# “Be ruining sin in prayer, or sin will be ruining prayer” by John Owen

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2019/06/24/be-ruining-sin-in-prayer-or-sin-will-be-ruining-prayer-by-john-owen/
- Published: 2019-06-24T12:00:56-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“Know, therefore, that there is no more effectual preservative of the soul from 
the power of sin than a gracious readiness for and disposition unto this duty of
prayer in private and public, according to its proper seasons.

This is an observation confirmed by long experience: _If prayer does not constantly
endeavour the ruin of sin, sin will ruin prayer, and utterly alienate the soul from
it. _

This is the way of backsliders in heart; as they grow in sin they decay in prayer,
until they are weary of it and utterly relinquish it.”

–John Owen, [_The Works of John Owen, Volume 7: Sin and Grace_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0851513921?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
ed. William H. Goold; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1850-53/1997), 7: 531.

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