A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 220 (Question 87)
SERMON CCXX.
QUESTION LXXXVII.
WHAT is Repentance unto Life?
ANSWER.
REPENTANCE unto Life is a ſaving Grace, whereby a Sinner out of the true ſenſe of his Sin, and apprehenſion of the mercy of God in Chriſt, doth with grief and hatred of his Sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpoſe of, and endeavours after New Obedience.
THE Doctrine of Repentance, tho' it be as fully aſſerted in the holy Scriptures, as any one Article of the Chriſtian Religion, hath been, and ſtill is, a ball of Contention; and been made Matter of Controverſy not only between the Orthodox and the Antinomians on one hand, and the Papiſts and Arminians on the other; but alſo among the Orthodox themſelves: Some contending about the Order of it, theſe putting it before, Faith, and thoſe making it to come after it, in order of Nature. Others diſagreeing about the Nature of it, or the thing it ſelf. Some extend it to the whole Work of Converſion, and ſo take into it, both Faith and Sanctification. Others more reſtrainedly, take it to be the ſame with Sanctification, and ſuppoſe theſe to intend one and the ſame thing. Some do ſtill more ſtrictly take it to be one part of Sanctification, which they divide into Regeneration and Repentance: making the former of theſe to be a Principle or Habit that is infuſed into us, and the latter the Action or Exerciſe of this Habit. And others yet more ſtrictly, making it to be part of Sanctification alone, which is wrought in, and acted by the Affections. And alaſs! Whilſt there is ſuch Bickerings about it, how wofully is the thing it ſelf neglected, and the Practice of it wofully omitted, among ſuch as call themſelves by the name of Chriſtians? Now we have obſerved that Repentance is one of the things that God requires of us in order to our eſcaping God's Wrath, and obtaining Eternal Salvation; for which reaſon we had need to labour to get a diſtinct acquaintance with it, how elſe ſhall we be able to Practice it.
WE may therefore enquire diſtinctly into the matter, as it is laid before us in the Catechiſm. And here obſerve,
Firſt, THE Thing that is under Conſideration, and whereof we have the Deſcription, viz. Repentance unto Life: For our diſtinct underſtanding whereof we may Conſider,
1. THAT the word Repentance, is uſed in Scripture in diverſe ſenſes; and therefore we muſt be Cautious how we underſtand it here: There are two Words uſed in the New-Teſtament to expreſs Repentance by; one comes of a word that ſignifies to be Careful or Anxious, or Sollicitous; and ſignifies an after Sollicitude or Perplexity of the ſpirit, in regard of ſomething that we have done, which makes us to wiſh we had not done it: The other comes of a word that ſignifies the Mind or Understanding; and intends an after Wiſdom, or Changing of the Mind, and practiſing thereupon. The former is ſometimes applied to a common Conviction and Compunction; ſuch as was in Judas, Matth. 23.3. whereas the latter is uſually intended of a thorough Change, ſuch as is wrought in a true Converſion, and then it engroſſeth the other alſo in it. Now the word Repentance is uſed ſometimes Synecdoch…ally, for the whole Work of Converſion, or the ſaving Change that is wro… in the Man, and ſo it comprehends Faith in it: But ſo we do not underſtand it here; but as it ſtands di…ributively with Faith, in the Terms of the New-Covenant, and muſt therefore come under a diſtinct Conſideration, that ſo we may not confound the things proper to Faith, with thoſe that belong to Repentance.
2. THAT there are Two ſorts of Repentance mainly taken notice of in Scripture; one whereof is vulgarly called Legal, the other Evangelical. And we muſt warily diſtinguiſh between theſe two, elſe we ſhall run our ſelves into a groſs Error, and miſs in our Conceptions of that which is an Eſſential Article in the Chriſtian Religion.
