it flow not from Faith as the streame from the fountaine which in order of nature must be before 5. Before any thing can please God in a man the man himselfe the person must please him first Gen. 4. God accepted Abel and his sacrifice The new motion pleaseth God because it is from a new creature but first the person must be in Christ and then a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And first hee must be a beleeuer before he be in Christ God respecteth not opus externum but spiritum internum He looketh on no worke further than it is the worke of his spirit but the spirit is no where but in the sons of God Gal. 4.6 and no sons but by Faith in Christ Gal. 3.26 If therefore Repentance must be a worke and fruit of the spirit of God and that spirit bee in none but sons and none of them sons but by Faith in Christ therefore must Faith goe before Repentance yea before the Sonship it selfe 1. Both of them are wrought at one moment of time and in time are neither first nor last but in order of nature Faith as the cause is first and then Repentance 2. Faith is before compleat Repentance for some beginnings or preparations to Repentance goe in time before Faith namely legall fit◠and terrours of heart for sinne and these are sometimes called by the name of Repentance as a part by the name of the whole Math. 21.32 Yee were not moued with Repentance that ye might beleeue The ignorance of the meaning of the word Repentance in this place hath occasioned this idle scruple But the distinction of Legall and Euangelicall Repentance will fully satisfie it Legall which is a sorrow and terrour excited by the law and onely initiall and preparatory is before faith But Euangelicall which is sauing and compleat must haue faith before it for the former reasons Obiect But that which most troubleth is the setting of Repentance before faith as Mark. 1.15 Repent beleeue the Gospel Act. 20.21 Testifying to Iewes and Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ. But they forget that the cause is set sometimes after the effect as 1. Tim. 1.5 Faith is set after a pure heart and yet it is Faith that purifieth the heart But it is as if he should haue said If you would get a pure heart get Faith so in these places Repent and that ye may doe so ye must first beleeue and so this transposition plainely ouerthroweth the conceit they build vpon it 3 The forme of Repentance is in turning or returning for by the sinne of our nature and practise wee haue turned our selues away from God cannot see his face and fauour towards vs. Now Repentance turneth vs backe againe the way that wee are gone from him And in this returne 1 The whole man must turn for the whole man is turned away and naturally and wholly euill Gen. 6. The imaginations of his heart are euill continually yea whole euill is in euery man euen the whole roote of sin and further than the restraint of speciall or common grace would produce all bitter and poysonfull fruits 2 He still turneth Repentance is a continued act of turning a Repentance neuer to bee repented of a turning neuer to turne againe to folly For 1 He hath euer something with him to turne from a flesh still resisting the spirit many temptations of Sathan many wicked fashions of the world 2 He can neuer get neere enough to God in this life nor euer turne so neare him as once he was and therefore hee must proceed on till he doe attaine Cap. 4. The tearmes of Repentance 1 Whence 2 Whither 4 THE tearmes from whence and whither a man must turne are first from all sinne secondly vnto God 1 The Scripture noteth Repentance to be a turning from wickednesse Act. 8.22 Repent if so be the wickednesse of thy heart may be forgiuen and from dead workes Heb. 6.2 It is called a ceasing to doe euill Isa. 1. The obiect of Repentance is all sinne not one or many but all sins The reasons are these 1 God calleth for repentance of all sinnes Colos. 3.8 Put away all these things 2 He hath shewed his readinesse to forgiue all sins except that against the holy Ghost but vpon this condition 3 We desire God to forgiue all iniquity and not leaue one vnforgiuen and therefore wee must leaue none vnforsaken 4 One sinne separateth from God as well as many one poyson killeth as well as many one hole sinketh the ship 5 Christ suffered for all sins as well as one he is the lambe of God that taketh away all the sinnes of the world if hee pay not the vttermost farthing wee neuer get out of prison 6 Mortification killeth all sinne and the vertue of Christs death in vs setteth vs against all sinne as well as any sinne and sanctification reduceth euery faculty to the first image one as well as another in which the whole man must be blamelesse for whatsoeuer is old must bee renewed 7 A day commeth when euery sinne shall be set in the open light if any one be vnrepented of that shall bee found with vs and laid vpon vs eternally Whence it must follow that euery true penitent 1 Setteth himselfe against great sinnes sinnes as red as scarlet of a deepe dye which euery one thinketh to repent of 2 Small sinnes defects and omissions common frailties secret euils Dauids cutting Sauls garment Iohn Hus his playing at Chesse for losse of his time and prouocation vnto anger 3 Sweet and friendly sins This streame of repentance is as the floud that drowned Noahs neere friends and seruants so it drowneth our nearest and most friendly sinnes And hereby thou hast a good note of sincerity Psal. 119.3 the vpright in the way doe no iniquity sincerity hateth all waies of falshood An hypocrite will strayne at comming into the common hall vpon the Preparation day but not at shedding the bloud of Christ. 