Repentance the Sure Way to Escape Destruction, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
LORD'S-DAY, December 24th. 1727. P.M.
Jer. 18.7, 8.
At what instant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom to pluck up, and to pull down, and to deſtroy it: If that nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
DOCT. I. GOD is won't to Threaten a People, and give them warning, before. He brings Destroying Judgments upon them.
DOCT. II. IF ſuch a People Repent of the Evil of their Sins, and turn from them to the Lord; God will alſo Repent, and not bring the Threatned Evil of Puniſhment upon them.
UNDER this Second Doctrine we inquir'd, What is implied in a People's Repenting of the Evil of their Sins? An Anſwer hath already been given to this Inquiry. We therefore proceed to ſhew.
II. IF a People, when Threatned, thus Repent, God will alſo Repent, and not bring the threatned Evil of Puniſhment upon them.
WHEN God threatens a ſinful People with Deſtruction, there's yet a Reſerve of Mercy. The Threatning is not ſo abſolute as to leave no place for Repentance, Jer. 36.2, 3. Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have ſpoken unto thee againſt Iſrael, and againſt Judah, and against all the nations from the day I ſpake unto thee, from the days of Joſiah, even unto this day. It may be that the houſe of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpoſe to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their ſin. The Omniſcient God could not be at a loſs about the Event; but this is ſpoken of the All knowing God after the manner of Men, to ſhew how acceptable to Him true Repentance is.
Now this Truth will appear, if we conſider, and duly weigh the following Particulars,
1. IT will appear, if we conſider the gracious Promiſes and Declarations of God's Word. There are great and precious Promiſes made to the Penitent by the true God. Indeed God hath not abſolutely promis'd particular Perſons temporal Deliverance from this or the other publick Calamity, tho' they truly Repent. Job 9.22. He destroyeth the perfect, and the wicked. Eccl. 9.2. There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked. However, God often ſets a viſible mark of His Favour upon ſuch, when He is coming out againſt a Degenerate People in deſtroying Judgments, Ezek. 9.4. And if at any time He bring the temporal Evil upon them, He ſanctifieth it, & makes it work together for their good †Rom. 8.28.. God doth not puniſh ſuch as an Enemy, in a way of vindictive Juſtice; but Chaſtiſeth them as a merciful Father, for their profit. And no tribulation or diſtreſs ſhall be able to ſeperate them from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord *ver. 35—39.. Nor may a Penitent People expect to be delivered from all kinds of Calamity: While Sin remains, there will be Sorrow. But then, they ſhall not be plucked up and deſtroyed, the Evil here threatned. No! They ſhall continue a People before the Lord. He will dwell among them, be their God, and own them for his People. And the Affliction they ſuffer ſhall be ſanctified to ſeperate them from their Sins; and not be ſent in Wrath for their Deſtruction. Iſai. 27.8, 9. He stayeth his rough wind in the day of the eaſt wind. By this therefore the iniquity of Jacob ſhall be purged, and this is the fruit to take away his ſin. And thus God ſpeaks very graciouſly concerning them that were carried Captive with Jeconiah, Jer. 24.5,—7. Thus ſaith the Lord the God of Iſrael, like theſe good figs, ſo will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have ſent out of this place into the land of the Caldeans for their good. For I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land, and I will build them, and not pull them down, and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God: for they ſhall return unto me with their whole heart. And as for the Church and People of God in the firſt and pureſt times of the Goſpel, they were perſecuted indeed, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not deſtroy'd. 2 Cor. 4.9. The Spirit of God, and of Glory reſted on them, and the trial of their Faith was more precious than Gold. The Church flouriſhed like the Palm tree, under her preſſures, of which it is obſerv'd, "the more it is preſs'd down, the more it grows." What was ſaid of God's Iſrael in Egypt, may be applied to them. Exod. 1.12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. Thus it was in a Spiritual ſenſe. Vaſt numbers were born to God; the Blood of Martyrs being made by God the Seed of the Church *…. Having hinted theſe things to ſtate the point, and remove ſome ſeeming difficulties, I ſhall briefly mention ſome of the Promiſes which confirm and illuſtrate this Truth. Lev. 26.41, 2 — If then their uncircumciſed hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and alſo my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. Iſai. 58.6,—8. Is not this the faſt that I have choſen? to looſe the bands of wickedneſs, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppreſſed go free, and that ye break every yoke. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out, to thy houſe; when thou ſeeſt the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thy ſelf from thine own fleſh? Then ſhall thy light break forth as the morning and thine health ſhall ſpring forth ſpecility: and thy righteouſneſs ſhall go before thee, the glory of the Lord ſhall be thy re…d. Heſ, 6.1. Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us: he hath ſmitten, and he will bind us up. Ezek. 33.14, 15. Acts 2.38, 39. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, for the remiſſion of ſins, and ye ſhall receive the gift of the holy Ghoſt. For the promiſe is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord your God ſhall call. Chap. 3.19. By ſuch good words as theſe doth God encourage His People to Repent and turn to Him. Now we are aſſured that 'till Heaven and Earth paſs, one jot or one title ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the law till all be fulfilled.