1. THERE is a Legal Repentance, which is ſo called, becauſe it proceeds from the Terrors of the Law, and is produced by Convictions & Terrors of Conſcience; which makes Men ſorry for what they have done, and drives them to do ſome Legal Works. It produceth a Worldly Sorrow, and often it drives Men to an outward Reformation of their Lives. This is wrought by a common Work of the Spirit, who by awakening of the Conſcience, and putting it into an apprehenſion of Guilt for what he hath done, drives it to ſeek Eaſe by doing ſomething in amends for it; which often makes an obſervable Change in the Man's Life.
NOW tho' the Spirit of God often begins with the Elect in this way, in order to their Converſion, by cauſing of a ſpirit of Bondage to work in them; yet it hath not in it ſelf any thing that is ſaving; nor is there any neceſſary Connection between it and ſaving Grace: It therefore hath been found ſometimes ſtrangely to work in ſuch as have afterwards Periſhed: There was ſuch a Repentance in Ahab, 1 Kings 21.27. and yet afterwards he repented of his Repentance, or at leaſt returned to his former wicked Courſes. And the moſt notorious Inſtance in this kind was Judas; and we are acquainted what fair ſteps he took, in, Matth. 27. begin. His heart reflected, he yielded to the accuſations of his Conſcience, was ſorry for what he had done, Confeſſed his Sin, and that openly, Reſtored again what he had unjuſtly gotten; and yet after all this, in Deſpair he Hangs himſelf, and is gone to his own Place.
2. THERE is an Evangelical Repentance; … …lled, becauſe the Goſpel hath a mighty inſtance into the kindly Operation of it: And not only ſo, but becauſe it is a Goſpel Medium to the obtaining of Forgiveneſs and Eternal Life; it is therefore connected with Remiſſion, Acts 5.31. And for this cauſe it is called Repentance unto Life, Acts 11.18. And this therefore is the Repentance now under conſideration; and for that reaſon our Catechiſm puts the diſtinct Title upon it.
AND here let us obſerve, That tho' the Light of Nature tells Men that they ought to Repent of Sin, inaſmuch as it is an unreaſonable thing for Man to Sin, and thereby he procures Wrath and Miſery to himſelf; yet the Law left no room to hope to obtain Pardon and Salvation, for his own Confeſſions and Reformations; but declared him a Tranſgreſſor, and accordingly a Man of Death; whereas the Goſpel hath opened a New Covenant, in which God hath made true Repentance a Medium to Salvation; ſo that the right Exerciſe thereof leads unto Life: and there is a vaſt difference between this and the other Repentance, as will be ſeen when we come to conſider the Deſcription that is given of it.
THIS Evangelical Repentance, which is wrought in Converſion being a ſaving Change produced in the Man, whereby he poſſeth from Death to Life, will come under a threefold Conſideration.
1. THERE is the working of the habitual Change in the Man. Hence Men are ſaid to be renewed unto Repentance, Heb. 6.6. And this is done by the Spirit of God in Paſſive Converſion, who alone is able to produce it effectually: Hence that, Eph. 2.1. And you hath he quickened who were dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. And this is that which is properly called Regeneration, and the Product of it is called the New-Creature, which is ſaid to be Born of the Spirit, Joh. 3.6. Repentance is anumerated to the Graces that are beſtowed upon Men, to fit them for the leading of an holy Life. There is therefore ſuppoſed always, that in order to the exerting of gracious Actions by us, there be a Principle or Power infuſed into us, to render us capable of exerting them; and theſe are uſually, by Divines called Supernatural Habits; Habits, becauſe they abide in the Man; & ſupernatural, becauſe as the natural Man is void of them, ſo they cannot be wrought in him, but by an Almighty Power. It is certain, that no Act can extend the Vertue in the Agent; ſince therefore there are Acts of Repentance to be performed by us, we muſt have an Habit …n us in order thereto: And becauſe Impenitence is rooted in our Corrupt Nature, this muſt be infuſed into us if we have it; which muſt be done by a Divine Power, and therefore Chriſt was Exalted for this Purpoſe, Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, for to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of ſins.
