A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 222 (Question 87 cont.)
SERMON CCXXII.
V. WE have the diſtinguiſhing Properties of this Repentance; by which the Truth and Sincerity of it may be diſcerned; and the Falſehood of a Vain and Hypocritical Repentance of many may be diſcovered. And this is ſet forth with reſpect to both the Terms which belong to it; or Sin which is turned from, and God, who is turned to: And the Conſideration of both theſe, will help to give us more clear light into the Nature of this great Work, which is wro't in the Converſion of a Sinner. We may then proceed to take and Account of each of theſe ſeverally:
[1.] IN reſpect of the Term from which he turns; we are told, that he doth it with Grief at, and Hatred of his Sin. And under theſe two are comprehended Synechdochically, all thoſe things which are Ingredients into, and do conſtitude this turning from Sin. And here let us obſerve, that as the whole Man is engaged in this Repentance, both Soul and Body: and it is both Original and Actual Sin, which is thus departed from; ſo there are two things wherein this turning; (if it be real and in good earneſt,) will make diſcovery of themſelves, viz. In regard of the inward Principles …n the Man; and with reſpect to the Practice upon theſe Principles: Which may therefore be … verally touched on.
(1.) IN re…a…d … the …ward Principles that are in the M…. And here conſider, that all h…s ſeparating Aſ…tions do ſtand engaged in … turning … Sin. In Man conſidered as a Re…nth… Creature, we obſerve a Rational S…l, as well as a Body and Senſes: And in th…s we find late …e…aal and Moral Powers, by which he is enabled to perform thoſe human Actions which belong to his ſpecifics Nature: An Und…r…ing by which he judgeth what is right or wrong, good or evil, eligible or refuſable by him: A Will by which he is able f…r Election or Rejection of an Object ſet before him, according to the beſt Verdict of the Practical Underſtanding: And Affections, by which the Will purſues it's Elections, in it's Imperate Actions and improve the whole Man in the Excution of them. Hence all: eſe Powers are employed about, and have their influence into Repentance, and are firſtly conſiderable in it, becauſe the Sincertly of it, is primarily to be judged of by theſe. The Underſtanding applies it ſelf to ſearch, and upon it finds and reſolves, that Sin ſhall no longer be hugged by him, but utterly abandoned. And this Conſideration and Reſolution, is declared to be the leading ſtop to the Man's turning away from it; as we are told in, Ezek. 18.28. Becauſe be conſidereth and turn…th away from all his tranſgreſſions that he hath committed, he ſhall ſurcly li… and not die. And the Affections are hereupon moved and engaged to proſecute this Reſolution; and ſo the Heart or inward Man is turned, and the whole Soul is ſet right. This therefore is in the firſt place to be enquired after. Now becauſe there are Objects that are Good & E… ſet before the Man, …ne whereof is to be Choſen and Proſecuted, the other to be rejected and abandoned: God hath for that reaſon put Af…s into Men, that are ſuite… to hath theſe; and by the Exertion of theſe, be hath a diſcovery of the Verdict of his Underſtanding, and the determination of his W… and this is to be conſidered, not only in repard of Rational Actions, in the prudent Man gement of his temporary Affairs; but more peculiarly in his Moral and Gracious Actions, with reſpect to Sin and Holineſs. So that in his turnin… from Sin, his ſeparating Affections are nextly improved & employed. And thoſe which are eſpecially concerned here, are theſe,
1. HE is affected with a Godly Sorrow for it. Godly Sorrow is therefore ſaid to be unto Repentance, 2 Cor. 7.10. Sorrow i… oppoſite to …y; as by that we embrace and take Satisfaction in an Object; ſo by this we are weaned from it, and it is made diſtaſteful to us: It is the folly aſcribed to Sinners, that they rejoice in Evil; and whilſt they do ſo, they will not part with it: But when a Man is affected with Sorrow for it, he is now made wil…ing to have no more to do with it. And this Sorrow is ſet forth by Mourning for it, as a thing that is become bitter to him, and he … it …s a burden inſupportable and hence we read, Pſal. 31. …, 1. Zech. 12.1…, 11. They ſhall mourn, as one mourneth for …is only ſon. He is grieved that he ſhould ever Conſent to it; Pſal. 38.18. Yea, the preſence and in-being of Original Sin, makes him cry as, Rom. 7.24. O …ret …ed man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death! And it is a Godly Sorrow; for there is one that is Wordly, which worketh Death, 2 Cor. 7.10. That therefore which embitters it to him, is the diſcovery which God hath made him, and powerfully convinced him of, that it is a b…uitiſh vile thing; and that which is diſpleaſing and di…h…nourable to God: Hence that in, Pſal. 51.4. Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned, and done this evil in thy ſight: that thou mighteſt be juſtified when thou ſpeakeſt, and be clear wh… thou judgeſt. Sin it ſelf is made exceeding ſinful to him, Rom. 7.13.