2 Euer true Repentance carrieth a tender conscience which is as a tender eye that will water and finde the trouble of the least moate as a strait shooe cannot indure the least stone within it but will make him shrinke The second tearme to God for this we haue sundry 1 Commandements Ioel 2.12 Turne to the Lord Ier. 3.12 turn to me O disobedient Children Ier. 4.1 if thou returne then returne to me saith the Lord. 2 Examples Dauid Against thee against thee c. Ps. 51. The Prodigall will returne to his Father 3 Reasons first because wee haue sinned against him and turned not onely from him but against him Hos. 6.1 Sinne is a turning away from the chiefe good Repentance is a returning to the chiefe good 2 He will onely pardon sinne on this condition sinne is a running from God and into the hatred of God only Repentance is a returning into fauour and friendship with him 3 He is our first husband therefore let vs returne vnto him our first
windy presumption is not capable of Repentance till hee be pricked with the sharpe needle of the Law pricking his heart Neuer till then did the Conuerts say Men and brethen what shall we do Acts 2.37 2. God giueth no grace but to the humble Iam. 4.6 but especially the grace of faith without which is no true Repentance excludes all boasting in our selues that we may be all wee are in Christ in whom wee beleeue for righteousnesse and reconciliation 3. Christ and his sauing Grace is receiued into the heart as seed is into the ground Luke 8.12 And therefore the heart being like stony and fallow ground must first be broken vp and made full of furrowes by the helpe of legall humiliation Ier. 4.5 4. Repentance is a walking with God as being made friends Now no proud man can walke with God for he dwelleth onely with an humble and contrite spirit Isay 57.15 and Micah 6.8 Hee hath showed thee O man what is good to do iustly to loue mercie to humble thy selfe and walke with thy God The meanes therefore to attaine true Repentaince is 1. To get a cleare sight of our sins and miserie by them and by the curse due to them temporall and eternall for how can a man be humbled for those sinnes or iudgements which he neuer saw nor knew off Hence are wee called to a through search and tryall of our waies to finde out distinctly in what particulars wee haue gone astray Lam. 3.40 and then turn to the Lord. And Ier. 31.19 the Church saith After I was conuerted I repented But to show that conuersion nor repentance is or can be before this search he addeth After I was instructed or as the Hebrew word signifieth After I was made knowne to my selfe that is After in the glasse of the Law I discerned mine owne sinfull and wofull estate then I repented for who can otherwise see his need of mercie but in the sense of his miserie Tremelius Post quam ostensum fuerit mihi 2. True sense and sorrow for sin as pangs and throwes before the birth with shame of face griefe of heart and horror of soule in the apprehension of our guiltinesse by sin the curse of the law and Gods infinite anger all this represented in the law in a most terrible maner As holy Paul by the dart of the Law professed himselfe killed and slaine and made so wretched in the sense of his owne guiltinesse and vncleanenesse that hee desired to be dissolued to be ridde of it This is the true touch of sin wrought by the spirit when we most grieue afflict our hearts with that which hurteth vs most It is not losse of mony goods estate libertie or life it selfe that hurteth vs so much as the losse of Christ of grace of saluation 3. To get to an holy despair in our selues as being out of all hope of deliuerance by any power pollicy or goodnesse of our owne or of any creature that the case be with vs as with Paul and his fellowes distressed on the sea who are said to bee past all hope of beeing saued from drowning Acts 27 20. And as the woman with the bloody issue hauing spent all her strength and meanes in physick without cure was out of hope to be recouered by any secundarie meanes Mark 5.26 All this maketh vs to seek for a remedie and feeling the need and extreame want of whatsoeuer the Gospell offreth yea and pinched with hunger thirst pouertie and beggarie doe long after seeke and begge earnestly for helpe and pardon Let this admonish euery man that would proceed in Repentance which is a continued act to be conuersant still in the Law of God and especially to be wel acquainted with the Moral Law by which is the knowledge of sinne Rom. 7.7 that thereby seeing their owne sins daily and the miserie due to them they may bee kept humble and low in their owne eyes What meane men to cast off the whole vse of the Law vnder the Gospell and they must heare of nothing but Gospell For 1. Is not the Conuert lyable to sinne and how can he know what is sin or what is not sin but by the Law how can he discerne the nature of sin to be an irrectitude and crookednesse but by the straightnesse of the Law how can he discouer the danger of his sinne to awaken him