A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 221 (Question 87 cont.)
SERMON CCXXI.
III. THE Prepert…s unto this Repentance, or the Gr…ds on which it is exerted; which are Two,
1. True ſerſ… of his Sen.
2. An apprehenſion of the Marcy of God.
WE are here to obſerve. That Repentance is to be conſidered, either as it is a Grace infuſed into the Soul, or as it is drawn forth into Act and Exerciſe: Now as to the Creating of this Habit, the Soul is meerly Paſſice, and is only the Subject recipient; and that which only moves Him to beſtow it, is His meer free Grace: But becauſe in the exerting of it, tho' the Spirit draws it forth by his Power and Infinence, ret the Man is Active; and not only is the Subject in which it is done, but alſo the formal Agent: Therefore the Spirit in drawing of it forth, applies himſelf to the Man, as a rational Being, and accordingly diſpoſeth him to it, by prevailing Reaſons or Motives, which do thereupon prepare him to Act as a Cauſe by Counſel, and to this, do the things under conſideration belong, and we are here to conſider them. We may therefore take a particular Account of them, and conſider how they ſerve to advance this Repentance.
[1.] THE former of theſe is A true ſ…nſ… …f his Sin. Conviction of Sin is the firſt thing that our Saviour aſcribes to the Spirit in His Application to Sinners. Joh. 16.8. And when …e is come, he will repreve the world of ſin, and of righteouſneſs, and of judgment. Now this Conviction is gradual; it is not wrought all at once, but hath it's increaſes as long as the Believer lives: There are alſo the Legal Convactions, which are Common and not Saving, which the Sinner either wears off, or they drive him to Deſperation: Tho' oftentimes this is made ſerviceable in order to the producing of a thorough and ſaving Change in the Man, by the ſanctifying Spirit. Now this Senſe of Sin is neceſſary in order to an actual Repenting; and tho' a Legal Senſe will ſuffice for a Legal Repentance; yet for that which is Evangelical, it muſt be gracious: Tho' in the Production of it he makes uſe of the Law, which is the proper Inſtrument of this Conviction; for we are told, Rom. 23.20. For by the law is the knowledge of ſin. But of this Conviction we tool a particular acount, under the Head of Effectual Calling; in which we obſerved, the Sinner is made feelingly to apprehend the Evil and Bitterneſs of Sin, according to, Jer. 2.19. which is wrought partly by diſcovering of the bitter Fruits of Sin, in that it hath brought upon the Man all the am… …ing Curſes written in the Book of God, and denounced againſt Sinners; partly by giving him a diſcerning of the vile Nature of Sin, in that it is the abominable thing which God hates, and is of its own Nature deſtructive to the Man's own well-being. And in the working of this Senſe, he is made both to apprehend the truth and reality of theſe things, and give a firm Aſſent thereto; to Conſent to the Righteouſneſs of the Law in it, and thereupon to feel himſelf truly miſerable and undone. Now the Neceſſity of this Senſe, in order to actual Repentance, will be evident, if we conſider,
1. REPENTANCE ever ſurppoſeth Evil, in the thing Repented of. In Repentance there is a ſeparation from the thing; and this being an Imperate Act, muſt needs employ the ſeparating Affections in the exertion of it: What Affections are peculiarly employed in this, will come under conſideration afterwards. Here only obſerve, that the Affections were put into Man for his avoidance of Evil, and purſuit of Good; and were therefore neceſſary for the Employment of his Rational Powers, being the ſprings of Action: If therefore the Man ſhun and Hee from a thing, it is becauſe it is either really Evil, or at leaſt in his apprehenſion it is ſo; otherwiſe he doth not as a reaſonable Creature, who Acts according to the Dictates of his Underſtanding.