2. HE is filled with a Cordial Hatred of it. David therefore could ſay, Pſal. 119.104. I hate every ſ…ſe way. It is a Property of every Natural Man, that he Loves Inequity, that it is as dear to him as Life; he can as willingly out off his right hand, and plack out his right eye, as part with his L…uſ…s. Men are ſaid to be gined to their Idols; and it is this Love that is the Cement, Hoſ. 4.17. But in Repentance this Love is turned into Hatred: The Spirit kills the endearedneſs of the Heart to it, makes him to look upon it as vile & abominable: The ſenſe of his own Corruption makes him to abhor himſelf upon the Act of it, Job. 16.6. This therefore God promiſeth to do for his People, when he gives them Repentance, E…ck. 36.3…. The… ſhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall …he year ſelves in your own ſight, for your iniquities, and for your … minations. Now Hatred is the Primitive ſ…parating Affection: As therefore when he Loved Sin, that catried him inſatiably in purſuit of it; ſo this Hatred doth as naturally carry him away from it; he cannot endure the Preſence of it, and is ſet irreconcilably againſt it: Nor can be ever known to entertain kindly thoughts of it as long as he lives; ſo far as this Grace is Active in him.
3. HE is filled with confounding Shame, by reaſon of his Sin. It is an unhappy Property of reigning Sin, that it makes the Sinner to glory in it. Hence that, Phil. 3.19. Wh…ſe glory is their ſhame. When they have committed Lewdneſs, they think they have done ſomething worth Boaſting of: Hence we have ſuch Complaints made on this account Iſa. 3.9 & Jer. 6.15. Were they aſhamed when they had committed abomination …ay, they were not at all aſhamed, neither could they bluſh. But in the Production of this Repentance, the Soul is filled with ſhame and covered with Confuſion, and he cannot tell how to look up: This is very genuine; for what elſe is ſhame, but a depreſſion of Spirit, …ſing from an inward Senſe of the baſeneſs of the …ing, and Reproach which the Man hath brought upon himſelf by it: And where that Apprehenſion is deeply fixed, … will have this Operation on the Affections: Thus it was with him, Ez…a 9. 6. And ſaid, O my God, I am aſhamed, and bluſh to …ſt up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increaſed over our head, and our treſpaſs is grown up unto the heavens. And with the Publican, Luk. 18.3. This then is a thing over inſeparable from that Repentance which is of the right ſtamp.
4. HE is affected with a longing inſariable diſire to be rid of Sin: Or rather an unappeaſable averſation from it. For, Deſire, in propriety of Speech, is a craving after the enjoyment of an abſent good; the contrary to which is that under preſent conſideration: tho' improperly it may be called a deſire, tho' not after the thing, but of gretting away from it, as that which is to him an inſupportable burden, and he bears the preſence of it very impatiently; as he complains, Pſal. 38.4. And this is by ſome termed, Fuga, a flight; and when it is aſcribed to the Affections, it is a derivative from Hatred, and creates a wearineſs in the Soul, and makes him to cry out as, Jer. 4.31. Wo is me now, for my ſoul is wearied, becauſe of murderers. He pants for reſcue, and looks out with ſighing; Oh! when ſhall the time come, when Sin ſhall no more be prefect with me!
