The Christian's Daily Walk

    It is now above thirty years ago since I first perused the ensuing treatise. And although until upon this present occasion I never read it since; yet the impression it left upon me in the days of my youth, have (to say no more) continued a grateful remembrance of it upon my mind. Bring, therefore, unexpectedly, upon this new edition, desired, by him concerned therein, to give some testimony unto its worth and usefulness; I esteem myself obligated so to do, by the benefit I myself formerly received by it. But considering the great distance of time since I read it, and hoping perhaps that there might be, since that time, some little improvements of judgement about spiritual thing in my own mind; I durst not express my thoughts concerning it, until I give it another perusal: which I have now done. I shall only aquaint the reader, that I am so far from subducting my account, or making an abatement in an esteem thereof, that my respect unto it, and valuation of it is greatly increased; wherein also I do rejoice, for reasons not here to be mentioned.  For although,  perhaps, some few things might be expressed in different words or order, yet there is generally that soundness and gravity in the whole doctrine of the book, that weight and wisdom in the directions given in it for practice, that judgement in the resolution of doubts and objections, that breathing of a spirit of holiness, zeal, humility, and the fear of the Lord, in the whole; that I judge and am satisfied therein, that it will be found of singular use into all such in sincerity desire a compliance with his design; namely, such a walking with God here, that he may come to the enjoyment of him hereafter. I know, that in the day wherein we live, there are other notions esteemed higher and more raised, and those otherwise expressed with more elegance of words, and pressed with more appearing strenuous ratiocinations that those conprofessors seem to be more taken and satisfied. But some other practical discourses of the worthy ministers of the age past, that authority and powerful evidence of truth, arising from a plain transferring of the sacred sense of the Scripture in words and expressions suited to the experience fo gracious, honest, and humble souls, that the most accurate and adorned discourses of this age do not attain or rise up unto. Such, I say, is this discourse; the wisdom and ability of whose author discover themselves from first to last, not in expressing his mind "with enticing words of  man's wisdom," but in evident deduction of all his useful directions from express testimonies of Scripture, in such a way as to give light unto them, without intercepting the influence of their authority on the minds and consciences of the readers. I shall therefore say no more, but that those into whose hands this book shall come, be not either openly or secretly enemies unto the whole design of it, as being, "alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them," or not be possessed with prejudices against the simplicity of the gospel, and that strictness of obedience in requireth; they will find that guidance, direction, and spiritual advantage, as having their faith, love, and obedience, increased and improved thereby which will issue in the praise of God's grace, that ought to be the end of all our writing and reading in this world.

John Owen