Dr
Owen was a renowned Puritan minister of the Independent (Congregational)
persuasion, whose profound and edifying works are published by The Banner of
Truth Trust. C. H. Spurgeon in the 19th century said of John Owen, “It is
unnecessary to say that he is the prince of divines. To master his works is
to be a profound theologian.” He was born in
1616, in Stadham,
Oxfordshire,
England, and he died
1683 in London.
I confess I would rather, much rather, spend all my time and days
in making up and healing the breaches and schisms that are amongst
Christians than one hour in justifying our divisions, even therein wherein,
on the one side, they are capable of a fair defence. But who is sufficient
for such an attempt? The closing of differences amongst Christians is like
opening the book in the Revelation, – there is none able or worthy to do
it, in heaven or in earth, but the Lamb: when he will put forth the
greatness of his power for it, it shall be accomplished, and not before. In
the meantime, a reconciliation amongst all Protestants is our duty,
and practicable, and had perhaps ere this been in some forwardness of
accomplishment had men rightly understood wherein such a reconciliation,
according to the mind of God, doth consist. When men have laboured as much
in the improvement of the principle of forbearance as they have done to
subdue other men to their opinions, religion will have another appearance in
the world.
Reference
The
Works
of John Owen, Vol. 13, Banner
of Truth 1991. p 95.