(2) IN reſpect of his Practice upon theſe Principles. For tho' the foundation of true Repentance is laid in the Soul, and the firſt ſtirrings and movings of it are in the Affections; yet, if it be right, it doth not reſt there, but proceed father. The Affections are the feet of the Soul, and when they are moved, they will move the whole Man, according to the impreſſion that is made upon them: And this is the proper end & uſe for which they were put into the Man, and would without this be in vain. And it is certain, that if the Heart be changed, the whole Man is ſo; for in the work of Sanctification, the whole Man is wrought upon, Soul, Spirit & Body are turned; and all old things are done away, 2 Cor. 5.17. And where this new Heart is given, it will indubitably be followed with a new Life; and the things wherein this diſcovers …t ſelf, are mainly theſe,
1. BY a free and hearty Confeſſion of his Sin. And this, tho' not always to Men, in regard of ſome particular Sins; yet always to God, whoſe Law is broken, and whoſe Name is diſhonoured by it. This is always a proper adjunct of true Repentance, and it waits upon it; ſo that he who upon Conviction of Sin, doth not freely Confeſs it to God and bewail it before Him, hath ſufficient reaſon to fear that he never repented of it. The very burden which his Conſcience is diſtreſſed with, by reaſon of it, will make him to ſeek relief, by an ingenous ackowledgement of it: and this is one diſcovery of our being weary of it, and earneſt deſire of being delivered from it; and it is a ſpirit of Impenitence that keeps Sinners from this Confeſſion. If Ephrai… repents, he bemoans himſelf, Jer. 31.18. And what is it that he bewails, but his Sin, as is evident? And this is that which God expects and waits for, in order to his manifeſting himſelf reconciled to them; as, Lev. 26.40 If they ſhall confeſs their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their treſpaſs which they treſpaſſed againſt me, and that alſo they have walked contrary unto me.
2. BY a practical Forſaking of it. This therefore and the former are put together in the promiſe of Mercy; Prov. 28.13. He that covereth his ſins, ſhall not proſper; but whoſe confeſſeth and forſaketh them ſhall have mercy. And except this follows the former, the Confeſſion will be an airy and empty thing The Confeſſions of true Repentance, are not a diſburdening our ſelves of trouble, that we may with the more eaſe and freedom, return to our Confeſſion of Sin: This is the moſt groſs Hypocriſy, or rather a very high degree of Profaneſs, and a witneſs that our hearts are not right. In Repentance, the league is broken between the Man and his Sin; and that includes a firm reſolution, to have nothing more to do with it: And this is the Natural Operation of that hatred of it, which is enkindled in him by the Sanctifying Spirit: Nor can that Man ſincerely ſay that he abhors it, if he doth not relinquiſh it, and avoid it as a Toad or Serpent: This alſo will be the product of ſhame, if it be indeed Sin it ſelf that he is aſhamed of, and not ſome other thing, By theſe Affections thus influenced, we come to be dead to Sin: And the Apoſtle offers that pungent Queſtion, Rom. 6.2. How ſhall we that are dead to ſin, live any longer therein?
3. BY maintaining of a reſolute Warfare againſt it, with utmoſt endeavours to Mortify the Luſts of it. Repentance is a Grace of Sanctification, and is therefore imperfect at firſt, and in that regard it is progreſſive, and conſequently to be practiſed as long as we Live. Nor is it enough to abſtain from the Acts of Sin, but to ſeek and endeavour the Death of the very …ou… of it. An Hypocrite may do the former, and take much pains in it; but a ſincere Penitent will be deeply concerned for the latter. Original Sin will abide on us here, and we are to have no peace with it, nor conſent to any truce, but maintain War with it till Death; and this is evermore a diſpoſition put into us by Repentance: This therefore is commanded, Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanneſs, inordinate affection, evil concupiſcence, and covertouſneſs, which is idolatry. And by this we are always turning from Sin: And this is not done by the meer ſuppreſſion of the Acts of Sin, but by ſeeking the Life of it; and he who Repents indeed, will do ſo.
