A53721:515
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.
It is true, the Lord Christ submitted unto that Ordinance, (and was baptized by John) who had no sin. But this belonged ⟨p. 180⟩unto the Obedience which God required of him, as for our sakes, he was made under the Law. He was to observe all Ordinances and Institutions of the Worship of God; not for any need he had in his own Person of the especial Ends and significations of some of them; yet as he was our Sponsor, surety, and Mediator standing in our stead in all that he so did, he was to yield obedience unto them, that so he might fulfil all Righteousness, Matth. 3. 13. So was he circumcised, so he was baptized, both which had respect unto sin, though absolutely free from all sin in his own Person; and that because he was free from no Obedience unto any Command of God.
It is true, the Lord Christ submitted unto that Ordinance, (and was baptized by John) who had no sin. But this belonged ⟨p. 180⟩unto the Obedience which God required of him, as for our sakes, he was made under the Law. He was to observe all Ordinances and Institutions of the Worship of God; not for any need he had in his own Person of the especial Ends and significations of some of them; yet as he was our Sponsor, surety, and Mediator standing in our stead in all that he so did, he was to yield obedience unto them, that so he might fulfill all Righteousness, Matth. 3. 13. So was he circumcised, so he was baptized, both which had respect unto sin, though absolutely free from all sin in his own Person; and that because he was free from no Obedience unto any Command of God.
But as was said, Baptism it self as appointed to be an Ordinance of Worship for sinners to observe, was a Declaration of that forgiveness that is with God. It was so in its first Institution. God calls a man in a marvellous and miraculous manner; gives him a Ministry from Heaven; commands him to Go and Baptize all those who confessing their sins, and professing Repentance of them, should come to him, to have a Testimony of forgiveness. And as to the especial nature of this Ordinance, he appoints it to be such, as to represent the certainty and truth of his Grace in pardon, unto their senses by a visible pledge. He lets them know that he would take away their sin, wherein their spiritual defilement doth consist, even as Water takes away the outward filth of the body; and that hereby they shall be saved, as surely as Noah and his Family were saved in the Ark swimming upon the waters,