2. THERE is the thing that is wrought in this Change, whereby the Habit is produced; and that is, the Sanctification of the Spirit; in which he infuſeth into us all the ſpiritual Graces which are to furniſh us for a New Life: And tho' Sanctification comprehends all the Saving Graces of the Spirit in it, which conſtitute the New Man, it being the Renovation of the whole Image of God in Man; (as, Eph. 4.24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs, and true holineſs.) and conſequently is more extenſive than Repentance, in the ſtrict conſideration of it; and Faith it ſelf conſidered as a Grace, belongs to it; yet Repentance is one, and properly conſiſts of that Change whereby the Man is alienated from Sin, and powerfully diſpoſed to Holineſs; of which we ſhall more diſtinctly conſider in the ſequel: And this is the Principle on which the Man is enabled to exert the ſubſequent Acts of Repentance: Hence called, Repentance from dead works, Heb 6.1.
3. THERE is the exerting of this Principle, … putting it forth into Act: Which is produced from the ſame Spirit, and acted by the ſame Penitent. Theſe Habits are put into us by God for Action, and they attain the End of them thereby, and without it they would be … vain, and loſe the Deſign of them. Hence, tho' the other muſt be, or this cannot be; yet the Benefit redounds to us by theſe: nor can … actually turn from Sin to God, but by actually Repenting. This then belongs to actual Converſion, and neceſſarily follows the other, as is expreſſed, Jer. 31.19. Surely after that I was …rned, I repented. And it is called Active, becauſe it is really exerted by the Penitent himſelf; for tho' the Spirit giveth us Power, yet it is not He that Repents, but we; for the Action formally proceeds from us: It is He who works all our works in us, and for us, according to, Phil. 2.13. But this is not formally, but vertually, by influencing us; and without Him we can do nothing. Now if we conſider that this Repentance under conſideration is brought in as a Condition of the New-Covenant, in order to our eſcaping of God's Wrath & Curſe due to us for Sin; it nextly intends this actual Repentance, and the firſt Act; but yet ſo as it involves or ſuppoſeth the Principle or Habit: And this alſo is the ſame Repentance which is continued in, and renewedly Acted by the Children of God, in the whole Courſe of their New-Obedience; and will abide to have it's exerciſe in them, ſo long as they have a law in their Members warring againſt the law of the Mind.
4. THIS Repentance unto Life, is evermore inſeparable from ſaving Faith. True Faith and true Repentance do always go together; and tho' ſaving Faith is firſt in order of Nature, (for Repentance to Life, requires the influence of Faith, to render it ſuch,) yet in order of Time, as to their production, they are Contemporary. Legal Repentance indeed, is ſeparable from Faith, and hath nothing of the Ingrediency of it into it, and ſo it is no wiſe profitable to the Man; for it always tarries at home, and the Man relies on himſelf, and ſo it brings him not truely unto God; and too frequently it iſſues, either in turning with the Dog to his vomit, as in Ahab; or in driving the Man to utter Deſperation, as it did in Judas. Theſe therefore are to be joyned together, as we find them, Acts 20.21. Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And let a Man's Repentance be never ſo plauſible, yet without the Concomitancy of Faith with it, it cannot find acceptance with God; for we are told, Heb. 11.6. Without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe him. And tho' we uſually diſcern the Truth of our Faith by our Repentance, yet it is an evidence from the Effect; and it is by Faith that we fetch the Arguments and Encouragements to a kindly Repentance; giving us hope to find acceptance with God thro' Chriſt, in our returning to Him.
