A53721:563
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.
2. On supposition that God would work ad extra, by his Power produce any thing without himself, it was absolutely necessary that himself should be the End of his so doing. For as before the production of all things, there was nothing that could be the end why any of them should be brought forth out of nothing, or towards which they should be disposed: So God being an infinite Agent in Wisdom and Understanding and Power, he could have no End in his Actings, but that also which is infinite. It is therefore natural and necessary unto God to do all things for himself. It is impossible he should have any other end; and he hath done so accordingly, Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself. He aimed at himself in all that he did; there being no other infinite Good for him to make his Object, and his End, but himself alone.
3. This doing things, all things for himself, cannot intend an Addition or Acrewment thereby of any new real good unto himself. His absolute Eternal Perfection and Al-sufficiency render this impossible. God doth not become more Powerful, Great, Wise, Just, Holy, Good or Gracious by any of his ⟨p. 202⟩works, by any thing that he doth. He can add nothing to himself. It must therefore be the Manifestation and Declaration of the Holy Properties of his Nature that he doth intend and design in his works. And there are two things required hereunto.
1. That he make them known; that by ways suited to his Infinite Wisdom, he both declare that such Properties do belong unto him; as also what is the nature of them according as the creature is able to apprehend.