's sermons. This style of discourse falls under the category of study called casuistry, a system of resolving specific cases of morality by appealing to general principles. For centuries casuistry was considered a controversial area of study, and in the 15th and 16th centuries it was denounced as "the art of quibbling with God." Owen was admittedly aware of the dangers of casuistic thought. But he encourages his readers not to devalue the practice of asking questions about the duties we face as Christians. Indeed, though casuistry remains a questionable method of inquiry, the questions Owen raises are central to the Christian faith.
Emmalon Davis
CCEL Staff Writer
This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, an index of scripture references, links for scripture references to the appropriate passages, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.
Emmalon Davis
CCEL Staff Writer
This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, an index of scripture references, links for scripture references to the appropriate passages, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1672
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About the author
John Owen
1,363 books421 followersJohn Owen was an English theologian and "was without doubt not only the greatest theologian of the English Puritan movement but also one of the greatest European Reformed theologians of his day, and quite possibly possessed the finest theological mind that England ever produced" ("Owen, John", in Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals, p. 494)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 28, 2022
This is a set of various discourses by John Owen. Each of them deals with the conscience of the believer is some way, such as assurance of salvation, grief over sin, answered prayer, or habitual sin. I can’t say that I agreed with all his points, but I found his constant loving focus on Christ beautifully encouraging. Definitely read it for that.
I usually don’t have to much trouble reading old books. This one was different though. There were many passages that I had to listen to carefully at least twice before I could grasp what he was saying. I think that it was just that we use such different terms now. For example: "a decay of the principle of grace” by which he meant backsliding, or “have daily apprehensions of our going out of the world” by which he means death. It’s still worth reading. I listened to it twice right in a row.
This paragraph really jumped out to me. I have been tempted to think that the fascination our culture has with defining their ‘personalities’ into specific types and blame our failures on those types as something rather new. This paragraph reminded me that humanity really doesn’t change nor does God’s everlasting fix.
“The inclination of constitution gives particular advantages unto particular sins. Some may be very much inclined to envy; some to wrath and passion; and others to sensual sins, gluttony, drunkenness, uncleanness, to name the things which our Saviour names, and warns us of. It is with respect hereunto, that David said he ‘would keep himself from his iniquity,’ as some think. I have only this to say; that it hath been much from the fallacy of the devil, that men have been apt to plead constitution, and the inclination of their constitution to the extenuation of their sin, when indeed it is an aggravation. I am apt to be passionate in my nature, saith one; I am sanguine, saith another, and love company. They make their natural inclinations to be a cover and excuse for their sin. But this I must say as my judgment, that if grace does not cure constitution sins, it hath cured none; and that we can have no trial of the efficacy of grace, if we have it not in curing constitution sins. The great promise is, that it shall change the nature of the wolf and the lion, of the bear, the asp, and the cockatrice, and that they shall become as lambs; which it can never do, if it doth not change it by a habitual counterworking of inclinations arising from constitution. If grace being habitual doth not change the very inclination of constitution, I know not what it doth….” Discourse VIII
Another thing that really stood out to me was how he viewed his own culture. The deep grief over his own, other Christians, and the cultures sin was very convicting.
I strongly recommend this one.
I usually don’t have to much trouble reading old books. This one was different though. There were many passages that I had to listen to carefully at least twice before I could grasp what he was saying. I think that it was just that we use such different terms now. For example: "a decay of the principle of grace” by which he meant backsliding, or “have daily apprehensions of our going out of the world” by which he means death. It’s still worth reading. I listened to it twice right in a row.
This paragraph really jumped out to me. I have been tempted to think that the fascination our culture has with defining their ‘personalities’ into specific types and blame our failures on those types as something rather new. This paragraph reminded me that humanity really doesn’t change nor does God’s everlasting fix.
“The inclination of constitution gives particular advantages unto particular sins. Some may be very much inclined to envy; some to wrath and passion; and others to sensual sins, gluttony, drunkenness, uncleanness, to name the things which our Saviour names, and warns us of. It is with respect hereunto, that David said he ‘would keep himself from his iniquity,’ as some think. I have only this to say; that it hath been much from the fallacy of the devil, that men have been apt to plead constitution, and the inclination of their constitution to the extenuation of their sin, when indeed it is an aggravation. I am apt to be passionate in my nature, saith one; I am sanguine, saith another, and love company. They make their natural inclinations to be a cover and excuse for their sin. But this I must say as my judgment, that if grace does not cure constitution sins, it hath cured none; and that we can have no trial of the efficacy of grace, if we have it not in curing constitution sins. The great promise is, that it shall change the nature of the wolf and the lion, of the bear, the asp, and the cockatrice, and that they shall become as lambs; which it can never do, if it doth not change it by a habitual counterworking of inclinations arising from constitution. If grace being habitual doth not change the very inclination of constitution, I know not what it doth….” Discourse VIII
Another thing that really stood out to me was how he viewed his own culture. The deep grief over his own, other Christians, and the cultures sin was very convicting.
I strongly recommend this one.
February 16, 2026
Several Practical Cases of Conscience Resolved is a series of discourses answering questions about sin, grace, faith, prayer, God's providence, and the preparation for Christ's second coming. Warning, some of this 18th century casuistic thought may hit a little too close to home. Have your highlighter ready. Also, the scripture references are probably not in the Bible translation you are used to. I find it helpful to bounce between parallel translations to get the best understanding. I am in the habit of verifying the scripture references that authors cite and I am always finding little pearls and promises that I didn’t know were there. I especially appreciated not having to slog through the archaic puritanisms e.g., thee, thou, est, etc. These fifteen brief discourses will go well with your favorite morning beverage.
April 14, 2024
Very good book adressing many cases of conscience most christians will face during their lives. Would recommend highly!
January 1, 2016
Some real gems in this little collection of sermons in vol 9 of Owen's works. Discourse II wisely addresses evidences of a sincere interest in Christ. Discourse IV discusses how to recover from "a decay of the principle of grace" (i.e. backsliding). Discourse VI gives practical directions for daily abiding in Christ, and so on.
One more comment: I find Owen to be one of the most Christ-centered and least legalistic of the Puritans. Make no mistake: he pulls no punches with sin. You cannot read Owen without conviction, unless you have a heart of lead. But Owen is careful to direct readers to Christ himself, not just to trying harder and doing better.
One more comment: I find Owen to be one of the most Christ-centered and least legalistic of the Puritans. Make no mistake: he pulls no punches with sin. You cannot read Owen without conviction, unless you have a heart of lead. But Owen is careful to direct readers to Christ himself, not just to trying harder and doing better.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews