A53721:126
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.
Hence many poor souls in straights apply themselves, to themselves. They expect their cure, from the same hand that wounded them. This was the life of Judaism, as the Apostle informs us, Rom. 10. 3. And all men under the Law, are still animated by the same principle. They return, but not unto the Lord. Finding themselves in depths, in distresses about sin, what course do they take? This they will do, that they will do no more; this shall be their ordinary course, and that they will do in an extraordinary manner; as they have offended, whence their trouble ariseth, so they will amend, and look that their peace should spring from thence, as if God and they, stood on equal terms. In this way some spend all their days; sinning and amending, amending and sinning, without once coming to repentance and peace. This the souls of believers watch against. They look on themselves as fatherless; in thee the fatherless findeth mercy; that is, helpless; without the least ground of hopes in themselves, or expectation from themselves. They know their repentance, their amendment, their supplications, their humiliations, their fastings, their mortifications; will not relieve them. Repent they will, and amend they will, and pray, and fast, and humble their souls, for they know these things to be their duty; but they know that their goodness extends not to him with whom they have to do, nor is he profited by their righteousness. They will be in the performance of all duties, but they expect not deliverance by any duty. It is God, say they, with whom we have to do: our business is to hearken what he will say unto us.
Hence many poor souls in straights apply themselves, to themselves. They expect their cure, from the same hand that wounded them. This was the life of Judaism, as the Apostle informs us, Rom. 10. 3. And all men under the Law, are still animated by the same principle. They return, but not unto the Lord. Finding themselves in depths, in distresses about sin, what course do they take? This they will do, that they will do no more; this shall be their ordinary course, and that they will do in an extraordinary manner; as they have offended, whence their trouble ariseth, so they will amend, and look that their peace should spring from thence, as if God and they, stood on equal terms. In this way some spend all their dayes; sinning and amending, amending and sinning, without once coming to repentance and peace. This the souls of believers watch against. They look on themselves as fatherless; in thee the fatherless findeth mercy; that is, helpless; without the least ground of hopes in themselves, or expectation from themselves. They know their repentance, their amendment, their supplications, their humiliations, their fastings, their mortifications; will not relieve them. Repent they will, and amend they will, and pray, and fast, and humble their souls, for they know these things to be their duty; but they know that their goodness extends not to him with whom they have to do, nor is he profited by their righteousness. They will be in the performance of all duties, but they expect not deliverance by any duty. It is God, say they, with whom we have to do: our business is to hearken what he will say unto us.