A53721:651
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.
5. Of them who profess to believe forgiveness, how few are there who indeed know what it is. They believe they say, but as the Samaritans Worshipped, they know not what. With some, a bold presumption, and crying peace peace, goes for the belief of forgiveness.
A General Apprehension of impunity from God, and that ⟨p. 236⟩though they are sinners, yet they shall not be punished, passeth with others at the same rate.
Some think they shall prevail with God by their prayers and desires to let them alone, and not cast them into Hell. One way or other to escape the Vengeance of Hell, not to be punished in another world, is that which men fix their minds upon.
But is this that forgiveness which is revealed in the Gospel? that which we have been treating about? The Rise and Spring of our forgiveness is in the heart and Gracious Nature of God, declared by his Name; Have you enquired seriously into this? Have you stood at the shore of that infinite Ocean of Goodness and Love? Have your souls found supportment and relief from that Consideration? And have your hearts leaped within you with the thoughts of it? Or if you have never been affected in an especial manner herewithal, have you bowed down your souls under the Considerations of that Sovereign Act of the Will of God, that is the next spring of forgiveness; that glorious acting of free Grace, that when all might justly have perished, all having sinned and come short of his Glory, God would yet have mercy on some? Have you given up your selves to this Grace? Is this any thing of that you do believe? Suppose you are strangers to this also: What communion with God have you had about it in the blood of Christ? We have showed how forgiveness relates thereunto; how way is made thereby for the exercise of mercy, in a consistency with the Glory and Honour of the Justice of God, and of his Law; how Pardon is procured and purchased thereby; with the mysterious Reconciliation of Love and Law; and the new disposal of Conscience in its work and duty by it. What have you to say to these things? Have you seen pardon flowing from the heart of the Father through the blood of the Son? Have you looked upon it as the price of his life, and the purchase of his blood? Or have you general thoughts that Christ dyed for sinners? and that on one account or other forgiveness relates unto him, but are strangers to the mystery of this great work. Suppose this also; Let us go a little further and enquire