TheDoctrineofRepentance.

ThomasWatsonc.1620—1686

ModernizedAmerican-English,formatting,corrections,andadditionalnotes(inblue)

©WilliamGrosswww.onthewing.orgMay10,2011

Agoodcasecouldbemadeout forbelievingthat“repentance” isoneofthe leastusedwords in theChristianchurch today. Inaworld thatwillnottoleratethementionofsin,andinchurcheswhereithasbeendefinedonly in sociological terms, the biblical teaching on repentance hasinevitablybeenignored.

Knowingwhatrepentanceis,andactuallyrepenting,areessentialtotrueChristianity. JesusChrist himself said that ifwedonot repent,wewillperish!It isvital, therefore,toreadandstudywhatScripturehastosayaboutthistheme.

Few better guides have existed in this or any other area of spiritualexperiencethanThomasWatson.HewasamasterofbothScriptureandthehumanheart,andwrotewithasimplicityanddirectness thatkeepshisworkfreshandpowerfulforthetwentiethcentury.

ThomasWatson,ministerofSt.Stephen’s,Walbrookintheseventeenthcentury,wasoneoftheleadingspiritualguidesofhisday.

BannerofTruthTrust,3MurrayfieldRoad,P.O.Box621,Carlisle,PA17013,USA

ContentsTHEEPISTLETOTHEREADER

1.APRELIMINARYDISCOURSE

2.COUNTERFEITREPENTANCE

1.Thefirstdeceitofrepentanceislegalterror

2.Anotherdeceitaboutrepentanceisresolutionagainstsin

3.Thethirddeceitaboutrepentanceisleavingmanysinfulwaysalone

3.THENATUREOFTRUEREPENTANCE(1)

Ingredient1:SightofSin

Ingredient2:SorrowforSin

1.Truegodlysorrowisinward

2.Godlysorrowissincere

3.Godlysorrowisfaithful

4.Godlysorrowisagreatsorrow

5.Godlysorrowinsomecasesisjoinedwithrestitution

6.Godlysorrowisabiding

Ingredient3:ConfessionofSin

1.Confessionmustbevoluntary

2.Confessionmustbewithcompunction

3.Confessionmustbesincere

4.Intrueconfessionamanparticularizessin

5.Atruepenitentconfessessininthefountain

6.Sinistobeconfessedwithallitscircumstancesandaggravations

7.InconfessionwemustsochargeourselvesastoclearGod

8.Wemustconfessoursinswitharesolvenottorepeatthem

4.THENATUREOFTRUEREPENTANCE(2)

Ingredient4:ShameforSin

Ingredient5:HatredofSin

1.Whenaman’sspiritissetagainstsin

2.Truehatredofsinisuniversal

3.Truehatredagainstsinisagainstsininallforms

4.Truehatredisimplacable

5.Wherethereisarealhatred,wenotonlyopposesininourselvesbutinotherstoo

Ingredient6:TurningfromSin

1.Itmustbeaturningfromsinwiththeheart

2.Itmustbeaturningfromallsin

3.Itmustbeaturningfromsinuponaspiritualground.

4.ItmustbesuchaturningfromsinasturnstoGod.

5.Trueturningfromsinissuchaturnashasnoreturn.

5.THEREASONSENFORCINGREPENTANCE

1.God’ssovereigncommand

2.ThepurenatureofGoddeniescommunionwithanimpenitentcreature

3.SinnerscontinuinginimpenitenceareoutofChrist’scommission

4.WehavewrongedGodbysin

5.IfGodsavesmenwithoutrepentance,withoutdiscriminating,thenhemustsaveall,

AReprehensiontotheImpenitent

6.ASERIOUSEXHORTATIONTOREPENTANCE

1.Repentanceisnecessary

2.Repentanceisnecessaryforallpersons

3.Repentanceisnecessaryforallsins

7.POWERFULMOTIVESTOREPENTANCE

1.Sorrowandameltingheartwillfitusforeveryholyduty

2.Repentanceishighlyacceptable

3.RepentancecommendsallourservicestoGod

4.Withoutrepentancenothingwillavailus

5.Repentingtearsaredelicious

6.Greatsinsrepentedofshallfindmercy

7.Repentanceistheinlettospiritualblessings

8.Repentanceushersintemporalblessings

9.Repentancestavesoffjudgmentsfromaland

10.Repentancemakesjoyinheaven

11.ConsiderhowdearoursinscostChrist

12.ThisisthepurposeofallafflictionswhichGodsends,

13.Thedaysofourmourningwillsoonbeended

14.Thehappyandgloriousrewardthatfollowsuponrepentance

15.Thenextmotivetorepentanceistoconsidertheevilofimpenitence

16.ThelastmotivetorepentanceisthattheDayofJudgmentiscoming

8.EXHORTATIONSTOSPEEDYREPENTANCE

1.Nowistheseasonofrepentance,andeverythingisbestdoneinitsseason

2.Thesooneryourepentthefewersinsyouwillhavetoanswerfor

3.Thesoonerwerepent,themoreglorywemaybringtoGod

4.Puttingoffrepentanceanylongerhasdangerousconsequences

9.THETRIALOFOURREPENTANCE,ANDCOMFORTFORTHEPENITENT

1.Carefulness

2.Clearingourselves

3.Indignation

4.Fear

5.Vehementdesire

6.Zeal

7.Revenge

ANecessaryCaution

ComfortfortheRepentingSinner

1.Yoursinsarepardoned

2.Godwillpassanactofoblivion

3.Consciencewillnowspeakpeace

10.REMOVINGTHEIMPEDIMENTSTOREPENTANCE

1.Mendonotapprehendthattheyneedrepentance

2.Peopleconceiveitaneasythingtorepent

3.PresumptuousthoughtsofGod’smercy

4.Alazysluggishattitude

5.Theticklingpleasureofsin:‘whohadpleasureinunrighteousness’(2Thes2.12)

6.Anopinionthatrepentancewilltakeawayourjoy

7.Anotherobstacletorepentanceisdespondencyofmind

8.Hopeofimpunity

9.Thenextimpedimentofrepentanceisfearofreproach

10.Thelastimpedimentofrepentanceisimmoderateloveoftheworld

11.PRESCRIBINGSOMEMEANSFORREPENTANCE:

(1)SeriousConsideration

1.Firstly,considerseriouslywhatsinis.

2.ThesecondseriousconsiderationisthemerciesofGod.

3.Inthethirdplace,considerGod’safflictiveprovidences.

4.Fourthly,letusconsiderhowmuchwewillhavetoanswerforatlastifwedonotrepent.

12.PRESCRIBINGSOMEMEANSFORREPENTANCE(cont’d):

(2)ComparePenitentandImpenitentConditions

(3)Athirdmeansisasettleddeterminationtoleavesin.

(4)Thefourthmeansisearnestsupplication.

(5)ThefifthmeansistopursueclearerdiscoveriesofGod

(6)Lastly,weshouldlaborforfaith.

THEEPISTLETOTHEREADERCHRISTIANREADER,

The two great graces essential to a saint in this life are faith andrepentance.These are the twowingsbywhichhe flies toheaven.Faithand repentance preserve the spiritual life just as heat and radicalmoisturepresservethenatural.ThegracewhichIamgoingtodiscussisrepentance.

Chrysostom thought it was the most appropriate subject for him to

preach before theEmperorArcadius.1 Augustine caused the penitential

psalms to be written before him as he lay upon his bed, and he oftenperused them with tears. Repentance is never out of season; it is asfrequentlyusedastheartificer’stoolorthesoldier’sweapon.IfIamnotmistaken, practical points are more necessary in this age thancontroversialandpolemical.

Ithoughttosmotherthesemeditationsinmydesk.Butconceivingthemto be of great concern at this juncture of time, I rescinded my firstresolutionandhavenowexposedthemtocriticalview.

Repentanceispurgative;donotfeartheworkingofthispill.Strikeyoursoul, said Chrysostom; strike it and itwill escape death by that stroke.Howhappyitwouldbeifweweremoredeeplyaffectedwithsin,andoureyesswamintheirorb.WemayclearlyseetheSpiritofGodmoving inthe waters of repentance, which though troubled, are yet pure. Moisttears dry up sin and quench the wrath of God. Repentance is thecherisherofpiety,theprocurerofmercy.Themoreregretandtroubleinspiritwehavefirstatourconversion,thelessweshallfeelafterwards.

Christians,doyouhaveasadresentmentofotherthingsandnotofsin?Worldly tears fall to the earth, but godly tears arekept in abottle (Psa56.8).Donot judgeholyweeping as superfluous.Tertullian thoughthewasborn fornoother endbut to repent.Either sinmustdrownor thesoulmustburn.Letitnotbesaidthatrepentanceisdifficult.Thingsthatareexcellentdeserve labor.Willamannotdig forgold intheore,eventhough itmakes him sweat? It is better to gowith difficulty to heaventhanwithease tohell.Whatwould thedamnedgiveso that theymighthave a herald sent to them from God to proclaim mercy upon theirrepentance? What volleys of sighs and groans would they send up toheaven?Whatfloodsoftearswouldtheireyespourout?Butitisnowtoo

late. They may keep their tears to lament their folly, sooner than toprocurepity.Othatwewouldtherefore,whileweareonthissideofthegrave,make our peacewithGod! Tomorrowmay be our dying day; letthisbeourrepentingday.Howweshould imitate thesaintsofoldwhoembitteredtheirsoulsandsacrificedtheirlusts,andputonsackclothinthe hope of havingwhite robes. Peter baptized himself with tears; andthatdevoutladyPaula(ofwhomJeromewrites),likeabirdofparadise,bemoanedherselfandhumbledherselftothedustforsin.

Besides our ownpersonalmiscarriages, the deplorable condition of theland calls for a contribution of tears. Have we not lost much of ourpristinefameandrenown?Thetimewas,whenwesatasprincessamongtheprovinces(Lam.1.1),andGodmadethesheavesofothernationsbowdowntooursheaf(Gen37.7).Buthasnotourgloryfledawaylikeabird(Hos9.11)?Andwhatseveredispensationsareyettocomewecannottell.Our black and hideous vapors having ascended, we may fear loudthunderclaps should follow.Andwillnot all thisbringus toour sensesandexcite inusaspiritofhumiliation?Shallwesleepat the topof themastwhenthewindsareblowingfromallthequartersofheaven?Oletnottheappleofoureyecease(Lam.2.18)!

Iwillnotlaunchanyfurtherintoaprefatorydiscourse,butaskthatGodwould add a blessing to this work. May he so direct this arrow that,thoughshotatrovers,itmayhitthemark.Thatsomesinmaybeshottodeath,willbetheardentprayerofhimwhois

Thewell-wisherofyoursoul’shappiness,

THOMASWATSON

25May1668

ChapterOne

1.APRELIMINARYDISCOURSESaintPaul,wasfalselyaccusedofseditionbyTertullus:“Wehavefoundthismanatroublesomefellow,andaworkerofsedition”(Act24.5).AndsoPaulmakesanapologyforhimselfbeforeFestusandKingAgrippainChapter26oftheBookofAct.

Paulproveshimselfasanorator.Hecourtstheking(1)byhisgesture:hestretchedforthhishands,aswasthecustomoforators;(2)byhismannerof speech: “I think of myself as happy, king Agrippa, because I shallanswerformyselfbeforeyou,touchinguponallthethingsofwhichIamaccused”(Act26.2).

Paul thenaddresses three things, and in sodeepa strainof rhetoric asalmosttohaveconvertedKingAgrippa:

(1)Hespeaksofthemannerofhislifebeforehisconversion:“IlivedasaPhariseeafterthestrictestsectofourreligion”(v.5).Duringthetimeofhisunregeneracy,hewaszealousfortraditions;hisfalsefireofzealwassohot that itscorchedallwhostood inhisway;“Ishutupmanyof thesaintsinprison”(v.10).

(2)Hespeaksofthemannerofhisconversion:“Isawintheroadalightfrom heaven, beyond the brightness of the sun” (v.13). This light wasnoneotherthanwhatshonefromChrist’sglorifiedbody.“AndIheardavoicespeakingtome, ‘Saul,Saul,whydoyoupersecuteme?’”Thebodybeinghurt, thehead inheavencriedout.Paulwasamazedat this lightandvoice,andfelltotheearth:“Isaid,‘Whoareyou,Lord?’Andhesaid,‘IamJesuswhomyoupersecute’”(v.1415).Paulwasnowdepartedfromhimself. All opinion of self-righteousness vanished and he grafted hishopeofheavenuponthestockofChrist’srighteousness.

(3)Hespeaksofthemannerofhislifeafterhisconversion.Hewhohadbeen a persecutor before now became a preacher: “Arise, for I haveappearedtoyouforthispurpose:tomakeyouaministerandawitnessofthose things which you have seen” (v. 16). When Paul, this “vessel ofelection,”wassavinglyworkedupon,he labored todoasmuchgoodaspreviouslyhehaddonehurt.Hehadpersecutedsaints todeathbefore;now he preached sinners to life. God first sent him to the Jews atDamascus and afterwards enlarged his commission to preach to theGentiles.Andthesubjecthepreachedwasthis,“Thattheyshouldrepent

andturntoGod,anddoworksfitforrepentance”(v.20).Aweightyandexcellentsubject!

I shall not dispute the priority, whether faith or repentance goes first.DoubtlessrepentanceshowsitselffirstinaChristian’slife.YetIamapttothinkthattheseedsoffaitharefirstworkedintheheart.Whenaburningtaper is brought into a room, the light shows itself first, but the taperprecededthelight.Inthesameway,weseethefruitsofrepentancefirst,butthebeginningsoffaithweretherebefore.

What inclines me to think that faith is seminally in the heart beforerepentance is because repentance, being a grace,must be exercised bysomeonewhoisliving.Now,howdoesthesoullivebutbyfaith?“Thejustshall livebyhis faith” (Heb10.38).Therefore, theremust firstbe someseedsof faith intheheartofapenitent;otherwise it isdeadrepentanceandofnovalue.

Whether faith or repentance goes first, however, I am sure thatrepentanceisofsuchimportancethattherecanbenosavingwithoutit.AfterPaul’sshipwreck,heswamtoshoreonplanksandbrokenpiecesoftheship(Act27.44).InAdamweallsufferedshipwreck,andrepentanceistheonlyplankleftusaftershipwrecktoswimtoheaven.

ItisagreatdutyincumbentuponChristianstosolemnlyrepentandturnto God: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mat 3.2);“Repenttherefore,andbeconvertedsothatyoursinsmaybeblottedout”(Act 3.19); “Repent of your wickedness” (Act 8.22). In the mouths ofthreewitnessesthistruthisconfirmed.Repentanceisafoundationgrace:“Notlayingagainthefoundationofrepentance”(Heb6.1).Thatreligionwhichisnotbuiltuponthisfoundationmustfalltotheground.

Repentanceisagracerequiredunderthegospel.Somethinkitlegal;butthe first sermon that Christ preached, indeed, the first word of hissermon,was“Repent” (Mat4.17).Andhis farewell thathe leftwhenhewas going to ascend was that “repentance should be preached in hisname”(Luk24.47).Theapostlesallbeatuponthisstring:“Theywentoutandpreachedthatmenshouldrepent”(Mar6.12).

Repentance is a pure gospel grace. The covenant of works allowed norepentance;thereitwas:sinanddie.Repentancecameinbythegospel.Christhaspurchaseduswithhisbloodsothatrepentingsinnersshallbesaved. The law required personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience. Itcursedallwhocouldnotcomeuptothis:“Cursediseveryonethatdoes

not continue to do all thingswhich arewritten in the book of the law”(Gal 3.10). It does not say, “He that does not obey all things, let himrepent;”instead,itsays“lethimbecursed.”Thusrepentanceisadoctrinethathasbeenbroughttolightonlybythegospel.

Howisrepentanceworked?Themannerinwhichrepentanceisworkedisthis:

1.Partlybytheword

“Whentheyheardthis,theywereprickedintheirheart”(Act2.37).ThewordpreachedistheengineGodusestoeffectrepentance.Itiscomparedtoahammer,andtoafire(Jer23.29),theonetobreak,theothertomelttheheart.Howgreatablessingitistohavetheworddispensed,whichisofsuchvirtue!Thosewhoputoutthelightsofheavenwillfindithardtoescapehell!

2.BytheSpirit

Ministersarebutthepipesandorgans.ItistheHolyGhostbreathinginthem thatmakes their words effectual: “While Peter was still speakingthesewords, theHolyGhost fell onall thosewhoheard theword” (Act10.44).TheSpiritinthewordilluminatesandconverts.WhentheSpirittouches a heart, it dissolves with tears: “I will pour out upon theinhabitantsof Jerusalem the spiritof grace ... and they shall lookuponme whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn” (Zec 12.10). It iswonderful to consider what different effects the word has upon men.SomeatasermonarelikeJonah:theirheartistenderandtheylettearsfall.Othersarenomoreaffectedbyitthanadeafmanwithmusic.Somegrowbetterbytheword;othersgrowworse.Thesameearthwhichcausessweetness in thegrapecausesbitterness in thewormwood.What is thereason the word works so differently? It is because the Spirit of Godcarries theword to the conscience of one, andnot to another.Onehasreceived thedivineunction, andnot theother (1Joh2.20).Opray thatthedewmayfallwith themanna: that theSpiritmaygoalongwith theword. The chariot of ordinanceswill not carry us to heaven unless theSpiritofGodjoinshimselftothischariot(Act8.29).

ChapterTwo

2.COUNTERFEITREPENTANCETodiscoverwhattruerepentanceis,Iwillfirstshowwhatitisnot.Thereare several deceits of repentance which might occasion that saying ofAugustinethat“repentancedamnsmany.”Hemeantafalserepentance:apersonmaydeludehimselfwithcounterfeitrepentance.

1.Thefirstdeceitofrepentanceislegalterror

Sayamanhasgoneoninsinalongtime.AtlastGodarrestshim,showshimwhatdesperatehazardhehasrun,andheisfilledwithanguish.Inawhilethetempestofconscienceisblownover,andheisquietagain.Thenheconcludesthatheisatruepenitentbecausehehasfeltsomebitternessin sin.Donotbedeceived; this isnot repentance.AhabandJudashadtroubledminds.Itisonethingtobeaterrifiedsinner,andanothertobearepenting sinner. Sense of guilt is enough to breed terror. Infusion ofgrace breeds repentance. If pain and trouble were sufficient forrepentance,thenthedamnedinhellwouldbethemostpenitent,fortheyaremostinanguish.Repentancedependsuponachangeofheart.Theremaybeterrorandyetnochangeofheart.

