A53721:356
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.
Thus hath it been to, and with the Saints of old, Hos. 14. 3. Ashur shall not save us, we will not ride upon Horses, neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ye are our Gods, for in ⟨p. 118⟩thee the fatherless findeth mercy. A solemn Renunciation we have of all other helps, Reliefs or Assistances, Civil or Religious, that are not Gods. Therein a solemn Resolution in their great distress of cleaving unto God alone. Both which are great and blessed effects of faith. What is the bottom and foundation of this blessed Resolution? namely, that Proposition, in thee the fatherless findeth mercy; that is, there is forgiveness with thee, for helpless sinners. This listed up their hearts in their depths, and supported them in waiting, unto the receiving of the blessed Promises, of Mercy, Pardon, Grace and Holiness, which ensue in the next Verses. Until they came home unto them in their Efficacy and Effects, they made a Life on this; in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
The state and condition of things seems to lye yet lower in that proposal we have, Joel 2. 13, 14. Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil, who knoweth if he will return, and repent, and leave a blessing. That which is proposed to the faith of those here spoken unto is, that the Lord is gracious and merciful; that there is forgiveness in him, The Duty they are provoked unto hereupon, is Gospel Repentance. The Assent unto the Proposition demanded, as to their own interest amounts but unto this, who knows, but that the Lord may return and leave a blessing, or deal with us according to the manifestation he hath made of himself, that he is merciful and gracious. This is far enough from any comfortable persuasion of a particular interest in that Grace, mercy or Pardon. But yet saith the Prophet, come but thus far, and here is a firm foundation of dealing with God about further discoveries of himself, in a way of Grace and Mercy. When a soul sees but so much in God, as to conclude; well, Who knoweth but that he may return, and have mercy upon me also, it will support him, and give him an entrance into further light.