2. THIS appears from the Proviſion made for true Penitents in Jeſus Chriſt, and from the Constitution of the Covenant of Grace. God hath made abundant Proviſion for the Salvation of His People in Chriſt Jeſus, who hath offer'd a Sacrifice of Atonement for the Congregation of His People, who look to Him by Faith, mourn for their Sins, and turn from them unto the Lord. Agreably, Aaron was commanded to offer a Sin-offering for the People, with the blood of which he was to make Atonement for all the Congregation of Iſrael, Lev. 16.15—17. Thus on the Day of Atonement they were to afflict their Souls, and offer an Offering made by Fire unto the Lord, Lev. 23.27. Thus, tho Congregation of Iſrael were to kill the Paſſover, and ſprinkle the Blood upon the doorpoſts—that the deſtroyer might not come into their houſes. Exod. 12. Which things did prefigure Jeſus Chriſt the Lamb of God which taketh away the ſin of the World †Joh. 1.19.. And we are hereby taught that ſuch as do in a believing penitent manner look unto Jeſus, ſhall find mercy with God. God will ſay of them, ſpare them from going down to the Pit, I have found a ranſom. And tho' it be true, that none ſhall receive the everlaſting benefit of Chriſt's Sacrifice, but ſuch us heartily receive the Lord Jeſus, mouthing for their ſins with a godly Sorrow, yet the Body of a People fare the better on temporal accounts, and God will not deſtroy them, where ſuch a frame of ſpirit is found prevailing among them. Zech. 12.6. — 10. And this is plain from the nature and tenor of the New Covenant, the Covenant of Grace, in which God gives encouragement, not only to ſingle Perſons, but alſo to His People to Repent, that their Sins may be blotted out, and their Iniquities not be their ruin. Jer. 31.31, — 36. Behold, the days come ſaith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the houſe of Iſrael, and with the houſe of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, ſaith the Lord,) But this ſhall be the covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael after thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. And they ſhall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, ſaying, know the Lord: for they ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them unto the greatest of them, ſaith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſin no more. Thus ſaith the Lord, which giveth the ſun for a light by day, and the ordinances if the moon and of the ſtars for a light by night, which divideth the ſea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hoſts is his name. If thoſe ordinances depart from before me, ſaith the Lord, then the ſeed of Iſrael alſo ſhall ceaſe from being a nation before me for ever. Compar'd with Hebr. 8.8, — 12. In which there ſeems to be a gracious promiſe of a national Converſion of the Jews, and then that they ſhould not as a People, be rejected any more. And may not the People of God in New-England hope for a Diſpenſation of the Covenant of Grace relating to them, that ſhall reſemble this? May we not hope that God will revive His Work among us, and not utterly caſt us off?