2.Anotherdeceitaboutrepentanceisresolutionagainstsin

Apersonmayresolveandmakevows,andyetnotbepenitent.“Yousaid,I will not transgress” (Jer 2.20). Here was a resolution, but see whatfollows: “you wander under every green tree, playing the harlot.”Notwithstandinghersolemnengagements,sheplayedfastandloosewithGodand ranafterher idols.Weseebyexperiencewhatprotestationsapersonwillmakewhenheisonhissickbed,ifonlyGodwouldallowhimto recover; yet he is as bad as ever. He shows his old heart in a newtemptation.

Resolutionsagainstsinmayarise,

(1) frompresent extremity; not because sin is sinful, but because it ispainful.Thisresolutionwillvanish.

(2)fromfearoffutureevil,anapprehensionofdeathandhell:“Ilooked,andbeholdapalehorse:andhisnamethatsatonhimwasDeath,andHellfollowedwithhim”(Rev6.8).Whatwillasinnernotdo,whatvowswill he not make, when he knows he must die and stand before thejudgment-seat? Self-love raises a sickbed vow, and love of sin will

prevailagainstit.Donottrusttoapassionateresolution;itisraisedinastormanditwilldieinacalm.

3.Thethirddeceitaboutrepentanceisleavingmanysinfulwaysalone

Itisagreatmatter,Iconfess,toleavesin.Sodearissintoamanthathewouldratherpartwithachildthanwitha lust:“ShallIgivethefruitofmybodyfor thesinofmysoul?”(Mic6.7).Sinmaybepartedwith,yetwithoutrepentance.

(1) A man may part with some sins and keep others, just as Herodreformedmanythingsthatwereamissbutcouldnotleavehisincest.

(2)Anoldsinmaybe left inorder toentertainanewone, justasyoudismissanoldservanttotakeanother.Thisisexchangingasin.Sinmaybe exchanged and yet the heart remain unchanged. One who was aprodigalinhisyouthbecomesausurerinhisoldage.AslaveissoldtoaJew;theJewsellshimtoaTurk.Herethemasterischanged,butheisstillaslave.Soamanmovesfromonevicetoanotherbutstillremainsasinner.

(3)Asinmaybeleftnotsosuchfromstrengthofgraceasfromreasonsofprudence.Amanseesthatalthoughsuchasinisforhispleasure,itisnot forhis interest. Itwill eclipsehis credit, prejudicehishealth, andimpairhisestate.Therefore,forprudentialreasons,hedismissesit.

Trueleavingofsiniswhentheactsofsinceasebecauseoftheinfusionofaprincipleofgrace,justasitceasestobedarkwhenthereisaninfusionoflight.

ChapterThree

3.THENATUREOFTRUEREPENTANCE(1)I shall next show what gospel repentance is. Repentance is a grace ofGod’sSpiritwherebyasinnerisinwardlyhumbledandvisiblyreformed.Forafurtheramplification,knowthatrepentanceisaspiritualmedicinemadeupofsixspecialingredients:

1.Sightofsin2.Sorrowforsin3.Confessionofsin

4.Shameforsin5.Hatredforsin6.Turningfromsin

Ifanyoneoftheseisleftout,repentancelosesitsvirtue.

Ingredient1:SightofSinThefirstpartofChrist’smedicineiseye-salve(Act26.18).Itisthegreatthing noted in the prodigal’s repentance: “he came to himself” (Luk15.17).Hesawhimselfasasinnerandnothingbutasinner.Beforeamancan come to Christ he must first come to himself. Solomon, in hisdescription of repentance, considers this the first ingredient: “if theycome to themselves” (1Kng 8.47). A man must first recognize andconsiderwhathissinis,andknowtheplagueofhisheart,beforehecanbedulyhumbledforit.ThefirstcreatedthingGodmadewaslight.Sothefirst thing inapenitent is illumination:“Nowyouare light intheLord”(Eph5.8).Theeyeismadebothforseeingandweeping.Sinmustfirstbeseenbeforeitcanbeweptfor.

From this I infer that where there is no sight of sin, there can be norepentance.Manywho can spy faults inothers seenone in themselves.Theycrythattheyhavegoodhearts.Isitnotstrangethattwoshouldlivetogether,andeatanddrinktogether,yetnotknoweachother?Suchisthecaseofasinner.Hisbodyandsoullivetogether,worktogether,yetheisunacquaintedwithhimself.Hedoesnotknowhisownheart,norwhatahellhecarriesaroundwithhim.Underaveiladeformedfaceishidden.Persons are veiled-overwith ignorance and self-love; therefore they donotseewhatdeformedsoulstheyhave.Thedevildoeswiththemasthefalconerdoeswiththehawk.Heblindsthemandcarriesthemhoodedtohell: “the sword shall strikehis right eye” (Zec 11.17).Menhave insightenoughintoworldlymatters,buttheeyeof theirmindisstricken.Theydonotseeanyevilinsin;theswordstrikestheirrighteye.

Ingredient2:SorrowforSinIwillbesorryformysin(Psalm38.18)

Ambrosecallssorrow“theembitteringofthesoul.”TheHebrewword“tobe sorrowful” signifies “to have the soul,” as it were, “crucified.” Thismustbesointruerepentance:“Theywilllookuponmewhomtheyhavepierced,andtheyshallmourn”(Zec12.10),asiftheyfeltthenailsofthecrossstickingintheirsides.Awomanmayaswellexpecttohaveachildwithoutpangsasonecanhaverepentancewithoutsorrow.Someonewhocanbelievewithoutdoubting,shouldsuspecthisfaith;andsomeonewhocanrepentwithoutsorrowing,shouldsuspecthisrepentance.

Martyrs shed blood for Christ, and penitents shed tears for sin: “shestoodatJesus’feetweeping”(Luk7.38).Seehowthisdistillerydripped.The sorrow of her heart ran out at her eye. The brazen basin for thepriests to wash in (Exo 30. 18) typified a double basin: the basin ofChrist’sbloodwemustwashinbyfaith,andthebasinoftearswemustwash in by repentance. A true penitent labors towork his heart into asorrowing attitude. He blesses God when he can weep; he is glad of arainyday, forheknows that it isa repentancehewillhavenocause torepentof.Thoughthebreadofsorrowisbittertothetaste,itstrengthenstheheart(Psa104.15;2Cor7.10).

This sorrow for sin is not superficial: it is a holy agony. It is called inScripture,abreakingoftheheart:“ThesacrificesofGodareabrokenanda contrite heart” (Psa 51.17); and a rending of the heart: “Rend yourheart” (Joe 2.13). The expressions of striking on the thigh (Jer 31.19),beating on the breast (Luk 18.13), putting on sackcloth (Isa 22.12),pluckingthehair(Ezra9.3),areallbutoutwardsignsofinwardsorrow.Thissorrowis:

(1)TomakeChrist precious.O howdesirable is a Savior to a troubledsoul!NowChrist isChrist indeed,andmercy ismercy indeed.Until the

heart is full of compunction,2 it is not fit for Christ.Howwelcome is a

surgeontoamanwhoisbleedingfromhiswounds!

(2)Todriveoutsin.Sinbreedssorrow,andsorrowkillssin.Holysorrowis the rhubarb topurgeout the illmoodsof the soul. It is said that thetearsofvinebranchesaregood tocure leprosy.Certainly the tears thatdropfromthepenitentaregoodtocuretheleprosyofsin.Thesaltwateroftearskillsthewormofconscience.

(3)Tomakewayforsolidcomfort:“Thosewhosowintearsshallreapinjoy”(Psa126.5).Thepenitenthasawetseedtimebutadeliciousharvest.Repentance bursts the abscess of sin, and then the soul is at ease.Hannah, after weeping, went away and was sad no more (1Sam 1.18).God’stroublingofthesoulforsinisliketheangel’stroublingofthepool(Joh5.4),whichmadewayforhealing.

Butnotallsorrowevidencestruerepentance.Thereisasmuchdifferencebetween trueand false sorrowasbetweenwater in the spring,which issweet, and water in the sea, which is briny. The apostle speaks ofsorrowing “in a godly manner” (2Cor 7.9). But what is this godlysorrowing?Therearesixqualificationsforit:

1.Truegodlysorrowisinward

Itisinwardintwoways:

(1)Itisasorrowoftheheart.Thesorrowofhypocritesliesintheirfaces:“theydisfigure their faces” (Mat6.16).Theymakea sour face,but theirsorrowgoesnofurther,likethedewthatwetstheleafbutdoesnotsoaktotheroot.Ahab’srepentancewasanoutwardshow.Hisgarmentswererentbutnothisspirit (1Kng21.27).Godlysorrowgoesdeep, likeaveinwhich bleeds inwardly. The heart bleeds for sin: “they were pricked intheirheart”(Act2.37).Astheheartbearsaprimarypartinsinning,soitmustbearaprimarypartinsorrowing.

(2)Itisasorrowforheart-sins,thefirstoutbreaksandstirringsofsin.Paulgrieved for the law inhismembers (Rom7.23).The truemournerweeps for the stirrings of pride and lust. He grieves for the “root ofbitterness”eventhoughitneverblossomsintoaction.Awickedmanmaybetroubledbyscandaloussins;arealconvertlamentsheart-sins.

2.Godlysorrowissincere

Itissorrowfortheoffenseratherthanforthepunishment.God’slawhasbeeninfringed,andhisloveabused.Thismeltsthesoulintears.Amanmaybesorry,yetnotrepent,justasathiefissorrywhenheiscaptured–not because he has stolen, but because he has to pay the penalty.Hypocritesgrieveonlyforthebitterconsequenceofsin.Ihavereadofafountain that only flowson the eveningbefore a famine.Likewise theireyesneverpourouttearsexceptwhenGod’sjudgmentsareapproaching.Pharaohwasmoretroubledforthefrogsandriverofbloodthanforhissin.Godlysorrow,however,ischieflyforthetrespassagainstGod,sothateven if therewerenoconscience tostrike,nodevil toaccuse,nohell topunish,yetthesoulwouldstillbegrievedbecauseoftheprejudicedonetoGod.“Mysin iseverbeforeme”(Psa51.3);Daviddoesnotsay, “Theswordthreatenediseverbeforeme,”but“mysin.”OthatIshouldoffendsogoodaGod,thatIshouldgrievemyComforter!Thisbreaksmyheart!

GodlysorrowshowsitselftobesincerebecausewhenaChristianknowsthat he is out of the gunshot of hell andwill never be damned, he stillgrievesforsinningagainstthatfreegracewhichhaspardonedhim.

3.Godlysorrowisfaithful

Itisintermixedwithfaith:“thefatherofthechildcriedout,andsaidwithtears, ‘Lord, I believe’” (Mar 9.24). Here was sorrow for sin checkered

withfaith,asifwehaveseenabrightrainbowappearinawaterycloud.

Spiritualsorrowwillsinktheheartifthepulleyoffaithdoesnotraiseitup.Justasoursiniseverbeforeus,soGod’spromisemusteverbebeforeus. Just aswe greatly feel our sting, sowemust look up toChrist, our

bronzeserpent.3Somehavefacessoswollenwithworldlygriefthatthey

can hardly look out of their eyes. Theweepingwhich blinds the eye offaith is not good. If faith sinks in the soul, then it is not the sorrow ofhumiliationbutofdespair.

4.Godlysorrowisagreatsorrow

“In that day there shall be great mourning, as the mourning ofHadadrimmon”(Zec12.11).TwosunssetthatdaywhenJosiahdied,andtherewasagreatfuneralmourning.Sorrowforsinmustbeboiledupto

suchadegree.Pectoreabimosuspiria.4

Question1:Doallhavethesamedegreeofsorrow?

Answer:No,sorrowreciperemagisemminus(producesgreaterorlesser[sorrows]).Inthenewbirthallhavepangs,butsomehavesharperpangsthanothers.

(1)Somearenaturallyofamoreruggeddisposition,ofhigherspirits,andarenoteasilybroughttostoop.Thesemusthavegreaterhumiliation,justasaknottypieceoftimbermusthavegreaterwedgesdrivenintoit.

(2) Somehavebeenmoreheinous offenders, and their sorrowmust besuitabletotheirsin.Somepatientshavetheirsoresopenedwithaneedle,otherswithalance.Themorewickedsinnersmustbemorebruisedwiththehammerofthelaw.

(3) Some are designed and cut out for higher service, to be eminentlyinstrumental for God; and these must have a mightier work ofhumiliationpassuponthem.ThosewhomGodintendstobepillarsinhischurchmustbemorehewn.Paul,theprinceoftheapostles,whowastobeGod’sensign-bearertocarryhisnamebeforetheGentilesandkings,wastohavehisheartmoredeeplylancedbyrepentance.

Question2:Buthowgreatmustsorrowforsinbeinall?

Answer: Itmustbeasgreatas foranyworldly loss.Turgescunt lumina

petu.5“Theyshalllookuponmewhomtheyhavepierced,andtheyshall

mourn as for an only son” (Zec 12.10). Sorrow for sin must surpass

worldlysorrow.WemustgrievemoreforoffendingGodthanforthelossofdearrelations.“InthatdaytheLordGodofhostscalledforweeping,and baldness, and girdingwith sackcloth” (Isa 22.12): thiswas for sin.ButinthecaseoftheburialofthedeadwefindGodprohibitingtearsandbaldness (Jer 22.10; 16.6), to intimate that sorrow for sinmust exceedsorrowatthegrave;andwithgoodreason,forintheburialofthedeaditisonlyafriendwhodeparts,butinsinitisGodwhodeparts.

Sorrowforsinshouldbesogreatastoswallowupallothersorrow;whenthe pain of the gall stone and the gout meet, the pain of the stoneswallowsupthepainofthegout.

We are to find asmuchbitterness inweeping for sin as everwe foundsweetness in committing it. Surely David found more bitterness inrepentancethaneverhefoundcomfortinBathsheba.

Oursorrowforsinmustbesuchthatitmakesuswillingtoletgoofthosesinswhichbroughtthegreatestincomeofprofitordelight.Themedicineshowsitselfstrongenoughwhenithaspurgedourdisease.TheChristianhasasufficientmeasureofsorrowwhentheloveofsinispurged.

5.Godlysorrowinsomecasesisjoinedwithrestitution

If someonehaswrongedothers in theirestatebyunjustand fraudulentdealing,inconscienceheoughttorecompensethem.Thereisanexpresslaw for this: “he shall recompense for his trespass with the principaltaken,addingafifthtoit,andgivingittotheonehewronged”(Num5.7).This ishowZacchaeusmaderestitution: “If Ihave takenanything fromanymanbyfraud,Irestorehimfourfold”(Luk19.8).WhenSelymusthe

great Turk6 lay upon his deathbed, being urged by Pyrrhus to put to

charitable use the wealth he wrongfully gained from the Persianmerchants, he commanded rather that it should be sent back to therightful owners.Should not a Christian’s creed be better than a Turk’sKoran?ItisabadsignwhenamanonhisdeathbedbequeathshissoultoGodandhis ill-gotten goods tohis friends. I canhardly thinkGodwillreceivehissoul.Augustinesaid,“Withoutrestitution,noremission.”And

it was a speech of old Latimer,7 “If you do not restore goods unjustly

gotten,youshallcoughinhell.”

Question1:Supposeapersonhaswrongedanotherinhisestateandthewrongedmanisdead.Whatshouldhedo?

Answer: Let him restore his ill-gotten goods to that man’s heirs and

successors.Ifnoneofthemisliving,lethimrestorethemtoGod,thatis,lethimputhisunjustgainintoGod’streasurybyrelievingthepoor.

Question2:Whatifthepartywhodidthewrongisdead?

Answer: Then thosewho are his heirs ought tomake restitution.MarkwhatIsay:ifthereareanywhohaveestateslefttothem,andtheyknowthatthepartieswholeftthemtheirestateshaddefraudedothersanddiedwiththatguiltuponthem,thentheheirsorexecutorswhopossessthoseestatesareboundinconsciencetomakerestitution.OtherwisetheyentailthecurseofGodupontheirfamily.

Question3:Ifamanhaswrongedanotherandisnotabletorestore,whatshouldhedo?

Answer: Let him deeply humble himself before God, promising to thewrongedpartyfullsatisfactioniftheLordmakeshimable,andGodwillaccepttheintentforthedeed.

6.Godlysorrowisabiding

Itisnotafewtearsshedinapassionthatwillservetheturn.Somewillfallweepingatasermon,butlikeanAprilshower,itissoonover,orlikeavein that is opened and quickly stopped again. True sorrow must behabitual.OChristian, thediseaseofyoursoul ischronicand frequentlyreturns to you; therefore you must continually dose yourself by

repentance.Thisissorrowthatis“afteragodlymanner.”8

Use:Howfarfromrepentancethosearewhoneverhadthisgodlysorrow!Suchare:

(1)ThePapists,wholeaveouttheverysoulofrepentance,makingallpenitentialworkconsist infasting,penance,andpilgrimages, inwhichthereisnothingofspiritualsorrow.Theytorturetheirbodies,buttheirheartsarenottorn.Whatisthisbutthecarcassofrepentance?

(2) Carnal Protestants, who are strangers to godly sorrow. Theycannotendureaseriousthought,nordotheytroubletheirheadsabout

sin.Paracelsus9spokeofafrenzythatsomehavewhichmakesthemdie

dancing. Likewise, sinners spend their days inmirth; they fling awaysorrowandgodancingtodamnation.Somehavelivedmanyyears,yetneverputadropinGod’sbottle;nordotheyknowwhatabrokenheartmeans.Theyweepandwringtheirhandsasiftheywereundonewhentheirestatesaregone,buttheyhavenoagonyofsoulfortheirsin.

