A53721:478
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.
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, John 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of my self. Continue in following after the things revealed in the Doctrine of the Gospel, and you shall have a satisfactory experience that they are true, and that they are of God; cease not to act faith on them and you shall find their effects; for then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Hosea 6. 3. Experience will ensue upon permanency in faith and obedience. Yea, the first Act of sincere believing, will be accompanied with such a taste, will give the soul so much experience as to produce a firm adherence unto the things believed. And this is the way to prove, what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God, which is revealed unto us, Rom. 12. 2.
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 obtaine a blessed Experience of them? I answer, Our Saviour hath perfectly given direction in this case, John 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of my self. Continue in following after the things revealed in the Doctrine of the Gospel, and you shall have a satisfactory experience that they are true, and that they are of God; cease not to act faith on them and you shall find their effects; for then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Hoseah 6. 3. Experience will ensue upon permanency in faith and obedience. Yea, the first Act of sincere believing, will be accompanied with such a taste, will give the soul so much experience as to produce a firm adherence unto the things believed. And this is the way to prove, what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God, which is revealed unto us,