discourses answering questions about sin, grace, and faith
Entity Type:
work
Entity Subtype:
book
Summary:
Several Practical Cases of Conscience
Resolved is a series of discourses answering questions
about sin, grace, faith, prayer, God's providence, and
the preparation for Christ's second coming. Published in 1721, this
series of short discourses was included amongst a collection of John
Owen's sermons. This style of discourse falls under the category of
study called casuistry, a system of resolving specific cases of morality
by appealing to general principles. For centuries casuistry was
considered a controversial area of study, and in the 15th and 16th
centuries it was denounced as "the art of quibbling with God." Owen was
admittedly aware of the dangers of casuistic thought. But he encourages
his readers not to devalue the practice of asking questions about the
duties we face as Christians. Indeed, though casuistry remains a
questionable method of inquiry, the questions Owen raises are central to
the Christian faith.