out of it but by the Law The office of which is as of Pauls kinsman to detect the treason of the Iewes and Pauls danger that he might auoide it Acts 23.16 3 Though the regenerate man bee free from the raigning act and power of sinne yet hee is not from the roote of euill which euery one can find fruitfull and euer shuting as in a perpetuall May How necessary is it then alwaies to haue by vs this sharpe axe of the law which striketh at the roote of sinne which else would grow 〈◊〉 and insolent that as a seruant it may be kept vnder with blowes and feare wherein the spirit worketh it being his office as well still to conuict as to conuert Ioh. 16.8 3 Though the maine armies of sinne be defeated in the godly and those masterfull commanders be suppressed and subdued by grace yet there be stragling troopes of smaller euils and infirmities which daily assaile and should warre against the law of the minde now by what other glasse shall a man see these spots in his face than by the law for as we see the little motes discouered by the light of the Sun so it is the light of Gods law that detecteth the smallest euils against God or men without which we should neuer come to a distinct notice or Repentance of them and so consequently could neuer prize the grace or offers of the Gospell That wee may magnifie the Gospell let vs prize the law as a perpetuall scourge to driue vs out of our selues to Iesus Christ. So long as we haue any thing found with vs which must bee either forgiuen by mercy or repented or reformed by grace let vs faithfully heare and reade the law to this purpose That we may daily conquer the pride of our hearts and walke humbly before God let vs take with vs the vse of the law I cannot maruaile at the intolerable pride of these Antinomists and Perfectists because they neuer came to see their sinnes aright and this they doe not because they reiect the law the proper glasse of sins discouery CAP. 30. Meanes of Repentance in respect of God 2 IN regard of God wee may many waies helpe forward our Repentance if we consider first his word secondly his eye thirdly his hand fourthly his relation vnto vs. 1 Gods word in the reuerend vse is a notable meanes of Repentance for first the very knowledge of the word is a meanes in which GOD giueth Repentance 2. Tim. 2.25 Instructing them and waiting if God will giue Repentance and ignorance of the Scripture is made by Christ a chiefe cause of error both
in opinion and life Math. 22 29. Wee must therefore labour by diligent hearing and reading of the Scripture to come to know the Word The Word reuealeth Gods will concerning our Repentance who now admonisheth euery one to come to Repentance Acts 17. It sheweth Repentance to be aboue our owne power and reach and it is God that must giue Repentance It directeth vs to the meanes to attaine this gift namely prayer we must goe to God to heale our nature to change our disposition to perfect his owne work Ier. 31.18 Conuert mee O Lord and I shall be conuerted 2 The seuerall parts of the Word in their seuerall offices excellently conduce to this worke first the law is an hammer to beat an hard heart to pieces the very reading of it priuately made Iosiah's heart to melt 2. King 22.10 and much more when it is publikely preached and applied by Gods Ministers This was the Ministry that pricked their hearts to conuersion Acts 2. this is that whereby the heart is awakened as Peters was by the Cocke crowing The reading of the law and threats of it wrought a generall reformation and separation of Israel from all that were mixed among them Neh. 13.5 2 The Gospell propoundeth Christ a good shepheard laying downe his life for his sheepe intreateth the sinner in the name of Iesus Christ to returne and repent and liue with many promises of mercy and grace vpon their returne that if any cords of loue can draw vs wee want them not To the furtherance of our Repentance therefore we must doe two things concerning the Word 1 Mingle the whole Word with faith else it will be vnprofitable beleeue it credit it without cauils or questions to auoid it subscribe to the holinesse and goodnesse of it as a good heart doth though it speake vnpleasing things to it Ahâ—b will now say the word of God is not good Michaiah neuer prophesieth good But Hezekiah will say the word of God is good in the most sharpe threatnings of it as a good natured child wil bow at an angry word of his father 2 Keepe the Word fast to vs that it may keep vs. Dauid hid the Word in his heart that he might not sinne This is the sword of the spirit of daily vse in this warfare against sinne and wee must buckle it vnto vs. 2 Consider Gods eye is euer vpon thee and all things are naked vnto him with whom wee deale Heb. 4.13 Would a fellon cut a purse if hee thought the Iudge saw him Moses knowing that an Egyptian saw him slay an Egyptian feared and fled Exod. 2.14 Should not we feare and flee those sinnes which wee know God knoweth and hath to lay to our charge A theefe neuer so stout if taken in the manner will runne away afraid But we are bold offendors who though we cannot sinne but bee taken in the manner yet will stand it out What a folly is it not to shame at our sins which Gods eye is vpon while wee should shame to commit them if a childe of fiue yeeres old stood by Were not that an vngracious