A53721:932
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 5, 6: Verse 5, 6.
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.
It is diligently to look out after that which is coming towards us, a looking out after the Accomplishment of our Expectation. This is a part of our waiting for God; yea, as was said, the life of it, that which is principally intended in it. The Prophet calls it his standing upon his watch tower, and watching to see what God would speak unto him, Hab. 2. 3. namely, in answer unto that prayer which he put up in his trouble. He is now waiting in Expectation of an answer from God. And this is that which poor, weak, trembling sinners are so encouraged unto, Isa. 53. 3, 4. Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees; say unto them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not, behold your God will come. Weakness and discouragements are the effects of Unbelief. These he would have removed with an Expectation of the coming of God unto the soul according to the Promise. And this I say belongs unto the waiting of the soul in the condition described. Such a one doth expect and hope that God will in his season manifest himself and his Love unto him, and give him an experimental sense of a blessed interest in forgiveness. And the accomplishment of this purpose and promise of God, it looks out after continually. It will not despond and be heartless, but stir up and strengthen it self unto a full expectation to have the desires of his soul satisfied in due time: as we find David doing in places almost innumerable.
It is diligently to look out after that which is coming towards us, a looking out after the Accomplishment of our Expectation. This is a part of our waiting for God; yea, as was said, the life of it, that which is principally intended in it. The Prophet calls it his standing upon his watch tower, and watching to see what God would speak unto him, Hab. 2. 3. namely, in answer unto that prayer which he put up in his trouble. He is now waiting in Expectation of an answer from God. And this is that which poor, weak, trembling sinners are so encouraged unto, Isa. 53. 3, 4. Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees; say unto them that are of a fearfull heart, be strong, fear not, behold your God will come. Weakness and discouragements are the effects of Unbelief. These he would have removed with an Expectation of the coming of God unto the soul according to the Promise. And this I say belongs unto the waiting of the soul in the condition described. Such a one doth expect and hope that God will in his season manifest himself and his Love unto him, and give him an experimental sense of a blessed interest in forgiveness. And the accomplishment of this purpose and promise of God, it looks out after continually. It will not despond and be heartless, but stir up and strengthen it self unto a full expectation to have the desires of his soul satisfied in due time: as we find David doing in places almost innumerable.