A53721:274
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 4 › 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.
On these and the like considerations, I say, there seems to be a great deal of Reason, why a soul should conclude that it will be according to the testimony of the Law; and that he shall not find forgiveness. Law and Conscience close together, and insinuate themselves into the thoughts, mind, and judgement of a sinner. They strengthen the Testimony of one another, and greatly prevail. If any are otherwise minded, I leave them to the trial. If ever God awaken their Consciences to a through performance of their duty; if ever he open their souls, and let in the light and power of the Law upon them, they will find it no small work to grapple with them. I am sure, that eventually they prevail so far, that in the preaching of the Gospel, we have great cause to say, Lord who hath believed our report? We come with our Report of forgiveness; but who believes it? by whom is it received? neither doth the light, nor conscience, nor conversation of the most, allow us to suppose it is embraced.
On these and the like considerations, I say, there seems to be a great deal of Reason, why a soul should conclude that it will be according to the testimony of the Law; and that he shall not find forgiveness. Law and Conscience close together, and insinuate themselves into the thoughts, mind, and judgement of a sinner. They strengthen the Testimony of one another, and greatly prevail. If any are otherwise minded, I leave them to the tryal. If ever God awaken their Consciences to a through performance of their duty; if ever he open their souls, and let in the light and power of the Law upon them, they will find it no small work to grapple with them. I am sure, that eventually they prevail so far, that in the preaching of the Gospel, we have great cause to say, Lord who hath believed our report? We come with our Report of forgiveness; but who believes it? by whom is it received? neither doth the light, nor conscience, nor conversation of the most, allow us to suppose it is embraced.
Thirdly, The ingrafted notions that are in the minds of men, concerning the Nature and Justice of God, lye against this discovery also. There are in all men by nature indelible characters of the Holiness and purity of God; of his Justice and hatred of sin, of his invariable Righteousness in the Government of the world, that they can neither depose nor lay aside. For notions of God, whatever they are, will bear sway and rule in the heart, when things are put to the trial. They were in the Heathens of old; they abode with them in all their darkness; as might be manifested by innumerable instances. But so it is in all men by nature; their inward thought is, that God is an Avenger of sin; that it belongs to his Rule and Government of the world, his Holiness and Righteousness, to take care, that every sin be punished; This is his Judgement which all men know, as was observed before,