A53721:101
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.
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⟩of his Son, in the dawnings of them revealed unto him.
Thirdly, Breaking off from under strong convictions, and dawnings of Love before Conversion, are oftentimes remembred 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 overpowred, being almost perswaded 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⟩of his Son, in the dawnings of them revealed unto him.
Fourthly, Sudden forgetfulness of endearing manifestations of special Love. This God cautions his people against; as knowing their proneness thereunto. Psal. 85. 8. God the Lord, will speak peace to his People and his Saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Let them take heed of their aptness to forget endearing manifestations of special Love. When God at any time draws nigh to a soul by his Spirit, in his Word, with gracious words of peace and love, giving a sense of his kindness upon the heart by the Holy Ghost, so that it is filled with joy unspeakable and glorious thereon; for this soul, upon a temptation, a diversion, or by mere carelessness and neglect, which oftentimes falls out, to suffer this sense of Love to be as it were obliterated, and so to lose that influencing efficacy unto obedience which it is accompanied withal, this also is full of unkindness. An account hereof we have,