4. BY a careful Avoidance of the Inticements to the Commiſſion of Sin. Impenitent Sinners ſhew the reſpects they have for Sin, by the endeavours they uſe to make proviſion for the gratification of their craving Luſts; but where there is true Repentance wrought in any, they will as carefully endeavour to with …r… ſe…vel from them, and a… any thing wich they know will nouriſh Con…p…ſcence in them, according to that counſed given in. Rom. 12. ul… M…k… not previſion for the fleſh, …ſ… … I… is there…. They will ſhan vain Compan…, and all Opportunities of Temptation to L…neſs avoid Intemperance, and all immoderate Uſe of the …reature, …in away their Fires from ſuch Objects as Experience hath to… them, have been …ares and traps to entangle them in Miſchief; and whatſoever of like Nature
[2.] IN reſpect of the …rm to which he turns; which we are told is GOD. And this we have obſerved hath reſpect to Him conſidered as He is our Lord and Lawgiver, which is that which pu…s a difference between Faith & Repentance, in reſpect of this Object; both whereof ſo ultimately determine upon God. Now the Qu… …ation of this is briefly expreſſed in our Catechiſes, in th…ſe words, That it is …h full Purpoſe of, and endeavour afer. New Obedience; but I ſhall Eſſay a little to dilate on this matter: We may therefore take this diſtinct and ſummary Account of it;
(1.) THAT in Repentance we turn to God as He is our l… End. God hath revealed Himſelf to us in His Word, as He is the firſt Cauſe of all Good to us, and as He is the laſt End to whom wrought to Conſecrate our ſelves and our whole Life: As therefore in the former of theſe reſpects He is the Object of our Faith, ſo in the latter He is of our Repentance: As we were made dependent Creatures, and our whole Bleſſedneſs muſt derive from God ſo ought we to truſt in Him; and as we were ſubordinate B…ings, we owed our ſelves and all our Powers to Him that beſtowed them upon us, and ſo we ought to employ them; on which account He is our Lord and Lawgiver: Hence both of theſe go together, Iſa. 33.22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver.
(2.) HENCE that which our Repentance leads us directly unto, is New-Obedience. As Man's great End was to glorify God by an actual Conformity to His revealed will, which was his reaſonable Service; ſo Man being fallen from this End if his by Sin, muſt recover it again by Repentance, hence it is called Repentance from dead W…rks, Heb. 6.2. And conſequently the Term to which it leads muſt be Obedience; for ſo only can fallen Man reach his laſt End; Pſal. 119.59. …th…ht on my ways, and turned my feet authority teſtimonies. It is therefore called New Obedience, either becauſe we are an…w reſtore to it after our Revolt from God, and turning to lying Vanities, by this Renovation; or becauſe the Obedience it ſelf is of a New Stamp; the former being Legal, whereas this is …vange…ea…: The Old Covenant requiring perfect Perſonal Obedience as the Condition of Bleſſedneſs; but in the New Covenant ſincere Obedience is accepted in teſtimony of our Gratitude to God: And the former was to be performed in our own Strength; but this by new Strength derived from CHRIST: Hence that, Phil. … 13. I can do all things thro' Chriſt which strength…th …e.
(3.) HENCE in Repentance, …ur …h…ng A… f…c…ns … …a… forth to …d, …nd His revealed …ll. We obſerved that the Uſe of theſe is to unite us to our Object; and becauſe in th…, God is our Object, as He is our …prean… Lord, we do by it cloſe with Him, by a voluntary Subjection to Him; and this muſt be according to His revealed Will, which is made known to us, as the Rule of our Obedience, Deut 29.29.