2. EVERY Natural Man hath a Love for his Sin, which ariſeth from a good Opinion that he hath of it. This is one of the miſerable Fruits of the Apoſtacy, that by reaſon of the Corruption of Man's Nature, which hath pervaded every Faculty and Power in him, he Loves Sin, and is carried forth with an eager Delight in it; and his is corroborated by the Error of his Judgment, which hath filled him with a falſe perſwaſion of Good & Evil, which makes him to put the one for the other, Iſai. 3.20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil. This is it that makes him adhere …ſe to it; and as long as he retains that Op… concerning it, as that which is Good, he cannot but maintain a Love for it. HENCE,
3. TILL the Man be truly perſ…de… of the Evil of Sin, he never will Repent of it: For it is contrary to the Nature of a Reaſonable Creature, to Repent of that which he reſents as a thing that is Good: We are told of them, Jer. 8.5. They hold faſt deceit, they refuſe to return. And the reaſon of it is included in the words: It is Deceit, i.e. It is a falſe Principle which he hath imbibed; and being under the Cheat, this makes him tenacious of it; and for this reaſon we have that given as the ground of their Impenitence, notwithſtanding all Endeavours of Conviction that were uſea with them; Iſsa. 44.20. A decerved heart hath turned him oſide, that be cannot deliver his ſoul, nor ſay, Is there not a he in my right hand? And on this account we find what was the ground of their renouncing of the Prophets Pleas with them, to turn from their ſinful Courſes, Jer. 4…. 16, 17. As long therefore as Sinners abide ſtupid, they cannot Repent; whereas when this Senſe is impreſſed upon their Conſciences, this awakens and rouzeth them, and becomes as powerful Motive in them to Repent; it makes their Sin burdenſome, which before was Pleaſant; and cauſeth them to enquire how they may get ſeparated from it.
[2.] THE latter of theſe, is, An Apprehenſion of the Mercy of God in Chriſt. And this is always in Conjunction with the former, when it is improved by the Spirit of God, in orderto the drawing forth of this Repentance: This alſo was formerly taken notice of, under the Doctrine of Effectual Calling, as i… ſerves to perſwade a Sinner to accept of Chriſt by Believing on Him; and may be here a little further conſidered, as it is uſed to be a Motive to Repentance, and hath an Ingredience in it.
AND here,
1. HE is made to apprehend & believe, That there is Mercy with God for miſerable Sinners: Without the Revelation of this, & a perſwaſion wro't on the Heart, to believe the Truth of it; the Sinner, tho' made uneaſy in his preſent Condition, knows not whither to go: ſo that tho' the Law is neceſſary to the raiſing in us a ſenſe of Miſery, yet it is by the Goſpel, that this Senſe is made to work kindly: This apprehenſion is therefore wrought in him by the Holy Spirit, who perſwades him to believe, that whatſoever he hath been or done there is ſtill a door of hope ſtands open unto him; accordingly we have him ſo argving, Ezra 10.2. Let now there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. And this is one Note of difference between Legal & Evangelical Repentance; in the former there is only a diſcovery of Sin, but in this there is alſo a revelation of Mercy: Hence that, Pſal. 130. 3, 4. If thou, Lord, ſhoulaeſt wark iniquities: O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? But there is forgiveneſs with thee: that thou mayeſt be feared, For this reaſon, when Peter's Sermon had wrong this Hea…er… t… a … what, …e preſentiv… … to t…m the …tation of Gods More…v to raiſe in them an Hope; Acts 2.37, …. … when they hears th…s, they were pricked in th… heart, and ſaid …to Pe…r, and to the reſt of the a…ſt…es Men and …thren, what fall we do? T…en Pet…r ſaid unto them, Rep…nt, and be ba…ed every one of you in the name of Jeſus Chriſt for the remiſſion of ſins, and ye ſhall recerve the giſt of the h…y G…ſt.
2. HE is a…q…ted with the Way … this Mercy came to be laid in for Sinners; vin… by CHRIST. It is therefore called, The Mercy of God in Chriſt; and that, as to diſtinguiſh it from the common Mercy which God beſtows upon Mankind in general, during this Day of Patience and Benignity, Matth. 5.45. ſo to declare to us from what Fountain this Mercy …er Conſideration derives from God to us, and in what way we come to partake in …t, viz. thro' the Impetration of His own Son: And this alſo becomes a Motive to Repentance, that Mercy which can alone ſtand a Sinner in ſtead, is diſcovered in the Source and Original of it; for there is no ſaving Mercy that can derive to us in any other way: Hence that, Eph. 1.3. …leſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chri…t, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſings in heavenly places in Corist. And this alſo belongs to the Goſpel Revelations, without which it had never been known.
3. HE is perſ…caded of the Neceſſity of this Repentance, if he would partake in tha… Mercy The diſcovery that there is Mercy is his encouragement to Hope, and not utterly to Deſpair of Salvation: But the Manifeſtation of the Way in which it is to become by, is directive to him how he may obtain, and not miſs of it, and ſo it alſo affords him further Motive to Practice accordingly. Now tho' the Firſt Condition on which he is invited to embrace this Mercy, is Faith in Cor…, unto which a firm Promiſe of Su…vation is made, J…b. 3.16. yet this is not ſeparate from, but in connection with Repentance; for we are every w…ere aſſured, that without Repentance there is no Salvation, is was before obſerved: Nor doth this in the leaſt enervate the Promiſe made to B…he…ing, but it abides firm; only it is a diſtinguiſhing Note of that Faith which is unto Salvation, viz. That it is always accompanied with Repentance: And ſo it becomes a Rule of ſrial, whether our Faith be of the right ſtamp; and aſſures us, that a Faith ſeparate from this, is deluding Preſamption. And this becomes a potent Motive in him, to urge him to ſeek Repentance, as being of the Way neceſſary to Salvation.
