A53721:305
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.
1Secondly, This is not all. This eternal Ocean that is infinitely satisfied with its own fullness and perfection, doth not naturally yield forth streams for our refreshment. Mercy and pardon do not come forth from God, as Light doth from the Sun, or Water from the Sea, by a necessary consequence of their natures, whether they will or no. It doth not necessarily follow that any one must be made partaker of forgiveness, because ⟨p. 99⟩God is infinitely Gracious. For may he not do what he will with his own? Who hath given first unto him that it should be recompensed unto him again? Rom. 11. 35. All the fruits of Gods Goodness, and Grace, are in the sole keeping of his own Sovereign Will and pleasure. This is his great Glory, Exod. 33. 18, 19. Show me thy glory, saith Moses. And he said, I will make all my Goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and I will be Gracious to whom I will be Gracious. Upon that proclamation of the name of God, that he is merciful, gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness, some might conclude that it could not be otherwise with any but well; he is such a one, as that men need scarce be beholding to him for Mercy; Nay saith he, but this is my great glory, that I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. There must be an interposition of a free Act of the Will of God, to deal with us according to this his abundant goodness, or we can have no interest therein. This I call the purpose of his Grace; or the good pleasure that he hath purposed in himself; Ephes. 1. 9. or as it is termed, v. 5, 6. The good pleasure of his Will, that he hath purposed to the praise of his glorious grace. This free and gracious pleasure of God, or purpose of his Will to act towards sinners according to his own abundant goodness, is another thing that influences the forgiveness of which we treat. Pardon flows immediately from a Sovereign Act of free Grace. This free purpose of Gods will and Grace, for the pardoning of sinners, is indeed that which is principally intended, when we say, there is forgiveness with him. That is, he is pleased to forgive; and so to do is agreeable unto his nature. Now the Mystery of this Grace is deep; It is eternal, and therefore incomprehensible. Few there are whose hearts are raised to a contemplation of it.