AND here,
1. WE Love God and His Laws. As the Natural Man hates God, ſo he diſcovers it by being a lump of Enmity againſt the Law, which renders him incapable, whilſt ſo, of paying Him true Obedience, Rom. 8.7, 8. Before he was fail of Prejudice againſt God by reaſon of the Command; but now it is his Delight, and his Love to the Precept: Love is the root of Obedience; for which reaſon it is called Love, 2 Tim 1.13. And we are told on this Account, Rom. 13.1…. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fu…f…ling of the law. Now in Repentance this Love is kindled and rendred inexpreſſibly great: Hence that in, Pſal. 119.97. O how loved thy law! it is my meditation all the day. We diſcern by this new Light, ſuch hidden things in the Law of God, that endear it to us; and for it, we Love Him who is the Author of it; and we are made to give it that Encominm, Rom. 7.12. The law is holy, and just, and good.
2. OUR Joy…er Delight acquieſceth in Him and in His Law. Joy is a derivative from Love; and implies the Satisfaction that we take in the Object, when it is enjoyed: The natural Man is void of this J…y, he cannot rejoyce in the Lord, and His Commands are grievous to him; whereas in Repentance this Affection is turned; & from the Satisfaction that it was won't to take in Sin, it Delights it ſelf in doing the Will of God: And that Service which was before a Burden, is now a Recreation to him; it was by this that the Pſalmiſt was enabled to put that Encominm upon the Law of God; Pſal. 19.10. More to be deſired are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold: ſweeter alſo than bony and the bony …omb. It makes us to be like Chriſt in our meaſure, who ſaith of Himſelf, Pſal. 4…. …. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
3. WE are not aſhamed of, but count it our Honour, to own our ſelves to be His Servants and pay Obedience to His Commands. It is the unhappy Diſpoſition of Sinners, that they count it a Reproach to ſtand up for God, and own Him for their Lord, when the World Reproach them for it: Hence that, Mark 8.38. Whoſoever therefore ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and ſinful generation, of him alſo ſhall the Son of man be aſhamed when be cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels. But Repentance puts another Reſentment into the Man; David could ſay, Pſal. 119. 6. Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy commandment…. And Paul, Rom. 1.16. I am not aſhamed of the goſpel of Chriſt. It will make us to count our Glory to be called His Servants, and our Honour, if we ſuffer Ignominy from Men, for His ſake, Acts 5.40.
4 OUR Deſires are preſt in longing after Se…ghth or Ability to ſerve Him. Such is the Opinion we have of God and His Service, that the ſenſe of our Infirmity or little Strength to perform it with that Vigour and Life which we ought, makes our Souls to break forth in Craving after more: No Service we do pleaſeth …s, becauſe of our ſhort-coming; nor ſhall we ever be at reſt in our Cravings, till we come to Angelical Perfection: Herein therefore did the Apoſtle teſtify his Repentance, in his reaching after this Perfection. Phil. 3.13, 14.
(4.) HEREUPON we are brought to take up a full Purpoſe to Obey Him, Before, we were reſolutely ſet to withſtand Him, and refuſe to take His Yoke upon us; we are determined in this, that we will be for Him, and for no other, 1 Iſa. 26.13.) and is this free Choice which he makes of the way of Holineſs, unto which …e binds himſelf with the ſtrongeſt Obligations: And this proceeds from the Election of the will, having received the Reports of the Practical Underſtanding which recommended this to him; Pſal. 119.30. I have choſen the way of …. And in this Choice we confirm our Purpoſe with ſtrongeſt Engagements: Hence that, Pſal. 119 106. I have ſworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. And now the Vows of God are upon him, and the great Care which he is concerned in, is to perform this Oath of his. Hence,
(5.) WE are now put upon it, to Uſe our …oſt Induſtry in the Proſecution of this Purpoſe. For if we make Vows to God, and neglect to pay them, we betray our groſs Hypocriſy; but Converting Grace is a Principle in us, which will prompt us to Fidelity in our beſt Endeavours to fulfill our Covenant-Engagements. It is true, There are and will be, the remains of S… is us, notwithſtanding this great turn that hath been wrought, ſo that we cannot do what we fain would, Rom. 7.19. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil that I would not, that I do. Gal. 5.17. All therefore that we do on this Account will be with Wreſtling and Souffling, and many Flaws in our Obedience: However this Principle, ſo put into us, will have it's Operations, and engage us to uſe our utmoſt Vigour in ſerving of God, by a Conformity to his revealed Will, and in ſtrengthning and fortifying all the Graces beſtowed upon us, unto a more lively and ſteady Proſecution.