Thereisatwofoldsorrow:firstly,arationalsorrow,whichisanactofthesoulbywhichithasadislikeofsin,andchoosesanytortureratherthanadmitsin;secondly,thereisasensitivesorrow,whichisexpressedbymanytears.ThefirstoftheseisfoundineverychildofGod;butnotallhavethesecond,whichisasorrowrunningoutattheeye.Yet it isverycommendabletoseeaweepingpenitent.Christconsidersthosewhoaretender-eyed as great beauties; and sin may well make us weep. Weusuallyweepforthelossofsomegreatgood;well,bysinwehavelostthefavorofGod.IfMicahweptforthelossofafalsegod,saying,“Youhavetakenawaymygods,andwhatmoredo Ihave?” (Jdg18.24), thenwellmayweweepforoursinswhichhavetakenthetrueGodawayfromus.

Somemayaskwhetherourrepentanceandsorrowmustalwaysbealike.Althoughrepentancemustalwaysbekeptaliveinthesoul,therearetwospecial timeswhenwemust renew our repentance in an extraordinarymanner:

(1)BeforereceivingtheLord’sSupper.ThisspiritualPassover is tobeeaten with bitter herbs. Now our eyes should be fresh-broached withtears,andthestreamofsorrowshouldoverflow.Arepentantattitudeisasacramentalattitude.AbrokenheartandabrokenChristwellagree.The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we taste inChrist.WhenJacobwepthefoundGod:“AndhecalledthenameoftheplacePeniel:forIhaveseenGodfacetoface”(Gen32.30).ThewaytofindChristcomfortablyinthesacramentistogothereweeping.Christwillsaytoahumblepenitent,ashesaidtoThomas:“Reachhereyourhand, and thrust it intomy side” (Joh 20.27), and let those bleedingwoundsofminehealyou.

(2)Anothertimeofextraordinaryrepentance isat thehourofdeath.Thisshouldbeaweepingseason.Now isour lastwork tobedone forheaven,andourbestwineof tearsshouldbekept forsuchatime.Weshouldrepentnow,overhavingsinnedsomuchandweptsolittle,thatGod’s bag has been so full and his bottle so empty (Job 14.17). Weshould repent that we repented no sooner, that the garrisons of ourhearts held out so long against God before they were levelled byrepentance.WeshouldrepentthatwedidnotloveChristmore,thatwehave fetched nomore virtue from him and brought nomore glory tohim.Itshouldbeourgriefonourdeathbedthatour liveshavehadsomanyblanksandblotsinthem,thatourdutieshavebeensofly-blownwith sin, that our obedience has been so imperfect, and thatwe have

gonesolameinthewaysofGod.Whenthesoulisgoingoutofthebody,itshouldswimtoheaveninaseaoftears.

Ingredient3:ConfessionofSinSorrowissuchavehementpassionthatitmustvent.Itventsitselfattheeyesbyweeping,andatthetonguebyconfession:“ThechildrenofIsraelstood and confessed their sins” (Neh. 9.2). “Iwill go and return tomyplace, till they acknowledge their offense” (Hos 5.15); it is ametaphoralludingtoamotherwho,whensheisangry, leavesthechildandhidesher face till the child acknowledges its fault and begs pardon. Gregory

Nazianzen10callsconfession“asalveforawoundedsoul.”

Confessionisself-accusing:“Look,Ihavesinned”(2Sam24.17).Indeed,amongmen it is otherwise: noman is bound to accuse himself, but hedesirestoseehisaccuser.WhenwecomebeforeGod,however,wemust

accuseourselves:memeadsumqui feci inmeconvertite ferrum.11 And

thetruthisthat,bythisself-accusing,wepreventSatan’saccusing.Inourconfessionswe tax ourselveswith pride, infidelity, andpassion, so thatwhenSatan,whoiscalled“theaccuserofthebrethren,”laysthesethingsto our charge, God will say, “They have accused themselves already;therefore, Satan, your lawsuit is dismissed; your accusations come toolate.”Thehumble sinnerdoesmore thanaccusehimself; as itwere,hesitsinjudgmentandpassessentenceuponhimself.HeconfessesthathedeservestobeboundovertothewrathofGod.AndhearwhattheapostlePaulsays:“ifwewouldjudgeourselves,weshouldnotbejudged”(1Cor

11.31).12

Buthavenotwickedmen,likeJudasandSaul,confessedtheirsin?Yes,buttheirswasnotatrueconfession.Sothatourconfessionofsinmayberightandgenuine,theseeightqualificationsarerequired:

1.Confessionmustbevoluntary

It must come like water out of a spring, freely. The confession of thewicked is extorted, like the confession of a man upon a rack.When aspark of God’s wrath flies into their conscience, or they are in fear ofdeath, then theywill fall to their confessions.Balaam,whenhesaw theangel’s naked sword, could say, “I have sinned” (Num22.34). But trueconfessiondropsfromthelipsasmyrrhfromthetreeorhoneyfromthecomb,freely.“Ihavesinnedagainstheaven,andbeforeyou”(Luk15.18):

theprodigalchargedhimselfwithsinbeforehisfatherchargedhimwithit.

2.Confessionmustbewithcompunction

Theheartmustdeeplyresentit.Anaturalman’sconfessionsrunthroughhim like water through a pipe. They do not affect him at all. But trueconfession leaves heart-wounding impressions on a man. David’s soulwasburdened intheconfessionofhissins:“asaheavyburdentheyaretooheavy forme” (Psa38.4). It isone thing toconfess sinandanotherthingtofeelsin.

3.Confessionmustbesincere

Ourheartsmustgoalongwithourconfessions.Thehypocriteconfesseshis sin but still loves it, like a thief who confesses to stolen goods, yetlovesstealing.Howmanyconfessprideandcovetousnesswiththeirlips

butrollthemlikehoneyundertheirtongue.13Augustinesaidthatbefore

hisconversionheconfessedsinandbeggedforpoweragainstit;buthisheartwhisperedwithinhim,“notyet,Lord.”Hewasafraidtoleavehissintoosoon.AgoodChristianismorehonest.Hisheartkeepspacewithhistongue.Heisconvincedofthesinsthatheconfesses,andheabhorsthesinsthatheisconvincedof.

4.Intrueconfessionamanparticularizessin

Awickedmanacknowledgeshe isa sinner ingeneral.Heconfesseshissin wholesale. His confession of sin is much like Nebuchadnezzar’sdream:“Ihavedreamedadream”(Dan.2.3),buthecouldnottellwhatitwas:“Thething isgonefromme”(Dan.2.5). Inthesamewayawickedmansays,“Lord,Ihavesinned,”buthedoesnotknowwhatthesinis;atleast he does not remember; whereas a true convert acknowledges hisparticularsins.Asitiswithawoundedman,whocomestothesurgeonand showshimall hiswounds (here Iwas cut in thehead, there Iwasshotinthearm…)soamournfulsinnerconfessestheseveraldiseasesofhissoul.Israeldrewupaparticularchargeagainstthemselves:“Wehaveserved Baalim” (Judg. 10.10). The prophet recites the very sin whichbrought a curse with it: “Nor have we listened to your servants theprophets,whospoke inyourname” (Dan.9.6).Byadiligent inspectionintoourhearts,wemayfindsomeparticularsinhasbeenindulged;pointtothatsinwithatear.

5.Atruepenitentconfessessininthefountain

Heacknowledgesthepollutionofhisnature.Thesinofournatureisnotonlyaprivationofgoodbutaninfusionofevil.It is likerusttoiron,orstain to scarlet. David acknowledges his birth-sin: “I was shaped ininiquity; my mother conceived me in sin” (Psa 51.5). We are ready tochargemanyofour first sins toSatan’s temptations,but this sinofournatureisentirelyfromourselves;wecannotshiftitofftoSatan.Wehavearootwithinusthatbearsgallandwormwood(Deu29.18).Ournatureisanabyssandaseminaryofallevil,fromwhichthosescandalsthatinfestthe world come. It is this depravity of nature which poisons our holythings;itisthiswhichbringsonGod’sjudgmentsandmakesourmerciesstickinthebirth.Ohconfesssininthefountain!

6.Sinistobeconfessedwithallitscircumstancesandaggravations

Thosesinswhicharecommittedunderthegospelhorizonaredoubtless

dyed in grain.14 Confess sins against knowledge, against grace, against

vows, against experiences, against judgments. “Thewrath ofGod cameupon them and slew the fattest of them. For all this, they still sinned”(Psa 78.31-32). These are killing aggravations which accentuate andenhanceoursins.

7.InconfessionwemustsochargeourselvesastoclearGod

IftheLordissevereinhisprovidencesandunsheatheshisbloodysword,stillwemustacquithimandacknowledgethathehasdoneusnowrong.NehemiahinconfessingsinvindicatesGod’srighteousness:“Evenso,youarejustinallthatisbroughtuponus”(Neh.9.33).Mauricetheemperor,15 when he saw his wife slain before his eyes by Phocas, cried out,“Righteousareyou,OLord,inallyourways.”

8.Wemustconfessoursinswitharesolvenottorepeatthem

Some run from the confession of sin to the committing of sin, like thePersianswhohaveonedayintheyearwhentheykillserpentsandafterthat day allow them to swarm again. Likewise,many seem to kill theirsins in their confessions, but afterwards let them grow as fast as ever.“Cease todo evil” (Isa 1.16). It is vain to confess, “Wehavedone thosethingsweshouldnothavedone,”andstillcontinuetodothem.Pharaohconfessedhehadsinned(Exo9.27);butwhenthethunderceased,hefellto his sin again: “he sinned still more, and hardened his heart” (Exo

9.34). Origen16 calls confession the vomit of the soul by which the

conscienceiseasedofthatburdenwhichlayuponit.Now,whenwehave

vomited up sin by confessionwemust not return to this vomit.17What

kingwillpardonamanwho,afterhehasconfessedhistreason,practicesnewtreason?

Thusweseehowconfessionmustbequalified.

Use1:Isconfessionanecessaryingredientinrepentance?Hereisabillofindictmentagainstfoursortsofpersons:

(1)Itreprovesthosethathidetheirsins,asRachelhidherfather’sidolsunderher(Gen31.34).Manywouldratherhavetheirsinscoveredthancured.Theydowiththeirsinsastheydowiththeirpictures:theydrawacurtainoverthem;orassomedowiththeirbastards,smotherthem.Butthoughmenhaveno tongue toconfess,Godhasaneye tosee;hewillunmasktheirtreason:“Iwillreproveyou,andsettheminorderbeforeyoureyes”(Psa50.21).Thoseiniquitieswhichmenhideintheirheartswill be written one day on their foreheads as if with the point of adiamond.ThosewhowillnotconfesstheirsinasDaviddid,sothattheymaybepardoned,willconfesstheirsinasAchandid,sothattheymaybestoned. It isdangerous tokeep thedevil’s counsel: “He that covershissinsshallnotprosper”(Pro28.13).

(2)Itreprovesthosewhoindeedconfesssin,butonlybyhalves.Theydo not confess all; they confess the pennies but not the dollars. Theyconfess vain thoughts or badmemory but not the sins they aremostguiltyof,suchasrashanger,extortion,anduncleanness,likethemanin

Plutarch18 who complained his stomach was not very good when his

lungswerebadandhisliverwasrotten.Butifwedonotconfessall,whyshouldweexpectGodtopardonall?Itistruethatwecannotknowtheexactcatalogueofoursins,butthesinswhichcomewithinourviewandcognizance,andwhichourheartsaccuseusof,mustbeconfessedifwearetohopeformercy.

(3) It reproves those who mince and extenuate their sins in theirconfessions. A gracious soul labors tomake theworst of his sins, buthypocritesmake thebest of them.Theydonotdeny they are sinners,but they do what they can to lessen their sins: they indeed offendsometimes,butitisjusttheirnature,andithasbeensuchalongtime.These are excuses rather than confessions. “I have sinned: for I havetransgressed the commandment of the Lord: because I feared the

people” (1Sam 15.24). Saul blames the people: they would have himspare the sheepandoxen. Itwas an apology,not a self-indictment. Itrunsintheblood.Adamacknowledgedhetastedtheforbiddenfruit,butinstead of aggravating his sin he shifted it fromhimself toGod: “Thewomanyougaveme,shegavemefromthetreeandIate”(Gen3.12).Thatis,ifIdidnothavethiswomantobeatempter,Iwouldnothave

transgressed.Inscripseredeossceleri(Ovid).19Itisabadsinindeedthat

wecanmakenoexcusefor,justasitmustbeaverycoarsewoolwhichwillnottakedye.Howaptwearetopareandcurtailsin,andlookatitthroughthesmallendof the telescopeso that itappears tobeonly“alittlecloud,likeaman’shand”(1Kng18.44).

(4) It reproves those who are so far from confessing sin that theyboldly plead for it. Instead of having tears to lament it, they useargumentstodefendit. If theirsin ispassion, theywill justify itby,“Ihave reason to be angry” (Jon. 4.9). If it be covetousness they willvindicateit.Whenmencommitsintheyarethedevil’sservants;whentheypleadfor it theyarethedevil’sattorneys,andhewillgivethemafeeforit.

Use2:Letusshowourselvestobepenitentsbysincereconfessionofoursin.Thethiefonthecrossconfessedhissin:“weareindeedcondemnedjustly”(Luk23.41).AndChristsaidtohim,“Todayyoushallbewithmein paradise” (Luk 23.43). This might have been the occasion forAugustine’s speech that confession of sin shuts the mouth of hell andopensthegateofparadise.

Sothatwemaymakeafreeandsincereconfessionofsin,letusconsiderthat,

(1)HolyconfessiongivesglorytoGod:“Myson,give,Iprayyou,glorytotheLordGodofIsrael,andmakeconfessiontohim”(Josh.7.19).AhumbleconfessionexaltsGod.Whatagloryitistohimthatoutofourown mouths he does not condemn us? While we confess sin, God’spatience ismagnified in sparingus, andhis freegrace ismagnified insavingsuchsinners.

(2)Confession is ameans tohumble the soul. The onewhodescribeshimselfasahell-deservingsinnerwillhavelittlehearttobeproud.Likethe violet, he will hang down his head in humility. A true penitentconfesses that he mingles sin with all he does, and therefore he hasnothing to boast about. Uzziah, though a king, had leprosy on his

forehead;hehadenoughtoabasehim(2Chr26.19).SoachildofGod,evenwhenhedoesgood, still acknowledges there ismuchevil in thatgood.Thislaysallhisfeathersofprideinthedust.

(3)Confessiongivesventtoatroubledheart.Whenguiltliesboilingintheconscience,confessiongivesease.Itislikelancinganabscesswhichgiveseasetothepatient.

(4)Confessionpurgessin.Augustinecalledit“theexpellerofvice.”Sinisbadblood;confessionislikeopeningaveintoletitout.ConfessionisliketheDungGatethroughwhichall thefilthof thecitywasremoved(Neh.3.13).Confession is likepumpingat the leak; it letsout that sinwhichwould otherwise overflow. Confession is the sponge that wipesthespotsoffthesoul.

(5)ConfessionofsinendearsChristtothesoul.IfIsayIamasinner,howpreciouswill Christ’s bloodbe tome!After Paul has confessed abodyofsin,hebreaksforthintoacongratulatorytriumphforChrist:“Ithank God through Jesus Christ” (Rom 7.25). If a debtor confesses ajudgmentbutthecreditorwillnotexactthedebt,andinsteadappointshisownsontopayit,willnotthedebtorbeverythankful?Sowhenweconfessthedebt,andconfessthatevenifweweretolieforeverinhellwecouldnotpayit,butthatGodmustappointhisownSontolaydownhisbloodtopayourdebt,thenfreegraceisgreatlymagnifiedandJesusChristiseternallylovedandadmired!

(6)Confessionofsinmakeswayforpardon.Nosoonerdidtheprodigalcomewith a confession inhismouth, “I have sinned against heaven,”than his father’s heart melted towards him and he kissed him (Luk15.20).WhenDavid said, “I have sinned,” the prophet brought him aboxwithapardon,“TheLordhasputawayyoursin”(2Sam12.13).Theone who sincerely confesses sin has God’s bond for a pardon: “If weconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins”(1Joh1.9).Whydoestheapostlenotsaythatifweconfessoursins,heismercifultoforgiveoursins?No;heisjusttoforgivethembecausehehasboundhimself by a promise to forgive them. God’s truth and justice areengagedinthepardoningofthatmanwhoconfessessinandcomeswithapenitentheartbyfaithinChrist.

(7)Howreasonableandeasythiscommandistoconfessoursin!

(a)Itisareasonablecommand.Forifonehaswrongedanother,whatis more rational than to confess that he has wronged him? Having

wrongedGodbysin,howequalandconsonanttoreasonitisthatweshouldconfesstheoffense.

(b)Itisaneasycommand.Whatavastdifferencethereisbetweenthefirst covenant and the second! In the first covenant it was, “if youcommitsin,youdie;”inthesecondcovenantitis,“Ifyouconfesssin,you shall havemercy.” In the first covenant no surety was allowed;underthecovenantofgrace,ifwebutconfessthedebt,Christwillbeoursurety.

What way could be thought of that is more ready and facile for thesalvation of man than a humble confession? “Only acknowledge youriniquity”(Jer3.13).Godsaystous,Idonotaskforsacrificesoframstoexpiateyourguilt;Idonotbidyoutopartwiththefruitofyourbodyforthe sin of your soul; “only acknowledge your iniquity;” if youwill onlydrawupanindictmentagainstyourselfandpleadguilty,youwillbesureofmercy.

Allthisshouldrenderthisdutyamiable.Throwoutthepoisonofsinby

confession,and“thisdaysalvationhascometoyourhouse.”20

Thereremainsonecaseofconscience:areweboundtoconfessoursinstomen?Thepapistsgreatlyinsistonauricularconfession;onemustconfesshis sins in the ear of thepriest orhe cannot be absolved.Theyurge,“Confessyoursinsonetoanother”(James5.16),butthisScripturelittle serves their purpose. It may as well mean that the priest shouldconfess to the people as well as the people to the priest. Auricularconfession is one of the Pope’s golden doctrines. Like the fish in theGospel, it hasmoney in itsmouth: “when youhave openedhismouth,you shall find a piece ofmoney” (Mat 17.27). But though I am not forconfessiontomeninapopishsense,yetIthinkinthreecasesthereoughttobeconfessiontomen:

(1)Firstly,whereapersonhas fallen intoscandaloussinandby ithasbeen an occasion of offense to some and of falling to others, then heought tomakeasolemnandopenacknowledgementofhissinso thathisrepentancemaybeasvisibleashisscandal(2Cor2.6-7).

