The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Definitions and distinctions.

I am currently reading Owens' The Mortification of Sin. In it, while railing against "popery", he mentions several words that I would like to be sure that I understand thoroughly.

What is the difference between "praying" and "watching" as a spiritual discipline? How is watching used to mortify sin?

What is "meditation"? How is it not like praying or study?

Let's see if I can provide you with some brief definitions:

1) Praying: communicating your thoughts, joys, sorrows, misgivings, doubts, needs, desires, confession of sin, etc. to God.

2) Watching: tending to godliness in your life; thought, word and deed, e.g., doing those things which are required and avoiding sin.

3) Meditation: musing on the things of God with the end to applying them to your life.

Hopefully, those will clarify things for you somewhat. If I were a Puritan living in the 18th century, I suppose I would have written a book on each. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

Under the inquiring mind want to know part of my life: Isn't there a puritan who did so? And if so who? And yes I am being lazy in asking you, but indulge me please.

Prayer:

- The Secret Key to Heaven, by Thomas Brooks
- Prayer, by O. Hallesby
- A Guide to Prayer, by Isaac Watts
- Theology of Prayer, by B.M. Palmer
- Communion With God, by John Owen (abridged edition available now by R.J.K. Law, Banner of Truth)
- An Exposition of Our Lord's Intercessory Prayer, by John Brown
- A Call to Prayer, by J.C. Ryle
- Praying Always, by Frans Bakker

Meditation:

- Meditation, by C.H. Spurgeon

This is a link to "A Call to Prayer" by Ryle:

http://www.fivesolas.com/callpray.htm

I *think* it is the whole essay--quite good.

Theo

Thanks. Perhaps in addition, you might be able to tell me how the Catholics of the day understood the word "watching". Owens speaks of it in context of a spiritual discipline or self-mortification which is to be avoided. I quote from the book:

Even if some are not neglecting the things appointed by God to lead to mortification, they may not be using them in their proper place and order. Praying, fasting, watching, meditation, and the like certainly have their use for the business at hand, but many consider them as the fountain and not the stream from the fountain. These actions are the means only, and subordinate to the Spirit and to faith. Many are satisfied when they fast so much, pray so much, and keep certain hours and times even if the work of mortification is not done..."

Putting this in my own words and boiling it down, this tells me that while these disciplines are fine as the tools they were intended, they have been abused by those who think that the mere doing of them accomplishes mortification, which it doesn't.

"Watching" as you have described it, sounds like a thing every Christian does all the time, so I guess I'm asking, what did it look like for a Catholic to do it, that got Owens riled up?

1) In Owen's day, which hasn't changed much among some Catholics, the external was the focus since it led to "final justification". Where the RCC has always gone wrong as does the majority of even Evangelicals to some degree and on one side of the error or the other, is by looking at one's "works" to gain God's favor instead of simple faith in Christ Who is the believer's righteousness; justification and sanctification.

2) On the one extreme in the RCC is Monasticism, which again is guilty of externalizing sin (Evangelicalism blames sin mainly upon Satan). If one can escape the allurements of the world by cloistering oneself, then the evil influences will be diminished or even nullified thus allegedly making the task of becoming "holy" an easier task.

In all these various expressions of "externalizing" evil, they are the continued expression of Pharisaism (aka: synergism) and spiritual pride which is most notably seen in the Pharisees of Jesus' day, e.g.:

In His grace,