childe that durst commit folly and fornication not onely in her fathers house but before his face so is our sinne 3 Consider Gods hand first of mercy secondly of iustice and both are powerfull meanes to leade into Repentance 1 Obserue his hand of mercy 1 In spirituall motions 2 In temporal excitements 1 When the Spirit rappeth by any of his motions open vnto him Quench not this Spirit grieue him not send him not away in displeasure Now is an heauenly helpe offered of thy good worke now with GOD cherish any good motion let not the world or corruption or delay dead it but thankefully apprehend the opportunity if that be slipped thou art not sure of another 2 For temporall excitements looke vpon first Gods patience how long he hath suffered thee giuing thee space of Repentance waiting for thy returne this should hasten Repentance Rom. 2.5 Set God before thee as a louing father dealing with an vngracious childe often admonishing sometimes correcting often conniuing neuer dealing extreamely loth to loose him and cast him off 2 Consider Gods bountifulnesse vnto thee he neuer ceaseth to supply thy wants but hath bountifully prouided and heaped vp fatherly kindnesse on thy head and all to draw thee were it possible The Apostle ioyneth both these motiues together Rom. 2.5 Despisest thou the bountifulnesse of God his patience and long suffering not knowing that they should leade thee to Repentance The bounty of Iosephs Master kept Ioseph from sinning against him and the Prodigall returning mourned that he had runne from a kinde father Is there not mercy with the Lord that hee may be feared Obiect God forbeareth mee saith the sinner and therefore I may and will sinne Answ. Gods forbearance argueth his goodnesse not mans innocency it is the exercise of his mercy not the abolishing of his iustice and it is made the note of a wicked man Not to Repent when mercy is shewed to him Isay. 26. 2 Consider his hand of iustice marke and lay vp the stroakes of Gods hand sensible and insensible in soule body on thy selfe and on others Amend by them and feare him the more 1 Make vse of corrections on thy selfe heare the rod. The not regarding of warnings causeth God to giue ouer such a party as the Physitian doth a desperate Patient Isay. 1.5 Why should I smite you any more seeing yee fall backe more and more 2 Sleight not the corrections inflicted on others whether nearer or more remote When God commeth neare thee in thy friend family say God warneth thee to Repent the sinne of Belshazer Dan. 5.22 was when hee knew all those things that came on his father Nabuchadnezar yet he humbled not his heart A fearefull thing it is not to profit by example Hee that will not take example shall make an example 3 Consider the iudgements recorded in Scripture past present and to come 1 Those that are past in former ages the Angels that sinned the old world these on whom the Tower of Siloam fell and all the Writs of execution recorded in the Scripture and say of them as 1. Cor. 10.11 All these are examples to vs all our Monitors all of them so many Sumners so many Sermons to perswade vs to Repentance 2 Consider the examples of Gods iustice in our owne age so many and remarkeable as neuer more vpon Blasphemers Drunkards Adulterers and enemies of grace A man might make as large a volume as that in the fifth of Zachary written within and without with examples of such as into whose houses and hearts the curse is come Let the fight of the Angell with a drawn sword which made Balaams Asse to feare make vs feare and tremble 3 Consider the dreadfull iudgement to come the day of which shall be as an Ouen and all impenitent persons as stubble before this terrible burning Acts 17.30 He admonisheth all men to Repent
to supply the rest Thus the Christian is to be fortified against the weakenesse of his Repentance 2 Thou sayest many wicked men haue gone farre in desperate sorrowes I care not how far they goe beyond me therein but that is farre from godly sorrow both in the nature of it and in the acceptance of it My sorrow is for God offended for God loued for himselfe my sorrow is from God and goeth to God againe theirs was not a seeking of God but of themselues my teares of sorrow haue a washing and cleansing vertue so not theirs my sorrow is as a soaking raine which hath wet the very rootes of my heart so not theirs And for acceptance they haue no promise to be accepted in their desperate sorrow but I haue a promise that my humiliation ioyned with faith and reformation shall bee accepted in Christ in whom my person is accepted CAP. 20. Le ts from Satans temptation from our relapses 3 BVt seest thou not that for all thy Repentance thou fallest againe into the same sins which hadst thou truely repented thou shouldest neuer haue done what good doth thy washing who forgettest that thou wast washed True repentance is a Repentance neuer to bee repented of as thine is Ans. To turn to sin as a dogge to the vomit and as a swine to the wallowing after washing is a dangerous case but not hopelesse and desperate And howsoeuer it is not ordinary for the child of God to fall diuers times into the same grieuous sins yet notwithstanding some comfort here belongs to troubled consciences But let no presumptuous sinners meddle with it 1. Godly men are the same men after sinne and repentance