The Forgiveness of Sin: A Practical Exposition of Psalm CXXX

The following,’ Treatise, which by many spiritual christians has been considered the best of Dr. Owen’s works, is here divided into chapters, with heads indicating the subject of each, and showing at a glance in the Table of Contents the author’s train of thought; numerous repetitions in announcing his subdivisions are also omitted, and obsolete terms and phrases, in many cases, exchanged for others. It is recorded in reference to the origin of this work, that a young man. who afterwards became a minister of Christ, being under religious impressions, came to Dr. Owen for counsel. In the course of conversation the Doctor asked, “Pray, in what manner do you think to go to God V “Through the Mediator, sir,” said the young man. To which Dr. Owen replied, “That is easily said; but it is another thing to go to God through the Mediator, than what many who use the expression are aware of. I myself preached some years when I had but very little, if any, experimental acquaintance with access to God through Christ, until the Lord was pleased to visit me with sore affliction, by which I was brought to the mouth of the grave, and under which my soul was oppressed with horror and darkness. But God graciously relieved my spirit by a powerful application of Psalm 130: 4, ‘There is Forgiveness with T/isethat Thou mayest be feared,’ from whence I received special instruction, peace, and comfort in drawing near to God through the Mediator; and I preached thereupon immediately after my recovery.” None who seriously and prayerfully read this Treatise will fail to discover the grounds and the appropriateness of the above appeal to an inquiring youth; the rich sources from which the author has drawn Divine instruction, and its adaptation to the wants of every perishing soul.

The great Owen was born at Stadham, Oxfordshire, England, in the year 1616, and died at Ealing, August 24, 1683, aged 67. He was contemporary with Bunyan, Baxter and Flavel, and shared in the bitter opposition they encountered for their non-conformity.

His father being a clergyman, he received an early education, and at twelve was admitted a student of Clueen’s College, Oxford, where he graduated with honor, and continued the pursuit of study till the age of twenty-one, when new laws and regulations were imposed on the University by Archbishop Laud, to which he could not

Forgiveness.

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conscientiously submit. He commenced his labors in the ministry at Fordham, whence they were translerred to Coggeshall, and early began to write in defence of the truth. In 1G43 he i)ublishcd his treatise “The Duty of Pastors and People Distinguished,” showing the personal obligations of every believer to aid in spreading “the truth as it is in Jesus,” and soon after a treatise founded on two short Catechisms for the benefit of the young. In IGIG, being summoned to preach before Parliament, he boldly proclaimed the doctiinesol the cross, and on numerous future occasions fulfilled the same duty with equal fidelity to God and the souls of men.

One of these sermons introduced him to Cromwell, who appointed him his chaplain; and in 1G51 he was elected by Parliament to the deanery of Christ Church, Oxford, and soon after was appointed by Cromwell Vice- Chancellor of that Uidversihj. Pie continued his connection with Oxford for nine years until the death of Cromwell, when he was displaced. During this period ‘• the change in the circumstances, literature and piety of the University w’cre truly astonishing.” His labors were great almost beyond parallel, and as successful as arduous. He also, v.liile at Oxford, ofien preached before Parliament, and wrote many valuable works, including his treatises on “Divine Justice,” on the Socinian Controversy, the “Mortification of Sin in Believers,” on ‘•’ Communion with God,” and on “Temptation,”

In 1G63 he was invited to settle as pastor of a church in Boston, the request being seconded by a respectful letter from the General Court of Massachusetts, and he was afterwards elected President of Harvard College, but he declined these invitations, and for several years ministered to a church in London. From the time of his leaving Oxford to 167G, he published no less than twenty-two different works, among which are the treatises on “Psalm 130,” on “Indwelling Sin,” on the -’ Trinity,” the “Sabbath,” the “Holy Spirit,” and on “Apostacy.”

At length his health declined, and he retired to Kensington, and from thence to Ealing, where he closed his days in writing his “Meditations on the Glory of Christ.” On the morning of the day he died, a friend called to tell him the work was put to press. “I am glad to hear it,” said the dying christian: and lifting up his hands and eyes, as if transported with joy, he exclaimed, “But, O! the long wished-for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in another manner than I have ever done, or was capable of doing in this world.” His published works comprise twenty-eight large octavo volumes; the largest work being the Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, which occupied his attention for sixteen years.

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