3. WHEN a People Repent, then God's Threatnings and Judgments have the deſired Effect. Theſe are means God uſeth to purge away the Sins of His People. When God threatens and brings lighter Judgments, it is for their Warning, that they may be reclaimed and reformed. And therefore when theſe means are bleſs'd for this end, and the Work is in ſome good meaſure effected, God will return in a way of mercy and favour. He will repent, and change the courſe of His Providence towards ſuch a People. Now His Word accompliſheth that which he pleaſeth, and proſpereth in the thing whereto he ſent it *Iſa. 55.21.. Now the Rod & Reproof gives Wiſdom; His People open their Ear to Diſcipline, and turn to Him that ſmiteth them. And therefore God will caſt away the Rod, and ſhew Himſelf as a reconciled Father. Thus God ſaid of His ancient People, Iſai. 10.12. — When the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jeruſalem, I will puniſh the fruit of the ſtout heart of the king of Aſſyria. God calls the Aſſyrian the Rod of His Anger, ver. 5. And threatned to ſend him againſt an hypocritical Nation, ver. 6. But then, when the Work was done for which God ſent him, then he would puniſh him, and deliver His People.
4. THIS appears from God's Providential Diſpenſations towards His ancient Covenant People, and Others. Whatever their Sins had been, yet when they Repented, God alſo Repented of the Evil, and returned to them in a way of Favour. Thus, the Houſe of Iſrael lamented after the Lord, put away Baalim, &c. And God delivered them out of the Hand of the Philiſtines, 1 Sam. 7. When Ephraim, i. e. "the Ten Tribes, or thoſe of all the Tribes that fear'd the Lord", bemoan'd himſelf, and Repented, God ſaid, Is Ephraim my dear Son? is be a pleaſant Child? for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earnestly remember him ſtill: — I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 31.18, — 20. Yea, when the Ninevites turned from their Evil way, God repented of the Evil that he ſaid he would do unto them, and did it not, Jon. 3.10.
DOCT. III. BUT if a People when thus Threatned go on obſtinately in their Sins, they may expect that God will bring His Destroying Judgments upon them till they are made deſolate.
CONTRARIES have contrary Conſequences ver. 9, 10. Context. Iſrael's forſaking the Lord, was to make their Land deſolate, and a perpetual hiſſing, ver. 16. Deut. 28.13. If thou will not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to obſerve to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; then all theſe curſes ſhall come upon thee, and overtake thee. ver. 16, 36, 48, &c. And the Sacred Hiſtory informs us that theſe dreadful Threatnings were fulfilled upon them till they were caſt out of the good Land God had given them; deprived of their eſpecial Priviledges, and deliver'd up to an amazing Deſtruction. The Sinners of the Old World deſpis'd the Warnings God gave them by Noah, and reſiſted His Spirit. Then the Flood came and deſtroyed them all, Gen. 7. Luk. 17.27. There's a deſtroying power in Sin perſiſted in, it hath ruin'd Nations and Kingdoms, Jer. 47. Amos 1ſt. & 2d. Chapters. And this might be argued from God's Juſtice, Holineſs, and His Truth in fulfilling the Threatning of His Word &c. In this ſenſe it may be ſaid as, 1 Sam. 15.29. The ſtrength of Iſrael will not lie, nor repent. God is bound for His own Glory as His higheſt End; and therefore if a People obſtinately refuſe to Repent and give Glory to God, they muſt expect that God will glorify Himſelf upon them in their Deſtruction, and ſo become fearful in Praiſes †Lev. 10.3. Exod. 15.11..
FURTHER to Confirm this awful Truth, I ſhall briefly obſerve God's manner of Proceeding in Judgment againſt an Impeninent People that enjoy the means of Grace, and are in Covenant with God.