that they were before beset with the same infirmities and no more priuiledged from error than before 2. Experience sheweth not only subiect to the same infirmities daily but often taken in the same snares as wandring thoughts idle speeches distractions in prayer negligence and too much vnprofitablenesse in hearing rash anger with many daily omissions whereof who can cleare himselfe so long as he carrieth the causes of daily fayling about him as 1. Ignorance Many know not many sins to bee sins as the Patriarches knew not Poligamy to be sinne 2. Weakenesse of grace A childe of God for weakenesse may get many fals to day and rise againe and as many to morrow and rise againe yea and if he hurt himselfe and cannot rise himselfe his father will help him vp 3. Inconsideratenesse and not attending his way watch A man in haste may take diuers fals and many slips so as if often falling into the same sin did exclude from Grace or barred vs of pardon we were all hopelesse 3. Relapse doth not alwaies argue former Repentance to bee vnsound because 1. Repentance is an effectuall instrument to seale vp forgiuenesse of former transgressions but not a fence from all force of sin for time to come 2. soundest Repentance of all doth not wholly abolish and take away sin but abateth weakeneth and lesseneth it 4. The article of remission of sins excepteth not relapses because the promise of remission doth not except them neither is the vertue of Christs merit to bee restrained to sins once committed but to all sinnes truly repented 5. Many examples of Saints in Scripture raised from relapses giue comfort in this Temptation Lot was twice ouercome with wine Marie the Virgin twice checkt of Christ for curiositie Iohn twice worshipped the Angell 6. True it is that relapse into a disease is more dangerous than the first assault yet proper physicke seasonably applied may cure the relapse as well as the first disease Repentance is Christs Physicke and so soueraigne as cannot be foyled by relapses into the same disease Whence wee are commanded to renew our Repentance daily as we renew our sins and the Physitian is as able to cure the same disease as he was before And yet we hold the rule of Isidore Non poenitens est qui adhuc agit quod poenitet id est if hee doe it both actu and proposito but if hee sincerely purpose against all sin and keepe aliue his zeale hatred against that hee doth this preiudiceth not his former Repentance But as he did truly run that now sitteth down so did hee truely repent that sinneth againe against his purpose and sincere intention of his heart CAP. 21. From Sathans Temptation to presumption that our sinnes are not many nor great 3. IF Sathan cannot driue men off Repentance by engines of despaire he assayeth if he can make them presumptuous of mercie without serious Repentance He knoweth the truth of that of Augustine Tam sperando quam desperando pereunt homines and that despaire hath slain his thousands but presumption his ten thousands And euery deceitfull heart is like a deceiuing Prophet that cryeth Peace peace when sword and danger is the nearest For this purpose he vseth three maine arguments 1. Perswadeth the sinner his sins are not many nor great 2. But if they bee Christ hath dyed for the sins of the world 3. God is so mercifull as hee will not condemne them for them 1. It is a wonder that a man looking vpon his sins should presume but that such must be giuen vp to strong delusions to beleeue lyes that will not receiue the truth in the loue of it and lye vnder that heauie stroak of Gods iustice to bee giuen vp to the waies of his owne heart which is to wander in the paths of death But against this Temptation know that there is not a more certaine propertie of a wicked man to know himselfe by than by allowing himselfe in the lessening and mincing of his sinne for it is an issue of the loue of sin that will not bee warned of the deceitfulnesse neither of sin nor of his own heart 1. Here is a man wofully deluded by the Diuell who hath turned the wrong end of the prospectiue to his eye wherin things as huge as mountaines castles seeme as small as mole-hils And is it not iust seeing he will not beleeue God who telleth him that the least sin separateth and is a partition wall betweene God and him maketh him the child of wrath shutteth heauen openeth hell killeth soule and bodie What perswasion could make this man beleeue that a stab at heart would not kil him because a small pricke 2 A man is befooled by himselfe who neither knoweth Gods waies nor desireth to know them but entertaineth wilfull obiections against the meanes of knowledge and couereth himselfe with questions whether his sins be sinnes You haue not yet proued saith hee my vsury to bee sin nor fashions of apparrell to be sin nor drinking healths to excesse and inflammation to be sin nor to doe this and that on the Sabboth in ciuilitie to bee sinne all this while the sinne is kept close and warme and is none of the greatest because they are not resolued But are not these of the number of those of whom Peter