(2) Secondly, where aman has confessed his sin to God, and yet hisconscienceisstillburdenedandhecanhavenoeaseinhismind,thenitis requisite that he should confess his sins to some prudent, piousfriend,whomayadvisehimandspeakawordindueseason(James5.

16).ItisasinfulmodestyinChristiansthattheyarenotmorefreewiththeirministers and other spiritual friends in unburdening themselvesandopeningthesoresandtroublesoftheirsoulstothem.Ifthereisathorn sticking in the conscience, it is good tomake use of thosewhomayhelptopluckitout.

(3)Thirdly,whereanymanhasslanderedanotherandbyclippinghisgoodnamehasmadeitlessinfluential,heisboundtomakeconfession.Thescorpioncarriesitspoisoninitstail;theslanderercarrieditinhistongue. His words pierce deep like the quills of the porcupine. Thepersonwhohasmurderedanotherinhisgoodnameor,bybearingfalsewitness,hasdamagedhiminhisestate,andoughttoconfesshissinandaskforgiveness:“Ifyoubringyourgifttothealtar,andthererememberthat your brother has anything against you; go your way; first bereconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mat5.23-24).Howcan this reconciliationbe effected exceptby confessingthe injury?Till this isdone,Godwillacceptnoneofyourservices.Donot think theholinessof thealtarwillprivilegeyou;yourprayingandhearing are in vain till you have appeased your brother’s anger byconfessingyourfaulttohim.

ChapterFour

4.THENATUREOFTRUEREPENTANCE(2)

Ingredient4:ShameforSinThefourthingredientinrepentanceisshame:“thattheymaybeashamedoftheiriniquities”(Eze43.10).Blushingisthecolorofvirtue.Whentheheart has been made black with sin, grace makes the face red withblushing: “I am ashamed and blush to lift upmy face” (Ezra 9.6). Therepentingprodigalwassoashamedofhisexcessthathethoughthimselfnotworthytobecalledasonanymore(Luk15.21).Repentancecausesaholy bashfulness. If Christ’s blood was not at the sinner’s heart, therewould not be so much blood in the sinner's face. There are nineconsiderationsaboutsinwhichmaycauseshame:

(1)Every sinmakes us guilty, and guilt usually breeds shame.Adamneverblushedinthetimeofinnocence.Whilehekeptthewhitenessofthe lily, he did not have the blushing of the rose; but when he haddefloweredhissoulbysin,hewasashamed.Sinhastaintedourblood.We are guilty of high treason against the Crown of heaven. Thismaycauseaholymodestyandblushing.

(2)Ineverysin there ismuchunthankfulness, and that isamatterofshame.Theonewhoisupbraidedwithingratitudewillblush.WehavesinnedagainstGodwhenhehasgivenusnocause:“Whatiniquityhaveyourfathersfoundinme?”(Jer2.5).InwhathasGodweariedus,unlesshismercieshaveweariedus?Ohthesilverdropsthathavefallenonus!Wehavehadthefinestofthewheat;wehavebeenfedwithangels’food.ThegoldenoilofdivineblessinghasrundownonusfromtheheadofourheavenlyAaron.AndtoabusethekindnessofsogoodaGod,howthismaymakeusashamed!JuliusCaesartookitunkindlyatthehands

ofBrutus,21onwhomhebestowedsomanyfavors,whenhecametostab

him: “What, you, my son Brutus?” O ungrateful, to be the worse for

mercy!Aelian22reportsthatthevulturedrawssicknessfromperfumes.

Howunworthyitistocontractthediseaseofprideandluxuryfromtheperfume of God’smercy; to requite evil for good; to kick against ourfeeder(Deu32.15); tomakeanarrowofGod’smerciesandshoot itathim;towoundhimwithhisownblessing!Ohorridingratitude!Willnotthisdyeourfacesadeepscarlet?UnthankfulnessisasinsogreatthatGod himself stands amazed at it: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O

earth:Ihavenourishedandbroughtupchildren,andtheyhaverebelledagainstme”(Isa1.2).

(3)Sinhasmadeusnaked,andthatmaybreedshame.Sinhasstrippedusofourwhitelinenofholiness.IthasmadeusnakedanddeformedinGod’seye,whichmaycauseblushing.WhenHanunhadabusedDavid’sservants and cut off their garments so that their nakedness appeared,thetextsays,“themenweregreatlyashamed”(2Sam10.5).

(4)OursinshaveputChristtoshame,andshouldwenotbeashamed?TheJewsarrayedhiminpurple;theyputareedinhishand,spatinhisface,andinhisgreatestagoniesreviledhim.Herewas“theshameofthecross;” and that which aggravated the shame was to consider theeminencyofhisperson, ashewas theLambofGod.Didour sinsputChrist toshame,andshall theynotputus toshame?Didhewear thepurple,andshallnotourcheekswearcrimson?WhocanbeholdthesunasitwasblushingatChrist’spassion,andhidingitselfinaneclipse,andyetnotblushhimself?

(5)Many sinswhichwe commit are by the special instigation of thedevil,andshouldthisnotcauseshame?ThedevilputitintotheheartofJudas to betray Christ (Joh 13.2). He filled Ananias’ heart to lie (Act5.3).Heoftenstirsupourpassions(James3.6).Now,asitisashametobringforthachildillegitimately,sotooitisashametobringforththosesinswhichmaycallthedeviltheirfather.ItissaidthatthevirginMaryconceived by the power of the Holy Ghost (Luk 1.35); but we oftenconceiveby thepowerof Satan.When theheart conceivespride, lust,andmalice,itisveryoftenbythepowerofthedevil.Maynotthismakeusashamed:tothinkthatmanyofoursinsarecommittedincopulationwiththeoldserpent?

(6) Sin, like Circe’s enchanting cup, turns men into beasts23 (Psa

49.12), and is that not amatter for shame? Sinners are compared tofoxes (Luk 13.32), to wolves (Mat 7.15), to asses (Job 11.12), and toswine(2Pet2.22).Asinner isaswinewithaman’shead.Hewhowasonce little less than the angels in dignity has now become like thebeasts.Graceinthislifedoesnotwhollyobliteratethisbrutishtemper.Agur, that goodman, criedout, “Surely I ammorebrutish thanany!”(Pro 30.1-2). But common sinners are in a way entirely made intobrutes;theydonotactrationallybutarecarriedawaybytheviolenceoftheirlustsandpassions.Howthismaymakeusashamedwhoarethus

degenerated below our own species? Our sins have taken away thatnoble,masculinespiritwhichweoncehad.Thecrownhas fallen fromourhead.God’simageisdefaced,reasoniseclipsed,andconscienceisstupefied.Wehavemoreinusofthebrutethanoftheangel.

(7)Ineverysinthereisfolly (Jer4.22).Amanwillbeashamedofhisfolly.Ishenotafoolwholaborsmoreforthebreadthatperishesthanforthebreadof life?Ishenota foolwhofora lustoratriflewill lose

heaven,likeTiberiuswhoforadrinkforfeitedhiskingdom?24Ishenota

foolwho,tosafeguardhisbody,wouldinjurehissoul?Wouldsomeonelet his arm or head be cut off to save his vest? Naviget antyciram

(Horace).25 Ishenot a foolwhowouldbelieve a temptationbeforehe

believesapromise?Ishenotafoolwhomindshisrecreationmorethanhis salvation? How this may make men ashamed: to think that theyinheritnotland,butfolly(Pro14.18)

(8)Whatmaymakeusblushisthatthesinswecommitarefarworsethanthesinsoftheheathen.Weactagainstmorelight.Toushavebeencommitted the oracles of God. The sin committed by a Christian isworsethanthesamesincommittedbyanIndianbecausetheChristiansinsagainstclearerconviction.Thisislikethedyeaddedtothewool,ortheweightputintothescale:itmakesitheavier.

(9)Oursinsareworsethanthesinsofthedevils:lapsedangelsneversinnedagainstChrist’sblood.Christdidnotdieforthem.Themedicineofhismeritwasneverintendedtohealthem.Butwehaveaffrontedanddisparagedhisbloodbyunbelief.

The devils never sinned against God’s patience. As soon as theyapostatized,theyweredamned.Godneverwaitedfortheangels,butwehavespentfromthestockofGod’spatience.Hehaspitiedourweakness,bornewithourfrowardness.HisSpirithasbeenrepulsed,andyethehasstill importuned us and will take no denial. Our conduct has been soprovokingastohavetriednotonlythepatienceofaMosesbutofalltheangels. We have put God to it, and made him weary of repenting(Jer15.6).

Thedevilsneversinnedagainstexample.Theywerethefirstthatsinnedand theyweremade the first example.We have seen the angels, thosemorning stars, fall from their glorious orb;wehave seen the oldworlddrowned,Sodomburned,andyethaveriskedsin.Howdesperateisthat

thiefwho robs in the very placewhere his fellow hangs in chains. Andsurely,ifwehaveout-sinnedthedevils,thenitmaywellmakeusblush.

Use 1. Is shame an ingredient of repentance? If so, then how far frombeingpenitentsare thosewhohavenoshame?Manyhavesinnedawayshame:“theunjustknowsnoshame”(Zeph.3.5).Itisagreatshamenottobe ashamed.TheLord sets it as a brandupon the Jews: “Were theyashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at allashamed, nor could they blush” (Jer 6.15). The devil has stolen shamefrom men. When one of the persecutors in Queen Mary’s time wasupbraided for his bloodiness toward the martyrs, he replied, “I seenothingtobeashamedof.”Manyarenomoreashamedoftheirsinthan

KingNebuchadnezzarwasofbeing turned to eatinggrass.26Whenmen

haveheartsofstoneandforeheadsofbrass,itisasignthatthedevilhastakenfullpossessionofthem.Thereisnocreaturecapableofshamebutman.Thebrutebeastsarecapableoffearandpain,butnotofshame.Youcannotmake a beast blush. Those who cannot blush for sin toomuchresemble thebeasts.Therearesomeso far fromthisholyblushing thattheyareproudoftheirsins.Theyareproudoftheirlonghair.Thesearethedevil’sNazarites.“Doesnotevennatureitselfteachyou,that,ifamanhas long hair, it is a shame to him?” (1Cor 11.14). It confounds thedistinctionofthesexes.Othersareproudoftheirblackspots.AndwhatifGodshouldturnthemintobluespots?

Othersaresofarfrombeingashamedofsinthattheygloryintheirsins:“whosegloryisintheirshame”(Phil.3.19).Someareashamedofwhatistheirglory:theyareashamedtobeseenwithagoodbookintheirhand.Others glory in what is their shame: they look at sin as a piece ofgallantry. The swearer thinks his speech is most graceful when it isinterspersed with oaths. The drunkard considers it a glory that he candrinktoexcess(Isa5.22).Butwhenmenarethrownintoafieryfurnace,heated seven timeshotter by thebreath of theAlmighty, then let themboastofsinastheyseecause.

Use 2. Let us show our penitence by amodest blushing: “OmyGod, Iblushtoliftupmyface”(Ezra9.6).“MyGod”–therewasfaith;“Iblush”– there was repentance. Hypocrites will confidently avouch God to betheirGod,buttheydonotknowhowtoblush.Oletustakeholyshametoourselves for sin.Beassured, themoreweareashamedof sinnow, thelesswewill be ashamed atChrist’s coming. If the sins of the godly are

mentionedattheDayofJudgment, itwillnotbetoshamethem,buttomagnifytherichesofGod’sgraceinpardoningthem.Indeed,thewickedwillbeashamedatthelastday.Theywillsneakaroundandhangdowntheir heads; but the saints will be without spot then (Eph 5.27), andwithoutshame;thereforetheyarebidtoliftuptheirheads(Luk21.28)

Ingredient5:HatredofSinThe fifth ingredient in repentance is hatred of sin. The Schoolmen

27

distinguished two objects of holy hatred: hatred of abominations, andhatredofenmity.

Firstly, there is ahatredor loathingofabominations: “Youshall loatheyourselves for your iniquities” (Eze 36.31). A true penitent is a sin-loather.Ifamanloatheswhatmakeshimsicktohisstomach,thenhewillmuchmoreloathewhatmakeshisconsciencesick.Itismoretoloathesinthan to leave it. Onemay leave sin out of fear, as when the plate andjewelsarethrownoverboardinastorm;butthenauseatingandloathingof sin argues for detesting it. Christ is never loved till sin is loathed.Heavenisneverlongedfortillsinisloathed.Whenasoulseesanissueofbloodflowing,hecriesout,“Lord,whenwillIbefreedfromthisbodyofdeath?WhenwillIputoffthesefilthygarmentsofsinandhavethefaircrownofglorysetuponmyhead?Letallmyself-lovebeturnedintoself-loathing”(Zec3.45).WearenevermorepreciousinGod’seyesthanwhenwearelepersinourown.

Secondly,thereisahatredofenmity.Thereisnobetterwaytodiscoverlife than by motion. The eye moves, the pulse beats. So to discoverrepentance, there isnobettersign thanbyaholyantipathyagainstsin.Hatred, saidCicero, isangerboiledup to inveteracy.SoundrepentancebeginsintheloveofGod,anditendsinthehatredofsin.

HOWMAYTRUEHATREDOFSINBEKNOWN?

1.Whenaman’sspiritissetagainstsin

Thetonguenotonlycomplainsbitterlyagainstsin,buttheheartabhorsit;sothathowevercuriouslypaintedsinmayappear,itisodioustous.Itislikeabhorringthepictureofsomeonewemortallyhate,eventhoughit

may be well-drawn. “I do not love you, Sabidius.”28 Suppose a dish is

finelycookedandthesauceisgood;ifamandeteststhemeat,hestillwillnottasteit.Soevenifthedevilweretocookanddresssinwithpleasure

andprofit tomake itattractive,a truepenitentwho inwardlyabhors it,willbedisgustedbyit,andwillnotmeddlewithit.

2.Truehatredofsinisuniversal

Truehatredofsinisuniversalintwoways:inrespecttothefaculties,andtotheobject.

(1) Hatred is universal in respect to the faculties; that is, there is adislike of sin not only in the judgment, but in thewill and affections.Manyapersonisconvincedthatsinisavilething,andinhisjudgmenthe is averse to it; yet he tastes its sweetness and he has a secretcomplacencyinit.Thisisdislikingsininthejudgmentandembracingitin the affections. In true repentance, the hatred of sin is in all thefaculties,andnotjustintheintellectualpart;butmainlyitisinthewill:“whatIhate,thatIdo”(Rom7.15).Paulwasnotfreefromsin,yethiswillwasagainstit.

(2)Hatredisuniversalinrespecttotheobject.Hehatesnotjustonesin,butallsin.Aristotlesaid,hatredisagainstthewholekind.Theonewhohatesaserpenthatesallserpents:“Ihateeveryfalseway”(Psa119.104).Hypocriteswillhatesomesinswhichmartheircredit,butatrueconverthates all sins, gainful sins, surface sins, even the very stirrings ofcorruption.Paulhatedthemotionsofsin(Rom7.23).

3.Truehatredagainstsinisagainstsininallforms

Aholyheartdetestssinforitsintrinsicpollution.Sinleavesastainuponthesoul.Aregeneratepersonabhorssinnotonlyforthecursebutforthecontagion.Hehatesthisserpentnotonlyforitsstingbutforitspoison.Hehatessinnotonlyforhell,butashell.

4.Truehatredisimplacable

Itwillneverbereconciledtosinanymore.Angermaybereconciled,buthatredcannot.Sin is likeAmalek,which isnever tobe taken into favor

again.29ThewarbetweenachildofGodandsinis likethewarbetween

thosetwoprinces:“therewaswarbetweenRehoboamandJeroboamalltheirdays”(1Kng14.30).

5.Wherethereisarealhatred,wenotonlyopposesininourselvesbutinotherstoo

ThechurchatEphesuscouldnotbearwiththosewhowereevil(Rev2.2).PaulsharplycensuredPeterforhisdissimulationeventhoughhewasan

apostle.Christinaholydispleasurewhippedthemoney-changersoutofthetemple(Joh2.15).Hewouldnotallowthetempletobemadeintoanexchange.Nehemiah rebuked the nobles for their usury (Neh. 5.7) andtheir Sabbath profanity (Neh. 13.17). A sin-hater will not endurewickedness in his family: “The one who works deceit shall not dwellwithinmyhouse” (Psa101.7).Whatashame it iswhenmagistratescanshow the height of spirit in their passions, but no heroic spirit insuppressingvice.Thosewhohavenoantipathyagainstsinarestrangerstorepentance.Sininthemislikepoisoninaserpent,whichbeingnaturaltoit,affordsdelight.

Thosewholovesin insteadofhating it,arefar fromrepentance!Tothegodly,sinisathornintheeye;tothewicked,itisacrownonthehead:“Whenyoudoevil,thenyourejoice”(Jer11.15).Lovingsinisworsethancommittingit.Agoodmanmayrunintoasinfulactionunaware;buttolovesinisdesperate.Whatisitthatmakesaswinebutlovingtotumbleinthemire?WhatisitthatmakesadevilbutlovingwhatopposesGod?Tolovesinshowsthatthewillisinsin;andthemoreofthewillthereisinasin,thegreaterthesin.Willfulnessmakesitasinthatisnotpurgedbysacrifice(Heb10.26).

Ohowmanytherearethatlovetheforbiddenfruit!Theylovetheiroathsandadulteries;theylovethesinandhatethereproof.Solomonspeaksofagenerationofmen:“madness is intheirheartwhilethey live”(Eccles.9.3).Soformentolovesin,tohugwhatwillbetheirdeath,tosportwithdamnation,“madnessisintheirheart.”

Repentancepersuadesustoshowitbyourbitterhatredofsin.Thereisadeadlyantipathybetweenthescorpionandthecrocodile;thereshouldbesuchantipathybetweentheheartandsin.

Question:Whatisthereinsinthatmaymakeapenitenthateit?

Answer: Sin is the cursed thing, the most misshapen monster. Theapostle Paul uses a very emphatic word to express it: “that sin mightbecome exceedingly sinful” (Rom 7. 13), or as it is in the Greek,“hyperbolically sinful.” That sin is a hyperbolicalmischief anddeserveshatredwillappearifwelookatsinasafourfoldconceit:

(1)Lookattheoriginofsin,whereitcomesfrom.Itfetchesitspedigreefromhell: “Theonewhocommits sin isof thedevil, for thedevil sinsfromthebeginning”(1Joh3.8).Sinisthedevil’sproperwork.Godhasahand inordering sin, it is true; butSatanhas ahand in acting it out.

