A53721:176
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. › Verse 3 › 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.
1When a Person who is really guilty, and knows himself to be guilty, is brought unto his trial, he hath but these four grounds of hope that his safety and his trial may be consistent. He may think that either (1.) The Judge will not be able to find out, or discover his crimes; or (2.) That some one will powerfully intercede for him with the Judge: or (3.) That the Rule of the Law is not so strict as to take notice of his miscarriages; or (4.) That the penalty of it, is not so severe but that there may be a way of escape. Cut him short of his expectations from some, one, or all of these, and all his hopes must of necessity perish. And how is it in this case?
1When a Person who is really guilty, and knows himself to be guilty, is brought unto his tryal, he hath but these four grounds of hope that his safety and his tryal may be consistent. He may think that either (1.) The Judge will not be able to find out, or discover his crimes; or (2.) That some one will powerfully intercede for him with the Judge: or (3.) That the Rule of the Law is not so strict as to take notice of his miscarriages; or (4.) That the penalty of it, is not so severe but that there may be a way of escape. Cut him short of his expectations from some, one, or all of these, and all his hopes must of necessity perish. And how is it in this case?
- 1Gods marking sin, and mans salvation inconsistent.
First, Of the Judge we have spoken somewhat already. The present enquiry is, whether any thing may be hid from him or no; and so a door of escape be opened to a sinner. The Apostle tells us, that all things are open and naked unto him, Heb. 4. 12. and the Psalmist, that there is not a thought in our hearts, nor a word in our tongue, but he understandeth it afar off, and knoweth it altogether,