5. THAT Repentance is a Grace, really diſtinct from Faith. Tho' they always go together, yet they are not the ſame thing. Indeed they are both of them Graces of the Spirit, yet they are diverſe Graces. There are ſome who endeavour to confound them; but in ſo doing, they confound the whole Scheme of the Covenant of Grace, and really bring us back to a New and more eaſy Covenant of Works: And this hath laid a foundation for pernicious Errors in Doctrine, which not a little obſtruct the Converſion & Salvation of ſinful Men. We may therefore here obſerve two or three things, wherein they mainly differ;
1. THO' they proceed from the ſ…e Fountain, viz. the free Grace of God, and have the ſame Author, who is the Spirit of God, and are habitually produced at the ſame Time, i. e. in Regeneration; yet they have a diverſe conſideration in reſpect of the Object of them. This is intimated in the fore-cited, Act… 20 21. For tho' it muſt be acknowledged that Faith ultimately terminateth on GOD, or the Divine Eſſence; yet it nextly and immediately fixeth on CHRIST; for this reaſon it is called the Faith of Chriſt, or of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. And the Promiſe of the Goſpel runs upon Believing in Him, Joh. 3.16, 36. whereas Repentance goes directly to God, altho' it doth it by the help of Faith in Chriſt for acceptance with Him: It was from God that Man departed by his Apoſtacy; and every Sin is called a departure from Him, Heb. 3.12. Departing from the living God. To Him therefore are we to return in Repentance, as will after be conſidered.
2. THEIR Aims or Deſigns are very different: I mean thoſe that are immediate; for they do herein agree, that they are both uſed as Media to attain Salvation according to the Tenour and Terms of the New Covenant; but yet they are diverſly concerned in the Proſecution of this Affair. That which Faith is firſtly concerned in, is to go to CHRIST, and by Him to GOD, for Peace & Reconciliation thro' His Blood: And tho' Faith hath it's other Uſes, and mixeth with, and influenceth all the other Graces in the Man, and ſo Repentance it ſelf; yet this it hath proper to it ſelf, and Repentance hath no influence into it: Hence that, Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation, thro' faith in his blood. whereas the great deſign and buſineſs of Repentance, is, to bring us to a Conformity to the Preceptive Will of God, and the ſincere Practice of it: Hence called , Heb. 6.1. Repentance from dead works. And ſo expreſſed, Acts 26.20. That they ſhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. So that in Faith we go to God, as He is the Object of our Truſt; whereas in Repentance we apply our ſelves to Him, as He is the Object of our Service.
3. HENCE it follows, That they do alſo differ in their proper Acts; and this may be conſidered on a double account: (1) FAITH … Inſtrument, by which … His … f…r …r …. Hence we are every where ſaid to be Juſtified before God by Faith, and …y that alone; and not by Works: no… is there any other Grace of the Spirit …n us which is adapted for this … only Faith, Rom. 2.2…. Therefore are …, that a man is in…i…e… by …th, … the deeds of the … Where… Repentance only ca…ies us to, and engageth us in Ne… O…dience to God, from whom we exped our whole Saltation, th… the Merit & Vertue o… the Righteouſneſs and Obedience of C…l ſo that we do not obtain Remiſſion by our Repentance, but by our Faith embracing Him. Whereras by Repentance we become alienated from all …ther …ords, and devoted entirely to Him who ſo forgives us, and conſequently our Repentance ſuppoſeth us to be believers. Hence that, Tit. 3.8. This is a…ſ…l ſaying, and theſe things I will that thou eſ…rm …ſtantly, that they which …ve be…ed in God, might … careful … maintain good works. (2.) FAITH fetch…th all that ſtrength from Chriſt, whereby we may be …e to ſerve I…. Hence that, Heb. 10.3…. N… the juſt ſhall l…ve by ſaith. Gal. 2.20. The life which I … …e in the …ieſh, I live by the faith if the S… of God, who haved me, and gave himſelf for me. All that we do that is good, muſt come from Him; and hence there can be no exerciſe of Repentance, but in and with the exerciſe of Faith.
BUT the Activity of Repentance is in exe… ing that ſtrength for the Glory of God in our Life, in avoiding Sin, and practiſing Duty: for the influence of Repentance is on the whole courſe of Sanctification, both in the Mer…i…ying of Sin, and Perfecting of Holineſs; and in the very firſt act of Repentance there is this engagement of the heart againſt all Sin, and unto all Holineſs: Thus therefore theſe two differ. Theſe things being thus Premiſed, we may proceed.
