The Necessity of Serious Consideration and Speedy Repentance, Part 2 · Section 6
SECT. VI. The third Danger of DELAY.
A Third danger of delaying our Repentance is this, That we know not, if in some sort we shall repent hereafter, whether our Repentance then will be accepted, and do us any good, or none. And certainly this is a Point which any wise man would be well satisfied in, before he venture to defer his Repentance one moment longer. Let us therefore consider well of it. Shall we defer our Repentance till it will do us no good? And are we sure, that if we defer it now, it will do us good hereafter? If God will not accept of it, it can do us no good. And how are we sure that God will then accept of it? Whether he will accept of it or not, I know not any one in the World besides himself that can tell; and I do not remember that God himself hath any-where told us that he will. He hath told us, That without Repentance he will not save us; and he hath told us, That if we repent we shall be saved: But I cannot remember where he hath told us, That though we repent not now, but put it off to another time, we may then so repent, that he will accept of our Repentance, and save us.
It will be said by those who have no mind to repent yet, that God hath told us, That all who repent and believe the Gospel shall be saved: and that if any man shall turn from all his wickedness which he hath committed▪ he shall live. And therefore, whether one repent early or late, if he repent at all, he shall be saved. Now I very readily and gladly grant what God in his Word hath told us to our great encouragement and comfort, if we will make a right use of it: That CHRIST JESUS came into the World to save Sinners, and those very great Sinners too; and such as had continued very long in a state of sin; and that we have no reason in the world to fear, that any one, how great a Sinner soever he hath been, shall be rejected of him, if he unfeignedly repent and believe the Gospel. All this is a most comfortable truth, and we have great reason to be heartily thankful for it. But after all this, we had need to be very careful that we be not mistaken in the meaning of those two words, BELIEVING and REPENTING: and that we do not understand by them any other things, than that very Faith and Repentance unto which Salvation is promised. Now as some, I fear, take a Faith, that implieth not a holy Life, for a saving Faith; so some may take Repentance, that implies not a holy Life, for a saving Repentance. And it is to be greatly fear'd, that both these are mistaken. And whoso considereth those descriptions of Repentance which have been already given from the words of the HOLY GHOST himself, will, I doubt not, see cause enough to fear the same that I do. I doubt not, but many who have long delay'd their Repentance, do at length repent in very good earnest that they have done so foolishly; and I hope that some of them are accepted of God: but I do not think that all who repent in earnest, of their wicked life past, and of their long and foolish delay, repent unto salvation; and it is hard for any one to know certainly whether any do or no. God hath not told us how long any of us may hold on in our sins, and not finally exclude our selves thereby from the benefit of Repentance; neither hath he told us, that I know of, that he will accept of the Repentance of that man, who hath to the latter end of his life wilfully delay'd it, in hopes of finding then both time and grace enough for it. But he hath told us enough to make us fearful, lest he should not. There are several Passages of Holy Scripture that may well afright us from presuming on it; but not one that gives the least encouragement or countenance to it. God frequently threatens wilful Delayers of their Repentance, either to cut them off suddenly, or to deliver them up to a hardened heart; but I cannot find, that he promiseth them Grace hereafter, who will not hearken to his present Call; or that he will accept of them in their own time. Thus we read, —He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroy'd, and that without remedy, Prov. XXIX. 1. Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into mischief, Prov. XXVIII. 14. He that despiseth the riches of God's goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth him to repentance, after his hardness and impenitent heart, treasureth up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath, Rom. II. 4, 5. Those who liked not to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, Rom. I. 28. But very terrible indeed are these following Sayings of the Holy Ghost in Scripture, Heb. VI. 4, &c. It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance: seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers, is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. Add hereunto that other place of the same Epistle, Heb. X. 26, &c. If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses's law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing; and hath done despight unto the Spirit of Grace? 'Tis true, these places of this Epistle are commonly interpreted of Apostacy from the Faith of Christ to Iudaism or Idolatry; and it may be they were some such Apostates that gave the Apostle an occasion of writing this; yet I think, that hardly any considering man will deny, that they are to be extended as well to all those who resolutely lead a life quite contrary to the Gospel of Christ, notwithstanding that in words they profess themselves to be Christians; seeing all such do equally, with the other, despise and trample on the Gospel and Covenant of Christ. The same Apostle, Heb. III. 7, &c. propounds unto Christians the Example of the Israelites in the Wilderness, to take warning by in this case. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God: but exhort one another daily, whilst it is call'd to day; left any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Let us moreover read with trembling what we find to this purpose in the First Chapter of the Proverbs. There we shall see the method that God usually takes with Sinners. First, he graciously and earnestly invites them to Repentance, v 22. How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity; and the scorners delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledg? Turn you at my reproof; Behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. But Sinners turn their deaf ear to this, and make no haste to return, though they see God in haste to do them good. How long? saith he. 