A53721:547
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.
Secondly, For the End of his Oath; God doth not give it to make his Word or Promise sure and steadfast, but to give Assurance and Security unto us of their accomplishment. Every Word of God is sure and certain, truth it self, because it is his; and he might justly require of us, the belief of it without any ⟨p. 194⟩further Attestation. But yet knowing what great Objections Satan and our own unbelieving hearts will raise against his Promises, at least as to our own concernment in them, to confirm our minds, and to take away all pretences of unbelief, he interposeth his Oath in this matter. What can remain of distrust in such a case? If there be a matter in doubt between men, and an Oath be interposed in the confirmation of that which is called in question, it is an End, as the Apostle tells us, unto them of all strife, Heb. 6. 16. How much more ought it to be so on the part of God, when his Oath is engaged. And the Apostle declares this End of his Oath, it is to show the immutability of his counsel, Heb. 6. 17. His counsel was declared before in the Promise; but now some doubt or strife may arise, whether on one occasion or other, God may not change his counsel; or whether he hath not changed it with such conditions as to render it useless unto us? In what case soever it be, to remove all doubts and suspicions of this nature, God adds his Oath, manifesting the unquestionable immutability of his counsel and Promises. What therefore is thus confirmed is ascertained unto the height of what any thing is capable of. And nor to believe it, is the height of Impiety.
Secondly, For the End of his Oath; God doth not give it to make his Word or Promise sure and stedfast, but to give Assurance and Security unto us of their accomplishment. Every Word of God is sure and certain, truth it self, because it is his; and he might justly require of us, the belief of it without any ⟨p. 194⟩further Attestation. But yet knowing what great Objections Satan and our own unbelieving hearts will raise against his Promises, at least as to our own concernment in them, to confirm our minds, and to take away all pretences of unbelief, he interposeth his Oath in this matter. What can remain of distrust in such a case? If there be a matter in doubt between men, and an Oath be interposed in the confirmation of that which is called in question, it is an End, as the Apostle tells us, unto them of all strife,