Se…ndly, TO a more Particular Explication of the Demonſtration given us of this Repentance. And here obſerve,
I. THE general Nature of it; it is a ſaving Grace: and in this regard it agrees with Faith, which we have alſo ſo deſcribed; and under the conſideration of that, we took the account why it is called a Grace, and why Saving; which needs not to be here again inculcated: It is a Grace, becauſe it is freely given them of God, and they could neither gain it by their own endeavours, not earn it of God. And it is a Saving Grace, becauſe it is beſtowed on none but God's Elect; and is one of thoſe things, which accompany Salvation.
II THE Subject of this Grace; or, the Quality & Condition be is in, before it is wrought in him; viz. He is a Sinner: and herein the Riches of this Grace, or the free kindneſs of God diſcovered abundantly: not indeed, can any other but ſuch an one be the proper ſubject of it; for the giving of it, evermore ſuppoſeth ſuch an one. This is not ſo to be underſtand, as if the Sia of the Creature …e… the … that … God upon … of this Grace upon him. … if ſ…, why th… are not all Sinners made ſharers in it whereas we know, that be … …des to abide under Impenitence and ſo to dye in their Sins: but …e takes occaſion from the S… of Man, to ma…eſt h… Marcy towards ſuch as he ſees meet, in be…o…ing of Repentance upon them, and ſo bringing them to attain … Life. But for a … particular explaining this matter, let us obſerve theſe things.
1. THAT Ma… in his Pr… S…te … made Upr…g…, and ſo needed not Repentance. The reaſon of this as grounded in the Nature of Repentance, which will be ſhortly conſi…ed here only confider, that Repentance ſuppo…ſ… ſomething e…ſs in the ſubject which celis fo…. A Man is to repeat of that which is e…l, and not of that which is good. New we are told in Eccl. 7.29. God made … upright. Which Integrity conſiſted in the Rec…e of … hi… P…ers, and their conformity to the R…e: and this Man was poſſeſied o… by vertue of the Image of God which was put upon the whole Ma…, and ſanctified him throughout, in Soul, Spirit & Body: if therefore be had continued in this Sta…e, Repentance had been a … ger in the World: Our Saviour hath therefore made that remark, Matth. 9.12, 13. They … …e … …eed not a …, …t they that are ſick But go ye a… … what that …, I will …, …nd … …ce: for I … come to cell th… righteous, … …ers is repe… tance.
2. THAT Ma… by his Fall, broughts a … inſe…ity upon himſelf; viz G…th. and a …ing out of the way of Life; but of theſe are fully intimated in the word of God: By his Gri… …e pulled upon his own head, the carſe contained in the threatning, Gen. 2.1…. I… the … that thou eated thereof, them … ſurely …. By this, he was not only obnoxious to all …iſeries but was actually d…med to ſ…ſ…er them; becauſe the law had punctually ſaid in Ezek. 18.4. The … that …eth, it ſcall …. And this is the true and proper wages of Sir, Rom. 6.22. The … of ſin as death. And by … ing out of the way of Life, he …ot into the broad way which leads to deſtr…tion. So it is declared concerning all Men by Nature, That as they are univerſally guilty, Rom. 3.19. That every month may be …ed, exa… the world may become g…y before God So that they are going in the …cad …o deſtruction, …. Deſtruction and miſery are in their …ays. All this properly ariſeth from Sin, which they would never have been expoſed unto, if they had not ſa…i… by their Iniquity.