'Tis yet time enough, say they. But how doth God resent such an Answer? v. 24. he tells them this; Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded: but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. Well, but suppose they begin now at last to consider, what danger they are in; and repenting of their simplicity, folly and obstinacy, call upon God for help; hear now what God saith to this too; v. 28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. For that they hated knowledg, and did not chuse the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel, they despised my reproof; therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. What saith Iob of the Hypocrite, Iob XXVII. 9. Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? He asks the question, and God himself hath answer'd it; Ezek. VIII. 18. Though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. And saith Micah, cap. III. v. 4. He will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Yea, saith God, Isa I. 15. When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; when ye make many prayers I will not hear. So the Psalmist tells us it fared with some that he was too well acquainted with; They cried, but there was none to save them; even unto the Lord, but he answer'd them not. And all this is very just and equal, and Sinners cannot expect to find any better treatment with God; Zech. VII. 13. As he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. Why should he? Must vile Sinners have the command of God's Ear? And must the glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth wait on every filthy Wretch as long as he pleaseth? and alway be ready at his beck, and come at his call? Hath not God waited to be gracious to us, begged and beseech'd us from day to day, even from our infancy to this hour; and must he yet be made to wait longer, and even as long as we please; and after we have slighted his Favours, and abused his Patience, and put what affronts we can upon his Divine Majesty; can we expect that he should not turn away from us in anger and indignation, and swear in his wrath, that we shall not see his face, nor hear his voice any more? I conclude with those words of the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. II. 20. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ they are again intangled therein, and overcome; the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment deliver'd unto them.
When such Scriptures as these are well consider'd, we shall find, that a man hath great reason to doubt, whether a late Repentance will be accepted or no. Wonderful indeed is the Infinite Goodness of God to Sinners; he doth often more, but never less than he promiseth; and he doth often a great deal less than he threatneth, and granteth unto us that time of repentance, which we had no reason to expect from him: but whilst we magnify, as we are bound, the Patience, and Long-suffering of God; we must take heed how we forget his Iustice and Truth; or how we speak so of those, that we know not how to reconcile what we say of them with what he himself hath said of these. A very late Convert may be at last converted, and upon his late conversion shall be accepted: and I dare not say, that if he do not come in at the first or second call, the door of Salvation shall be shut against him. I dare not say positively, that God will never grant Repentance unto life, to any one, who hath a long time delay'd his Repentance, after he is convinced of the necessity of it; or to keep the Commandments of God, after he hath covenanted and engaged himself in his Baptism so to do; or after he hath been often put in mind of his Engagement, and hath had many warnings to do his acknowledged duty; yea, or that hath presumptuously delay'd his Repentance, purposing, and hoping for time to repent afterward. I know not how much mercy God may have in store, that he hath not acquainted us with: but I dare not rely upon what I know not of. I know not what extraordinary things God's infinite goodness may bring to pass; but because they are extraordinary, I dare not venture so great a thing as my Salvation upon them, seeing what is extraordinary, may, for ought I know, never be. Because God extraordinarily fed the Israelites with Manna, and can feed me so too if he please; I dare not neglect my common Bread when I may have it, in expectation of such another Miracle. And I cannot see, but it is altogether as foolish a thing as that would be, to presume on the extraordinary favours of God to long-impenitent Sinners; neglecting to follow the common Rules of holy life, and of keeping in God's favour, which he hath given me in his Word. Shall we neglect the express Conditions of his gracious Promises, presuming on an extraordinary thing never promised, which is, that the thing promised shall be given to him, that never observed the Conditions on which it was promised to be given? If we repent when we are called to it, and continue all our life-long in a state of Repentance, repenting always of our sins as we commit and discover them, and endeavouring as much as we can to avoid them for the future; we may be very sure of mercy and acceptance, because it is promised to all that do so▪ But this I most confidently say, That he who being call'd often to repentance, wilfully delayeth it from time to time, thinking it always soon enough to leave off sinning hereafter, and to serve God towards the end of his life; and that his repentance will come time enough then to find acceptance; reckons, as we say, without his Hoste, and presumeth on that which he cannot find that God hath promised him; and therefore hath cause enough to fear that his repentance may come too late, and it will not prove the Repentance which God made the condition of his Promise: especially, when he considers withal, how God hath express'd his dislike of all delays, and what severe things he hath said against the delaying Sinner in his Word. Is it not strange, that one who sees that there is no promise of Salvation, but to the penitent liver; and hears many Threatnings denounced against such as delay to accept of the Invitation of God to repentance; should yet be confident, that after he hath by his wilful delays, declared as much as a man can do without saying it with his mouth, that he hath no mind at all to serve God, but accounts any little portion of his time, not knowing how short it will prove, enough, if not too much for him; he shall yet be accepted of God at last, and rewarded by him too? He holds out as long as he can against God, and yet hopes that God will readily grant him his own terms, when he can hold out no longer.