1. WHEN ſuch a People go on Impenitently and refuſe to be Reformed by God's Word and Providence; He takes His grieved Spirit from them. While God threatens His People, and ſends lighter Judgments as Calls to Repentance, He alſo uſually ſends His Spirit to ſtrive with them; but aſſureth us that His Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with man. Gen. 6.3. Accordingly when they reſiſt and vex Him, quenching His good Motions, and ſinning preſumptuouſly againſt the Convictions He gives them; as His ancient People did †Act. 7.51.. God is provok'd to withdraw His Spirit from the Means they enjoy; and to ſend His Plagues upon their Hearts; and then ſuch as were blind are judicially blinded, ſuch whoſe Hearts were hard, are hardned, being given up to their own Luſts, and the Temptations of Satan. Pſal. 81.11, 12. My people would not hearken to my voice: and Iſrael would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counſels. And now God may threaten in His Word and by His Providence; but they will not turn at His Reproof. Iſai. 1.5. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more. Now that meſſage may be bro't to them, Iſai. 6, 9, 10. And he ſaid, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not: and ſee ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and ſhut their eyes: leſt they ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their heart, and convert and he healed. It follows, ver. 11. —Till the cities be waſted without inhabitant, and the houſes without man, and the land be utterly deſolate. And when God withdraws even the common Influences and Reſtraints of His Spirit, a People grow worſe and worſe under the outward means, and ripen apace for Ruin. They are as Reprobate ſilver, becauſe God bath rejected them, Jer. 6.30, All the means us'd to purge away their droſs become ineffectual. And now there is oftentimes an evil Spirit of of ſlumber and carnal ſecurity prevailing, over ſuch a People; ſo that they will not conſider their latter end, till they come down wonderfully, Lam. 1.9. And wo will be unto them, when God takes His Holy Spirit from them. As far as this Judgment is inflicted, ſo far is their Day of Grace at an end. The things of their Peace are now. hidden from their eyes, and they will walk on in the paths which lead to deſtruction, Jer. 5.3,—14.
2 GOD then proceeds to take away the outward Ordinances and Means of Grace from them. Theſe are the Viſible Tokens of God's Preſence with His People. Thus God ſet up His Tabernacle, and dwelt among His ancient People. But when they deſpiſed the Means of Grace, and abuſed them to harden themſelves in Sin, as if they were deliver'd to do theſe and the other Abominations, and might Sin with impunity: I ſay, when it was thus. God remov'd theſe viſible Tokens of His Preſence and Favour, Jer. 7.9, 10. Will ye steal, murder and commit adultery, and ſwear falſely, and burn incenſe unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not. And come and ſtand before me in this houſe which is called by my Name, and ſay, we are delivered to do all … abominations? ver. 14. Therefore will I do unto this houſe which is called by my Name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you, and to your fathers, as I have done to Shilob. The Ark was an eſpecial Token of God's Preſence; but when the Iſraelites refuſed to repent and turn to the Lord, God gave it up into the hands of their Enemies, 1 Sam. 4. The Temple afterwards with the holy things in it, was the great Medium of their inſtituted Worſhip; But when they boaſted of God's holy Mountain, crying, The Temple of the Lord, as if this would ſecure God's Preſence, notwithſtanding their Impenitency, God in His over-ruling Providence burnt and deſtroy'd it, firſt by the Chaldeans, then by the Romans; and caſt them out of His ſight. And thus God threatned the Church of Epheſus, Rev. 2.5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen; and repent and do the firſt works, or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candleſtick out of his place, except thou repent. And what a fearful Example for the Confirmation of the truth before us, have we in this, and the other Aſian Churches, once highly favour'd with the light and priviledges of the Goſpel?
3. WHEN God is thus departed, and His Covenant broken, Destroying Judgments enter in, and make a People deſolate. Now the Glory and Defence of a People are gone; And there's a wide breach made at which deſolating Judgments come pouring in as an overflowing Scourge. They who have been thus highly ſavour'd, but refuſe to be the Lord's People, provoke Him to pluck them up, and deſtroy them from being a People in the Earth. Thus God threatned that Ephraim ſhould be broken, that it be not a people, Iſai. 7.8. And apoſtate Iſrael is forbidden to rejoyce as other People; becauſe they had gone a whoring from their God, Hoſ. 9.1. Others may for a time proſper in outward reſpects, tho' God be not their Covenant God; but when His People break His Covenant, and refuſe to return unto Him, their Civil and Religious Priviledges, their Outward and Spiritual Enjoyments have been taken away together. When Iſrael forſook the Lord, and he had rejected them, their Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Conſtitution was broken, and they were ſcattered abroad to the four Winds of Heaven. How pathetically did our Saviour lament over them when He ſaw their Ruin approaching! Mat. 23 37, 8. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them which are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your houſe is left unto you deſolate.
APPLICATION.
