A53721:855
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. It is hence evident, that an Assurance of being Regenerate, is no way previously necessary unto the believing of an interest in forgiveness; so that although a man have not the former, it is, or may be his duty to endeavour the latter. When convinced persons cried out, What shall we do to be saved! the answer was, believe and you shall be so; Believe in Christ, and in the remission of sin by his blood, is the first thing that convinced sinners are called unto. They are not directed first to secure their souls that they are born again, and then afterwards to believe. But they are first to believe that the Remission of sin ⟨p. 348⟩is tendered unto them in the blood of Christ, and that by him they may be justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law. Nor upon this proposition is it the duty of men to question whether they have faith or no, but actually to believe. And faith in its operation will evidence it self. See Acts 13. 38, 39. Suppose then that you do not know that you are Regenerate, that you are born of God; that you have no prevailing, refreshing constant evidence or persuasion thereof; should this hinder you? should this discourage you from believing forgiveness, from closing with the promises, and thereby obtaining in your selves an interest in that forgiveness that is with God? Not at all; Nay, this ought exceedingly to excite and stir you up unto your duty herein. For,
2. It is hence evident, that an Assurance of being Regenerate, is no way previously necessary unto the believing of an interest in forgiveness; so that although a man have not the former, it is, or may be his duty to endeavour the latter. When convinced persons cryed out, What shall we do to be saved! the answer was, believe and you shall be so; Believe in Christ, and in the remission of sin by his blood, is the first thing that convinced sinners are called unto. They are not directed first to secure their souls that they are born again, and then afterwards to believe. But they are first to believe that the Remission of sin ⟨p. 348⟩is tendred unto them in the blood of Christ, and that by him they may be justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law. Nor upon this proposition is it the duty of men to question whether they have faith or no, but actually to believe. And faith in its operation will evidence it self. See