# “The great preservative of the soul” by John Owen

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2009/05/13/the-great-preservative-of-the-soul-by-john-owen/
- Published: 2009-05-13T19:05:15-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“The Spirit teaches us of the love of God in Christ; He makes every gospel truth
as wine well refined to our souls, and the good things of it to be a feast of fat
things. He gives us joy and gladness of heart with all that we know of God; which
is the great preservative of the soul to keep it close to truth.

The apostle speaks of our teaching by this unction, as the means whereby we are 
preserved from seduction. Indeed, to know any truth in the power, sweetness, joy,
and gladness of it, is that great security of the soul’s constancy in the preservation
and retaining of it. They will readily exchange truth for error, who find no more
sweetness in the one than in the other.

All the privileges we enjoy, all the dignity and honor we are invested with, our
whole dedication unto God, our nobility and royalty, our interest in all church 
advantages and approaches to God in worship, our separation from the world, the 
name whereby we are called, the liberty we enjoy— all flow from this head, all are
branches of this effect of the Holy Ghost.”

–John Owen, [_Communion with the Triune God_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1581348312?tag=toletaupanre-20),
Eds. Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007), 387-388.

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