A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Thirdly, The Holy Ghost gives unto such poor souls, a fresh sense of their deep concernments, on purpose that it may be a means to stir them up unto these earnest Applications unto God. The whole work is his, and he carries it on, by means suited to the compassing of the end he aimeth at. And by these means is a gracious soul brought into the frame mentioned. Now there are sundry things that concur in and unto this frame.

¹First, There is a continual thoughtfulness about the sad condition wherein the soul is in its depths. Being deeply affected with their condition they are continually ruminating upon it, and pondering it in their minds. So David declares the case to have been with him, Psal. 38. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore; there is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger, neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sins; for mine iniquities are gone over mine head, as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me, my wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of my foolishness; I am troubled, I am bowed down, I go mourning all the day long; I am feeble and sore broken, I have roared for the disquietness of my heart. Restlessness, deep-thoughtfulness, disquietness of heart, continual heaviness of soul, sorrow and anxiety of mind, lye at the bottom of the Applications we speak of. From these Principles their prayers flow out; as David adds, v. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee, and my groaning, is not hid from thee. This way all his trouble wrought. He prayed out of the abundance of his meditation and grief. Thoughts of their state and condition lye down with such Persons, and rise with them; and accompany them all the day long. As Reuben cried, The child is not, and I whither shall I go? So doth such a soul; the Love of God is not, Christ is not, and I whither shall I cause my sorrow to go? God is provoked, death is nigh at hand, relief is far away, darkness is about me; I have lost my peace, my joy, my Song in the night; what do I think of duties? Can two walk together unless they be agreed? Can I walk with God in them, whilst I have thus made him mine enemy? What do I think of Ordinances? Will it do me any good to be at Jerusalem, and not see the face of the King? to live under Ordinances, and not to meet in them with the King of Saints? May I not justly fear, that the Lord will take his holy Spirit from me, until I be left without remedy? With such thoughts as these are sin-entangled souls exercised, and they lye rolling in their minds, in all their applications unto God.