A53721:760
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.
was that her true Condition whereof she was so persuaded, as to profess it unto all? Let Jesus Christ be heard to speak in this cause, let him come and judge? I will do so, saith he, v. 14. Thus saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness. Coming to give sentence in a case of this importance, he gives himself this Title that we may know his Word is to be acquiesced in. Every man, saith he, is a Liar; Their Testimony is of no value, let them pronounce what they will of themselves, or of one another; I am the Amen, and I will see whose Word shall stand, mine or theirs. What then saith he of Laodicea? Thou art wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind, and naked. O woeful and sad disappointment! O dreadful surprisal! Ah how many Laodicean Churches have we in the World? How many Professors are members of these Churches? Not to mention the generality of men that live under the means of Grace, all which have Good hopes of their Eternal Condition whilst they are despised and abhorred by the only Judge. Among Professors themselves, it is dreadful to think how many will be found light when they come to be weighed in this balance. 2. Again, he Judgeth some to be in a good condition, be they themselves never so diffident; Revel. 2. 9. saith he to the Church of Smyrna; I know thy poverty; Smyrna was complaining that she was a poor contemptible Congregation, not fit for ⟨p. 280⟩him to take any notice of. Well, saith he, fear not; I know thy poverty whereof thou complainest; but thou art Rich; That is my Judgement, Testimony, and Sentence concerning thee and thy condition. Such will be his Judgement at the last day, when both those, on the one hand, and the other, shall be surprised with his sentence, the one with Joy, at the riches of his Grace; The other with terror at the severity of his Justice, Math. 25 37, 38, 39. and 44, 45. This case is directly stated in both the places mentioned in the entrance of this discourse; as in that for instance, Isa. 49. 14. Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me. That is Zions judgement of her self, and her state and condition; a sad report and conclusion. But doth Christ agree with Zion in this sentence? The next verse gives us his Resolution of this matter; Can, saith he, a Woman forget her sucking Child, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her womb; Yea they may forget, yet will not I forget thee.