the discovery of forgiveness
This is from John Owen's 'Practical Exposition on Psalm 130,' the part where he reaches verse 4, and starts to talk about the way that forgiveness is "discovered to" people who are burdened by the guilt of sin. (I wonder if the word must mean having it revealed, or dis-covered or un-covered to you, not so much finding it out?)
... this discovery of forgiveness whereof we speak, is indeed no common thing, but a great discovery. Let men come, with a sense of the guilt of sin, to have deep and serious thoughts of God, they will find it no such easy and light matter to have their hearts truly and thoroughly apprehensive of [able to grasp] this loving and gracious nature of God, in reference to pardon. It is an easy matter to say so in common, but the soul will not find it so easy to believe for itself. ...
Though men profess that God is gracious, yet that aversion which they have to him, and to communion with him, abundantly manifests that they do not believe what they say and profess. If they did, they could not but delight and trust in him, which they do not; for "they that know his name will put their trust in him." So the slothful man in the gospel said, "I knew that thou wast austere," and not for me to deal with; it may be he professed otherwise before, but that lay in his heart when it came to the trial.
But this, I say, is necessary to those to whom this discovery is to be made: even a spiritual apprehension of the gracious, loving heart and nature of God. ... And he that really considers forgiveness, and looks on it with a spiritual eye, must conclude that it comes from infinite goodness and grace.
And this is that which the hearts of siners are exercised about, when they come to deal for pardon. "Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive." Psalm 86:5. "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." Nehemiah 9:17. And, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity? - because he delighteth in mercy." Micah 7:18. And God encourageth them hereunto, wherever he says that he forgives sins and blots out iniquities for his own sake, or his name's sake: that is, he will deal with sinners according to the goodness of his own gracious nature.
... To have all the clouds and darkness that are raised by sin, between us and the throne of God, dispelled; to have the fire and storms and tempests that are kindled and stirred up about him by the law, removed; to have his glorious face unveiled, and his holy heart laid open, and a view given of those infinite treasures and stores of goodness, mercy, love, and kindness, which have had an unchangeable habitation therein from all eternity; to have a discovery of these eternal springs of forbearance and forgiveness - is that which none but Christ can accomplish and bring about.
That comes from p136-138 of my secondhand 1836 edition - I chopped out a fair bit (and they're only small pages!), so I hope it isn't too long.
... this discovery of forgiveness whereof we speak, is indeed no common thing, but a great discovery. Let men come, with a sense of the guilt of sin, to have deep and serious thoughts of God, they will find it no such easy and light matter to have their hearts truly and thoroughly apprehensive of [able to grasp] this loving and gracious nature of God, in reference to pardon. It is an easy matter to say so in common, but the soul will not find it so easy to believe for itself. ...
Though men profess that God is gracious, yet that aversion which they have to him, and to communion with him, abundantly manifests that they do not believe what they say and profess. If they did, they could not but delight and trust in him, which they do not; for "they that know his name will put their trust in him." So the slothful man in the gospel said, "I knew that thou wast austere," and not for me to deal with; it may be he professed otherwise before, but that lay in his heart when it came to the trial.
But this, I say, is necessary to those to whom this discovery is to be made: even a spiritual apprehension of the gracious, loving heart and nature of God. ... And he that really considers forgiveness, and looks on it with a spiritual eye, must conclude that it comes from infinite goodness and grace.
And this is that which the hearts of siners are exercised about, when they come to deal for pardon. "Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive." Psalm 86:5. "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." Nehemiah 9:17. And, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity? - because he delighteth in mercy." Micah 7:18. And God encourageth them hereunto, wherever he says that he forgives sins and blots out iniquities for his own sake, or his name's sake: that is, he will deal with sinners according to the goodness of his own gracious nature.
... To have all the clouds and darkness that are raised by sin, between us and the throne of God, dispelled; to have the fire and storms and tempests that are kindled and stirred up about him by the law, removed; to have his glorious face unveiled, and his holy heart laid open, and a view given of those infinite treasures and stores of goodness, mercy, love, and kindness, which have had an unchangeable habitation therein from all eternity; to have a discovery of these eternal springs of forbearance and forgiveness - is that which none but Christ can accomplish and bring about.
That comes from p136-138 of my secondhand 1836 edition - I chopped out a fair bit (and they're only small pages!), so I hope it isn't too long.
posted by cath at
11:11 am
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