A53721:433
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.
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.