Owen: Known holiness is apt to degenerate into self-righteousness

[Alfredsparks]

“We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature, that it is sometimes well that our good is hid from us...
To be holy is necessary; to know it, sometimes a temptation.”

—John Owen, Works 6:600 and 601

 

[davejonescue]

It is to this end that many of the Puritans speak of "heart-work" or, at least to my understanding, taking that time to search the heart so that the sin within comes to the surface. There is a book by a relatively unknown Puritan era Non-Conformist by the name of John Woodhouse entitled "A Catalogue of Sins." I have always wanted to take this, and then do some research with Puritan Search, and create a kind of "convictive devotional" so that if used, no man will leave feeling holy. The book (Catalogue) was meant in its own description, for "self-acquaintance, experimental prayer, and preparation for the Lords Supper" Maybe one day I will be allowed to do it.

 

[Alfredsparks]

It is to this end that many of the Puritans speak of "heart-work" or, at least to my understanding, taking that time to search the heart so that the sin within comes to the surface. There is a book by a relatively unknown Puritan era Non-Conformist by the name of John Woodhouse entitled "A Catalogue of Sins." I have always wanted to take this, and then do some research with Puritan Search, and create a kind of "convictive devotional" so that if used, no man will leave feeling holy. The book (Catalogue) was meant in its own description, for "self-acquaintance, experimental prayer, and preparation for the Lords Supper" Maybe one day I will be allowed

Seems like what the WLC does to the reader in it's exposition of the Ten Commandments (91-155)- I never walk away from reading those questions and answers saying I "have no sin" (1 John1:8).

 

[Ed Walsh]

“We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature that it is sometimes good that our good is hidden from usense?


There's something I haven't told many people, and I know it can be a little risky for me to say what little I will now.

About two years ago, I became obsessed with "fishing men." I've spoken to hundreds of people since then about the gospel. But before I entered into this really fun practice, I made a bit of a deal with God. And it is this:

Please lead me to people I don't know to share the gospel with, but if any of them become Christians, or are helped on in their Christianity in any way, I beg you to never let me know it in this life. The only exception I made in my prayer was that if I was terribly discouraged and needed encouragement, maybe I could find out about one person once that was helped. Other than that, I want to wait until glory to know.

Pride ravaged much of my life, and I can take no chances of firing it up again.

Make sense?”

 

[Ploutos]

“We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature that it is sometimes good that our good is hidden from usense?


There's something I haven't told many people, and I know it can be a little risky for me to say what little I will now.

About two years ago, I became obsessed with "fishing men." I've spoken to hundreds of people since then about the gospel. But before I entered into this really fun practice, I made a bit of a deal with God. And it is this:

Please lead me to people I don't know to share the gospel with, but if any of them become Christians, or are helped on in their Christianity in any way, I beg you to never let me know it in this life. The only exception I made in my prayer was that if I was terribly discouraged and needed encouragement, maybe I could find out about one person once that was helped. Other than that, I want to wait until glory to know.

Pride ravaged much of my life, and I can take no chances of firing it up again.

Make sense?”

Makes a great deal of sense to me.