I would to God we could be persuaded to consider a little impartially with our selves, what kind of thing such a late Repentance, after long and wilful delays, is like to prove: especially when it hath been delay'd till our last sickness, and we begin to fear we have but some few days, or weeks at most, to live. What reason can we find to persuade us, to think such a Repentance to be the true Repentance, to which Pardon and Salvation are promised? When we would by no means be persuaded to repent so long as we saw it probable we might live some years longer, how is it imaginable that we then repent upon any other motive, than a present fear of speedy damnation? And can this be thought a saving Repentance? God's great love and kindness a thousand ways exercised towards us; His Soveregn Authority over us, and Commands laid upon us; His Mercy and Bounty, His Wooings and Beseechings, His Invitations and Promises, the wonderful love of our Blessed JESUS, witnessed by his Humiliation, Sufferings, and bloody Death, for our Redemption; nay, all the most dreadful Threatnings of an Almighty and most Righteous offended God against impenitent Sinners, had no force at all upon us, so long as we had either youth, or health, or prosperity: Nothing could prevail with us, till we found our selves declining apace towards the Grave, and fear'd we were just about to sink down into Hell: and what else could it be that then put us upon thoughts of repenting more than at other times, but fear of being tormented? And then what can our Repentance at such a time signify more than this, That as we had always loved our Sin better than God, as long as we were in a capacity of enjoying it; so now that we cannot enjoy it any longer, and fear we are going to be punish'd for it, though we love it as well as ever, and would act it over again, were we able; yet we are sorry we have been so foolish, as to bring our selves into this danger that we now apprehend our selves to be in. And seeing we can have no more pleasure in this World, which we are now leaving much against our will; yet we love our ease still, and are willing to do what we can to escape Eternal Pains, and we startle at the thoughts of going impenitent, as we have always been, to meet with our provoked Judge in the other World; and we would fain step back again from the mouth of Hell; and therefore we fall a praying and begging God with sad sighs, and sorrowful tears, either to pardon us, and take us to Heaven, if we must go hence; or else to spare us a-while longer; which if he will do, we resolve to live in obedience to his Laws as long as we live? Are not most Malefactors thus penitent, after a severe Sentence is given, and they see no remedy but it must be presently executed upon them? And yet it is not because their hearts are changed, but because they are terrified with the punishment they are to bear; not that they are on a sudden faln in love with a vertuous life, but because they must now live no longer. How a man should attain to such a degree of confidence, as to hope that God will accept of a Repentance which is not at all for his sake, but merely for our own; which hath nothing of the love of God or Goodness in it, but only a fear of Iudgment and Hell-fire; no change at all of our Affections from Sin to Holiness, from Earth to Heaven, from our carnal Selves, to God; but only a change of our Security into Fear, and of our Pleasure into Sorrow; and it may be of our Minds into a very serious Resolution to live better, if we shall live any longer; and that merely because we are afraid that we shall live no longer: how any one should think such a forced Change as this, an acceptable Repentance, I must confess I know not, unless he have forgotten, not only his Bible, but his Reason too.
There are some things, as useful as they are easie, to be observed in dying People, who have spent their days in wickedness. And I think they are enough to afright any one from thinking any longer of having the benefit of a Death-bed Repentance.
First, It is too easie to observe, That often such a Sinner's Conscience is quite dead within him (I speak of some, not of all) a long time before he dieth, and never reviveth again so long as he liveth. He is given up to a reprobate mind, and his heart turn'd to stone, and nothing that should move him to Repentance can make any impression upon it. Yea, 'tis somewhat a rare thing, to see an old, habitual, customary Sinner ever come to any true sense of Religion, his Duty, his Sin, or his Danger; or ever to concern himself at all about Eternity. Even upon his Death bed, whatever care he takes about his Body, Estate and Family, his Soul seems as much forgotten by him, as if he had none at all to take care of. It is no uncommon thing to see an old Sinner die thus unconcerned what shall become of him.
