The nature of mortification

When men are wounded by sin, disquieted and perplexed, and knowing that there is no remedy for them but only in the mercies of God, through the blood of Christ, do therefore look to him, and to the promises of the covenant in him, and thereupon quiet their hearts that it shall be well with them, and that God will be exalted, that he may be gracious to them, and yet their souls are not wrought to the greatest detestation of the sin or sins upon the account whereof they are disquieted--this is to heal themselves, and not to be healed of God... When men do truly "look upon Christ whom they have pierced," without which there is no healing or peace, they will "mourn" (Zech. 12:10); they will mourn for him, even upon this account, and detest the sin that pierced him. When we go to Christ for healing, faith eyes him particularly as one pierced... when [faith] goes for healing and peace, it looks especially on the blood of the covenant, on his sufferings; for "with his stripes we are healed, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him" (Isa. 53:5). When we look for healing, his stripes are to be eyed--not in the outward story of them, which is the course of popish devotionists, but in the love, kindness, mystery, and design of the cross; and when we look for peace, his chastisements must be in our eye.

Owen, John, Kelly M. Kapic, and Justin Taylor. Overcoming Sin & Temptation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006. 119-20. Print.