3. THAT except both of theſe be re…, the Man muſt be irrecoverably l…ſt. This God hath aſſured us of in his word; and he is in good earneſt, and will not recede from it, for he hath told us, 1 Sam. 15.29. And alſo the ſtrength of Iſrael u…l not lie, …o… repent: for be …s not a man that … ſhould repent. Ex…d. 3….7. That will by no means clear the gu…y. As long is … the S…c…, …e is … ſact … to Gods … He ha… a g…v…n H…s … for the … a of it. D… … For …ſs … it … and …y. … for …. If I … my g…g ſ…rd, and were …ard … in … I … r…er verg…ce at …e exe…es and … reward there the …e…. And He hath equally a…red …s if …cy … not from their …il ways, and return to God … their whole Hearts, their …cy ſ… be their ri…; and the way of Sea leads to He…l and will leare Men there at laſt; Pſal 125. a… As for ſuch is turn aſide unto their …kod ways, the Lord … them ſ…rth with the now …ers of ini…cty. God is an holy G…, and He …ures Holineſs of all thoſe who w…ld have Him to be their God; Heb. 12.14. F… b…ineſ, without which us man ſ… …ee the Lord. He lo…et… Righteouſneſs and …ates Iniquity; and Men deceive themſelves if they hope to be ſaved in their …urs.
4. THE …tter of theſe is only obſerved, in the way of …me & ſe…al Repentance. It is by this that they turn from their evil way, into that which is right, and leads to Salvation; and for this reaſon is the Duty of Repentance ſo much urged in the Word of God. The Goſpel …itation ſent unto Sinners is ſummarily commited in thoſe two work, Repent & Believe; …k 1.14. And Chriſt hath ſally aſſ…ed us, that without theſe, is no hope before Man of being …ed, but Perdition abides them, Marth. 1….2. Except ye be …rted, and became as …, ye ſhall … enter unto the king… of …aven. Lak. 13.3. Except ye repent, … forth. And this is the Fo… … …o which our Saviour deno…ced thoſe …ful W…s, Math. 11.2…. &c. God every there in…, Sinners to Him, …eleſs they are …red to D…s E…k. 33.11. Turn ye, turn ye from your … ways; …r why w… ye die, O caſe of Iſ…a…. And, C…ap. 18.30 Repent, and turn your ſeles from all year tranſgreſſ…s: …m…acty ſeal … be your turn. Now this is the propet Nature of Repentance, viz. A turning from S…n, to God, as will hereafter be conſ….
5. THAT God will not beſtow the former of theſe upon any, without the latter. God the Author of both theſe; He muſt give us them, if ever we have them; and they are … pat together in His Commiſſion, Acts 5. …. For to give repentance to Iſrael, and ſ…rgro… …ſs of ſias. G…ty Sinners, when under Con…ction of the Wrath of God that is out againſt …n, are mightily concerned for Pardon; and …ll they may, for they are Happy that obtain 2. Iſai. 22.1, 2.) but if they ſeparate this from Repentance, and ſeek not after this Turning, …hey impoſe upon themſelves, and will loſe the …pes of it; for God hath plumply ſaid. That …cept Sinners turn. He will ſaid upon them in H…s Fary; Pſal. 7.11, 12. God is angry with the nicked every day. If be turn not, be will that his ſword; the hath bens his bow, and made a ready.
6. HEN…E … T… M…n by … ing a S…r, … …y …f Re…emer…. God …s a…g… a… n…thing b…t Sin, and Sinners for it: and … H… ca… …ure: … are therefore told. Pſal. … For th… … not a G…d … … …dneſs: neith… … th…. The fr… … wor…s of …quity. And becauſe all Men are Sinners as th… derive from ſinful A…, and are made to participate in …it Image, all therefore are under the indiſpenſible Neceſſary either of R…pen… or of P…: And that in this way they …ay have a good hope of eſ…ping the W… of God, and …eageance of Hell, this is a Fr…it of His New Covenant Grace; for there was no … left for it in the Firſt Covenant, which left on ſuch reſerve for ſinful Man.
USE. LET this them ſerve to give Warning to Sinners, as ever they hope to eſc…p… Eternal Miſery, not to comment themſelves with a proſampe…s Faith, (as all the its it who hope to be ſaved in their Sices,) But to ſeek of God to give them Repentance, by turning them every one from their Sins. And becauſe we are all Sinnere by nature, it becomes the …angeſt of us to ſeek for this Giſt of God, from Him who is the ſole Author of it; and ca…eſily to put, up that requeſt to Him, Pſal 51.10 Create in m… a clean heart, O God: and renew a right ſpirit within no….
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