A53721:83
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. › Verses 1, 2 › 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 here lies the latitude of the New Covenant; here lies the exercise of renewed Free-will. This is the field of free voluntary obedience under the Administration of Gospel Grace. There are extremes which in respect of the event it is not concerned in. To be wholly perfect, to be free from every sin, all ⟨p. 20⟩failings, all infirmities, that is not provided for, not promised in this Covenant. It is a Covenant of mercy and pardon, which supposeth a continuance of sin. To fall utterly and finally from God, that is absolutely provided against. Between these two extremes of absolute perfection, and total Apostasy, lies the large Field of Believers obedience and walking with God. Many a sweet heavenly passage there is, and many a dangerous depth in this field. Some walk near to the one side, some to the other; yea, the same person may sometimes press hard after Perfection, sometimes be cast to the very border of destruction. Now between these two, lye many a soul-plunging sin, against which no absolute provision is made, and which for want of giving all diligence to put the means of preservation in practice, Believers are oftentimes overtaken withal.
And here lyes the latitude of the New Covenant; here lyes the exercise of renewed Free-will. This is the field of free voluntary obedience under the Administration of Gospel Grace. There are extreams which in respect of the event it is not concerned in. To be wholly perfect, to be free from every sin, all ⟨p. 20⟩failings, all infirmities, that is not provided for, not promised in this Covenant. It is a Covenant of mercy and pardon, which supposeth a continuance of sin. To fall utterly and finally from God, that is absolutely provided against. Between these two extreams of absolute perfection, and total Apostasie, lyes the large Field of Believers obedience and walking with God. Many a sweet heavenly passage there is, and many a dangerous depth in this field. Some walk near to the one side, some to the other; yea, the same person may sometimes press hard after Perfection, sometimes be cast to the very border of destruction. Now between these two, lye many a soul-plunging sin, against which no absolute provision is made, and which for want of giving all diligence to put the means of preservation in practice, Believers are oftentimes overtaken withal.