because hee hath appointed a day wherein to iudge the world When heathenish Felix heard of the iudgement to come he trembled happy were it for Christians who repeat it as an Article of faith that they did so Wee will end this point with that exhortation 2. Pet. 3.14 Considering these terrours of the Lord what manner of men ought wee to be c. 4 Consider in God our relation which will be a meanes to further our Repentance 1 Looke vpon him as our Lord and our selues as seruants as a Lord he hath hyred vs into his seruice and hath freed vs from the seruice of all other creatures that we should onely serue himselfe But alas who can serue him according to his holinesse and greatnesse and when we haue done all that we can how vnprofitable seruants are we We haue wasted our Masters goods and cannot shew our talents againe and therfore we haue need to humble our selues in Repentance and pray with Dauid Psal. 119.124 Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercy and enter not into iudgement with thy seruants O Lord. A sorry seruant is he that can neither doe what is agreeable to his Masters wiâ—l nor yet be grieued for fayling in the euill he doth or leauing vndone the good he should doe 2 Looke vpon him as our shepheard ourselues as sheep but wandred from the fold Oh the misery of a lost sheepe It is without the flocke and fold without a certaine pasture and food without a keeper or shepheard without God and Christ without protection and safety subiect to all annoyances and becommeth a prey to all rauening beasts neuer able of it selfe to returne And this is the state of euery man and no man can reckon vp the errours and wandrings of his life All this should helpe vs to returne to the shepheard of our soules 1. Pet. 2.10 to seek to him betimes and pray him to seeke vs as Dauid Psal. 119.10 3 Looke vpon him as our father and our selues as his sons and children A Father that hath giuen his deare Sonne to death for vs the dearest thing and price that was in heauen or earth A Father that hath reserued for vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled among the Saints in light Is not this a strong inducement to loath and leaue sinne will not the loue of a father make thee hate sin the more can any stripes worke so powerfully vpon an ingenuous nature as to see his louing father offended A poore mans sonne who cannot be much hurt or helped by his father will be grieued that hee hath iustly offended his father Awaken thy selfe to Repentance and say to thy soule as Moses to Israel Deut. 32.2 Doe you so reward the Lord O foolish people Is not hee thy father that bought thee that made thee and proportioned thee What else gaue hope to the Prodigall to returne but the sight of loue lurking in his father and therefore resolued I will returne to my father CAP. 31. Meanes of Repentance in respect of Iesus Christ. 3 A Third sort of meanes to helpe forward our Repentance is to looke vpon Iesus Christ. Zach. 12.10 They shall looke on him whom they haue pierced and mourne The effect of beholding Christ whom by their sinnes they haue crucified is great sorrow for sinne and indeed among them all there is no meanes so auaileable to the working of the heart to due and deepe sorrow for sinne as the serious consideration of Christs death and passion If we consider the person who suffered the eternall Sonne of God the beloued Sonne in the bosome of the Father the most innocent lambe of God The things hee suffered that this person was so abased and plagued with the curse of the Law the wrath of his father shame sorrowes of first and second death such hard and heauie things as would haue crushed all men and angels And for whom hee suffred all this euen for our sins in speciall while we were yet vngodly sinners enemies the iust suffred for the vniust hee was cursed that we might be blessed wounded that wee might bee healed hee endured torments of hell that we might partake of heauenly ioyes Oh then shall this chiefe of ten thousand the worthiest of men and Angels bee murthered not by the treachery of others but by thy hands thy sins for which else thou hadst beene euerlastingly damned and doth not this wound thy heart shall the earth tremble at this and shall not our hearts feare shal the Sun be darkned and the Heauens couered with mourning and shall not wee mourne and be ashamed to show our heads shal the stones rend asunder earth tremble and all senslesse creatures suffer at the suffring of the Lord of glorie at the death of the Lord of life and shal not our stony hearts bee rent with sorrow who were the occasion of so execrable a passion to so honourable a person Surely if there be a drop of spiritual life grace in vs we must needs loathe those sins of ours that brought such woful miserie on the Son of God And it will make our hearts bleed as a man would do at the sight of a knife or instrument whereby vnawares he had slaine his childe wife or dearest friend in the world Thus the Gospell sheweth the hainousnesse of sinne aboue all the curses of the Law Wouldst thou see the execration of sinne see it not in the dreadful curse of the Law but in the blood of the Gospell The most ougly visage of sin is not in the death of the world of sinners but in the death of the Son of God no sinner the most dreadful spectacle of Gods wrath that euer was And although the menaces of the Law prepare the sinner to Repentance yet it is the sight of sinne in the Gospel both in the transcendence of the remedie and infinitenesse of Christs suffrings that sheweth the true face of sin and indeed worketh