A53721:100
A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm
A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm wherein the nature of the forgiveness of sin is declared, the truth and reality of it asserted, and the case of a soul distressed with the guilt of sin and relieved by a discovery of forgiveness with God is at large discoursed / by John Owen.
London: printed by Robert White for Nathaniel Ponder, 1669
AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. › General Scope of the whole Psalm. › Verses 1, 2 › Section
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, Sins under, or after great Afflictions, are of this importance also. God doth not afflict willingly, or chasten us merely for his pleasure. He doth it to make us partakers of his Holiness. To take so little notice of his hand herein, as under it, or after it, not to watch against the workings and surprisals of sin, it hath unkindness in it; I smote him, saith God, and he went on frowardly in the ways of his own heart. These provocations of his Sons and Daughters, he cannot bear with. Hath God brought thee into the Furnace, so that thou hast melted under his hand, and in pity and compassion hath given thee enlargement; if thou hast soon forgotten his dealings with thee, is it any wonder, if he mind thee again, by troubles in thy soul?
Secondly, Sins under, or after great Afflictions, are of this importance also. God doth not afflict willingly, or chasten us meerly for his pleasure. He doth it to make us partakers of his Holiness. To take so little notice of his hand herein, as under it, or after it, not to watch against the workings and surprizals of sin, it hath unkindness in it; I smote him, saith God, and he went on frowardly in the wayes of his own heart. These provocations of his Sons and Daughters, he cannot bear with. Hath God brought thee into the Furnace, so that thou hast melted under his hand, and in pity and compassion hath given thee enlargement; if thou hast soon forgotten his dealings with thee, is it any wonder, if he mind thee again, by troubles in thy soul?
Thirdly, Breaking off from under strong convictions, and dawnings of Love before Conversion, are oftentimes remembered upon the conscience afterwards. When the Lord by his Spirit shall mightily convince the heart of sin, and make withal some discoveries of his Love, and the Excellencies of Christ unto it, so that it begins to yield, and be overpowered, being almost persuaded to be a Christian; if then through the strength of lust, or unbelief, it goes back to the world, or self righteousness; its folly hath unkindness with it, that sometimes shall not be passed by. God can, and often doth put forth the greatness of his power, for the recovery of such a soul; but yet he will deal with him, about this contempt of his Love, and the Excellency ⟨p. 26⟩