the John Owen Quote

As to the object of your affections, in an especial manner, let it be the

cross of Christ, which has exceeding efficacy towards the disappointment

of the whole work of indwelling sin: “God forbid that I should

glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is

crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14). The cross of

Christ he [Paul] gloried and rejoiced in; this his heart was set upon; and

these were the effects of it—it crucified the world unto him, made it a

dead and undesirable thing. The baits and pleasures of sin are taken all

of them out of the world. . . . If the heart be filled with the cross of

Christ, it casts death and undesirableness upon them all; it leaves no

seeming beauty, no appearing pleasure or comeliness, in them. Again,

says he, “It crucifies me to the world; makes my heart, my affections,

my desires, dead unto any of these things.” It roots up corrupt lusts and

affections, leaves no principle to go forth and make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Labor, therefore, to fill your hearts with
the cross of Christ . . . that there may be no room for sin.