A53721:275
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.
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, Rom. 1. 32. They know, that it is a Righteous thing with God to render tribulation unto sinners. From thence is that dread and fear which surpriseth men at an apprehension of the Presence of God; or of any thing under him, above them, that may seem to come on his errand. This notion of ⟨p. 86⟩Gods avenging all sin, exerts it self, secretly, but effectually. So Adam trembled, and hid himself. And it was the saying of old, I have seen God, and shall dye. When men are under any dreadful Providence; thunderings, lightnings, tempests, in darkness, they tremble, not so much at what they see, or hear, or feel, as from their secret thoughts that God is nigh, and that he is a consuming fire.
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 tryal. 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,