Secondly, It is as easie to observe in some of these dying Persons, who seem to make some little ado about their future State when they are about to die; that though they are desirous of good Advice, and send for the Minister to talk to them, and pray for them; and confess to him some few of their most notorious Faults; yet are they the confidentest Persons in the World of their pardon; 'tis not easie to persuade them that their case is very dangerous; but after they have confess'd they are great Sinners, and have been pray'd for, as though all were done, they pass off the Stage of this World as unconcernedly, as if they had never acted any ill part thereon.
Thirdly, It hath been very often observ'd, that those of them who in some very dangerous sickness have made more ado than ordinary, have cried out very bitterly of their past wickedness and folly; have shed many tears, and poured out many earnest Prayers, and have made many Vows to God, and Promises to Men of leading a new and holy life, if God would restore them to health; have yet very shortly after their recovery, forgotten all this, as if it had never been; returning with the Dog to his vomit, and with the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. Shewing plainly, that though they might be in earnest, yet was it but for fear; and how little credit is to be given to such forced Repentances!
Fourthly, 'Tis to be observed, That whatever else these old and hardened Sinners are wont to do upon their Death-beds, which may look like repentance; they are not easily persuaded to confess any very foul Sin, which is not so notorious, that they cannot deny it; and then too, it shall be excused as well as they can, instead of being aggravated as it ought to be. With much more difficulty can they be persuaded to make restitution of all they have ill gotten, or so much as to confess their Frauds, and wicked Arts of injuring others. Rarely do they send for those whom they have offended, humbling themselves, confessing their Faults, begging their pardon, and making them all the satisfaction they can before they die. And what kind of Penitents are these?
Lastly, If any of these old Sinners at last be touch'd to the quick, and pricked at the heart with a sharp sense of their sinful Vileness; it is not hard for the malicious and cunning Tempter, to bring them into despair, so as it shall be impossible for any one to comfort them, and in vain to counsel them. Their own long-abused Consciences do now begin to revenge themselves upon them, for neglecting them so long; and they know 'tis so just a thing for God now to serve them, as they have served him, that they conclude it in vain to seek for pardon and mercy. He that stands by the Bed-side of these old Sinners, when they are on their last Bed; may easily observe all this that I have said of them: and that but a few of them, in comparison, die so, as that one has any great encouragement to say their repentance was any thing else, but the grief and remorse of a heart oppress'd with fear of imminent danger, whereinto they find themselves brought by their own folly and perverseness.
It is easie on the other side to observe the death of the truly pious Christians to differ very much from the death of this sort of men; I mean, as often as in their sickness they have time and freedom of mind to shew what kind of spirit they are of. In many respects, as the one dieth, so dieth the other: these may be cut off by a sudden stroke, they may die of a distracting or stupifying Disease, as well as the other; and the frame of their hearts is to be seen only in their life, and not in their death. However, only those few dying Persons, who have in their health conscientiously endeavour'd to live a truly Christian life, and have their Repentance not to begin, but only to finish with their life upon their Death-bed, shew, if they have time, and strength, and liberty to shew it, that they die indeed like sincere Christians: For either they end their days of trouble in much spiritual joy and comfort, reflecting sweetly on the mighty powers of Divine Grace, whereby they have been carried victoriously through all the Temptations of the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, and in the ravishing expectation of entring speedily into the joy of their Lord: Or being Persons of tender Consciences, and deeply wounded in spirit with the sense of all their own imperfections and failings, they shew all the signs of an humble, broken and contrite heart; and close up their time with the Prayers and Tears, Sighs and Groans of a devout Soul, longing to be made perfectly holy in Heaven with God; and endeavouring to that end, thus to compleat and perfect all their Repentances on Earth.
Some will possibly ask, If there be so little trust to be put in a very late, and Death-bed Repentance, Why the Ministers of Christ, when they are call'd to assist the Sick, do so earnestly exhort even the most notorious Sinners, who have spent their whole time past in wickedness, to repent of their sins; and comfort them with the promises of Salvation, if they do repent?
This Question, I confess, deserves to be consider'd; both that the Minister may take heed that he go not beyond his Commission in comforting the Sick; and that we may all learn in due time, how far we may build and rely on such Comforts as men in such a case can administer unto us. And therefore I here in answer to it, say these things.