(6.) THERE are two Qualities, that do evermore adhere to this Purpoſe & Endeavour, whereby it's Sincerity diſcovers it ſelf.
1. If is Univerſal. As in turning from Sin, there is an Univerſality, it being from all Sin, (Pſal. 119.104.) and if there be one Sin that keeps the throne, the Man is not turned, and all other turnings are Hypocritical; ſo in this turning to God, in reſpect of Obedience, all the Commands are without Exception embraced, Pſal. 119.6. He doth not pick and chuſe, take one and neglect another; but he puts himſelf entirely under the whole Law of God, and none of His Commandments are grievous to him: And tho' remaining Fleſh relucts and gives him Moleſtation; yet the Grace which is put into him pronounceth of them all, that they are Holy, Juſt & Good.
2. IT is Untepentable. Repentance is one of the Gifts of God which are without Repentance: True Repentance is ſuch a Change in the Man, from which he never more Changeth his Mind, but abides by it; hence called, Repentance unto ſalvation, not to be repented of. 2 Cor, 7.10. That Man who repents of his Repentance, never Repented aright, but it was only Feignedly: He that ſincerely turns from his Sin, bids it an everlaſting Farewel; it is a Divorce never to be revoked: We are therefore told how it is, Hoſ. 14.8. What have I to do any more with idols? And when ne… gives himſelf up to God and His Service, it is not for Time but Perpetuity, never to go back from Him, Pſal. 86.18. It is the Spirit of God who works thoſe Purpoſes in the Heart, and ſo fixeth them, that they ſhall never be totally loſt: And of at any time they become weakened thro' Temptation, they ſhall be afreſh renewed and proſecuted.
AND thus have we taken a brief Account of the true Repentance, which is recommended to us in the Covenant of Grace; and which is a neceſſary Medium to our eſcaping God's Wrath and Curſe, and obtaining of the Salvation which is ſet before us in the Goſpel.
USE. LET this then put us upon the Trial of our ſelves, in regard of the Hope we have of being Saved. Every one that Lives under the Goſpel, and hath any reſentments of his Miſery by Nature, by reaſon of the Wrath that is out againſt him, would fain obtain, and bear himſelf up upon an Hope that it ſhall go well with him for ever: But it is a matter of Infinite Moment, that we be not miſtaken in this, and our Hope ſhould, like that of the Hypocrite, b… cut off, and prove as a Spider's Web. Let us then be careful, as to prove our Faith that it be not Preſumption, but the Faith of God's Elect; ſo that we be not deceived in this, let us examine our ſelves about our Repentance, whether it be unto Life, and not that which will be found falſe & deſtructive. Let us then remember, that as without Repentance there is no Salvation, but we muſt Periſh; ſo it muſt be a Repentance not to be repented of; leſt with Abab & Judas, we Periſh for all. And to that end, bring it to the Teſt of the Characteriſtical Notes which have been laid down about it in the Premiſes. And that we be not impoſed on, in this our ſearch, Let us diſtruſting our ſelves, apply our ſelves to the Heart-ſearching God, and lay our ſelves open before Him, with a ſincere offer of his Supplication, Pſal. 139, 23, 24. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And ſee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlaſting.