A53721:763
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.
We have received the Spirit of God, that we may know the things that are freely given us of God. The Spirit of Christ acquaints the Soul, that this and that Grace is from him, that this or that duty was performed in his strength. He brings to mind, what at such and such times was wrought in men by himself, to give them supportment and relief in the times of depths and darkness. And when it hath been clearly discovered unto the Soul at any time by the Holy Ghost, that any thing wrought in it, or done by it hath been truly saving; The Comfort of it will abide in the midst of many shakings and Temptations. 2. He also by his Spirit bears witness with our Spirits, as to our state and condition. Of this I have spoken largely elsewhere, and therefore shall now pass it by. This then is our first General Rule and Direction. Self-determinations concerning mens spiritual state and condition, because their minds are usually influenced by their distempers, are seldom right and according to Rule. Mistakes in such determinations are exceedingly prejudicial to a Soul seeking out after relief, and sense of Forgiveness; let Christ then be the Judge in this Case by his Word and Spirit, as hath been directed. ⟨p. 283⟩RULE II. Self-condemnation and abhorrency for sin consistent with Gospel Justification and Peace. The nature of Gospel-Assurance; what is consistent with it. What are the Effects of it. 1Self-Condemnation and Abhorrency do very well consist with Gospel-Justification and Peace. Some men have no peace, because they have that, without which it is impossible they should have peace. Because they cannot but condemn themselves, they cannot entertain a sense, that God doth acquit them. But this is the mystery of the Gospel, which unbelief is a stranger unto; Nothing but faith can give a real subsistence unto these things, in the same Soul, at the same time. It is easy to learn the notion of it, but it is not easy to experience the power of it. For a man to have a sight of that within him, which would condemn him for which he is troubled, and at the same time to have a discovery of that without him, which will justify him, and to rejoice therein, is that which he is not lead unto, but by Faith in the mystery of the Gospel. We are now under a Law for Justification, which excludes all boasting, Rom. 3. 27.