A53721:516
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.
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, 1 Pet. 3. 21. Now how great a deceit must needs in this whole matter have been put upon poor sinners, if it were not infallibly certain, that they might obtain forgiveness with God.
After the Entrance of this Ordinance in the Ministry of John, the Lord Christ takes it into his own hand, and commands the observation of it unto all his Disciples. I dispute not now, who are the proper immediate objects of it; whether they only who actually can make profession of their faith, or Believers with their infant seed. For my part, I believe that all whom Christ loves and pardons are to be made partakers of the pledge thereof. And the sole Reason which they of old insisted on, why the infants of Believing Parents should not be ⟨p. 181⟩baptized; was because they thought they had no sin, and therein we know their mistake. But I treat not now of these things; only this I say is certain, that in the prescription of this Ordinance unto his Church, the great Intention of the Lord Christ was to ascertain unto us the forgiveness of sins. And sinners are invited to a participation of this Ordinance for that End, that they may receive the pardon of their sins; that is an infallible pledge and Assurance of it,