Howhatefulisittobedoingthespecialworkofthedevil,indeed,whatmakesmendevils?

(2)Lookuponsininitsnature,anditwillappearveryhateful.SeehowScripture has penciled it out: it dishonors God (Rom 2.23); despisesGod (1Sam 2.30); enrages God (Eze 16.43); wearies God (Isa 7.13);breakstheheartofGod,justasalovinghusbandisbroken-heartedwiththeunchasteconductofhiswife“Iambrokenwiththeirwhorishheart”(Eze6.9).Sin,whenactedtoitsheight,crucifiesChristafreshandputshimtoopenshame(Heb6.6);thatis,impudentsinnerspierceChristinhis saints,and ifhewerenowupon theearth, theywouldcrucifyhimagain.Beholdtheodiousnatureofsin.

(3)Lookupon sin in its comparison, and it appearsghastly.Comparesinwithafflictionandhell, and it isworse thanboth. It isworse thanaffliction,sickness,poverty,ordeath.Thereismoremalignityinadropofsinthaninaseaofaffliction,forsinisthecauseofaffliction,andthecauseismorethantheeffect.TheswordofGod’sjusticeliesquietinthescabbardtillsindrawsitout.Afflictionisgoodforus:“Itisgoodformethat I have been afflicted” (Psa 119.71). Affliction causes repentance(2Chr33.12).Theviper,havingstricken,throwsupitspoison.SoGod’srod striking us, causes us to spit away the poison of sin. Afflictionbetters our grace. Gold is purest and juniper is sweetest in the fire.Affliction prevents damnation (1Cor 11.32). Therefore, Maurice the

emperor30prayedtoGodtopunishhiminthislifesothathemightnot

bepunishedhereafter.Thus,afflictionisinmanywaysforourgood.Butthere is no good in sin. Manasseh’s affliction brought him to

humiliation,31butJudas’sinbroughthimtodesperation.

Affliction only reaches the body, but sin goes further: it poisons theimagination, anddisorders the affections.Affliction is only corrective;sinisdestructive.Afflictioncanonlytakeawaythelife;sintakesawaythesoul(Luk12.20).Amanthatisafflictedmayhavehisconscienceatpeace.When thearkwas tossedon thewaves,Noahcouldsing in theark. When the body is afflicted and tossed, a Christian can “makemelodyinhishearttotheLord”(Eph5.19).Butwhenamancommitssin, his conscience is terrified.Witness Spira who, upon abjuring thefaith, said that he thought the damned spirits did not feel those

tormentswhichheinwardlyendured.32

Inaffliction,onemayhavetheloveofGod(Rev3.19).Ifamanweretothrowabagofmoneyatanotherman,andhurt theothermana littlewithitandraisedtheskin,thatothermanwouldnottakeitunkindly;hewouldlookatitasafruitoflove.SoitiswhenGodbruisesuswithaffliction; it is toenrichuswith thegoldengracesandcomfortsofhisSpirit.Allisdoneinlove.Butwhenwecommitsin,Godwithdrawshislove. When David sinned, he felt nothing but displeasure from God:“Cloudsanddarknessareroundabouthim”(Psa97.2).Davidfounditso. He could see no rainbow, no sunbeam, nothing but clouds anddarknessaorundGod’sface.

It is evident that sin is worse than affliction because the greatestjudgment God lays upon a man in this life is to let him sin withoutcontrol.WhentheLord’sdispleasureismostseverelykindledagainstaperson,hedoesnotsay, ‘Iwillbringtheswordandtheplagueonthisman,’ but, ‘I will let him sin on.’ – “So I gave them up to their ownhearts’ rust” (Psa81.12).Now, ifgivingamanuptohissins(inGod’sown account) is the most dreadful evil, then sin is far worse thanaffliction.Andifitisso,thenhowitshouldbehatedbyus!

Comparesinwithhell,andyouwillseethatsinisworse.Tormenthasits emphasis in hell, yet there is nothing as bad as sin. Hell is God’smaking,but sin isnoneofhismaking.Sin is thedevil’s creature.Thetormentsofhellareaburdenonlytothesinner,butsinisaburdentoGod:“Iampressedunderyou,asacartispressedthatisfullofsheaves”(Amos.2.13). In the tormentsofhell, there is something that is good,namely, theexecutionofdivine justice.There is justice tobe found inhell,butsin isapieceof thehighest injustice.ItwouldrobGodofhisglory, rob Christ of his purchase, and rob the soul of its happiness.Judgethenifsinisnotthemosthatefulthing,evenworsethanafflictionorhell.

(4) Look at sin in the issue and consequence of it, and it will appearhateful.Sinreachesthebody.Ithasexposedittoavarietyofmiseries.We come into the world with a cry and go out with a groan. As

Herodotus33 tells us, it made the Thracians weep on their children’s

birthday,toconsiderthecalamitiestheyweretoundergointheworld.SinistheTrojanhorseoutofwhichcomesawholearmyoftroubles.Idonotneedtonamethembecausealmosteveryone feels them.Whilewesuckthehoneyweareprickedbythebriar.Singivesadashofpoison

inthewineofourcomforts;itdigsourgrave(Rom5.12).

Sin reaches the soul. By sin we have lost the image of God, whichconsisted of both our sanctity and our majesty. Adam in his pristineglorywaslikeaheraldwhowearsthecoatofarms.Everyonereverenceshimbecausehecarriestheking’scoatofarms.Butpullthiscoatoff,andnomanregardshim.Sinhasdonethisdisgracetous.Ithaspluckedoffourcoatofinnocence.Butthatisnotall.Thisbarbedarrowofsinwouldstrikeyetdeeper.ItwouldforeverseparateusfromthebeautifulvisionofGod, inwhosepresence is fullnessof joy. If sin is sohyperbolicallysinful,itshouldswellourspleenandstirupourimplacableindignationagainst it.JustasAmmon’shatredofTamarwasgreaterthanhis loveforher(2Sam13.15),soweshouldhatesininfinitelymorethanweeverlovedit.

Ingredient6:TurningfromSinThesixthingredientinrepentanceisaturningfromsin.Reformationisleftlasttobringuptherearofrepentance.Whatifonecould,withNiobe,34weephimselfintoastoneifhedidnotweepoutsin?Truerepentance,

likeaquafortis [nitricacid],eatsaway the ironchainof sin.Therefore,weeping and turning are put together in Joe 2.12. After the cloud ofsorrowhasdrippedintears,thefirmamentofthesoulisclearer:“Repent,and turnyourselves fromyour idols; and turnawayyour faces fromallyourabominations”(Eze14.6).Thisturningfromsiniscalledaforsakingofsin(Isa55.7),justasamanforsakesthecompanyofathieforsorcerer.It is called “putting sin faraway” (Job 11.14), just asPaulputaway theviper and shook it into the fire (Act 28.5). Dying to sin is the life ofrepentance. The very day a Christian turns from sin, he must commithimself toaperpetual fast.Theeyemust fast fromimpureglances.Theearmust fast fromhearing slanders. The tonguemust fast from oaths.Thehandsmustfastfrombribes.Thefeetmustfastfromthepathoftheharlot.Andthesoulmustfastfromtheloveofwickedness.Thisturningfromsinimpliesevidentchange.

There is a change worked in the heart. The flinty heart has becomefleshly. Satan wanted Christ to prove his deity by turning stones intobread.Christhasworkedafargreatermiracleinmakingstonesbecomeflesh.Inrepentance,Christturnsaheartofstoneintoflesh.

There isachangeworked in the life.Turning fromsin is sovisible that

othersmay discern it. Therefore it is called a change fromdarkness tolight(Eph5.8).Paul,afterhehadseentheheavenlyvision,wassoturnedthatallmenwonderedat the change (Act9.21).Repentance turned thejailer into a nurse and physician (Act 16.33).He took the apostles andwashed their wounds and set meat before them. Say a ship is goingeastward;awindcomeswhichturnsitwestward.Likewise,amanishell-ward bound before the contrary wind of the Spirit blew, turned hiscourse,andcausedhimtosailheaven-ward.Chrysostom,speakingoftheNinevites’ repentance, said that if a stranger who had seen Nineveh’sexcesshadgoneintothecityaftertheyrepented,hewouldscarcelyhavebelieved it was the same city, because it was so metamorphosed andreformed. Repentance makes such a visible change in a person, as ifanothersoullodgedinthesamebody.

Afewthingsarerequiredsothatturningfromsinisrightlyqualified:

1.Itmustbeaturningfromsinwiththeheart

Theheartistheprimumlivens, thefirstthingthat lives,anditmustbetheprimumvertens,thefirstthingthatturns.Theheartiswhatthedevilstriveshardestfor.HeneverstrivedforthebodyofMosesashedoesfortheheartofman. Inreligion, theheart iseverything. If theheart isnotturnedfromsin, it isnobetter thana lie:“her treacheroussisterJudahhasnotturnedtomewithherwholeheart,butinpretense”(Jer3.10)orasitisinHebrew,“inalie.”Judahmadeashowofreformation;shewasnot so grossly idolatrous as the ten tribes. Yet Judah was worse thanIsrael:sheiscalled“treacherous”Judah.Shepretendedtobereformed,butitwasnotintruth.HerheartwasnotforGod:shedidnotturnwiththewholeheart.

Itisodioustomakeashowofturningfromsinwhiletheheartisstillinleaguewith it. IhavereadofoneofourSaxonkingswhowasbaptized,who in the same church had one altar for the Christian religion andanotherfortheheathen.Godwillhavethewholeheartturnedfromsin.Truerepentancemusthavenoreservesorinmates.

2.Itmustbeaturningfromallsin

“Letthewickedforsakehisway”(Isa55.7).Arealpenitentturnsofftheroad of sin. Every sin is abandoned: just as Jehu would have all thepriestsofBaalslain(1Kng10.24),soatrueconvertseeksthedestructionof every lust; not one must escape. He knows how dangerous it is toentertain any one sin. Someone who hides one rebel in his house is a

traitor to theCrown,and someonewho indulgesone sin is a traitoroushypocrite.

3.Itmustbeaturningfromsinuponaspiritualground.

Amanmayrestraintheactsofsin,andyetnot turnfromsin inarightmanner. Act of sinmay be restrained out of fear or design; but a truepenitentturnsfromsinoutofareligiousprinciple,namely,lovetoGod.Even if sindidnotbearsuchbitter fruit, even ifdeathdidnotgrowonthistree,agracioussoulwouldforsakeitoutofloveforGod.Thisisthemostkindlyturningfromsin.Whenthingsarefrozenandcongealed,thebest way to separate them is by fire. When men and their sins arecongealed together, thebestway toseparate themisby the fireof love.Threemenaskoneanotherwhatmadethemleavesin.Onesays,“Ithinkofthejoysofheaven;”anothersaid,“Ithinkofthetormentsofhell;”butthethirdsaid,“IthinkoftheloveofGod,andthatmakesmeforsakeit.HowshallIoffendtheGodoflove?”

4.ItmustbesuchaturningfromsinasturnstoGod.

Thisisinthetext,“thattheyshouldrepentandturntoGod”(Act26.20).Turning fromsin is likepulling thearrowoutof thewound; turning toGod is like pouring in the balm.We read in Scripture of a repentancefrom deadworks (Heb 6.1), and a repentance towardGod (Act 20.21).Unsoundheartspretendtoleaveoldsins,buttheydonotturntoGodorembracehis service. It isnotenough to forsake thedevil’squarters;wemust get under Christ’s banner and wear his colors. The repentingprodigalnotonly lefthisharlots,buthearoseandwenttohisfather.ItwasGod’scomplaint,“Theyreturn,butnottothemostHigh”(Hos7.16).Intruerepentance, theheartpointsdirectly toGod justas thecompassneedlepointstotheNorthPole.

5.Trueturningfromsinissuchaturnashasnoreturn.

“Ephraimwillsay,‘WhathaveItodoanymorewithidols?’”(Hos14.8).Forsaking sin must be like forsaking one’s native soil, never more toreturntoit.Somehaveseemedtobeconvertsandseemedtohaveturnedfromsin,buttheyreturnedtotheirsinsagain.Thisisareturningtofolly(Psa 85.8). It is a fearful sin, for it is against clear light. It may besupposedthatsomeonewholefthissin,felthissinbitterlyinthepangsofhisconscience.Yethereturnedtoitagain;hethereforesinsagainsttheilluminationsoftheSpirit.

Such a return to sin reproachesGod: “What iniquity have your fathersfound inme, that they are gone far fromme?” (Jer 2.5) Someonewhoreturnstosin,byimplicationchargesGodwithsomeevil.Ifamanputsawayhiswife,itimpliesthatheknowsofsomefaultbyher.ToleaveGodandreturntosinistotacitlyaspersetheDeity.God,who“hatesputtingaway”(Mal.2.16),hatesthathehimselfshouldbeputaway.Toreturntosingivesthedevilmorepoweroveramanthanever.Whenamanturnsfromsin, thedevil seems tobecastoutofhim;butwhenhereturns tosin,thedevilenters intohishouseagainandtakespossession,and“thelast state of that man is worse than the first” (Mat 12.45). When aprisonerhasbrokenoutofprison,andthe jailergetshimagain,hewillput stronger ironsonhim.Theonewho ends a courseof sinning, as itwere,breaksoutofthedevil’sprison.ButifSatantakeshimagainbyhisreturningtosin,Satanwillholdhimfasterandtakefullerpossessionofhim than ever. Oh take heed of this! A true turning from sin meansdivorcingit,soasnevertocomenearitanymore.Whoeveristhusturnedfromsinisablessedperson:“God,havingraiseduphisSonJesus,senthim tobless you, in turning away every oneof you fromhis iniquities”(Act3.26).

Use 1. Is turning from sin a necessary ingredient in repentance? If so,then there is little repentance to be found. People are not turned fromtheirsins;theyarestillthesameastheywere.Theywereproud,andsotheystillare.LikethebeastsinNoah’sark,theywentintothearkuncleanand came out unclean. Men come to ordinances impure and go awayimpure.Thoughmenhaveseensomanychangeswithout,yetthereisnochangeworkedwithin:“thepeopledonotturntohimwhostrikes”(Isa9.13).Howcanthosewhodonotturnsaytheyhaverepented?Havethose

who still have their leprosy on their forehead washed in the Jordan?35

May not God say to the unreformed, as he once said to Ephraim,“Ephraimisjoinedtoidols:lethimalone”(Hos4.17)?Likewise,hereisamanjoinedtohisdrunkennessanduncleanness:lethimalone;lethimgooninsin.Butifthereiseitherjusticeinheavenorvengeanceinhell,heshallnotgounpunished.

Use 2. It reproves thosewho are only half-turned. Andwho are these?Thosewhoturnintheirjudgmentbutnotintheirpractice.Theycanonly

acknowledgethatsin,likeSaturn,36hasabadinfluenceonthem,andthey

weepforsin,yettheyaresobewitchedbyit thattheyhavenopowerto

leaveit.Theircorruptionsarestrongerthantheirconvictions.Thesearehalf-turned,“almostChristians”(Act26.20).TheyarelikeEphraim,whowasacakebakedononeside,butrawdoughontheother(Hos7.8)

Theyarehalf-turnediftheyturnonlyfromgrosssinbuthavenointrinsicworkofgrace.TheydonotprizeChristorloveholiness.ThosewhoonlyactcivilarelikeJonah:hehadaplanttoprotecthimfromtheheatofthesunandthoughthewassafe;butawormquicklyappearedanddevouredthe plant. So men, when they are turned from gross sin, think theircivilitywillbeacovertodefendthemselvesfromthewrathofGod.Butatdeath, the worm of conscience arises, and strikes this plant, and thentheirheartsfail,andtheybegintodespair.

Theyarehalf-turnediftheyturnfrommanysins,butareunturnedfromsomespecialsin.Thereisaharlotinthebosomwhichtheywillnotletgoof. It is as if a man were cured of several diseases, but has a cancerremaininginhisbreastthatkillshim.Itreprimandsthosewhoseturningis as good as no turning, those who expel one devil only to welcomeanother. They turn from swearing to slandering, from profuseness tocovetousness, like a sick man that turns from a tertian fever to a

quartan.37Suchturningwillturnmentohell.

Use3.LetusshowourselvespenitentsbyturningfromsintoGod.TherearesomepersonsIhavelittlehopetoprevailwith.Letthetrumpetofthewordsoundeversoshrill, letthreatsbethunderedoutagainstthem,letsomeflashesofhellfirebethrownintheir faces,andtheywillstillhaveanother play at sin. These persons seem to be like the swine in theGospel, violently carried down into the sea by the devil. They wouldrather be damned than turn: “they hold fast to deceit, they refuse toreturn” (Jer 8.5). But if there is any candor or sobriety in us, if ourconscience is not in a deep sleep, then let us listen to the voice of the

charmer,38andturntoGodoursupremegood.

HowoftendoesGodcalluponustoturntohim?Heswears,“AsIlive,Ihave no pleasure in the death of the wicked: turn, turn from your evilways” (Eze 33.11).Godwould rather have our repenting tears than ourblood.

Turning toGod is for our profit.Our repentance doesnot benefitGod,butourselves.Ifamandrinksfromafountainhebenefitshimself,notthefountain.Ifhebeholdsthelightofthesun,heistheonerefreshedbyit,

notthesun.IfweturnfromoursinstoGod,Godisnotadvantagedbyit.Itisonlyweourselveswhoreapthebenefit.Inthiscase,self-loveshouldprevailwithus:“Ifyouarewise,youwillbewiseforyourself”(Pro9.12).

IfweturntoGod,hewillturntous.Hewillturnhisangerfromus,andturnhisfacetous.ItwasDavid’sprayer,“Oturntome,andhavemercyuponme”(Psa86.16).OurturningwillmakeGodturn:“Turntome,saystheLord,andIwillturntoyou”(Zec1.3).Theonewhowasanenemywillturntobeourfriend.IfGodturnstous,thentheangelsareturnedtous.Wewillhavetheirtutelageandguardianship(Psa91.11).IfGodturnstous,allthingswillturntoourgood,bothmerciesandafflictions;weshall

tastehoneyattheendoftherod.39

Thuswehaveseentheseveralingredientsofrepentance.