USE. I. FROM what hath been ſaid we may infer, that there is Reaſon to fear ſome dreadful Judgments yet to come on the Chriſtian World. If we look into Great Britain, what People have been more highly favour'd with the Light and Priviledges of the Glorious Goſpel? Or experienced more remarkable Deliverances in times of imminent Danger? Who have had louder Calls to Repentance in God's threatned Judgments; or more faithful Warnings by His Miniſters? And yet Iniquity abounds after all, yea Crying Sins. And do not many refuſe to return and reform? How little is there to be ſeen of that Good Spirit which animated the firſt Reformers in England and Scotland! Alas! By what we can learn, the power of Religion is very much weaken'd and decay'd among them, as well as among ourſelves. And may we not fear God will Viſit them with terrible Judgments? Surely we may well ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. I ſpeak not theſe things to diſcourage any that tremble at God's Word; but that we may all be quickned to Watch and Pray, and keep our Garments. Things may ſeem to look fair; and we ought to bleſs God for the Tranquility enjoyed: but what ſettled Peace can be expected while ſo many Diſhonour God, Deſpiſe Chriſt, and reject the Offers of the Goſpel? While Rome hath ſuch Power, and they that call themſelves Reform'd ſhew ſo little regard to Religion in the Power and Purity of it? The Lord grant that we may not ſay, Peace and Safety, when ſudden Deſtruction cometh *1 Theſ. 5.3.. The Lord help us, being mov'd with fear, to get into the Ark, into Chriſt, that whatever Evils come, we may be ſafe.
2. LEARN what is our great Duty and Interest this Day. To hear God's Voice, Repent and turn unto Him. God hath ſpoken in the Threatnings of His Word, and by the Rebukes of His Providence. Let us then to Day hear His Voice, and not harden our Hearts. The Lord hath rored out of Zion with a Voice which may well make us to tremble; and yet ſpare us from the threatned Deſtruction: And now ſays to us, if ye return, I will Repent of the Evil—. But threatens to bring Ruin upon us, if we go on impenitently, and refuſe to be Reformed. Now then that God ſets before us Life and Death, Bleſſing and Curſing, let us chooſe Life that we may live. O that there were ſuch an Heart in us, that we would fear the Lord, and keep all his Commandments always, that it might be well with us, and our Children forever †Deut. 5.29.! O that we could as a People ſo conſider of our Evil ways as to determine to forſake them! that we could Mourn becauſe we have offended and diſhonoured God by our Sins, and ſo turn to the Lord in hearty Repentance; that we could then heartily and ſucceſsfully engage in the Work of Reformation. Our Days of Faſting and Prayer will riſe up in Judgment againſt us, unleſs we bring forth fruits meet for Repentance: Let us therefore take heed and beware of giving God reaſon to Complain of us as of Ephraim and Judah, Hoſ. 6.4. — Your goodneſs is as a morning-cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away: Leſt that threatning be fulfill'd upon us, Chap. 13.3. Therefore they ſhall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that paſſeth away, as the chaff that is driven with a whirlwind out of the floor, and as the ſmoke out of the chimney.
3. LET each of us be Exhorted to Repent and turn from all our Tranſgreſſions; ſo Iniquity ſhall not be our Ruin. This Word which is ſpoken of a Nation, a People, concerns every one of us perſonally. We are all Tranſgreſſors of God's Law; were ſhapen in Iniquity, and have been guilty of innumerable actual Sins. And God in His Word ſpeaks againſt the Sinner, and ſays, The Soul that ſinneth it ſhall die, Ezek. 18.4. Yea, aſſureth us that the Wicked ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment, Mat. 23.46. And that our Lord Jeſus ſhould be reveal'd from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8. Now the Doctrine of Repentance is a great Goſpel Command. Our Lord Himſelf, the great Prophet of His Church, began His publick Miniſtry with Preaching this Doctrine, Mat. 4.17. From that time Jeſus began to preach and to ſay, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Apoſtle Peter preach'd this Doctrine to the Jews, Act. 2.38. And the Apoſtle Paul informs us that he reſtifyed to the Jews and Greeks Repentance towards God, Act. 20.21. He declar'd that this was their duty, and urg'd it not only upon the Jews, but alſo upon the