A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

So that though we have joy enough in another, yet we may have, we always have sufficient cause of humiliation in our selves. The Gospel will teach a man to feel sin, and believe Righteousness at the same time. Faith will carry Heaven in one hand, and Hell in the other; showing the one deserved, the other purchased. A man may see enough of his own sin and folly to bring Gehennam è Coelo, a Hell of wrath out of Heaven; and yet see Christ bring Coelum ex inferno, a Heaven of blessedness out of an Hell of punishment. And these must needs produce very divers, yea contrary effects and operations in the Soul. And he who knows not how to assign them their proper duties, and seasons, must needs be perplexed. The work of self-condemnation then, which men in these depths cannot but abound with, is in the disposition of the Covenant of Grace, no way inconsistent with, nor unsuited unto Justification, and the enjoyment of Peace in the sense of it. There may be a deep sense of sin on other considerations besides Hell. David ⟨p. 284⟩was never more humbled for sin, than when Nathan told him it was forgiven. And there may be a view of Hell as deserved, which yet the Soul may know it self freed from, as to the issue. To evidence our intendment in this discourse, I shall briefly consider what we intend by Gospel Assurance of Forgiveness, that the Soul may not be solicitous and perplexed, about the utter want of that, which perhaps it is already in some enjoyment of. ¹Some men seem to place Gospel Assurance in an high unassaulted Confidence of Acceptance with God. They think it is in none but such, as if a man should go to them, and ask them, are you certain you shall be saved, have boldness, and confidence, and ostentation to answer presently, yea they are certain they shall be saved. But as the blessed Truth of Assurance hath been reproached in the World under such a notion of it, so such expressions become not them who know what it is to have to do with the Holy God who is a consuming fire. Hence some conclude, that there are very few Believers who have any Assurance, because they have not this confidence, or are more free to mention the opposition they meet with, than the supportment they enjoy. And thus is it rendered a matter not greatly to be desired, because it is so rarely to be obtained; most of the Saints serving God, and going to Heaven well enough without it;

So that though we have joy enough in another, yet we may have, we alwayes have sufficient cause of humiliation in our selves. The Gospel will teach a man to feel sin, and believe Righteousness at the same time. Faith will carry Heaven in one hand, and Hell in the other; shewing the one deserved, the other purchased. A man may see enough of his own sin and folly to bring Gehennam è Coelo, a Hell of wrath out of Heaven; and yet see Christ bring Coelum ex inferno, a Heaven of blessedness out of an Hell of punishment. And these must needs produce very divers, yea contrary effects and operations in the Soul. And he who knows not how to assign them their proper duties, and seasons, must needs be perplexed. The work of selfcondemnation then, which men in these depths cannot but abound with, is in the disposition of the Covenant of Grace, no way inconsistent with, nor unsuited unto Justification, and the enjoyment of Peace in the sence of it. There may be a deep sence of sin on other considerations besides Hell. David