“An unmortified lust will drink up the spirit, and all the vigour of the soul, and weaken it for all duties. Sin untunes the heart from the spiritual frame that is required for communion with God. Sin fills the thoughts with its enticements. It captures the thoughts, and if unmortified it seeks to make provision to fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Sin breaks out and hinders duty. Sin will darken the soul, and deprive it of its comfort and peace. Sin is a cloud that spreads itself over the face of the soul, and intercepts the beams of God’s love and favour. It takes away all sense of the privilege of our adoption. If the soul begins to gather up thoughts of consolation, sin quickly scatters them. But now, let the heart be cleansed by mortification, and let the weeds of lust be daily rooted up, and there will be room for grace to thrive and flourish, and be ready for every use and purpose.”
John Owen
James Attebury 