A53721:781
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.
And, if we will believe no more of God, of his Love, of Grace, of our acceptance with him, than we have a spiritual affecting sense of, we shall be many times at a loss. Sensible impressions from Gods Love, are great springs of Joy, but they are not absolutely necessary unto peace; nor unto an evidence that we do believe. We will deal thus with the vilest person living. We will believe him whilst we have the certainty of our sense to secure us. And if we deal so with God what is there in our so doing, praise worthy? the Prophet tells us, what it is to believe, in respect of providence, Hab. 3. 17. When there is nothing ⟨p. 304⟩left outward and visible to support us, then to rest quietly on God, that is to believe. So Psal. 73. 26. And the Apostle in the Example of Abraham, shows us what it is to believe with respect unto a special promise, Rom. 4. 18. Against hope, he believed in hope. When he saw not any outward ordinary means for the accomplishment of the promise, when innumerable objections arose against any such hope as might have respect unto such means, yet he resolved all his thoughts into the faithfulness of God in the promise, and therein raised a new hope in its accomplishment; so in hope believing against hope. To clear this matter you must observe what I intend by this spiritual sense, which you must learn to distinguish faith from; and to know that true faith interesting the soul in forgiveness may be without it, that so you may not conclude unto a real want of pardon, from the want of the refreshing sense of it. Grace in general may be referred unto two heads. (1.) Our Acceptation with God through Christ; the same upon the matter with the forgiveness of sin that we are treating of. And (2.) Grace of Sanctification from God in Christ: Of each of these there is a spiritual sense, or Experience to be obtained; in both distinguished from faith that gives us a real Interest in forgiveness. 1Of the first, or the spiritual sense that we have of Acceptance with God, there are sundry parts or degrees; As first, hereunto belongs peace with God, Rom. 5. 1