CHAP. XV

Of Repentance unto Life.

EPENTANCE unto Life is an Evan

Rgelical Grace, the Doctrine whereof is to

be preached by every Minister of the Gospel, as well as that of Faith in Chrift ".

"

II. By it a Sinner, out of the Sight and Senfe, not only of the Danger, but also of the Filthiness and Odioufnefs of his Sins, as contrary to the holy Nature and righteous Law of God; and upon the Apprehenfion of his Mercy in Chrift to fuch as are penitent, fo grieves for and hates his Sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purpofing and endeavour

I. a Zech. 12. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the fpirit of grace and of fupplications, and they fhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they fhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only fon, and fhall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitternefs for his first-born. Acts 11. 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto

ing

II. Ezek. 18.30. Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Ifrael, every one according to his ways, faith the Lord God: repent, and turn your felves from all your tranfgreffions; fo iniquity fhall not be your ruin, v. 31. Caft away from you all your tranfgreffions, whereby ye have tranfgreffed, and make you a new heart and a new fpirit; for why will ye die, O house of Ifrael? Ezek. 36. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and fhall loath your felves in your b Luke 24. 47. And that repen- own fight, for your iniquities, and tance and remiffion of fins should be for your abominations, Ifa. 30. 22. preached in his name, among all Ye fhall defile alfo the covering of nations, beginning at Jerufalem, thy graven images of filver, and Mark 1.15. And faying, The time the ornament of thy molten images is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God of gold: thou fhalt caft them away is at hand repent ye and believe as a menftruous cloth thou fhalt the gofpel. Acts 20. 21. Teftifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks,repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift.

life.

:

fay unto it, Get thee hence. Pfalm 51.4. Against thee, thee only have Ifinned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be justs

F 4

fied

ing to walk with him in all the Ways of his Commandments d.

III. Although Repentance be not to be refted in as any Satisfaction for Sin, or any Caufe of the Pardon thereof which is the A&t of God's

1

free Grace in Chrift; yet is it of fuch Neceffity to all Sinners, that none may expect Pardon without it 8.

h

IV. As there is no Sin so small, but it deferves Damnation : So there is no Sin fo great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent. V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general Repentance, but it is every Man's Duty to endeavour to repent of his particular Sins particularly k

mayeft remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy fhame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done, faith the Lord God. Hof. 14.2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, fay unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: fo will we render the calves of our lips. v. 4. I will heal their backfliding, I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him. Rom. 3. 24. Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift. Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of fins, according to the riches of his grace.

:

8 Luke 13. 3. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewife perish. v. s. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye thall all likewife perish. Acts 17.30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. v. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath

given affurance unto all men,in that he hath raised him from the dead,

VI. As

IV. h Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of fin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entred into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned. Mat. 12.36. But I fay unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they fhall give account thereof in the day of judgment,

i Ifa. 55.7. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ifa. 1. 16. Wafh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil. v. 18. Come now and let us reafon together,faith the Lord:though your fins be as scarlet, they fhall be as white as fnow; though they be red like crimson, they fhall be as wooll.

V. k Pfalm 19. 13. Keep back thy fervant alfo from prefumptuous fins,

let

m

VI. As every Man is bound to make private Confeffion of his Sins to God, praying for the Pardon thercof'; upon which, and the forfaking of them, he fhall find Mercy : So he that fcandalizeth his Brother or the Church of Chrift, ought to be willing, by a private or publick Confeffion and Sorrow for his Sin, to declare his Repentance to thofe that are offended", who are thereupon to

1

be

let them not have dominion over greffions unto the Lord; and thou me; then shall I be upright, and I forgaveft the iniquity of my fin. fhall be innocent from the great Selah. v. 6. For this shall every tranfgreffion., Luke 19. 8. And Za- one that is godly, pray unto thee, cheus ftood and faid unto the Lord, in a time when thou mayeft be Behold, Lord, the half of my goods found: furely in the floods of great I give to the poor and if I have waters, they fhall not come nigh taken any thing from any man by unto him. falfe accufation, I reftore him four- m. Prov. 28. 13. He that covereth fold. 1 Tim. 1.13. Who was before his fins, fhall not profper: but a blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and whofo confeffeth and forfaketh injurious. But I obtained mercy, them fhall have mercy. I· John I. because I did it ignorantly, in unbe- 9. If we confefs our fins, he is lief. v, 15. This is a faithful faying, faithful and juft to forgive us our and worthy of all acceptation, that fins, and to cleanse us from all unChrift Jefus came into the world to righteousness. fave finners; of whom Lam chief. ·VI. 1 Pfalms 1. 4. Against thee, thee only have Ifinned, and done this evil in thy fight that thou mightest be juftified when thou fpeakeft, and be clear when thou judgeft. vs. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in fin did my mother conceive me. v. 7. Purge me with hyffop, and I fhall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than fnow, u. 9. Hide thy face from my fins; and blot out all mine iniquities. v. 14. Deliver me from bleod guiltiness, O God, thou God of my falvation: and my tongue fhallfing aloud of thy righteousness. Pfalm 32. 5. Jacknowledged my fin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: Ifaid, I will confefs my tranf

James 5. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righte ous man availeth much. Luke 17. 3. Take heed to your felves: If thy brother trefpafs against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4. And if he trefpafs against thee feven times in a day, and feven times in a day turn again to thee, faying, I repent; thou fhalt forgive him. Josh, 7. 19. And Joshua faid unto Achan, My fon, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Ifrael, and make confeffion unto him; and tell me now what thou haft done, hide it not from me. [Pfalm 51. throughout.]

? 2 Cor.

him °.

be reconciled to him, and in Love to receive

OCHA P. XVI. ::

Of Good Works.

OOD Works are only fuch as God hath

G commanded in his holy Word, and not

fuch as, without the Warrant thereof, are devised by Men, out of blind Zeal, or upon any Pretence of good Intention ".

II. Thefe good Works, done in Obedience to God's Commandments, are the Fruits and Eviden

ces

2. Cor. 2. 8. Wherefore I be- afmuch as ye know that ye were not seech you, that you would confirm redeemed with corruptible things, as your love towards him. : filver and gold, from your vain converfation, received by tradition from your fathers. Rom. 10. 2. For I bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. John 16. 2. They shall put you out of the fynagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whofoever killeth you, will think that he doth God fervice. 1 Sam. 15. 21. But the people took of the fpoil, fheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly deftroyed, to facrifice unto the Lord thy Godin Gilgal. v. 22. And Samuel faid, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and facrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice; and to hearken, than the fat of rams. v. 23. Forrebellion is as the Sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry: because thou haft rejected the word of the Lord, he hath alfo rejected thee from being king.

I. Mic. 6. 8. He hath fhewed thee, Oman, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Rom. 12. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye traufformed by the renewing of your -mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. Heb. 13. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleafing in his fight,through Jefus Chrift; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. b Matth. 15. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Ifa. 29. 13. Wherefore the Lord faid, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men. I Pet.1.18. For

II. James