A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

It is then no easy thing to make a discovery of forgiveness unto a soul, when the work and employment which Conscience upon unquestionable grounds challengeth unto it self, lies in opposition unto it. Hence is the souls great desire to establish its own Righteousness, whereby its natural Principles may be preserved in their power. Let self-righteousness be enthroned, and natural conscience desires no more; it is satisfied, and pacified. The Law it knows; and Righteousness it knows, but as for forgiveness it says, whence is it? Unto the utmost, until Christ perfects his conquest, there are on this account secret strugglings in the heart against free pardon in the Gospel, and fluctuations of mind and Spirit about it. Yea, hence are the doubts and fears of believers themselves: They are nothing but the strivings of Conscience to keep its whole dominion; to condemn the sinner as well as the sin. More or less it keeps up its pretensions against the Gospel, whilst we live in this world. It is a great work that the blood of Christ hath to do upon the Conscience of a sinner; for whereas, as it hath been declared, it hath a ⟨p. 82⟩power, and claims a right to condemn both sin and sinner, the one part of this its power is to be cleared, strengthened, made more active, vigorous and watchful, the other to be taken quite away. It shall now see more sins than formerly, more of the vileness of all sins than formerly, and condemn them with more abhorrency than ever, upon more, and more glorious accounts than formerly; but it is also made to see an interposition between these sins, and the Person of the sinner, who hath committed them; which is no small or ordinary work.

It is then no easie thing to make a discovery of forgiveness unto a soul, when the work and employment which Conscience upon unquestionable grounds challengeth unto it self, lyes in opposition unto it. Hence is the souls great desire to establish its own Righteousness, whereby its natural Principles may be preserved in their power. Let self-righteousness be enthroned, and natural conscience desires no more; it is satisfied, and pacified. The Law it knows; and Righteousness it knows, but as for forgiveness it sayes, whence is it? Unto the utmost, until Christ perfects his conquest, there are on this account secret struglings in the heart against free pardon in the Gospel, and fluctuations of mind and Spirit about it. Yea, hence are the doubts and fears of believers themselves: They are nothing but the strivings of Conscience to keep its whole dominion; to condemn the sinner as well as the sin. More or less it keeps up its pretensions against the Gospel, whilst we live in this world. It is a great work that the blood of Christ hath to do upon the Conscience of a sinner; for whereas, as it hath been declared, it hath a