ChapterFive

5.THEREASONSENFORCINGREPENTANCE

WITHAWARNINGTOTHEIMPENITENT

Iproceednexttothereasonswhichenforcerepentance.

1.God’ssovereigncommand

“Hecommandsallmeneverywheretorepent”(Act17.30).Repentanceisnotarbitrary.Itisnotlefttoourchoicewhetherornottorepent.Itisanindispensable command. God has enacted a law in the High Court ofheaventhatnosinnerwillbesavedexcepttherepentingsinner,andGodwillnotbreakhisownlaw.EvenifalltheangelsweretostandbeforeGodandbegforthelifeofanunrepentingperson,Godwouldnotgrantit“TheLordGod,mercifulandgracious,keepingmercyforthousands,willbynomeans clear the guilty” (Exo 34.67). ThoughGod ismore full ofmercythan the sun is full of light, yet he will not forgive a sinner while hecontinuesinhisguilt:“Hewillbynomeanscleartheguilty”!

2.ThepurenatureofGoddeniescommunionwithanimpenitentcreature

Till the sinner repents, God and he cannot be friends: “Wash, makeyourself clean” (Isa 1.16); go, steep yourselves in the brinish waters ofrepentance.Then,saysGod,Iwillparleywithyou:“Comenow,andletusreasontogether” (Isa1.18);butotherwise,donotcomenearme:“Whatcommunionhaslightwithdarkness?”(2Cor6.14).HowcantherighteousGod indulge someone who still goes on in his trespasses? “I will notjustify thewicked” (Exo23.7). IfGodwere tobeatpeacewitha sinnerbefore he repents,Godwould seem to like and approve all that he hasdone.Hewould go againsthis ownholiness. It is inconsistentwith thesanctityofGod’snaturetopardonasinnerwhilehe isstill intheactofrebellion.

3.SinnerscontinuinginimpenitenceareoutofChrist’scommission

Seehiscommission:“TheSpiritoftheLordGodisuponme;hehassentme to bind up the broken-hearted” (Isa 61.1). Christ is a Prince andSavior, but not to save men in an absolute way, whether or not theyrepent.IfeverChristbringsmentoheaven,itwillbethroughthegatesof

hell:“GodhasexaltedhimtobeaPrinceandaSaviortogiverepentance”(Act5.31).Akingpardons rebels if they repentandyield themselves tothemercyoftheirprince;butnotiftheypersistinopendefiance.

4.WehavewrongedGodbysin

Thereisagreatdealofequityinrequiringthatwerepent.Bysin,wehavewronged God.We have eclipsed his honor.We have infringed his law.Andwe should reasonablymake reparation. By repentance we humbleandjudgeourselvesforsin.WestampoursealthatGodisrighteousifheweretodestroyus.ThuswegiveglorytoGod,andwedowhatliesinustodoinordertorepairhishonor.

5.IfGodsavesmenwithoutrepentance,withoutdiscriminating,thenhemustsaveall,

…notonlymen,butdevils,asOrigenonceheld;andsoconsequentlythedecreesofelectionandreprobationmustfalltotheground.Letalljudgehowdiametricallyopposedthisistosacredwrit.

There are two sorts of persons who will find it harder to repent thanothers:

(1) Those who have sat a great while under the ministry of God’sordinances,butgrownobetter.Theearthwhichdrinksintherain,andyet“bearsthornsandbriars,isneartobeingcursed”(Heb6.8).Thereislittlehopeofthemetalwhichhaslainlonginthefirebutisnotmeltedand refined. When God has sent his ministers one after another,exhortingandpersuadingmentoleavetheirsins,buttheysettleuponthedregsofformality,andtheycansitandsleepunderasermon,itwillbehardforthesetoeverbebroughttorepentance.TheymayfearthatChristwillsaytothemasheoncesaidtothefigtree,“Letnofruitgrowonyouforevermore”(Mat21.19).

(2) Those who have sinned frequently against the convictions of theword, the checks of conscience, and the motions of the Spirit.Consciencehasstoodas theangelwitha flamingsword in itshand.Ithassaid,“Donotdothisgreatevil;”butsinnersdonotregardthevoiceofconscience.Theymarchonresolvedlyunderthedevil’scolors.Thesewillnotfinditeasytorepent:“Theyareofthosethatrebelagainstthelight” (Job 74.13). It is one thing to sin for lack of light, and anotherthingtosinagainstlight.Theunpardonablesinbeginshere.Menbeginbysinningagainstthelightofconscience,andthenproceedgraduallyto

spitetheSpiritofgrace.

AReprehensiontotheImpenitentFirstly, it serves to sharply reprimand all unrepenting sinners whoseheartsseemtobehewnoutofrock,andarelikethestonygroundintheparablewhichlackedmoisture.Thisdisease,Ifear,isepidemic:“Nomanrepented of his wickedness” (Jer 8.6). Men’s hearts are marbled intohardness:“theymadetheirheartslikeanadamantstone”(Zec7.12).Theyarenotatalldissolvedintoapenitentattitude.Itisbelievedbysomethatwitchesneverweep; I am sure that thosewhohavenogrief for sin arespiritually bewitched by Satan. We read that when Christ came toJerusalem he “upbraided the cities because they did not repent” (Mat11.20). And may he not likewise upbraid many now for theirimpenitence? Though God’s heart is broken with their sins, yet theirheartsarenotbroken.Theysay,asIsraeldid,“Ihavelovedstrangers,andIwillgoafterthem”(Jer2.25).ThejusticeofGod,liketheangel,standswithadrawnswordinitshand,readytostrike,butsinnersdonothaveeyesasgoodas thoseofBalaam’sass to see the sword.Godpoundsonmen’sbacks,buttheydonot,asEphraimdid,poundontheirthigh(Jer

31.19).40Itwasasadcomplainttheprophettookup:“Youhavestricken

them,buttheyhavenotgrieved”(Jer5.3).Thatissurelyreprobatesilverwhichhardens in the furnace. “In the timeofhisdistresshe trespassedstillmoreagainsttheLord:thisisthatkingAhaz”(2Chr28.22).Ahardheart isareceptacle forSatan.JustasGodhas twoplaceshedwells in,heavenandahumbleheart,sothedevilhastwoplaceshedwellsin,hellandahardheart.Itisnotfallingintowaterthatdrowns,butlyinginit.Itis not falling into sin that damns, but lying in it without repentance:“havingtheirconsciencesearedwithahotiron”(1Tim4.2).Hardnessofheart results at last in the conscience being seared.Men have silencedtheirconsciences,andGodhassearedthem.Andnow,asa fathergivesup correcting a childwhomhe intends to disinherit,God lets them sinanddoesnotpunish“Whyshouldyoubestrickenanymore?”(Isa1.5).

ChapterSix

6.ASERIOUSEXHORTATIONTOREPENTANCE

Letme in thenextplacepersuadeyou to thisgreatdutyof repentance.Sorrowisgoodfornothingbutsin.Ifyoushedtearsforoutwardlosses,itwillnotadvantageyou.Waterforthegarden,ifpouredinthesink,willdonogood.Powderfortheeye,ifappliedtothearm,hasnobenefit.Sorrowismedicinalforthesoul,butifyouapplyittoworldlythings,itdoesnogood.Ohthatourtearsmayrunintherightchannel,andthatourheartsmayburstwithsorrowforsin!

To more successfully press this exhortation, I will show you thatrepentanceisnecessary,andthatitisnecessaryforallpersonsandforallsins.

1.Repentanceisnecessary

Repentanceisnecessary:“unlessyourepent,youwillalllikewiseperish”(Luk 13.5). There is no rowing to paradise except upon the stream ofrepenting tears. Repentance is required as a qualification. It is not somuch to endearus toChrist as to endearChrist tous.Till sin isbitter,Christwillnotbesweet.

2.Repentanceisnecessaryforallpersons

Godcommandsitofallmen:“nowGodcommandsallmeneverywheretorepent”(Act17.30).

(1) It is necessary for great ones: “Say to the king and to the queen,Humble yourselves” (Jer 13.18). The king of Nineveh and his noblesexchangedtheirrobesforsackcloth(Jon.3.6).Greatmen’ssinsdomoreharm than the sins of others. The sins of leaders are leading sins;thereforeofallotherstheyneedtorepent.Ifthosewhoholdthescepterdo not repent, God has appointed a day to judge them and a fire inwhichtoburnthem(Isa30.33).

(2)Repentanceisnecessaryforthemostwickedsinnersinthenation.England needs to put itself in mourning and be humbled by solemn

repentance.Anglicagensestoptimaflens.41Whathorribleimpietiesare

chargeableuponthenation!Weseepersonsdailyenlistingthemselvesunder Satan. Not only the banks of religion but those of civility are

brokendown.Menseemtocontend,astheJewsofolddid,toseewhowouldbethemostwicked:“Intheirfilthinessislewdness”(Eze24.13).Ifoathsanddrunkenness, ifperjuryand luxury,makeapeopleguilty,then it is to be feared England is in God’s black book. Men havecancelled their vow in baptism andmade a private contract with thedevil! Instead of crying formercy to save them, they cry, “God damnthem!” Never was there such riding post-haste to hell, as if mendespaired of getting there in time. Has it not been known that somehavediedwith theguilt of fornicationandbloodon them?Has itnotbeentoldthatothershaveboastedhowmanytheyhavedebauchedandmadethemselvesdrunk?Thus“theydeclaretheirsin likeSodom”(Isa3.9). Indeed,men’ssinshavegrowndaring,as if theywouldhangouttheir flag of defiance and give heaven a broadside, like the Thracianswho,whenitthunders,gathertogetherinabodyandshoottheirarrowsagainstheaven.ThesinnersinBritainevensendGodachallenge:“TheystrengthenthemselvesagainsttheAlmighty; theyrunheadlongathimintohisthicklystuddedshield”(Job15.25-26).Thestudsintheshieldare for offense inwar.God’s precepts and threats are, as it were, thethickstudsofhisshieldbywhichhewoulddetermenfromwickedness.Thesesinnerspaynoattentiontothem,however.Theyaredesperatelyin sin, and they run furiously against the studs. Oh to what a heighttheir sinhasboiledup!Men consider it a shamenot tobe impudent.Mayitnotbesaidofus,asJosephusspeaksoftheJews.Suchwastheexcessivewickedness of those times that if theRomanshadnot comeand sacked their city, then Jerusalemwould have been swallowed upwith some earthquake, or drowned with a flood, or fired on fromheaven.Andisitnothightimethenforthisnationtoenterintoacourseofmedicine,andtotakethispillofrepentance,whichhassomanybaddiseases spreading in her body politic? England is an islandencompassed by two oceans: an ocean of water, and an ocean ofwickedness.Othatitmightbeencompassedwithathirdocean:thatofrepentingtears!

Ifthebookofthelawshouldchancetofallontheground,theJewshaveacustomtoquicklyproclaimafast.Englandhasletbothlawandgospelfall to theground, thereforeneeds to fastandmournbefore theLord.

The ephah ofwickedness seems to be full.42 There is good reason for

tearstoemptyapacewhensinfillsitsofast!Whythenareallfacesnotpale?Whyarethewellsofrepentancestoppedup?Donotthesinnersof

the land know that they should repent?Have they nowarning?Havenot God’s faithful messengers lifted up their voice as a trumpet andcried to them to repent?Butmanyof these tools in theministryhavebeen spent and worn out on rocky hearts. Has God not lightedextraordinarycometsintheheavensassomanypreacherstocallmentorepentance?Butstilltheyaresettledontheirdregs(Zeph.1.12)?DowethinkthatGodwillalwaysputupwithouraffronts?Willheenduretohavehisnameandglorytrampledupon?TheLordhasusuallybeenmoreswift intheprocessofhis justiceagainstthesinsofaprofessingpeople.Godmayreprievethislandawhilebyprerogative,butifheeversaves it without repentance, then he must depart from his ordinaryroad.

I say therefore with Mr. Bradford, “Repent, O England!”43 You have

made yourself a leper with sin, and you must go and wash in thespiritualJordan.YouhavekindledGod’sangeragainstyou.Throwawayyourweapons,andbringyourholyenginesandwaterworks,sothatGodmaybeappeasedinthebloodofChrist.Letyourtearsrun;letGod’srollof curses fly (Zec 5.2). Either men must turn, or God will overturn.Eitherthefallowgroundoftheirheartsmustbebrokenup,orthelandmustbebrokendown.Ifnowordswillprevailwithsinners,itisbecauseGod intends to slay them (1Sam 2.25). Among the Romans, someonewho was condemned for a capital offense was forbidden the use ofwater. Those who have so incensed the God of heaven by theirprodigioussins,thathedeniesthemthewaterofrepentance,mayalsolookatthemselvesascondemnedpersons.

(3) Repentance is necessary for the cheating crew: “their deceit isfalsehood”(Psa119.118);“theyarewiseinevil”(Jer4.22),makinguseoftheir inventions only to circumvent the law. Instead of living by theirfaith,theylivebytheirshifts.Thesearetheoneswhomakethemselvespoor so that by this artifice they may grow rich. I would not bemisunderstood.Idonotmeanthosewho,undertheprovidenceofGod,arepoor,thosewhoseestateshavefailedbutnottheirhonesty.RatherIspeakofthosewhofeignbeingbrokesotheymaycheattheircreditors.There are some who get more by “going broke” than others can bytrading. These are like beggarswho discolor and blister their arms toencouragecharity.Asthesebeggars livebytheirsores,sothesecheatslivebytheir falsepoverty.Whenthe frostbreaks, thestreetsaremorefullofwater.Likewise,manytradesmenwhentheygobroke,haveeven

more money. They make out as if they had nothing, but out of thisnothinggreatestatesarecreated.Remember,thekingdomofheavenis

takenbyforce,44notbyfraud.Letmenknowthatafterthisgoldensop,

the devil enters. They squeeze a curse into their estates. They mustrepent quickly. Though the bread of falsehood is sweet (Pro 20.17),manywillvomituptheirsweetmorselsinhell.

(4)Repentance isnecessary forwell-behavedpersons.Thesehavenovisiblespotsonthem.Theyarefreefromgrosssin,andonewouldthinkthey had nothing to do with the business of repentance. They are sogood that they scorn a psalm ofmercy. Indeed these are often in theworstcondition:thesearetheoneswhoneednorepentance(Luk15.7).Theircivilityundoesthem.TheymakeaChristofit,andsoonthisshelf

they suffer shipwreck.45 Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only

nature refined.Amoralman is but oldAdamdressed in fine clothes.Theking’s imagecounterfeitedandstampedonbrasswillnotbecomecurrency. The civil person seems to have the image of God, but he isonly brass metal which will never pass for currency. Civility isinsufficient for salvation. Though the life may be moralized, the lustmaybeunmortified.Theheartmaybefullofprideandatheism.Underthefairleavesofatreetheremaybeaworm.Iamnotsaying,repentallyouwhoare are civil, but that youarenothingmore than civil. Satanenteredintothehousethathadjustbeensweptandput inorder(Luk11.25-26).Thisistheemblemofamoralmanwhohasbeensweptcleanbycivilityandsetinorderwithcommongifts;butheisnotwashedbytruerepentance.Theuncleanspiritentersintosuchaperson.Ifcivilityweresufficientforsalvation,Christneednothavedied.Thecivilianhasanattractivelamp,butitlackstheoilofgrace.

(5)Repentance is necessary for hypocrites. I mean those who allowthemselves the sin. Hypocrisy is the counterfeiting of sanctity. Thehypocrite or stage-player has gone a step beyond the moralist anddressed himself in the garb of religion. He pretends with a form ofgodlinessbuthedenies thepowerof it (2Tim3.5).Thehypocrite is asaint in jest. He makes a magnificent show, like an ape clothed inermineorpurple.Thehypocriteislikeahousewithabeautifulfacade,but every room is dark. He is a rotten post that has been beautifullygilded. Under his mask of profession he hides his plague-sores. Thehypocrite is against painting faces, but he paints holiness. He is

seemingly good so that hemay be really bad. In Samuel’s cloak,46 he

playsthedevil.Thereforethesamewordintheoriginalsignifiestousehypocrisyandtobeprofane.Thehypocriteseemstohavehiseyesnailedto heaven, but his heart is full of impure lusts. He lives in secret sinagainsthisconscience.Hecanbe likethecompanyhekeeps,andactsboththedoveandthevulture.Hehearstheword,butonlyhears.Heisfortemple-devotionwhereothersmaylookathimandadmirehim,butheneglectsfamilyandprivateprayer.Indeed,ifprayerdoesnotmakeamanleavesin,thensinwillmakehimleaveprayer.Thehypocritefeignshumilitybutitissothathemayriseintheworld.Heisapretendertofaith,buthemakesuseofitratherforacloakthanashield.Hecarrieshis Bible under his arm, but not in his heart. His whole religion is ademurelie(Hos11.12).

But is there such a generation ofmen to be found? The Lord forgivethemtheirholiness!Hypocritesare“inthegallofbitterness”(Act8.23).Ohowtheyneed tohumble themselves in thedust!Theyare fargonewith therot,and ifanythingcancure them, itmustbe feedingon thesaltmarshesofrepentance.

Letmespeakmymindfreely.Nonewillfinditmoredifficulttorepentthanhypocrites.Theyhavesojuggledinreligionthattheirtreacheroushearts do not know how to repent. Hypocrisy is harder to cure thanmadness.Thehypocrite’sabscessinhisheartseldombursts.Ifitisnottoolate,seekGodformercy.

