A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

3. It fits the soul by giving a Right Understanding of it; of its Nature, its Causes, and Effects. At the first, the soul goes no further, but to look after impunity, or freedom from punishment, any way. What shall I do to be saved, is the utmost it ⟨p. 128⟩aims at, Who shall deliver me, how shall I escape? And it would be contented to escape any way; by the Law, or the Gospel, all is one, so it may escape. But upon this discovery of forgiveness treated of, which is made by faith of Adherence unto God, a man plainly sees the nature of it, and that it is so excellent that it is to be desired for its own sake. Indeed when a soul is brought under trouble for sin, it knows not well what it would have. It hath an uneasiness, or disquietment that it would be freed from; a dread of some evil condition that it would avoid. But now the soul can tell what it desires, what it aims at, as well as what it would be freed from. It would have an interest in Eternal Love, have the gracious kindness of the heart of God turned towards it self; a sense of the everlasting purpose of his Will shed abroad in his heart; have an especial interest in the precious blood of the Son of God, whereby Atonement is made for him, and that all these things be testified unto his Conscience in a word of promise mixed with faith. These things he comes for, this way alone he would be saved and no other; It sees such a Glory of Wisdom, Love, and Grace in forgiveness, such an Exaltation of the Love of Christ in all his Offices, in all his undertaking, especially in his Death, Sacrifice, and bloodshedding whereby he procured or made Reconciliation for us, that it exceedingly longs after the participation of them.

3. It fits the soul by giving a Right Understanding of it; of its Nature, its Causes, and Effects. At the first, the soul goes no further, but to look after impunity, or freedom from punishment, any way. What shall I do to be saved, is the utmost it ⟨p. 128⟩aims at, Who shall deliver me, how shall I escape? And it would be contented to escape any way; by the Law, or the Gospel, all is one, so it may escape. But upon this discovery of forgiveness treated of, which is made by faith of Adherence unto God, a man plainly sees the nature of it, and that it is so excellent that it is to be desired for its own sake. Indeed when a soul is brought under trouble for sin, it knows not well what it would have. It hath an uneasiness, or disquietment that it would be freed from; a dread of some evil condition that it would avoid. But now the soul can tell what it desires, what it aims at, as well as what it would be freed from. It would have an interest in Eternal Love, have the gracious kindness of the heart of God turned towards it self; a sense of the everlasting purpose of his Will shed abroad in his heart; have an especial interest in the precious blood of the Son of God, whereby Attonement is made for him, and that all these things be testified unto his Conscience in a word of promise mixed with faith. These things he comes for, this way alone he would be saved and no other; It sees such a Glory of Wisdom, Love, and Grace in forgiveness, such an Exaltation of the Love of Christ in all his Offices, in all his undertaking, especially in his Death, Sacrifice, and bloodshedding whereby he procured or made Reconciliation for us, that it exceedingly longs after the participation of them.