Owen ... dull?

Well after some reticence I've decided to enter the blogosphere as much as anything to try to discipline myself in my reading and my thinking. I am for better or worse a verbal processor so have from time to time thought about blogging just to help me think through some of the things on my mind.

The blog title is from a quote by John Owen. It is often said of Owen that he is one of the hardest theological writers to read and that his writing is dry. But his is a treasure worth digging for (if you'll excuse the hanging preposition). I cannot believe a dull or dry man could have written these words:

"When the heart is cast indeed into the mould of the doctrine that the mind embraceth - when the evidence and necessity of the truth abides in us - when not the sense of the words only is in our heads, but the sense of the thing abides in our hearts - when we have communion with God in the doctrine we contend for - then shall we be garrisoned by the grace of God against all the assaults of men."
- John Owen

I chose that last phrase for the blog because as I write I know that it is so easy, particularly in the face of error, to focus on the negative; but polemics is not the goal of theology. Doxology is! To enjoy God in the gospel is all. Communion with Him is everything. I really hope that in writing I might be able to encourage myself and any others who read to that end.