A53721:477
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.
Of all dangers therefore in profession, let professors take heed of this; namely, of a customary, traditional, or doctrinal owning such truths, as ought to have their effects and accomplishment in themselves, whilst they have no experience of the reality and efficacy of them. This is plainly to have a form of godliness, and to deny the power thereof. And of this sort of men do we see many turning Atheists, Scoffers, and open Apostates; they find in themselves that their profession was a lye; and that in truth they had none of those things which they talked of; And to what end should they continue longer in the avowing of that which is not? Besides finding these things which they have professed to be in them, not to be so; they think that what they have believed of the ⟨p. 167⟩things that are without them, are of no other nature, and so reject them altogether.
Of all dangers therefore in profession, let professors take heed of this; namely, of a customary, traditional, or doctrinal owning such truths, as ought to have their effects and accomplishment in themselves, whilst they have no experience of the reality and efficacy of them. This is plainly to have a form of godliness, and to deny the power thereof. And of this sort of men do we see many turning Atheists, Scoffers, and open Apostates; they find in themselves that their profession was a lye; and that in truth they had none of those things which they talked of; And to what end should they continue longer in the avowing of that which is not? Besides finding these things which they have professed to be in them, not to be so; they think that what they have believed of the ⟨p. 167⟩things that are without them, are of no other nature, and so reject them alltogether.
You will say then, What shall a man do who cannot find or obtain an experience in himself of what is affirmed in the Word? he cannot find the death of Christ crucifying sin in him, and he cannot find the Holy Ghost sanctifying his nature, or obtain Joy in believing. What shall he then do? Shall he not believe, or profess those things to be so, because he cannot obtain a blessed Experience of them? I answer, Our Saviour hath perfectly given direction in this case,