A53721:198
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.
First, It must be free and spiritually ingenious. Cain, Pharaoh, Ahab, Judas, came all to an acknowledgement of sin; but it was whether they would or no. It was pressed out of them; it did not flow from them. The confession of a person under the convincing terrors of the Law, or dread of imminent Judgements, is like that of Malefactors on the rack; who speak out that, for which themselves and friends must dye. What they say, though it be the truth, is a fruit of force and torture, not of any ingenuity of mind. So is it with merely convinced persons. They come not to the acknowledgement of sin with any more freedom. And the Reason is because all sin hath shame; and for men to be free unto shame, is naturally impossible, shame being natures shrinking from it self, and the posture it would appear in. But now the returning soul, hath never more freedom, liberty and amplitude of spirit, than when he is in the acknowledgement of those things whereof he is most ashamed. And this is no small evidence that it proceeds from that spirit which is attended with liberty, for where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3. 17. When David was delivered from his silence, he expresseth this frame in the performance of this Duty, Psal. 32. 5. I acknowledged my sin, and mine iniquities. I have not hid; I said I will confess my transgression. His mouth is now open, and his heart enlarged. And he multiplies one expression ⟨p. 62⟩upon another, to manifest his enlargement. So doth a soul rising out of its depths, in this beginning of his address unto God. Having the sense of sin, before described wrought in him by the Holy Ghost, his heart is made free and enlarged unto an ingenious acknowledgement of his sin before the Lord. Herein he pours out his soul unto God; and hath not more freedom in any thing, than in dealing about that, whereof he is most ashamed.
First, It must be free and spiritually ingenious. Cain, Pharaoh, Ahab, Judas, came all to an acknowledgement of sin; but it was whether they would or no. It was pressed out of them; it did not flow from them. The confession of a person under the convincing terrors of the Law, or dread of imminent Judgements, is like that of Malefactors on the rack; who speak out that, for which themselves and friends must dye. What they say, though it be the truth, is a fruit of force and torture, not of any ingenuity of mind. So is it with meerly convinced persons. They come not to the acknowledgment of sin with any more freedom. And the Reason is because all sin hath shame; and for men to be free unto shame, is naturally impossible, shame being natures shrinking from it self, and the posture it would appear in. But now the returning soul, hath never more freedom, liberty and amplitude of spirit, than when he is in the acknowledgement of those things whereof he is most ashamed. And this is no small evidence that it proceeds from that spirit which is attended with liberty, for where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty,