A53721:729
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.
6. Consider, that this is the only Way and means to enable you unto obedience, and to render what you do therein acceptable unto God. It may be that some of you are under the power of Convictions, and have made Engagements unto God, to live unto him, to keep your selves from fin, and to follow after holiness. It may be you have done so in Afflictions, ⟨p. 266⟩dangers, sicknesses, or upon the receipt of mercies; but yet you find that you cannot come unto stability or constancy in your course; you break with God and your own Souls, which fills you with new disquietments, or else hardens you, and makes you secure and negligent; so that you return unto your purposes no oftener, than your Convictions or Afflictions befall you anew. This condition is ruinous and pernicious, which nothing can deliver you from, but this closing with forgiveness. For,
6. Consider, that this is the only Way and means to enable you unto obedience, and to render what you do therein acceptable unto God. It may be that some of you are under the power of Convictions, and have made Engagements unto God, to live unto him, to keep your selves from fin, and to follow after holiness. It may be you have done so in Afflictions, ⟨p. 266⟩dangers, sicknesses, or upon the receipt of mercies; but yet you find that you cannot come unto stability or constancy in your course; you break with God and your own Souls, which fills you with new disquietments, or else hardens you, and makes you secure and negligent; so that you return unto your purposes no oftner, than your Convictions or Afflictions befall you anew. This condition is ruinous and pernitious, which nothing can deliver you from, but this closing with forgiveness. For,
1. All that you do without this, however it may please your minds or ease your Consciences, is not at all accepted with God. Unless this foundation be laid, all that you do is lost. All your Prayers, all your Duties, all your amendments are an abomination unto the Lord. Until peace is made with him, they are but the Acts of Enemies, which he despiseth and abhorreth. You run it may be earnestly, but you run out of the way; you strive, but not lawfully, and shall never receive the Crown. True Gospel-obedience is the fruit of the Faith of Forgiveness. Whatever you do without it, is but a building without a foundation, a Castle in the air. You may see the order of Gospel Obedience,