A53721:392
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.
12. There are the free Acts of his Will and Power; or his free eternal purposes, with the temporal dispensations that flow from them. Now of this sort, is the forgiveness that we are enquiring after; It is not a property of the Nature of God, but an Act of his Will, and a Work of his Grace. Although it hath its rise and spring in the infinite Goodness of his Nature, yet it proceeds from him, and is not exercised but by an absolute free and Sovereign Act of his Will. Now there is nothing of God, or with him, of this sort that can be any ways known, but only by especial Revelation: For,
12. There are the free Acts of his Will and Power; or his free eternal purposes, with the temporal dispensations that flow from them. Now of this sort, is the forgiveness that we are enquiring after; It is not a property of the Nature of God, but an Act of his Will, and a Work of his Grace. Although it hath its rise and spring in the infinite Goodness of his Nature, yet it proceeds from him, and is not exercised but by an absolute free and Soveraign Act of his Will. Now there is nothing of God, or with him, of this sort that can be any wayes known, but only by especial Revelation: For,
- 1Free Acts of Gods Will, how they may be known.
1. There is no inbred notion of the Acts of Gods Will in the heart of man, which is the first way whereby we come to the knowledge of any thing of God. Forgiveness is not revealed by the light of nature. Flesh and blood, which nature is, declares it not: By that means, No man hath seen God at any time, John 1. 8. that is, as a God, of mercy and pardon, as the Son reveals him. Adam had an intimate acquaintance, according to the limited capacity of a creature, with the properties and excellencies of the nature of God. It was implanted in his heart, as indispensably necessary unto that natural worship, which by the Law of his creation he was to perform. But when he had sinned, it is evident, that he had not the least apprehension that there was forgiveness with God. Such a thought would have laid a foundation of some further treaty with God about his condition. But he had no other design but of flying and hiding himself,