Thosewhoareguiltyofprevailinghypocrisy,letthemfearandtremble.Their condition is sinful and sad. It is sinful because they do notembracereligionoutofchoicebutdesign;theydonotloveit;theyonlypaintit.Itissadonadoubleaccount.Firstly,becausethisartofdeceitcannotholdfor long;theonewhohangsoutasign,butdoesnothavethecommodityofgraceinhisheart,mustgobrokeintheend.Secondly,it is sad because God’s anger will fall heavier on hypocrites. TheydishonorGodmore and take away the gospel’s goodname. ThereforetheLordreservesthemostdeadlyarrowsinhisquivertoshootatthem.If heathens are damned, hypocrites will be double-damned. Hell iscalledtheplaceofhypocrites(Mat24.51),asif itwasmainlyprepared

forthem,andwastobesettledfortheminfee-simple.47

(6)RepentanceisnecessaryforGod’sownpeople,whohavearealworkofgraceandareIsraelitesindeed.Theymustofferupadailysacrificeof

tears.TheAntinomians48holdthatwhenanyonebecomesabeliever,a

writofeaseisgiventothem;thereremainsnothingforthemnowtodobuttorejoice.Yes,theyhavesomethingelsetodo,andthatistorepent.Repentance is a continuous act. Godly sorrow will not fully end tilldeath.Jerome,writinginanepistletoLaeta,tellsherthatherlifemustbea lifeofrepentance.Repentanceiscalled“crucifyingtheflesh”(Gal5.24),whichisnotdonesuddenly,butovertime;itwillbegoingonallourlife.

AndaretherenotmanyreasonswhyGod’sownpeopleshouldgointotheweepingbath?“Aretherenotwithyou,evenwithyou,sinsagainstthe Lord?” (2Chr 28.10). Do you not have sins of daily incursion?Thoughyouarediamonds,doyouhavenoflaws?Dowenotreadofthe“spot of God’s children” (Deu 32.5). Search into your hearts with thecandleofthewordandseeifyoucanfindnothingneedingrepentancethere.

(a)Repentofyourrashcensuring.Insteadofprayingforothers,youarereadytopassaverdictonthem.Itistruethatthesaintsshalljudgethe world (1Cor 6.2), but bide your time! Remember the apostle’scaution in 1Cor 4.5: “judge nothing before the time, until the Lordcomes.”

(b)Repentofyourvainthoughts.TheseswarminyourmindsasthefliesdidinPharaoh’scourt(Exo8.24).Whatbewildermentthereisinthe imagination! IfSatandoesnotpossessyourbodies,hepossessesyour imaginations. “How long will your vain thoughts lodge withinyou?”(Jer4.14).Amanmaythinkhimself intohell.Oyousaints,behumbledforthislightnessinyourhead.

(c)Repentofyourvainfashions.ItisstrangethatthegarmentswhichGodgavetocovershamewouldrevealpride.Thegodlyarebidnottobeconformedtothisworld(Rom12.2).Peopleoftheworldaregarishandlight intheirdresses.It is infashionnowadaystogotohell.Butwhatever others do, do not let Judah offend (Hos 4.15). The apostlePaulhassetdownwhatuppergarmentChristiansmustwear:“modestapparel” (1Tim 2.9); and what undergarment they must wear: “beclothedwithhumility”(1Pet5.5).

(d)Repentofyourdecaysingrace:“youhaveleftyourfirstlove”(Rev2.4).Christians,howoftenitislowtideinyoursouls!Howoftendoesyour cold fit come upon you! Where are those flames of affection,

thosesweetmeltingsofspiritthatyouoncehad?Ifeartheyaremeltedaway.Ohrepentforleavingyourfirstlove!

(e)Repentofnotimprovingyourtalents.Healthisatalent;estateisatalent;witandpartsaretalents;andGodhasentrustedthesetoyoutoimprove with for his glory. He has sent you into the world as amerchant sends his agent beyond the seas to trade for his master’sadvantage; but youhavenotdone the good youmight.Can you say,“Lord, your pound has gained five pounds” (Luk 19.18)? Or do youmournattheburialofyourtalents?Letitgrieveyouthatsomuchofyourlifehasnotbeentimelivedbuttimelost;thatyouhavefilledupyourgoldenhoursmorewithfroththanwithspirits.

(f)Repentofforgettingsacredvows.Avowbindsone’ssoultoGod(Num30.2).Christians,sinceyouhavebeenboundtoGod,haveyounot forfeited your other indentures? Have you served for commonusesafteryouhavebeentheLord’sbysolemndedication?Bybreachof vows youhave breached your peace. Surely this calls for a freshbasinoftears.

(g)Repentofyourunresponsivenesstotheblessingsyoureceived.Youhavelivedallyourlifeonfreequarter.Youhavespentyourstockoffreegraces.Youhavebeenmiraculouslyblessedwithmercy.ButwhereareyourreturnsoflovetoGod?TheAthenianssuedungratefulpersonsatlaw.Christians,maynotGodsueyouatlawforyourunthankfulness?“Iwillrecovermywoolandmyflax”(Hos2.9);Iwillrecoverthembylaw.

(h) Repent of your worldliness. By your profession you seem toresemble the birds of paradise that soar aloft and live on the dew ofheaven.Yetasserpentsyoulickthedust.Baruch,agoodman,wastaxedwiththis:“doyouseekgreatthingsforyourself?”(Jer45.5).

(i)Repentofyourdivisions.Theseareablotinyourcoatofarmor.Theymake others stand aloof from religion. Separating from the wickedimitatesChristwhowas“separatefromsinners”(Heb7.26).Butforthegodlytodividethemselvesandlookaskewatoneanother,ifwehadasmany eyes as there are stars, theywould be too few toweep for this!Divisions eclipse the church’s beauty andweaken her strength. God’sSpiritbroughtcloventonguesoffireamongthesaints(Act2.3),butthedevilhasbroughtclovenhearts.Surelythisdeservesashoweroftears:

QuistaliafandoTemperetalachrymis?49

(j)Repent for the iniquity of your holy things. How often have theservices ofGod’sworship been frozenwith formality and souredwithpride? There have been more of the peacock’s plumes than themourningofthedove.Itissadthatdutiesofreligionshouldbemadeastageforvainglorytoactupon.OChristians,thereissuchathickcrustonyourdutiesthatitmaybefearedthereislittlemeatleftinthemfor

Godtofeedupon.50

Behold:repentingwork iscutout for thebest.AndwhatmaymakethetideofgriefswellhigheristothinkthatthesinsofGod’speopleprovokeGodmore than the sins of others (Deu 32.19). The sins of the wickedpierceChrist’sside.Thesinsofthegodlygotohisheart.Peter’ssin,beingactedoutagainstsomuchlove,wasmostunkind,whichmadehischeeksfurrowedwithtears:“Whenhethoughtaboutit,hewept”(Mar14.72).

3.Repentanceisnecessaryforallsins

LetusbedeeplyhumbledandmournbeforetheLordfororiginalsin.Wehave lost that pure quintessential frame of soul thatwe once had.Ournature is vitiated with corruption. Original sin has diffused itself as apoisonintothewholeman,liketheJerusalemartichokewhich,whereverit is planted, soon overruns the ground. There are noworse natures inhellthanwehave.TheheartsofthebestarelikePeter’ssheet,onwhichthere were a number of unclean creeping things (Act 10.12). Thisprimitivecorruptionistobebitterlybewailedbecauseweareneverfreefromit.Itislikeanundergroundspringwhich,thoughitisnotseen,stillruns.Wemayaswellstopthebeatingofthepulseastostopthemotionstosin.

This inbred depravity retards and hinders us in what is spiritual: “thegood that I would do, I do not do” (Rom 7.19). Original sin may be

comparedtothefishthatPlinyspeaksof,asea-lamprey,51whichcleaves

to the keel of the ship and hinders it when it is under sail. Sin hangsweightsuponusso thatwemoveslowly toheaven.O thisadherenceofsin!Paulshooktheviperwhichwasonhishandintothefire(Act28.5),butwecannotshakeofforiginalcorruptioninthislife.Sindoesnotcomeasalodgerforanight,butasanindweller:“sinthatdwellsinme”(Rom7.17). It stays with us like the hectic fever of tuberculosis; though thesuffererchangestheair,hestillcarrieshisdiseasewithhim.Originalsinisinexhaustible.Thisoceancannotbeemptied.Thoughthestockofsinisspent,itisnotatalldiminished.Themorewesin,thefullerweareofsin.

Originalcorruptionis likethewidow’soilwhichincreasedbypouringitout.

Another wedge to break our hearts is that original sin mixes with thehabitsofgrace.This iswhyouractions towardsheavenare sodullandlanguid.Whydoes faithnotactanystrongerunless it is cloggedwithasense of sin? Why does love toward God burn no purer unless it ishindered with lust? Original sin incorporates with our graces. As badlungscauseasthmaorshortnessofbreath,sotheinfectionoforiginalsininourheartcausesourgracestobreatheveryfaintly.Thusweseewhatitisinoriginalsinthatmaydrawourtears.

Inparticular,letuslamentthecorruptionofourwillandouraffections.Letusmournforthecorruptionofourwill.Thewillthatisnotfollowingthedictateof right reason isbiased towardevil.ThewilldistastesGod,notasheisgood,butasheisholy.Itcontumaciouslyaffrontshim:“wewilldowhatevergoesoutofourownmouth,toburnincensetothequeenofheaven”(Jer44.17).Thegreatestwoundhasfallenuponourwill.

Letusgrieveforthediversionofouraffections.Theyaretakenofftheirproperobject.Theaffections, likearrows,shootbesidethemark.Atthebeginning,ouraffectionswerewingstoflytoGod;nowtheyareweightstopullusawayfromhim.

Letusgrieveforthe inclinationofouraffections.Ourloveissetonsin,

andourjoyissetonthecreature.Ouraffections,likethelapwing,52feed

ondung.Howjustlymaythediseaseofouraffectionsbearapartinthesceneofourgrief?Ofourselves,wearefallingintohell,andouraffectionswouldthrustusthere.

Let us lay to heart our actual sins. Of these I may say, “Who canunderstandhiserrors?”(Psa19.12).Theyare likeatomsinthesun, likethe sparks of a furnace. We have sinned in our eyes; they have been

casements53 to let in vanity.We have sinned in our tongues; they have

beenfiredwithpassion.Whatactionproceedsfromusinwhichwedonotbetraysomesin?Toreckontheseupwouldbelikenumberingthedropsintheocean.LetactualsinsbesolemnlyrepentedofbeforetheLord.

ChapterSeven

7.POWERFULMOTIVESTOREPENTANCETomaketheexhortationtorepentancemorelively,Iwilllaydownsomepowerfulmotivestoexciteustorepentance.

1.Sorrowandameltingheartwillfitusforeveryholyduty

Apieceoflead,whileitisinthelump,canbeputtonouse.Butmeltit,andyoumaythenpouritintoanymold,anditismadeuseful.Soaheartthat is hardened into a lump of sin is good for nothing; butwhen it isdissolvedbyrepentance,itisuseful.Ameltingheartisfittopray.WhenPaul’sheartwashumbledandmelted,then“behold,heprays”(Act9.11).It is fit to hear theword;now the word works kindly.When Josiah’sheartwastender,hehumbledhimselfandrenthisclothesathearingthewordsofthelaw(2Chr34.19).Hisheart,likemeltingwax,wasreadytotakeanysealoftheword.Ameltingheartisfittoobey.Whentheheartislikemetal in the furnace, it is facile andmalleable to anything: “Lord,what will you have me do?” (Act 9.6). A repenting soul subscribes toGod’swillandanswershiscall,justasanechoanswersthevoice.

2.Repentanceishighlyacceptable

When a spiritual river runs towater this garden, then our hearts are aGardenofEden,delightful toGod. Ihave read thatdovesdelight tobeaboutthewaters.AndsurelyGod’sSpirit,whodescendedinthelikenessofadove,takesgreatdelightinthewatersofrepentance.

The Lord does not regard any heart as sound except the broken heart:“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psa 51.17). Mary stood atJesus’ feet weeping (Luk 7.38). She brought two things to Christ, saidAugustine,unguentumand lachrymas (ointment and tears). Her tearswere better than her ointment. Tears are powerful orators for mercy.Theyaresilent,yettheyhaveavoice:“theLordhasheardthevoiceofmyweeping”(Psa6.8).

3.RepentancecommendsallourservicestoGod

What is seasonedwith the bitter herbs of godly sorrow isGod’s savorymeat.Whenweareprickedat theheart,hearing theword isgood, (Act2.37). Prayer is delightful to God when it ascends from the altar of abroken heart. The publican struck upon his breast saying, “God bemerciful to me, a sinner.” This prayer pierced heaven: “he went away

justifiedratherthantheother”(Luk18.14).NoprayertouchesGod’searexceptwhatcomesfromahearttouchedwiththesenseofsin.

4.Withoutrepentancenothingwillavailus

Someblessthemselvesthattheyhaveastockofknowledge;butwhat isknowledge good forwithout repentance? It is better tomortify one sinthan to understand all mysteries. Impure speculators only resembleSatantransformedintoanangeloflight.Learningandabadheartislikeafairfacewithcancerinthebreast.Knowledgewithoutrepentancewillonlybeatorchtolightmen’swaytohell.

5.Repentingtearsaredelicious

Theymaybecomparedtomyrrhwhich,thoughbitter,hasasweetsmellandrefreshesthespirits.Sorepentance,thoughitisbitterinitself,yetitis sweet in its effects. It brings inward peace. The soul is never moreenlargedandinwardlydelightedthanwhenitcankindlymelt.Alexander,uponthesafereturnofhisadmiralNearchusfromalongvoyage,weptfor

joy.54 How often the saints fall, weeping for joy! TheHebrewword for

“repent” signifies “to take comfort.” There is none so joyful as thepenitent! Tears, as the philosopher notes, have four qualities: they aremoist,salty,hot,andbitter.Thisistrueofrepentingtears.Theyarehot,to warm a frozen conscience; moist, to soften a hard heart; salty, toseason a soul putrefying in sin; bitter, towean us from the love of theworld.AndIwilladdafifth.Theyaresweet,inthattheymaketheheartinwardlyrejoice:“andsorrowshallbeturnedintojoy”(Job41.22).Letaman,saidAugustine,grieveforhissinandrejoiceforhisgrief.Tearsarethebestpastry.David,whowasthegreatweeperinIsrael,wasthesweetsinger of Israel. The sorrows of the penitent are like the sorrows of atravailingwoman: “Awomanwhen she is in travail has sorrow, but assoon as the child is delivered, she remembers no more the anguish,becauseofherjoythatamanisbornintotheworld”(Joh16.21).Sothesorrowsofhumbledsinnersbringforthgrace,andwhatjoythereiswhenthisman-childisborn!

6.Greatsinsrepentedofshallfindmercy

Mary Magdalene, a great sinner, obtained pardon when she washedChrist’s feet with her tears. Some of the Jews who had a hand incrucifying Christ, upon their repentance, the very blood that they shedbecameasovereignbalmtohealthem:“thoughyoursinsareasscarlet,

they shall be as white as snow” (Isa 1.18). Scarlet in Greek is called“dibasson,”becauseitis“twicedipped,”andtheartofmancannotwashoutthedyeagain.Butthoughoursinsarescarlet,God’smercycanwashthem away. This may comfort those who are discouraged by theheinousness of their sin, as if there were no hope for them. Yes, upontheirseriousturningtoGod,theirsinswillbeexpungedanddoneawaywith.

“Oh,butmysinsaresinfulbeyondmeasure!”Donotmakethemgreaterbynotrepenting.Repentanceunravelssinandmakesitasifithadneverbeen.

“Oh, but I have relapsed into sin after pardon, and surely there is nomercyforme!”IknowtheNovatiansheldthatafteralapsetherewasnorenewingbyrepentance;butdoubtlessthatwasanerror.ThechildrenofGod have relapsed into the same sin: Abraham twice equivocated; Lotcommitted incest twice; Asa, a good king, sinned twice by creature-confidence,andPetersinnedtwicebycarnalfear(Mat26.70;Gal2.12).Butforthecomfortofthosewhohaverelapsedintosinmorethanonce,ifthey solemnly repent, a white flag of mercy will be held out to them.Christ commands us to forgive our trespassing brother seventy timesseveninoneday,incaseherepents(Mat18.22).IftheLordbidsusdoit,willhenotbemuchmorereadytoforgiveusuponourrepentance?Whatisourforgivingmercycomparedtohis?Idonotsaythistoencourageanyimpenitent sinner, but to comfort a despondent sinner who thinksrepentanceisinvain,andthatheisexcludedfrommercy.

7.Repentanceistheinlettospiritualblessings

It helps to enrich uswith grace. It causes the desert to blossom as therose. Itmakes the soul like theEgyptian fieldsafter theNileoverflows:flourishing and fruitful. Never do the flowers of grace growmore thanafterashowerofrepentanttears.Repentancecausesknowledge:“WhentheirheartturnstotheLord,theveilwillbetakenaway”(2Cor3.16).Theveil of ignorancewhichwasdrawnover theJews’ eyeswill bybe takenaway repentance. Repentance inflames love.WeepingMaryMagdalenelovedmuch(Luk7.47).GodpreservesthesespringsofsorrowinthesoultowaterthefruitoftheSpirit(Gal5.22).

8.Repentanceushersintemporalblessings

The prophet Joel, persuading the people to repentance, brings in thepromiseofseculargoodthings:“rendyourheart,andnotyourgarments,

and turn to the Lord ... the Lord will answer and say to his people,Behold,Iwillsendyoucorn,andwine,andoil”(Joe2.13,19).Whenweputwater into thepump, it fetchesuponlywater,butwhenweput thewater of tears into God’s bottle, this fetches up wine: “I will send youwine,andoil.”Sinblasts the fruitsof theearth: “Youhavesownmuch,andbringinlittle”(Hag1.6).Butrepentancemakesthepomegranatebudand the vine flourishwith full clusters. FillGod’s bottle andhewill fillyourbasket.“IfyoureturntotheAlmighty,youwilllayupgoldlikedust”(Job22.23-24).Repenting isreturningtoGod,andthisbringsagoldenharvest.

9.Repentancestavesoffjudgmentsfromaland

WhenGodisgoingtodestroyanation,thepenitentsinnerstayshishand,as the angel did Abraham’s (Gen 22.12). The Ninevites’ repentancecausedGodtorepent:“Godsawthattheyturnedfromtheirevilway;andGodrepentedofthedisasterhesaidhewouldbringuponthem;andhedidnotdoit”(Jon.3.10).Anoutwardrepentancehasadjournedandkeptoffwrath. Ahab sold himself toworkwickedness; yet upon fasting andrendinghisgarments,GodsaidtoElijah,“Iwillnotbringtheevilinhisdays” (1Kng 21.29). If rending the clothes kept off judgment from thenation,whatwillrendingtheheartdo?

