A53721:807
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.
2. There is in many Afflictions something that seems New, and peculiar, wherewith the soul is surprised, and cannot readily reduce its condition unto what is taught about Afflictions in General. This perplexeth and entangleth it. It is not Affliction it is troubled withal, but some one thing or other in it that appears with an Especial dread unto the soul, so that he questioneth whether ever it were so with any other or no, and is thereby deprived of the supportment which from former Examples it might receive. And indeed when God intendeth that which shall be a deep Affliction, he will put an Edge upon it in matter, or manner, or circumstances, that shall make the soul feel its sharpness. He will not take up with our bounds and measures, and with which we think we could be contented. But he will put the impress of his own greatness and terror upon it, that he may be acknowledged and submitted unto. Such was the State with Naomi; When from a full and plentiful ⟨p. 324⟩condition, she went into a strange Country with an Husband and two Sons, where they all dyed, leaving her destitute and poor; Hence in her account of Gods dealing with her, she says, call me not Naomi (that is pleasant) but call me mara (that is bitter) for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out Full and the Lord brought me again Empty; why then call ye me Naomi since the Lord hath testified against me; and the Almighty hath afflicted me, Ruth 1. 20, 21. So was it with Job, with the Widow of Zareptha; and with her at Nain who was burying her only Child. And still in many Afflictions God is pleased to put in an entangling specialty, which perplexeth the soul and darkens it in all its Reasonings about the Love of God towards it, and its interest in Pardon and Grace.
2. There is in many Afflictions something that seems New, and peculiar, wherewith the soul is surprised, and cannot readily reduce its condition unto what is taught about Afflictions in General. This perplexeth and intangleth it. It is not Affliction it is troubled withall, but some one thing or other in it that appears with an Especial dread unto the soul, so that he questioneth whether ever it were so with any other or no, and is thereby deprived of the supportment which from former Examples it might receive. And indeed when God intendeth that which shall be a deep Affliction, he will put an Edge upon it in matter, or manner, or circumstances, that shall make the soul feel its sharpness. He will not take up with our bounds and measures, and with which we think we could be contented. But he will put the impress of his own greatness and terrour upon it, that he may be acknowledged and submitted unto. Such was the State with Naomi; When from a full and plentiful