The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 17
XVII. Direction.
REpentance from head works, not to be repented of, Heb. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. is an inseparable companion of true faith,sAs I have elsewhere showed in my Treatise of Repentance. Quest. 2. (The Scripture usually coupling them together, Mar. 1. 14. 15. Act. 20. 21. and 2. 37, 38. and 26. 18. Heb. 6. 1.) and therefore every one that would approve himself to believe in Christ sincerely, must repent of all his sins unfeinedly, as he expects to have his sins remitted freely, and his soul saved eternally. Luk. 24. 47. Act. 2. 38. and 5. 31. and 3. 19.— Act. 11. 18. Ezek. 18. 30, 31, 32. Luk. 13. 3, 5.
To Repent, is set forth by two Greek words, very significant in the New Testament. 1. foreign, Metanoein, which properly signifies, To have an after-wit, wisdom or consideration; a return to ones wits and wisdom again. As did the Prodigal, Luk. 15. 17. This word is used often, Mat. 3. 8, 11. and 9. 13.—To sin, is our folly; to repent of sin, is our after-wisdom. 2. foreign, Metamelesthai, To have an after-care, to be heedful afterwards. It's through want of care and heed that men transgress: 'Tis Repentance that makes the offendor more careful to withstand and prevent sin for the future, 2 Cor. 7. 8, 11. This word is used in Mat. 21. 29, 32.
Repentance is two-fold,
1. Initial, fundamental and universal: when a sinner at his first coversion repents of all his sins, original and actual, at once, turning from them unto God, Mat. 3. 2, 8. Mar. 1. 14, 15. Act. 11. 18. and 20, 21. and 26. 18, 20. Heb. 6. 1, 2.
2. Secondary and particular: when a penitent after his conversion lapseth into any sin or sins, and renews Repentance for them particularly. As David, Psal. 51. tit. &c. Peter, Mat. 26. 75. Here, the former is …hiefly intended, but the latter not excluded.
Godly sorrow works Repentance not to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7. 10. But properly, godly sorrow is not Repentance, but an excellent Preparative, Inlet and Harbinger to Repentance. The proper Nature of Repentance stands in, 1. Aversion from Sin and Satan. 2. Conversion unto God and all goodness, Act. 26. 18.
Now there are very many cogent Motives, that may incline a sinner to this initial, fundamental and universal Repentance. For,
1. God himself greatly desires the sinners initial, fundamental and universal Repentance. Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. and 18. 31, 32. See how, 1. He commands it, Act. 17. 30. Mar. 1. 14, 15. 2. He invitestNon praecipit tantum, sed etiam hor…atur. Invitat praemio salutem. Tertul. de Paenit. c. 4. p. 114. Franek. 1597. to it, Isa. 1. 16, &c. and 55. 7. Mat. 3. 2. Ezek. 18. 23, 31, 32. Ier. 3. 1. 3. He promiseth great things to the penitent. Isa. 55. 7. Zech. 1. 3. Act. 2. 38. Hos. 14. 1, 2, 3, 4. Ezek. 18. 21, 22. Act. 26. 18. 4. He professeth, yea sweareth, he hath no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but that he should repent and live, Ezek. 18. 23. and 33. 11. 5. He receives penitents readily, compassionately, gladsomly, Luk. 15. 3. to the end.
2. Jesus Christ exceedingly endeavours the Sinners universal Repentance and Conversion. Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 14, 15. Luk. 24. 47. Act. 26. 17, 18. For, 1. He sent Iohn Baptist his Harbinger preaching-Repentance, Mat. 3. 1, 2, 3, 8. Luk. 3. 3. to 15. 2. His first Sermon was of Repentance, Mat. 4. 17. Mar. 1. 1…, 15. 3. He directs his Apostles first to preach Repentance to the Gentiles, Luk. 24. 47. 4. He shows the Necessity of Repenting and Converting, Luk. 13. 3, 5. Mat. 18. 3. 5. He upbraids and laments the impenitent, Mat. 11. 20. to 25. and 23. 37, 38, 39. 6. He accepteth penitents most compassionately, Luk. 7. 37. to the end▪ and 19. 8, 9, 10. and 23. 4 … Act. 9. 6, &c.
