A53721:874
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.
5. Is this an Argument to keep thee from believing? The Reason why thou art no more Holy, is because thou hast no more faith. If thou hast no holiness, it is because thou hast no saith; Holiness is the purifying of the heart by faith; or our Obedience unto the Truth. And the reason why thou art no more in duty, is because thou art no more in believing; the reason why thy duties are weak and imperfect, is because thy faith is weak and imperfect. Hast thou no holiness, believe that thou mayest have; hast thou but a little, or that which is imperceptible, be steadfast in believing that thou mayest abound in Obedience. Do not resolve not to eat thy meat until thou art strong, when thou hast no means of being strong, but by eating thy bread, which strengthens the heart of man.
5. Is this an Argument to keep thee from believing? The Reason why thou art no more Holy, is because thou hast no more faith. If thou hast no holiness, it is because thou hast no saith; Holiness is the purifying of the heart by faith; or our Obedience unto the Truth. And the reason why thou art no more in duty, is because thou art no more in believing; the reason why thy duties are weak and imperfect, is because thy faith is weak and imperfect. Hast thou no holiness, believe that thou maist have; hast thou but a little, or that which is imperceptible, be stedfast in believing that thou maist abound in Obedience. Do not resolve not to eat thy meat until thou art strong, when thou hast no means of being strong, but by eating thy bread, which strengthens the heart of man.
Object. 4. The powerful tumultuating of indwelling sin or corruption, is another cause of the same kind of trouble and despondency. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the lusts thereof. But we find, say some, several corruptions working effectually in our hearts, carrying us captive to the Law of sin. They disquiet with their power, as well as with their guilt. Had we been made partakers of the Law of the Spirit of Life, we had ere this been more set free from the Law of sin and death. Had sin been pardoned fully, it would have been subdued more effectually.