4. HENCE in Hope of, and Reliance upon this Mercy he is encouraged & helped to Repent. Hope & Deſpair are two contrary Aflections; and therefore Deſpair of obtaining Merry in a Way and Courſe of Sin, is a Moral help to break off a Sinner from it, and putting him upon forſaking it: So the hope of finding Mercy is a like Argument to attract and draw him to God, that he may obtain it of Him. This apprehenſion of Mercy, by which ſuch an Hope it ſtirre… in him … w… for … the Sp… … every one, in … cr…ſe of Repenta… … early … little carries him …nct… …. viz. … Parp…ſe…reſ lutely to … upon this Mercy, and rely upon it. And this is impited … that Direction which ſix gives to Iſr…, f…r the right ordering of their Repentance, H…f 14.3. A…ſtar ſ… a… ſave us, … …de upon horſes, another and we ſay any …re to the work of our hands, Ye are our g…ds: for in thee the father…ſs …leth …ercy. Accordingly that encouragement is given to ſuch, Pſal. 1….11. The Lord …kerh pleaſure in them that ſear …; in theſe that hope in his me…y. And the word Hope imports, ſuch an H…pe as encourageth and enableth the Man to ac…venture himſelf ertirely upon the Mercy of God: And from hence we may infer, the Neceth…ty of the C…comitancy of Faith with that Repentance which is unto Life; and that her…in a Legal Repentance is differenced from that which is E…ngenca… Not can a Man kindly Repent of his S… except he do withal place his recumbency on God thro' Chriſt; for it is this Faith which carries him to God, on whom ſaving Repentance terminates, as will be conſidered.
HERE therefore we may briefly conſider, of what Neceſſary this appr…i… of Mercy is, a… well as the former J…nſe of Sin, in order to the Repentance now under conſideration; for which let us obſerve,
1. IN true Repentance there is an Object, to which the Sinner turns: which is GOD. This will come in the next Head to be particularly enquired into: Here only it is a little Anti…pated for the manifeſting the Neceſſary of this Apprehenſion. We are conſidering of Repentance unto Life; now every …r… that the Sinner makes in his Life, is not an acting or exerciſing of this Repentance: A Man may turn from are lying Vanity to another; he may Repent of this and that, and ſo leave it, and yet remain Impenitent, becauſe be abides within the Compaſs of the reign of Sin in him; and may be …fterwards inſtanced; to which I ſhall refer, when we come to a diſtinct Conſideration of it. Only it is here to be obſerved, that a Man moſe have an Object; and therefore if be leaves one, he will faſten upon another: And God directs Sinners to be very Cautious to what Object they do return, Jer. 4.1. If thou will retard. O Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, return unto me.
2. THERE muſt therefore be a Diſcovery of this Object, and hope of acceptation with Him, to encourage the Sinner to Repent. And as this Object can be no other but God; ſo Man cannot be perſwaded to turn to Him, unleſs be apprehends a good hope of Succeſs in ſo doing. A bare diſcovery made to the Man of his Sin, in it…s evil Nature and Fruits, will only tend to drive him to Deſpair; and ſo there can be …o kindly Repentence acted upon in If the Man hath no proſpect f…mending his Condition, the apprehenſion of the Curſe that is upon hi… will make him to ſit down in …pai… and D…. When once it com… to that F…e… … …r …p… … off for our parts. …eſt deſires, without the leaſt hope, are holding deſires, and will not prompt endeavours, but totally diſcourage the Man: now this is founded upon the hearing and believing that the God of Iſrael is a Merciful God.
3. HE muſt apprehend, how God comes to be ſuch an Object, which is only, by Jeſus Chriſt. It is only the Mercy of God by which we may obtain pardon of him, peace with him, and a glorious Inheritance in his Kingdom, that can give us enconragement to go to him: for, by the ſenſe of Sin he knows that the Justice of God is armed againſt him, and he lies under a ſentence of death; & expect this Juſtice be atoned, the wrath of God cannot be turned away from him: He knows that God is a conſuming fire in Himſelf to Sinners, and that unleſs his wrath be atoned, he can expect nothing but Eternal Vengeance; ſo that without a diſcovery of Chriſt to interpoſe and be a Mediator, he cannot be ſatisfied how Juſtice and Mercy may agree in One, that ſo God may be juſt, and yet merciful to him; for this is brought about only in and through Jeſus Chriſt, Eph 2.14. For be is our peace, who hath made both one —.