3. The Holy Ghost most frequently incites unto Repentance in Holy Scriptures. Isa. 1. 16, 17, &c. and 55. 6, 7. Ezek. 18. 23, 31, 32. and 33. 11. Hos. 6. 1, &c. and 14. 1, &c. Ioel 2▪ 12, &c. Act. 2. 37, &c. and 3. 19. and 17. 30. Heb. 3. 7, &c. Rev. 2. 4, 5.
4. The time [of the Messias coming in the flesh foretold] is fulfilled; and the Kingdom of God, [the Messiah's New Testament-Kingdom] is at hand, yea, as to us, is already come: therefore all should repent and believe, Mark 1. 15. Why? That thus they may be fitted and qualified for reception of Christ, and of his Kingdom, to their Salvation.
5. There's mention made in Holy Scripture of an whole cloud of Sinners initially repenting of their …ins, and turning from them unto God, encouraging thee to imitate them in this narrow way of Life and Salvation. … Manasses, … Chron. 33. 12. to 18. Iohn Baptist's Hearers, Mat. 3. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8. with Mat. 21. 32. The sinful Woman, Luke 7. 37, &c. Zacheus the Publican, Luke 19. 7, 8, 9, 10. The Prodigal Son, Luke 15. 15. to the end. Saul the Persecutor, Act. 9. 3. to 23. Lydia, Act. 16. 14, 15. The Jaylor and his House, Act. 16. 25. to 35. Many Gentiles, Act. 11. 18. and 15. 19. Many at Ephesus, Act. 19. 17. to 21. The Thessalonians, 1 Thes. 1. 5. to 11. The Thief on the Cross, Luke 23. 40. to 44. They that crucified, and consented to the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, even 3000 of them, Act. 2. 36, 37, &c. All these are propounded as examples to allure thee, and cords to draw thee unto initial Repentance.
6. Impenitency is most dangerous. 1. Is rebellion against Gods Command, Act. 17. 30. Isa. 1. 16, 20. 2. The fruit of a blinded mind and hardned heart, &c. Ioh. 12. 40. Rom. 2. 5. 3. Seals up the Natural man in his state of sin and misery, Exod. 34. 7. God will not clear the impenitent guilty; and how woful is that state of sin and misery! Act. 26. 18. 4. Shuts him eternally out of Gods Kingdom, Mat. 18. 3. 5. Treasures up wrath against the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 5. 6. Renders their condition who live under the Gospel, worse then that of Heathens at the judgement-day, Mat. 11. 20. to 25. 7. Exposeth impenitents to all judgements in this present world, Lev. 26. 23. Amos 4. 6. to 13. And to everlasting damnation in the world to come, Luke 13. 3, 5. Ezek. 18. 20, 26, 30, 31.
7. True Repentance is most desirable and beneficial to the penitent Soul. For, 1. It is never to be repented of, 2 Cor 7. 10. 2. It thorowly removes the Natural mans sinfulness, though never so great, Isa. 1. 16, 17, 18. and 55. 7. Luke 24. 47. Act. 5. 31. and 3. 19. And wretchedness, though never so deep, Act. 26. 18. Luk. 15. 32. Ezek. 18. 27, 28. 3. It returns the Sinner unto God, the only supream Good, Act. 26. 18. Zech. 1. 3. 4. It occasioneth much joy: To the Saints on Earth, Act. 15. 3. To the Angels in Heaven, Luke 15. 7, 10. And as it were to God himself, Luk. 15. 20. to 25. 5. It intituleth the Penitent to sundry precious Promises. As, Isa 1. 16, 17, 18. and 55. 7. Ezek 18. 21, 22. Zech. 1. 3. Act. 26. 18. 6. It is the ready way to Life and Salvation, Act. 11. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 10. 7. It puts into possession of the Inheritance of the Saints, of the Kingdom of Heaven, even Paradise it self. Act. 26. 18. Mat. 18. 3. Luke 23. 41, 42, 43.