Greeks; i. e. the Gentiles. This Command is publiſh'd to all that live within the Sound of the Goſpel, Act. 17.30. God now commandeth all men every where to Repent. And the Goſpel gives us encouragement to attend this Duty, how many and great ſoever our Sins have been, aſſuring us that Jeſus Chriſt is come to call, not the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance; that He hath purchaſed Pardon for all penitent Believers, and is exalted to be a Prince, and a Saviour, to give Repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of Sins †Act. 5.31.. The Word of God alſo aſſureth us, that whoſo confeſſeth & for ſaketh his ſins, ſhall have mercy, Prov. 28.13. And that the chief of Sinners have found Mercy, when they have thus beſought the Lord, and turned to him, 2 Chron. 23.12, 13.1 Tim. 1.13,—16. Let us then be encouraged to ask of God His Holy Spirit to work this and all other Graces in us; Let each of us ſmite on our own Breaſts and ſay, What have I done? Let us offer to God that humble Requeſt, Lord, be merciful to me a Sinner. Let us be ſenſible of the Plague of our own Hearts, and bitterly bewail the diſhonour we have done to God, and the wrong we have done our own Souls by our Sins: Let us abhor our ſelves upon the account of our Sins, and turn from them in inward hatred and averſion. For, a broken and a contrite heart God will not deſpiſe †Pſal. 51.17.. Let us return to the Lord as to our God, with holy Reſolutions to cleave to Him, and walk in His Commandments. Let us look unto Jeſus, and by Faith rely upon Him to heal and cleanſe our Souls, whoſe Blood purgeth the Conſcience from dead Works, and cleanſeth from all Sin, Hebr. 9.14.1 Job. 1.7. Thus we ſhall be of thoſe bleſſed ones whoſe tranſgreſſions are forgiven, whoſe Sins are covered, and to whom the Lord imputeth not Iniquity. Pſal. 32.5. I acknowledged my ſin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: and ſaid I will confeſs my tranſgreſſions unto the Lord, and thou forgaveſt the iniquity of my ſin.
4. THE laſt USE may be of Conſolation to the Penitent. Be you Comforted: God will repent of the Evil, and not bring it upon you: His anger is turned away, and He will Comfort you. For thus ſaith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe Name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the bumble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the ſpirit ſhould fail before me, and the ſouls which I have made, Iſai. 57.15, 16. There's Joy in Heaven over ſuch, and God will give them the joy of His Salvation. Sometimes God ſets a mark upon 'em, when He is coming out againſt a ſinful People in deſtroying Judgments, and ſpareth them in His great Mercy, Ezek. 9. And if they are at any time caſt into the Furnace, the Son of God will be preſent with them, ſo that they ſhall not be conſum'd, but come forth as Gold out of the Fire. You that truly Repent, do alſo truſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and you ſhall find Reſt to your Souls in Him, whom God hath ſent to heal the broken hearted, Luk. 4.18. He hath purchaſed the Conſolations of the Spirit for ſuch as you, and knows how to ſpeak a Word in Seaſon to your weary Souls. And He will ſpeak Peace to His People: But O take heed then, and do not turn again to folly! To Conclude; Bleſſed are they who thus mourn; for they ſhall be Comforted: God will give to theſe Mourners in Zion the Oyl of Joy for Mourning, the Garment of Praiſe for the ſpirit of Heavineſs, Iſai. 61.3. And in due time He will preſent them faultleſs before the preſence of his glory with exceeding joy.
THE END.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THERE is now in the Preſs, and will quickly be Publiſhed, A Sermon from Luke XI. 13. By the ſame Author, Entitled, GOD will give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Preach'd on a Day of Prayer, ſet apart for Imploring the Great Bleſſing, of the Pouring out of the Spirit on the Riſing Generation.
In a few Days will be Publiſhed Mr Prince's Two Sermons on the Earthquake, The Second Edition, with ſome Entertaining Enlargements.
There is alſo in the Preſs Four Sermons. By the Rev. Mr. Gookin of Hampton, Occaſioned by the Earthquake, with an Hiſtorical Account of it as it was in that Town. Alſo ſome Remarkable Preſervation from Lightning there in the Summer paſt.
Sold by D. Henchman at the Corner …
End of the text · Joseph Sewall, Repentance the Sure Way to Escape Destruction (1727)