Dr. Owen begins this chapter forcefully arguing that a man must be a believer before he may pursue mortification. He helps us see the importance of this truth with an analogy borrowed from Scripture:
All attempts then, for mortification of any lust, without an interest in Christ, are vain. . . When the Spirit of Christ comes to this work he will be "like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap," and he will purge men as gold ans as silver-take away their dross and tin, their filth and blood; but men must be gold and silver in the bottom, or else refining will do them no good. (80)
Owen then makes this extremely relavant observation:
To inveigh against particular sins of ignorant, unregenrate person, such as the land is full of, is a good work; but yet, though it may be done with great efficacy, vigor, and success, if this be all the effect of it, that they are set upon the most sedulous endeavors of mortifying their sins preached down, all that is done is but like the beating of an enemy in a open field, and driving him into an impregnable castle, not to be prevailed against. Get you at any time a sinner at the advantage, on the account of any one sin whatsoever? have you anthing to take hold of him by?- bring it to his state and condition, drive it up to the head, and ther deal with him. To break men off particular sins, and not to break their hearts, is to deprive ourselves of advantages of dealing with them. (85)
So, two questions spring out of this. First, what does Owen mean (if you don't understand that then the second question will make no sense)? Second, if he is right how does this impact our approach to counseling or giving advice to unbelievers? Or to put it another way, what will be our methodology in helping an unsaved person deal with a problem they are experiencing?