Repentance The Faith of the Gospel is that internall meanes that turneth a man round about and causeth him to sâ—t his face vpon God and Iesus Christ and leaue his sins Acts 15.9 This putteth a difference between vs and others who are yet in their sins CAP. 32. Meanes of Repentance in regard of ones selfe 3. IN thy selfe for the helping forward of Repentance keep a continuall audit and take account of thy selfe and estate A speciall way and meanes to bring the Prodigall back to Repentance was that he returned and came into himselfe And Dauid Psal. 119.59 I considered my waies and turned my feet To which purpose for further direction consider in thy selfe foure things 1. Take notice of thy heart and disposition of it in the desires and affections of it both in what they haue beene and what they ought to be 1. Consider how thou hast loued thy sins what a deale of poison and hatred thou hast had of grace how thou hast beene wedded to the lusts of the flesh how hand-fasted to the world how
sinner committeth high treason against the crowne and dignity of the God of heauen and is daily drawing neerer his execution a pardon is offered freely in the Gospell grace and mercy are offered but hee by impenitency thrusteth away the word of life scorneth the messengers iustifieth and defendeth his sinne here is a spirituall madnesse and frenzy What a folly is it whereas a man will doe nothing to make his finger ake he would not be hyred to hold his finger in the flame of a candle a moment for any money or gold hee will scarce tast a bitter potion for recouery of health yet this man maketh no bones of that which will bring endlesse torment in hell fire he sticketh not to drink vp a cup of poyson the nature of which is the further it goeth the more incurable it is hee nourisheth a serpent in his bosome which hath teeth and sting and poyson enough hee carryeth euery day a fagot to burne himselfe Oh now will not all this bring the sinner backe with Dauid to say Oh I haue done very foolishly The stung Israelites looked to the brasen serpent and liued they needed not be bidden but wee haue need to bee vrged to loâ—ke vpon Christ lifted vp vpon the pole of the Crosse and yet will not doe so little for our selues and cure What a folly is it for a man to fall and not offer to rise no man in his sense would lye still Oh then remember whence thou art fallen and doe thy first workes and repent 3 All sinne remaineth in full power and condemning force vpon the soule without Repentance Ioh. 9.41 Now you say you see your sinne remaineth in the guilt in the staine in the domination and reigne in the damnation of it Thou wast a swearer an adulterer a hater of God and an enemy to grace a persecutor of Christ and thou art so still if thou hast not repented Sinne hangeth like a burre on the impenitent person it parteth not in life nor in death but lyeth downe in the dust with him and riseth with him it goeth to iudgement with him and is sent to hell with him the wrath of God abideth on him because his sinne abideth with him 4 Of all sinnes impenitency is the greatest and nearest to iudgement Reuel 2.20 Iezabel had time to repent giuen her but repented not and therefore was cast into a bed of sorrow This was noted in Saul 1. Chron. 10 13. Saul dyed for his transgression but what was his transgression First hee disobeyed the commandement secondly hee sought to a Witch thirdly hee sought not to the Lord and therfore the Lord slue him True it is that euery sinne is damnable but no sinne actually condemneth but impenitency and therefore the greatest of sinnes is not to repent of sinne Let it not be said of thee as of Herod yet he added this aboue all that thou being so great a sinner hast not yet repented 3 Looke vpon thy selfe in respect of thy good duties 1 None can be good in thee till thou hast repented first the tree must be good and then the fruit first Abels person was accepted and then his sacrifice but to Caine and his sacrifice he had no respect 2 Nay in the best euen the best duties must bee begun and finâ—shed with Repentance without which the best seruice is vnprofitable and sinfully defectiue Nehemiah in building vp the wall in commanding the Sabbath to bee kept desireth to be remembred in goodnesse and pardoned Neh. 13.12 Repent and pray repent and be baptized repent and receiue the Sacraments else sinne will hinder 4 Looke on thy selfe in thy estate and condition both in respect of sinne and of change and Repentance 1 Looke vpon thy estate of corruption for time Past Present To come 1 What hath thy whole life past been before grace Col 1.21 Paul wisheth them to consider that in times past they were strangers and enemies hauing their mindes set on euill works and 1. Pet. 4.3 It is sufficient that we haue spent our time past in the lusts of the Gentiles in wantonnesse lusts gluttony drunkennesse So dost thou see thy sinnes for number and weight as the sands already and for the manner of committing them against such light and meanes so out of measure sinful and dost thou not say It is sufficient 2 What is thy whole present course without grace 1 To goe on in sin is wilfully to perish and murther our owne soules the case being worse with vs than that mans that fell among theeues we lye not halfe but wholly dead God sendeth his Sonne the good