AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. › General Scope of the whole Psalm. › Verse 4 › Section, A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm (John Owen, 1669) | AskReformation

A53721:428

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.

John Owen 1616–1683London: printed by Robert White for Nathaniel Ponder, 1669

[6], 410 [i.e. 408] p. · 166k words · Wing O794 · ESTC R26853

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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.

[ Earlier:425–440 of 1,036

:425p. 149¶1

¹1. Such is the Atheism that lies lurking in the hearts of men by nature, that notwithstanding their pretences, and professions, we have need to be pressing upon them Evidences of the very Being and Essential Properties of God. In so doing we have the assistance of inbred notions in their own minds. which they cannot eject, to help carry on the work. How much more is this necessary in reference unto the free Acts of the Will of God, which are to be known only by mere Revelation. Our Word had need be line upon line: And yet when we have done, have cause enough to cry out, as was said, Lord who hath believed our report, and to whom hath this arm of the Lord been revealed?

¹1. Such is the Atheism that lyes lurking in the hearts of men by nature, that notwithstanding their pretences, and professions, we have need to be pressing upon them Evidences of the very Being and Essential Properties of God. In so doing we have the assistance of inbred notions in their own minds. which they cannot eject, to help carry on the work. How much more is this necessary in reference unto the free Acts of the Will of God, which are to be known only by meer Revelation. Our Word had need be line upon line: And yet when we have done, have cause enough to cry out, as was said, Lord who hath believed our report, and to whom hath this arm of the Lord been revealed?

1Confirmation of the Truth of Forgiveness necessary.

:426p. 149¶2

2. What was spoken before of the obstacles that lye in the way hindering souls from a saving reception of this Truth, ought to be remembered. Those who have no experience of them between God and their souls, seem to be ignorant of the true nature of Conscience, Law, Gospel, Grace, Sin and Forgiveness.

2. What was spoken before of the obstacles that lye in the way hindring souls from a saving reception of this Truth, ought to be remembred. Those who have no experience of them between God and their souls, seem to be ignorant of the true nature of Conscience, Law, Gospel, Grace, Sin and Forgiveness.

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Cited: :428
On this page: :425–440
Section: :400–433
Whole work: 1,036 passages

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John Owen, A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm (London, 1669), verse 4, p. 150. EEBO-TCP A53721.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: John Owen 1616–1683
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nathaniel Ponder
Year: 1669
Size: [6], 410 [i.e. 408] p.
Words: 165,835
Catalogue: Wing O794 · ESTC R26853
Text: EEBO-TCP A53721

Passages: 1,036
Sections: 48

The author

John Owen 1616–1683

PuritansEngland

Congregationalist theologian; Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford.

Transcription key

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:430p. 150–151¶2

2. It needs never the less confirmation because it is a plain fundamental Truth; but rather the more; and that because both of the Worth and Weight of it. This is a faithful saying, saith the Apostle, worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. So say I of this, which for the substance ⟨p. 151⟩of it, is the same with that. It is worthy of all acceptation, namely that there is forgiveness with God. And therefore ought it to be fully confirmed. Especially whilst we make use of no other demonstrations of it, but those only which God hath furnished us withal to that purpose; and this he would not have done, but that he knew them needful for us. And for the plainness of this Truth, it is well if it be so unto us. This I know, nothing but the Spirit of God can make it so. Men may please themselves and others sometimes with curious notions, and make them seem to be things of great search and attainment, which when they are well examined, it may be they are not true, or if they are, are yet of a very little consequence or importance. It is these fundamental Truths that have the mysteries of the Wisdom and Grace of God in wrapped in them; which who so can unfold aright, will show himself a workman that needs not be ashamed. These still waters are deep; and the farther we dive into them, the greater discovery shall we make of their depths. And many other Sacred Truths there are, whose mention is common, but whose depths are little searched, and whose efficacy is little known.

2. It needs never the less confirmation because it is a plain fundamental Truth; but rather the more; and that because both of the Worth and Weight of it. This is a faithful saying, saith the Apostle, worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. So say I of this, which for the substance ⟨p. 151⟩of it, is the same with that. It is worthy of all acceptation, namely that there is forgiveness with God. And therefore ought it to be fully confirmed. Especially whilst we make use of no other demonstrations of it, but those only which God hath furnished us withal to that purpose; and this he would not have done, but that he knew them needful for us. And for the plainness of this Truth, it is well if it be so unto us. This I know, nothing but the Spirit of God can make it so. Men may please themselves and others sometimes with curious notions, and make them seem to be things of great search and attainment, which when they are well examined, it may be they are not true, or if they are, are yet of a very little consequence or importance. It is these fundamental Truths that have the mysteries of the Wisdom and Grace of God in wrapped in them; which who so can unfold aright, will shew himself a workman that needs not be ashamed. These still waters are deep; and the farther we dive into them, the greater discovery shall we make of their depths. And many other Sacred Truths there are, whose mention is common, but whose depths are little searched, and whose efficacy is little known.

:435p. 152¶4

¹IV. Let us then in the fourth place, as a fourth Evidence of this truth, consider those, both under the Old Testament and the New, concerning whom we have the greatest Assurance that God was well pleased with them, and that they are now in the enjoyment of him. And this Argument unto this purpose the Apostle insists upon, and presseth from sundry instances, Heb. 11. How many doth he there reckon up who of old obtained a good report, and this Testimony, that they pleased God: ver. 2. 5. All these inherited the Promises through believing; that is, obtained the forgiveness of sin. For whereas by nature they were children of wrath, and under the Curse as well as others, obtaining an infallible interest in the favour of God, and this Testimony, that they pleased him, it could no otherwise be. For without this, on a just account, every one of them would have continued in the state wherein Adam was, when he heard the voice of God and was afraid. Wherefore it being evident that some persons in all Generations, have enjoyed the friendship, love and favour of God in this world, and at their departure out of it have entered into Glory; it makes it evident that there is forgiveness of sin with him, without which these things could not be.

¹IV. Let us then in the fourth place, as a fourth Evidence of this truth, consider those, both under the Old Testament and the New, concerning whom we have the greatest Assurance that God was well pleased with them, and that they are now in the enjoyment of him. And this Argument unto this purpose the Apostle insists upon, and presseth from sundry instances, Heb. 11. How many doth he there reckon up who of old obtained a good report, and this Testimony, that they pleased God: ver. 2. 5. All these inherited the Promises through believing; that is, obtained the forgiveness of sin. For whereas by nature they were children of wrath, and under the Curse as well as others, obtaining an infallible interest in the favour of God, and this Testimony, that they pleased him, it could no otherwise be. For without this, on a just account, every one of them would have continued in the state wherein Adam was, when he heard the voyce of God and was afraid. Wherefore it being evident that some persons in all Generations, have enjoyed the friendship, love and favour of God in this world, and at their departure out of it have entred into Glory; it makes it evident that there is forgiveness of sin with him, without which these things could not be.

1Some sinners actually pardoned and accepted with God.