A53721:450
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.
3. Suppose this Enumeration of sins doth not reach the condition of the soul, because of some especial Aggravation of its sin, not expressed. Let such a one add that of our Saviours, Matth. 12. 31. I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. They are not, they shall not be all actually remitted, and pardoned unto all men; but they are all pardonable, unto those that seek to obtain pardon for them according unto the Gospel. There is with God forgiveness for them all. Now certainly there is no sin, but only that excepted, but it comes within the compass of all manner of sins and blasphemy, and so consequently some that have been guilty of it are now in Heaven.
We take it for a good token and evidence of a virtuous healing water, when without fraud or pretence, we see the crutches of cured Cripples, and impotent persons hung about it, as a memorial of its efficacy. And it is a great demonstration of the skill and ability of a Physician, when many come to a sick person and tell him, that we had the same distemper with you, it had the same symptoms, the same effects, and by his skill and care we are cured: Oh saith the sick man bring him unto me, I will venture my life in his hand. Now all the Saints of Heaven stand about a sin sick soul; for in this matter we are compassed with a cloud of witnesses, Heb. 12. 1. And what do they bear witness unto? What say they unto a poor guilty sinner? As thou art, so were we; so guilty, so perplexed, so obnoxious to wrath, so fearing destruction from God. And what way did you steer, what course did you take to obtain the blessed condition wherein now you are? Say they, We went all to God through Christ for forgiveness, and found plenty of Grace, Mercy and Pardon in him for us all. The rich man in the Parable thought it would be a great means of conversion, if one should rise from the dead and preach. But here we see that all the Saints departed, and now in glory do jointly preach this fundamental Truth, that there is forgiveness with God.