A53721:791
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.
Take heed of undue expressions concerning God and his ways in distress. 1Take heed in doubts, distresses, and perplexities of hard thoughts of God; hasty unweighed expressions concerning him or his ways, with or of secret resolves, that it were as good give over waiting as continue in the state wherein you are, seeing your Condition is remediless. On three occasions are such thoughts and resolves apt to befall the minds of men, which sometimes break forth into unwarrantable Expressions concerning God himself and his ways. 1. In deep perplexities of mind, by reason of some pressing terror from the Lord. 2. On the long wearisome continuance of some tempting distress, and hereof we have many examples, some whereof shall be mentioned. 3. In spiritual disappointments through the strength of Lust or Temptation. When a person hath it may be recovered himself through Grace, from a perplexing sense of the guilt of some sin, or it may be from a course shorter or longer, lesser or greater of back sliding and negligent walking with God, and therein goes on cheerfully for a season in the course of his Obedience, if this person through the power of Temptation Subtlety of Lusts, neglect of watchfulness, by one means or other, is surprised in the sins, or ways that he had relinquished, or is turned aside from the vigour of that course wherein he was engaged, he may be exposed not only to great despondencies, but also be overtaken with secret resolves to give over contending, seeing it is to no more purpose, nay to no purpose, and that God regards him not at all. ⟨p. 315⟩Take an Instance or two in each kind. The first we have in Job in the Extremity of his trials and terrors from the Lord. See among other places, chap. 10. v. 3. Is it saith he, to God, Good for thee that shouldst oppress, that thou shouldst despise the work of thy hands? Ah poor worms, with whom have we to do? who shall say unto a King thou art wicked, and to Princes ye are ungodly; and will ye speak so to him, who respecteth not the persons of Princes, nor regardeth them more than the poorest in the Earth? And see what conclusions from such thoughts as these he doth infer. Chap. 14. 15, 16, 17. Thou numberest my steps, dost thou not watch over my sin? my transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sowest up my Iniquity.
Take heed of undue expressions concerning God and his wayes in distress.