A53721:783
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.
It may be some would be such spendthrifts of satisfying peace and joy, and be so diverted by them from attending unto some necessary duties, as of humiliation, mortification, and self-abasement, without which their souls cannot live, that it would not be much to their advantage to be entrusted with them. It is from the same Care and Love, that Peace and Joy are detained from some Believers, and granted unto others. ⟨p. 306⟩You are therefore to receive forgiveness by a pure Act of believing, in the way and manner before at large described. And do not think that it is not in you, unless you have constantly a spiritual sense of it in your hearts. See in the mean time that your Faith bringeth forth Obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth Peace. The like may be said concerning the other head of Grace; though it be not so direct unto our purpose, yet tending also to the relief of the soul in its depths. This is the Grace that we have from God in Christ for our sanctification: When the soul cannot find this in himself, when he hath not a spiritual sense and experience of its in being and power, when it cannot evidently distinguish it from that which is not right or genuine, It is filled with fears and perplexities, and thinks it is yet in its sin. He is so indeed who hath no Grace in him; but not he always who can find none in him: But these are different things. A man may have Grace, and yet not have it at some times much acting; he may have Grace for life, when he hath it not for fruitfulness and comfort, though it be his duty so to have it Rev. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 6. And a man may have Grace acting in him, and yet not know, not be sensible that he hath acting Grace. We see persons frequently under great temptations of apprehension that they have no Grace at all, and yet at the same time to the clearest conviction of all who are able to discern spiritual things, sweetly and genuinely to act Faith, Love, Submission unto God, and that in an high and eminent manner, Psa. 88. Heman complains that he was free among the dead; a man of no strength, vers. 4, 5. as one that had no spiritual life, no Grace. This afflicted his mind, and almost distracted him, vers. 15. and yet there can be no greater expressions of Faith and Love to God, than are mixed with his complaints.