4. HE muſt alſo apprehend how Chriſt hath made Way for Acceſs to God by Penitent Sinners. It is not enough to hear that there is a CHRIST, but He muſt alſo be ſatisfied how CHRIST came to be able to Save Sinners that come to God by Him. For this is our encouragement. Heb. 7.25. Wherefore be is able alſo in ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him ſeeing be over liveth to make interceſſion for them. A convinced Sinner knows, that a Satisfaction muſt be made to the incenſed Law, before ſuch time as God can, conſiſtent with, Justice and Veracity, be atoned to Sinners: and is apt to be very inquifitive, How can it be conſiſtend with the Holineſs of the Law, that ſaving Mercy ſhould be obtained? nor will it ſuffice to be told that Chriſt doth this, but we muſt be perſwaded, How he hath done it; for which we muſt believe the report of the Goſpel concerning his Perſon, Natures, Offices, and the Value of his Obedience in doing & dying in our ſtead. Paul therefore tells us, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perſwaded that be is able to keep that which I have committed unto him. And this is it that makes the way clear to us, and gives us encouragement and hope, that with God we may find Mercy.
IV. WE have and account of the Parts of this Repentance, or the things wherein it doth conſiſt, or is exorted; expreſt in thoſe words, He turns from his Sin unto God. Thoſe two do conſtitute, but one act of Repentance, both of them going into the rendering of it ſuch. For,
1. IT is eſſential to Repentance, that it is a Turning. And for that reaſon it is ſo often in the word of God, called by that name; So, Ezek. 33 11. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O houſe of Iſrael. Jer. 31.18. and elſe-where. And the word is Metaphorical, properly ſignifying a returning back again to a Place which one had before departed from; an is morally applied to the work of Convenſion, in which the Man forſakes his ſinful ways, and takes up a Courſe of Holineſs, from which he departed in the Apoſtaſy; & this is done in & by Repentance.
2. HENCE, Becauſe Repentance is a turning; it rationally ſuppoſeth two terms, viz. From, and to which it is; and from the Conſideration of theſe terms put together, we may take up the diſtinct Nature of Repentance. There is a turning in Faith, as well as in Repentance; and in this alſo there is a turning from Sin to God, for in it we remove our truſt from lying Vanities, and place it on the living God. We muſt therefore take … particular proſpect of this Affair, by conſidering the Nature of this Turning. And here,
1. IN regard of the Term from which; it is a turning from Sin. We muſt here call to mind that the ſubject of this turning, is a Sinner; and Man became ſo by turning away from the holy, juſt & good Law of God, which was given him to be the Rule of his whole Life; and turning in to the way of Sin, which is diametrically oppoſite to the other; and thus he left God, and embraced lying Vanities. And this is the ſtate of all Mankind till ſuch time as by a powerful Converſion, they are made to forſake Sin, and return to their Allegiance. Every Unregenerate Man is under the Dominion of Sin, and that not only as to Condemnation, by vertue whereof it holds him faſt bound to ſuffer Eternal Vengeance, but alſo as to a lordly power which it holds over him, engaging of him to fulfill its luffs. Hence that advice given to them, Rom. 6.17. But God be thanked, that ye were the ſervants of ſin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. And, ….19 As ye have yielded your members ſervants …unrighteouſneſs, and to iniquity, unto iniquity; even ſo now yield your members ſervants to righteouſneſs, unto holineſs. He is become a voluntary ſlave to it, and it hath his heart as well as life, and he hath conſented to have his ear bored to it. Accordingly, as his whole Man is turned to it; ſo the whole Man is engaged in this turning from it. Now Sin comes under a double conſideration, viz. Original and Actual; by the former of theſe, he is filled with all curſe Principles, and Revolt & Rebellion; by the latter he is voluntarily and reſolutely engaged in the Proſecution of Sin with greedineſs; and in the work of Repentance he is engaged to turn from it in both theſe reſpects: He is to make to himſelf a new Heart, and lead a new Life; he is in his preſent poſture looking he… ward, and muſt therefore turn his back upon it, and look heaven-ward. Sin is properly Anomy; 1 Joh. 2.4. Whoſoever committeth ſin tranſgreſſeth alſo, the law: for ſin is the tranſgreſſion of the law. i. e. It is a contrariety to the holy law of God, and is applicable either to the Mans State or Actions; and in both of theſe regards it is to be a…an…ned. So that in this Repentance, there is b… an alienation of the Heart from Sin and a …l…quiſhing of it, in the Life & Converſation; and w…e there are not both of theſe exerciſed, there is no Repentance: And tho' the Grace to do this muſt be given us from on high, yet the Exerciſe of it muſt be Practiſed by us, if we would approve ourſelves for true Penitents. As for the Way wherein this turning is to be Practiſed, ſo as to prove it to be Sincere, and ſo unto Life; it will come to be conſidered under the next Head. I here only obſerve, where it muſt begin, and from whence it muſt take it's Progreſs; it muſt be a flight from Sin, or elſe it cannot be that Repentance, which is a proper Medium for our eſcaping the Wrath and Curſe that is due to us for Sin.