First, We very earnestly exhort the worst of Sinners, even to the last gasp, to repent of their sins; because, though we cannot assure them, that God will now at the last hour accept of their late Repentance, seeing he hath no-where, as was said before, declared that he will; and though, by reason of what is said in his Word concerning his ordinary method of dealing with Sinners, we are rather afraid that he will not: Yet we do not know the depth of God's Mercy, nor the riches of his Infinite Goodness; nor what he may be pleas'd to do in an extraordinary way, if Sinners at last use extraordinary endeavours. And if by such Motives, and Arguments, and Prayers as we can use, God seem to work mightily on the spirit of the dying Sinner; though we dare not assure him of the life which God hath not promised to a Death-bed Repentance, and therefore we cannot be sure that he will give it: yet dare we not leave him to despair, because we know not but God may give it.
Secondly, We therefore exhort the worst of dying sinners to Repentance, and declare unto them the gracious and comfortable Promises which God in Christ hath made to all true Penitents; because God hath commanded us to Preach Repentance unto sinners without exception; and herein, as we obey, so we imitate our Lord and Master JESUS CHRIST, who ceased not to invite all sinners to Repentance, or to promise good things to the Penitent, even when he who knew the hearts of all men, knew that many of them to whom he Preach'd, would never repent, nor become capable of the good things promised. God hath bidden us exhort to Repentance; but he hath not told us, That we are to cease from exhorting any one that will hear us, so long as he liveth. We cannot therefore excuse our selves, if we do not all we can to render them who will not repent, inexcusable; it will not be safe for us to leave them this Plea, That they wanted any Means or Helps at any time, that we could afford them.
Thirdly, We hold on to exhort, even to the last, because how near unto Death soever the sinner may seem to be, we know that the Lord of Life and Death can raise him up again; and we know not but he may do so, and let him live yet longer, to compleat the Repentance which may now be begun. God is pleased sometimes by severe Chastisements, and heavy Afflictions, to awake sinners to Repentance, who had lived in sin securely, many years; and now when the sinner seeth himself at the Pit's brink, and Hell opening its mouth to swallow him up, he may possibly think it fit to hearken to counsels of safety; tho no more can be said, but possibly he may yet be saved. We know not, but now he may enter upon a Repentance, which tho it would do him no good, should he now dye, may prove unto Salvation, if he recover, and live to bring forth the fruits of it; which God is yet able to make him do, and hath not told us that he will not do.
Lastly, We to the very Last exhort to Repentance, and mind dying sinners of the Promises of God to Penitents; because that whether it will then avail to Salvation, or no, yet we are sure enough it can do them no hurt. It is certainly their duty to repent, and ours to exhort them to it; and as it would hurt us to neglect our duty, so can it not hurt them to be minded of theirs: For sinners to be made sensible of their sins, and of this aggravation of them, That they have despised the Comforts and Promises of Mercy to the Penitent, is a good thing, whatever the end may be of such sinners. God is glorified by mens being brought to a sense and acknowledgment of his Authority and Goodness, and of their own Wickedness and Baseness, by their confessing, That in all that is brought upon them, he is righteous, and they are wicked. By mens acknowledging at last, That God hath been always good, especially in his great Patience and long forbearance hitherto; and that he is now very just in his Punishments, for our obstinacy, glory is given to God. And this ought to be done; and if this will not qualifie sinners for Pardon and Salvation, 'tis however a part of their duty, and may, for ought we know, mitigate the Severity of their Sentence, and lessen their Torments.
But now after this is said, it is a very sad thing, that men should by wilful delays bring themselves into this uncomfortable condition. And it is a very afflicting thing to every good Minister of Christ, to stand by the bed-side of those dying persons to whom he is able to speak no more Comfort than all this amounts to. For first, He can speak no Comfort at all, to the sick person, but upon supposition that he is, what he finds too much cause to fear he is not, a sincere Penitent; and this is very sad. And secondly, He can speak no Comfort, but on supposition of such a Repentanee as the sick person himself cannot know, (without some extraordinary means) that he now hath; and therefore cannot tell how to apply the Comfort to himself. And this is very sad again. The Sincerity of ones Repentance cannot ordinarily be known to himself, but by the fruits of it in a holy Life; and by these, he that's now dying, can never know it. It is only such a Repentance as would produce Holiness of Life, if the sick person should recover, that is Repentance to Salvation; and when the sinner on his Death-bed calls to mind how often his heart hath in this point deceived him; when he remembers how his love to sin hath hitherto conquer'd all such Purposes and Resolutions of holy living; how often he hath heretofore upon the same, or some other occasion, very seriously (as he thought) resolved, as now he doth, and yet never kept his Resolution; how shall he be able to assure himself, That he would keep it any better now, should he yet live?
I hope what hath been already said, is abundantly enough to convince us all, both that a sinner can never repent too soon, and that he may drive it off till it be too late. And therefore seeing Repentance is altogether necessary to Salvation, it is a work that requires great Haste, and admits of no Delay.