A53721:213
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, A fruit of self-righteousness. For a soul to place the spring of its peace or comfort in any thing of its own, is to fall short of Christ, and to take up in self. We must not only be justified, but glory in him also, Isa. 45. 25. Men may make use of the evidence of their graces; but only as mediums to a farther end; not as the rest of the soul in the least. And this deprives mens very humiliations of all Gospel humility. True humility consists more in believing, than in being sensible of sin. That's the souls great self-emptying and abasing; this may consist with an obstinate resolution to scamble for something upon the account of self endeavours.
First, A fruit of self-righteousness. For a soul to place the spring of its peace or comfort in any thing of its own, is to fall short of Christ, and to take up in self. We must not only be justified, but glory in him also, Isa. 45. 25. Men may make use of the evidence of their graces; but only as mediums to a farther end; not as the rest of the soul in the least. And this deprives mens very humiliations of all Gospel humility. True humility consists more in believing, than in being sensible of sin. Thats the souls great self-emptying and abasing; this may consist with an obstinate resolution to scamble for something upon the account of self endeavours.
Secondly, Though Evangelical sense of sin, be a Grace, yet it is not the uniting Grace, it is not that which interests us in Christ, not that which peculiarly, and in its own nature exalts him. There is in this sense of sin, that which is natural, and that which is spiritual; or the matter of it, and its spirituality. The former consists in sorrow, trouble, self-abasement, dejection and anxiety of mind, with the like passions. Of these I may say as the Apostle of Afflictions, they are not joyous but grievous. They are such as are accompanied with the aversation of the object which they are conversant about. In their own nature they are no more but the souls retreat into it self, with an abhorrency of the objects of its sorrow and grief. When these Affections are spiritualized, their nature is not changed. The soul in and by them, acts according to their nature; and doth by them as such, but retreat into it self with a dislike of that they are exercised about. To take up here then, must needs be to sit down short of Christ; whether it be for life, or consolation.