Samaritane to binde vp our wounds to temper a remedy of his owne heart bloud when no herbe or simple was left in heauen or earth for our cure Now we in stead of thankefull acceptance and application of this remedy by going on in sinne we tread vnder foote this pretious bloud nay we make our wounds larger and bigger euery day than other 2 Euery man is euery day nearer his end his death and iudgement we are going before Gods tribunall and to the barre of his iudgement and shall we be so mad as euen in the way to multiply our misdemeanours A malefactor going to the barre or to execution if he should cut a purse by the way would not euery one thinke hanging too good for him This is the case of euery impenitent person liuing in the practise of sinne euen in the way to his execution 3 What will bee thy case in time to come going on in sin 1 In the approach of death Sathan will asâ—ayle with all his strength that in the last combat he may breake the necke of thy soule and hee hauing the strength of a mans owne sinnes vnsubdued and vnmastered he easily attaineth his purpose then setteth hee euery small sinne before the eye in the magnitude of a huge mountaine and the curse due vnto it to the breaking of the heart of a sinner Now is the guilty conscience in a wofull case stricken through with terror and torment Now hee seeth that whereas hee thought to haue got out of sin at the furthest at his death how weake and sicke his Repentance is how strong vnconquerable and gyant-like his sinne is and all concludeth with sathan against him he seeth where the strong man hath long dwelt he is not easily cast out but as he hath liued so he is likely to dye for as the tree leaneth so commonly it falleth and as it falleth so it lyeth 2 If all this will not moue thee consider what followeth after death the time hasteneth wherein thou shalt bee naked before the Lord the Iudge of all in the sight of Angels Men and Diuels Before thee a terrible Iudge to condemne thee and with him the Saints shall iudge the world and giue witnesse against thy sin On the one hand Sathan who tempteth thee shall now accuse thee On the other the Angels ministring spirits shall be ready as a fagot to binde thee and cast thee into hell within thee an accusing conscience as a thousand witnesses against thee shall bring to minde all sinnes and circumstances long since forgotten Beneath thee hell ready to deuoure thee none shall be admitted to speake for thee and thy selfe shalt bee speechlesse and canst not speake for thy selfe so as sentence must needes passe against thee and thou deliuered to the Deuill whose will thou didst diligently execute here that hee may now haue his will and delight in thy endlesse torment Oh therefore vse meanes to preuent this ruful condition come out of thy sin betime hye thee apace out of Sodome lay aside thine owne folly now take Gods warning heare the raps of Christ now knocking at the doore of thy heart by the hammer of his Word Spirit Mercies Iudgements Now follow the Motion let not Sathan or sin beguile thee any longer to hold thee off from Repentance 2. See thy happy change and blessed estate by this grace of Repentance 1. Of all gifts a broken heart is the rarest and happiest the humble heart in stead of lodging foule sins and lusts becommeth a lodge for the highest God who pleaseth to dwel with a broken and contrite heart What an happy change of a stony heart into flesh 2. The very first act of Repentance bringeth pardon of sin Psal. 32. I said I will confesse thou forgauest 2. Sam. 12.13 Dauid no sooner said I haue sinned but Nathan said The Lord hath put away thy sin And the continuance of it bringeth and continueth a sweet sense and assurance of remission in the heart It is not with God as in mens Courts Confesse and iudgement runneth against but in Gods Confesse and the Law is satisfied In mens Courts Confession and Condemnation goe together in Gods Confession and Iustification Iudge thy selfe and preuent the iudgment of God 3. What an happy and welcome change were it of age into youth Nature cannot worke it grace can The old man is put off the new man put on Of old men wee become young and smug againe renewing our strength as the Eagle Psal. 103. And this change by grace forerunneth that great change by glorie and is the beginning of it When these base earthly bodies shall become spirituall bodies and this very peece of clay shall shine as the Sun when corruption shall put on incorruption and these ignorant sinfull soules shall put on a perfect image of Godâ— and the whole man become like the Angels themselues Whom these considerations cannot moue I suppose nothing can Thus I haue somewhat largely intreated out of this Text of the Practice of Repentance in the Rules Le ts Helpes Markes and Motiues I will conclude the Treatise with that of our Sauiour If ye heare these things blessed are yee if yee doe them and end as I began with the words of the Text If yee repent not yee shall all perish There is no greater miserie than to bee without miserie no greater sorrow than to bee without the sorrow of sound Repentance FINIS Note 1. Note 2. Reason Vse 1. Note 3. Vse Reason Secondly the Cautions Reason Deut. 5 Reas. 1. Conclus Conclus 3 Conclus 4 Reas. â— Reason 1 Rule 3. The fourth Let. Let 4. Conclus 1. Conclus 2. Reason Reason Vse