A53721:282
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.
Answ. All this then I say is so, and much more to this purpose may be spoken. The folly and presumption of poor souls herein, can never be enough lamented. But it is one thing to embrace a cloud, a shadow, another to have the truth in reality. I shall hereafter show the true nature of forgiveness, and wherein it doth consist, whereby the vanity of this self-deceiving will be discovered and laid open. It will appear in the issue that notwithstanding all their pretensions, that the most of men know nothing at all, or not any thing to the purpose of that which is under consideration. I shall therefore for the present, in some few Observations, show how far this delusion of many, differs from a true Gospel discovery of forgiveness, such as that we are enquiring after.
Answ. All this then I say is so, and much more to this purpose may be spoken. The solly and presumption of poor souls herein, can never be enough lamented. But it is one thing to embrace a cloud, a shadow, another to have the truth in reality. I shall hereafter shew the true nature of forgiveness, and wherein it doth consist, whereby the vanity of this self-deceiving will be discovered and laid open. It will appear in the issue that notwithstanding all their pretensions, that the most of men know nothing at all, or not any thing to the purpose of that which is under consideration. I shall therefore for the present, in some few Observations, shew how far this delusion of many, differs from a true Gospel discovery of forgiveness, such as that we are enquiring after.
First, The common notion of forgiveness that men have in the world, is twofold. (1.) An Atheistical Presumption on God, that he is not so Just and Holy, or not Just and Holy in such a way and manner as he is by some represented, is the ground of their persuasion of forgiveness. Men think that some Declarations of God, are fitted only to make them mad. That he takes little notice of these things, and that what he doth, he will easily pass by, as they suppose better becomes him. Come, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall dye. This is their inward thought, the Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil; which says the Psalmist, is mens thinking that God is such a one as themselves,