by John Owen
In ePub. mobi, .pdf & .Docx formats
HT: Thanks to Lionel Dyck for his help with creating the docx format
In The Forgiveness of Sin, the great English Puritan John Owen opens the depths of Psalm 130 like a spiritual surgeon of the soul—revealing the bitter pain of sin and the matchless balm of divine mercy. This is not dry theology, but an intensely personal, pastoral, and penetrating exposition that flows out of Owen’s own dark night of the soul. In fact, as he himself confessed, it was during a season of near death and spiritual affliction that the words “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared” (Ps. 130:4) became light and life to his soul. From that furnace of affliction came these sermons—written not merely from a scholar’s desk, but from a heart that had wrestled with guilt, clung to grace, and found peace in the blood of Christ.
Owen leads the reader step by step through the experience of the contrite believer: the depths of despair over sin, the trembling cry to God, the necessity of forgiveness, and the bold hope that arises when the soul lays hold of divine mercy through Christ the Mediator. He unfolds how true gospel forgiveness is revealed only to faith, how it cannot be presumed upon nor separated from the fear of God, and how waiting upon the Lord, though painful, is always rewarded with His abundant redemption.
What makes this work especially powerful is Owen’s gift for exposing the inner workings of the conscience and the subtle dangers of self-deception. He provides not only theological clarity but also spiritual direction—charting a course for sin-entangled souls back to hope, assurance, and joy. With pastoral tenderness and precision, he offers the trembling sinner solid ground: that God has not only made a way for forgiveness, but delights to forgive, that He may be rightly feared and loved.
For any who have ever wept over their sin, doubted their standing before God, or longed to recover the joy of salvation, this book is a companion and a guide. Owen helps us see that the deepest comfort comes not from minimizing our guilt, but from magnifying the mercy of God in Christ. The Forgiveness of Sin is a treasure of experiential Reformed theology—meaty, convicting, and filled with gospel hope.
The original imprimatur of the volume bears date 1668; and such, according to all authorities, was the year in which it first appeared. We have seen an edition printed in 1669, and another printed in 1680. The latter must correspond with, and must have been printed from the first edition, for it contains some sentences quite obscure and incomplete, which are corrected in the edition of 1669. It is singular, also, that every modern reprint should embody the inaccuracies of the first edition.—ED.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFATORY NOTE BY THE EDITOR
To the Reader
Psalm 130
A paraphrase
General scope of the whole psalm
VERSES FIRST AND SECOND
The state and condition of the soul represented in the psalm
Gracious souls may be brought into depths on the account of sin
Whence it is that believers maybe brought into depths on account of sin—Nature of the supplies of grace given in the covenant
What sins usually bring believers into great spiritual distresses—Aggravations of these sins
The duty and actings of a believer under distresses from a sense of sin—His application unto God, to God alone
VERSE THIRD
The words of the verse explained, and their meaning opened
What first presents itself to a soul in distress on the account of sin—This opened in four propositions
The first particular actings of a soul towards a recovery out of the depths of sin
Grounds of miscarriages when persons are convinced of sin and humbled
VERSE FOURTH
The words explained, and the design or scope of the psalmist in them discovered
No encouragement for any sinner to approach unto God without a discovery of forgiveness
Greatness and rareness of the discovery of forgiveness in God
False presumptions of forgiveness discovered—Differences between them and faith evangelical
The true nature of gospel forgiveness
Forgiveness discovered or revealed only to faith—Reasons thereof
Discovery of forgiveness in God a great supportment to sin-entangled souls—Particular assurance attainable
Evidences of forgiveness in God
Discovery of forgiveness in the first promise—The evidence of the truth that lies therein—And by the institution of sacrifices
Farther evidences of forgiveness with God—Testimonies that God was well pleased with some that were sinners
Institution of religious worship an evidence of forgiveness
The giving and establishing of the new covenant another evidence of forgiveness with God
The name of God confirming the truth and reality of forgiveness with him
Forgiveness manifested in the sending of the Son of God to die for sin
Properties of forgiveness—The greatness and freedom of it
Evidences that most men do not believe forgiveness
Exhortation unto the belief of the forgiveness that is with God
Rules to be observed by them who would come to stability in obedience
RULE I.—Christ the only infallible judge of our spiritual condition
RULE II.—Self-condemnation and abhorrency for sin consistent with gospel justification and peace—The nature of gospel assurance
RULE III.—Continuance in waiting necessary unto peace and consolation
RULE IV.—Remove the hinderances of believing by a searching out of sin—Rules and directions for that duty
RULE V.—Distinction between unbelief and jealousy
RULE VI.—Distinction between faith and spiritual sense
RULE VII.—Mix not foundation and building work together
RULE VIII.—Spend not time in heartless complaints
RULE IX.—Take heed of undue expressions concerning God and his ways in distress
RULE X.—Duly improve the least appearances of God in a way of grace or pardon
RULE XI.—[Consider where lies the hinderance to peace]
Grounds of spiritual disquietments considered
State of regeneration asserted—Difference of saving and common grace
RULE I
RULE II
RULE III
RULE IV
Objections: Weakness and imperfection of duty—Opposition from indwelling sin
VERSES FIFTH AND SIXTH
[The words explained]
God the proper object of the soul's waiting in its distresses and depths
Considerations of God rendering our waiting on him reasonable and necessary—His glorious being
Influence of the promises into the soul's waiting in time of trouble—The nature of them
VERSES SEVENTH AND EIGHTH
[The words explained]
[Doctrinal observations on them]