2. IN regard of the Term to which; it is a turning to GOD. This we obſerved, is called a Returning, becauſe Man in his Creation was placed near to God, and went away from Him in his Apoſtacy; and therefore all Sinners are ſaid to be far from God, Pſal. 73.27. And therefore in Repentance they come back again to Him. It is to be obſerved, that GOD and Sin are put in Oppoſition, for Sin is conſidered as a lord that hath us in Subjection; and as we are to renounce it's lordſhip, ſo we are to ſubject our ſelves to God's Supream Government over us: And it intimates, that we cannot ſerve Sin and God too; for what the one commands, the other forbibs; and what the one forbids, the other requires: Hence that, Matth. 6.24. No man can ſerve two maſters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; …r elſe he will hold to the one, and deſpiſe the other. T… cannot ſerve God & mammon. And as in B…eving we return to God, as the Object of our Truſt, ſo in Repentance we return to Him as our S…vereign Lord; as it is expreſſed, Iſa. 26.13. O Lord our God, other l…ras beſides thee have had dominion ever us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. And it is certain, that the Term to which we return in Repentance, is as indiſpenſibly neceſſary to be God alone, as that from which we turn, is Sin: And hence for Men to pretend that they have left off theſe and thoſe ſinful Courſes which they formerly purſued, is always a vain Pretence to their having ſavingly Repented: Nor indeed can a Man be truely ſaid to be turned from Sin, except he in it have returned to God. It is a thing frequent for Men to turn away from ſome Sins, which they formerly purſued with greateſt eagerneſs, by an outward Reformation, and a ſeeming Indignation; but it is not unto God, but unto ſome other Sin, which they can with more eaſe and quietneſs Proſecute; and conſequently they do not return to the Service of God, but ſtill remain under the Power & Command of Sin; for this reaſon we have God complaining of this as an Hypocritical Repentance, becauſe tho' they turned, yet it was not to Him, Hoſ. 7.16. They return, but not to the moſt High. And elſewhere. He Chargeth them for traverſing their ways, Jer. 2.23. Which Word ſignifies ſhifting, changing, turning ſometimes this way, ſometimes that: Sometimes Sinners follow …ten…tance, … being convinced of the M…ſ…ief they find in that, they turn to …etr…tneſs; which might alſo be inſtanced in other things: But this is far from an…ounting to the Repentance we are conſidering of; they ſometimes turn from a leud Life, to a ſober Converſation; but in that alſo they turn to themſelves, but not to God, whilſt they ſeek to eſcape God's Wrath, and obtain Salvation by their own Righteouſneſs: But what belongs to a ſincere turning to God. will alſo come under a more diſtinct Conſideration under the next Head, which may be taken Account of the next Opportunity.
USE. WE may for the preſent only take Notice of the Vanity and Folly of ſuch as make high Pretences to a ſtrong Faith, but are utter Stranger; to ſound Repentance. There are thoſe who do profeſſedly expunge Repentance from the Goſpel Covenant, and charge thoſe that preſs it on their People for being Legal Preachers; but there are a great many more, that Practically neglect, and conſequently reject it; and tho' they have their great Confidences, yet never ſeek for this Change, or examine themſelves about it. But we are here aſſured, that ſuch will find their Hopes to deceive them, and finally fall ſhort of the Salvation they promiſe themſelves: For tho' it be a Truth, that every one that truely Believes in CHRIST ſhall he Saved; yet it is alike true, whoſoever really Believes in CHRIST, hath alſo Repented, and turned from Sin to God. And would we not loſe our expectation at laſt; let us carefully ſee to this.