10.Repentancemakesjoyinheaven

Theangels,asitwere,keepaholyday:“ThereisjoyinthepresenceoftheangelsofGodoveronesinnerthatrepents”(Luk15.10).Aspraiseisthemusicofheaven,sorepentance is the joyofheaven.Whenmenneglecttheofferofsalvationandfreezeinsin,thisdelightsthedevils.ButwhenasoulisbroughthometoChristbyrepentance,thismakesjoyamongtheangels.

11.ConsiderhowdearoursinscostChrist

ConsideringhowdearlyoursinscostChristmaycausetearstodistilfromour eyes. Christ is called the Rock (1Cor 10.4). When his hands werepiercedwithnails, and the spear thrust inhis side, then thisRockwasstruck,andwaterandbloodcameout.AndallthisChristenduredforus:“theMessiahshallbecutoff,butnotforhimself”(Dan.9.26).Wetastedtheapple,andhetastedthevinegarandgall.Wesinnedineveryfaculty,

andhebledineveryvein:Cernisutintotocorporesculptusamor.55

CanwelookuponasufferingSaviorwithdryeyes?Willwenotbesorry

for those sins which made Christ a man of sorrow? Will not ourenormities,whichdrewblood fromChrist,drawtears fromus?Willweplay any more with sin and so scrape Christ’s wounds? Oh that byrepentancewecouldcrucifyoursinsafresh!TheJewssaidtoPilate,“Ifyouletthismango,youarenotCaesar’sfriend”(Joh19.12).Ifweletoursinsgoanddonotcrucifythem,wearenotChrist’sfriends.

12.ThisisthepurposeofallafflictionswhichGodsends,

Whether it issickness inourbodiesor losses inourestates,Godwouldawakenus fromour sinsandmake thewatersof repentance flow.WhydidGodleadIsraelonthatmarchinthewildernessamongfieryserpentsexcept to humble them (Deu8.2)?Why did he bringManasseh so low,changinghiscrownofgoldintofettersofironexceptthathemightlearnrepentance?“Hehumbledhimselfgreatlybefore theGodofhis fathers.ThenManassehknewthattheLordwasGod”(2Chr33.12-13).Oneofthebest ways to cure a man of his lethargy, is to push him into a fever.Likewise, when a person is stupefied and his conscience has grownlethargic,Godputshimunderextremes.Hebringsoneburningcalamityoranother tocure thepersonof thisdisease– to startlehimoutofhissecurityandmakehimreturntoGodbyrepentance.

13.Thedaysofourmourningwillsoonbeended

After a few showers that fall from our eyes, we will have perpetualsunshine.Christwillprovideahandkerchieftowipeoffhispeople’stears:“Godwillwipeawayalltears”(Rev7.17).Christians,youwillshortlyputonyourgarmentsofpraise.Youwill exchangeyour sackcloth forwhiterobes.Insteadofsighsyouwillhavetriumphs;insteadofgroans,youwillhave anthems; instead of thewater of tears, youwill have thewater oflife.Themourningofthedovewillbepast,andthetimeofthesingingof

birdswill come.Volitant superaethera cantus.56 Thisbringsme to the

nextpoint.

14.Thehappyandgloriousrewardthatfollowsuponrepentance

“Being freed from sin, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end,everlastinglife”(Rom6.22).Theleavesandrootofthefigtreearebitter,but the fruit is sweet. Repentance to the fleshy part seems bitter, butbehold sweet fruit: everlasting life. The Turks fancy that after this lifethere is an Elysium or paradise of pleasure, where delicacies will be

served,andtheywillhavegoldinabundance,silkenandpurpleapparel,and angels will bring them red wine in silver cups, and golden plates.Here is an epicure’s heaven. But in the true paradise of God there areastonishingdelightsandrarefoodsserved,which“eyehasnotseen,norhaveenteredintotheheartofman”(1Cor2.9).Godwillleadhispenitentsfromthehouseofmourningtothebanquethouse.Therewillbenosighttherebutofglory,nonoisebutofmusic,nosicknessunlessoflove.Thereshall be holiness unspotted and joy unspeakable. Then the saints shallforgettheirsolitaryhoursandbesweetlysolacingthemselvesinGodandbathingintheriversofdivinepleasure.

O Christian, what are your duties compared with the recompense ofreward? What an infinite disproportion there is between repentanceenjoinedandgloryprepared.TherewasafeastdayatRome,whentheyused to crown their fountains. Godwill crown those headswhich havebeen fountains of tears.Who would not be willing to be awhile in thehouseofmourning,andtopossesstheglorythatputPeterandJohnintoan ecstasy to see it even darkly, shadowed and portrayed in thetransfiguration (Mat17)? This reward which free grace gives is sotranscendentlygreatthatifwecouldhavebutaglimpseofgloryrevealedto us here,wewould need patience to be content to live any longer.Oblessed repentance, that has such a light beside the dark, and has somuchsugaratthebottomofthebittercup!

15.Thenextmotivetorepentanceistoconsidertheevilofimpenitence

Ahardheartistheworstheart.Itiscalledaheartofstone(Eze36.26).Ifitwere iron, itmightbemollified in the furnace;butastoneput in thefirewillnotmelt; itwill likelyfly inyourface.ImpenitenceisasinthatgrievesChrist:“beinggrievedforthehardnessoftheirhearts”(Mar3.5).Itisnotsomuchthediseasethatoffendsthephysicianasthecontemptofhis medicine. It is not so much the sins we have committed that soprovokeandgrieveChrist,asthatwerefusethemedicineofrepentancewhichheprescribes.This aggravatedJezebel’s sin: “I gaveher space torepent, and she did not repent” (Rev 2.21). A hard heart receives noimpression. It is untuned for every duty. It was a sad speech Stephen

Gardiner57utteredonhisdeathbed:“IhavedeniedmyMasterwithPeter,

but I cannot repent with Peter.” Oh the plague of an obdurate heart!Pharaoh’sheartturnedintostonewasworsethanhiswatersturnedinto

blood. David had his choice of three judgments: plague, sword, andfamine;buthewouldhavechosenthemallratherthanahardheart.Animpenitent sinner is neither allured by entreaties nor frightened bymenaces.ThosewhowillnotweepwithPeterwillweeplikeJudas.AhardheartistheanvilonwhichthehammerofGod’sjusticewillstriketoalleternity.

16.ThelastmotivetorepentanceisthattheDayofJudgmentiscoming

Thisistheapostle’sownargument:“Godcommandsallmeneverywhereto repent; because he has appointed a day in which he will judge theworld”(Act17.3031).TheDayofJudgmenthaswhatmaymakeastonyheartbleed.Willamangoonthievingwhenthecourtsarenear?WillthesinnergoonsinningwhentheDayofJudgment issonear?Youcannomoreconcealyoursinthanyoucandefendit.AndwhatwillyoudowhenallyoursinsarewritteninGod’sbookandengravedonyourforehead?Odireful day, when Jesus Christ, clothed in his judge’s robe, says to thesinner, “Stand forward; answer to the indictment brought against you.What can you say for all your oaths, adulteries, and your desperateimpenitence?”Ohowamazedandstrickenwithconsternationthesinnerwillbe!Andafterhisconvictionhemusthearthesadsentence,“Departfromme!”Then,theonewhowouldnotrepentofhissinswillrepentofhis folly. If such a time is coming, in which God judgesmen for theirimpieties, thenwhat an incentive this shouldbe to repentance!For thepenitentsoulatthelastdaywill liftuphisheadwithcomfort,andhavehisdischargepapers,signedintheJudge’sownhand.

ChapterEight

8.EXHORTATIONSTOSPEEDYREPENTANCE

The second branch of the exhortation is to press persons to speedyrepentance: “now God commands all men everywhere to repent” (Act17.30).TheLordwouldnothaveanyofthelateautumnfruitsofferedtohim.God loves earlypenitents that consecrate the spring and floweroftheiragetohim.Earlytears,likepearlsbredfromthemorningdew,aremore lustrousandbeautiful.Odonot reserve thedregsofyourage forGod, lest he reserve the dregs of his cup for you!Be as speedy in yourrepentance as you would have God speedy in his mercies: “the king’sbusiness required haste” (1Sam 21.8). Therefore repentance requireshaste.

It is natural for us to procrastinate and put off repentance.We say, asHaggaidid,“Thetimehasnotcome”(Hag1.2).Nomanissobadthathedoesnotpurposetoamend;butheadjournsanddelayssolong,untilatlastallhispurposesproveabortive.Manyarenowinhellthatpurposedtorepent.Satandoeswhathecantokeepmenfromrepentance.Whenhesees that theybegin to takeupserious thoughtsofreformation,hebidsthemwaita little longer. If this traitor, sin,mustdie (saysSatan), let itnotdieyet.Sothedevilgetsareprieveforsin;itshallnotdiethissession.Atlastmenputitoffsolongthatdeathseizesthem,andtheirworkisnotdone.Letmethereforelaydownsomecogentargumentstopersuadeyoutospeedyrepentance:

1.Nowistheseasonofrepentance,andeverythingisbestdoneinitsseason

“Now is the accepted time” (2Cor 6.2); now God has a mind to showmercy to thepenitent.He ison thegivinghand.Kngsetapartdays forhealing. Now is the healing day for our souls. NowGod hangs out thewhiteflagandiswillingtoparleywithsinners.Aprinceathiscoronation,as an act of royalty, gives money, proclaims pardons, and fills theconduitswithwine.NowGodpromisespardonstopenitentsinners;nowthe conduit of the gospel flows with wine. Now is the accepted time.Therefore come innow andmake your peacewithGod.Break off youriniquitiesnowby repentance. It iswisdomto take theopportunity.Thehusbandmantakestheseasonalopportunitytosowhisseed.Nowisthe

seedtimeforoursouls.

2.Thesooneryourepentthefewersinsyouwillhavetoanswerfor

At the deathbed of an old sinner, where conscience begins to beawakened,youwillhearhimcryingout,“Hereallmyoldsinshavecomearoundme,hauntingmydeathbedlikesomanyevilspirits,andIhavenodischargefromthem.Here isSatan,whowasoncemytempter;nowhehas become an accuser, and I have no advocate. I amnow going to bedragged before God’s judgment-seat where I must receive my finaldoom!”Ohowdismalisthecaseofthisman.Heisinhellbeforehistime!But those o fyou who repent early of your sinful courses, this is yourprivilege:youwillhavelesstoanswerfor.Indeed,letmetellyouthatyouwill havenothing to answer for. Christwill answer for you. Your judgewillbeyouradvocate(1Joh2.1).Father,Christwillsay,hereisonethathasbeenagreatsinner,yetabroken-heartedsinner;ifheowesanythingtoyourjustice,setitonmyscore.

3.Thesoonerwerepent,themoreglorywemaybringtoGod

It is thepurposeof our living, to beuseful in our generation.Better toloseourlivesthanthepurposeofourliving.Lateconvertswhohaveformanyyearstakenpayonthedevil’sside,arenotinacapacitytodomuchwork in thevineyard.The thief on the cross couldnot serveGodasSt.Paul did. But when we do turn from sin early, then we give God thefirstfruitsofourlives.WespendandarespentforChrist.ThemoreworkwedoforGod,themorewillingwewillbetodie,andthesweeterdeathwillbe.Someonewhohasworkedhardatday-labor iswilling torestatnight. Those who have been honoring God all their lives, how sweetlytheywillsleepinthegrave!ThemoreworkwedoforGod,thegreaterourreward will be. Christ not only commended the one whose pound hadgainedtenpounds,buthepromotedhim:“Haveauthorityovertencities”(Luk19.17).Bylaterepentance,eventhoughwedonotloseourcrown,wemakeitlighter.

4.Puttingoffrepentanceanylongerhasdangerousconsequences

Moratrahitpericulum.58Delay isdangerous ifweconsiderwhat sin is:

sinisapoison.Itisdangeroustoletpoisonlielonginthebody.Sinisabruise. Ifabruise isnotsooncured, itgangrenesandkills. If sin isnot

sooncuredbyrepentance,itfesterstheconscienceanditdamnsthesoul.Why should anyone love to dwell in the tents of wickedness? They areunderthepowerofSatan(Act26.18),anditisdangeroustostaylongintheenemy’squarters.

Itisdangeroustopostponerepentance,becausethelongeranygooninsin, theharder theywill find theworkofrepentance.Delaystrengthenssinandhardenstheheartandgivesthedevilfullerpossession.Aplantatfirstmaybeeasilypluckedup,butwhenithasspreaditsrootsdeepintheearth, a whole team cannot remove it. It is hard to remove sin once itcomestoberooted.The longerthe ice freezes, theharder it is tobreak.The longer aman freezes in security, the harder itwill be to break hisheart. The longer anyone travails with iniquity, the sharper pangs hemustexpectinthenewbirth.Whensinhasgottenahaunt,itisnoteasilyshakenoff.Sincomestoasinnerastheelderbrothercametohisfather:“Look,thesemanyyearsIhaveserveyou,andInevertransgressedyourcommandment” (Luk 15.29), andwill you throwmeoutnow?What, inmy old age, after you have had somuch pleasure byme? See how sinpleadsitisaccustomed,andthatitisaleopard’sspot(Jer13.23).

Itisdangeroustoprorogueanddelayrepentancebecausetherearethreedaysthatmaysoonexpire:

(1)Thedayofthegospelmayexpire.Thisisasunshinyday.Itissweetbut swift. Jerusalem had a day but lost it: “but now they are hiddenfromyoureyes”(Luk19.42).TheAsianchurcheshadaday,butatlast

thegoldenlampstandwasremoved.59ItwouldbeasadtimeinEngland

toseetheglorydeparted.Withwhatheartscouldwefollowthegospeltothegrave?Tolosethegospelwouldbefarworsethantohaveourcitychartertakenfromus.“Grayhairsarehereandthere”(Hos7.9).1willnotsaythesunofthegospelissetinEngland,butIamsureitisunderacloud.Thatwasasadspeech,“ThekingdomofGodshallbetakenfromyou”(Mat21.43).Thereforeitisdangeroustodelayrepentance,lestthemarketofthegospelshouldberemovedandthevisioncease.

(2)Aman’spersonaldayofgracemayexpire.WhatifthattimeshouldcomewhenGodsays themeansofgraceshalldonogood:ordinanceswillhave“amiscarryingwombanddrybreasts”(Hos9.14)?Isitnotsadtoadjournrepentancetillsuchadecreeisgiven?Itistrue,nomancanjustlytellthathisdayofgraceispast,buttherearetwoshrewdsignsbywhichhemayfearit:

(a) When his conscience is done preaching. Conscience is a heart-preacher. Sometimes it convinces; sometimes it reproves. It says, asNathansaidtoDavid,“youaretheman”(2Sam12.7).Butamanmayimprison this preacher; and God may then say to his conscience,preachnomore:“Lettheonewhoisfilthyremainfilthy!”(Rev22.11).Itisafatalsignthataman’sdayofgraceispast.

(b)Whenapersonisinsuchaspirituallethargythatnothingwillworkupon him or make him sensible. There is “the spirit of deep sleeppouredoutuponyou”(Isa29.10).Thisisasadpresagethathisdayofgrace ispast.Howdangerousthenis it todelayrepentancewhenthedayofgracemaysosoonexpire!

(3)Thedayoflifemayexpire.Whatsecuritydowehavethatweshalllive another day?We aremarching quickly out of the world.We aregoing off the stage. Our life is a candle soon blown out.Man’s life iscomparedtotheflowerofthefieldwhichwitherssoonerthanthegrass(Psa 103.15). Our age is as nothing (Psa 39.5). Life is but a flyingshadow. The body is like a vessel filled with a little breath. Sicknessbroaches this vessel; death draws it out. O how soon the scene mayalter!Manyavirginhasbeendressedthesamedayinherbride-appareland her burial gown! How dangerous then is it to adjourn repentingwhendeathmaysosuddenlymakea thrustatus.Donotsaynot thatyouwillrepenttomorrow.RememberthatspeechofAquinas:“Godwhopardonstheonewhorepentshasnotpromisedtogivehimtomorrowto

repentin.”60IhavereadofArchias,aGreekkingfromLaconia,whowas

partyingwhen someone delivered him a letter; he desired the king toreadthe letter immediately,because itwasaboutseriousbusiness.Hereplied, “seria eras” (“I will mind serious things tomorrow”); and onthat day he was slain. Thus, whilemen think to spin out their silver

thread,deathcutsitoff.OlausMagnus61observesofthebirdsofNorway

that they fly faster than the birds of any other country. It is not thattheirwingsareswifterthanothers,butbyaninstinctofnature,knowingthedaysinthatclimateareveryshort(notabovethreehourslong),theythereforehastentotheirnests.Sowe,knowingtheshortnessofourlivesandhowquicklywemaybe calledawaybydeath, should fly somuchfasteronthewingofrepentancetoheaven.

But some will say that they do not fear a sudden surprise; they willrepenton their sickbed. Idonotmuch likea sickbed repentance.The

manwhoriskshissalvationinthespaceofafewshortminutesrunsadesperatehazard.Youwhoputoffrepentancetillsickness,answermethesefourqueries:

(a)Howdoyouknowthatyouwillhaveatimeofsickness?Deathdoesnotalwaysshootitswarning-piecebyalingeringconsumption.Someitarrestssuddenly.What ifGodshouldquicklysendyouasummonstosurrenderyourlife?

(b)Supposeyoushouldhaveatimeofsickness;howdoyouknowyouwill have the use of your senses? Many are unbalanced on theirsickbed.

(c)Supposeyoushouldhaveyoursenses;still,howdoyouknowyourmindwillbeinafitstateforsuchaworkasrepentance?Sicknesssodiscomposesbodyandmindthatyoumaybeunableatsuchatimetocare foryoursoul. Insickness,aman isscarcely fit tomakehiswill,muchlesstomakehispeace.Theapostlesaid,“Isanysickamongyou?Let him call for the elders of the church” (James 5.14).Hedoes notask, “Is he sick? Let himpray,” but “Let him call for the elders thattheymayprayoverhim.”Asickmanismostunfittoprayorrepent;heislikelytomakesickworkofit.Whenthebodyisoutoftune,thesoulmust jar in its devotion. Upon a sick bed, a person is more fit toexerciseimpatiencethanrepentance.Wereadthatatthepouringoutofthefourthvial,whenGodstrucktheinhabitantsandscorchedthemwithfire,that“theyblasphemedthenameofGod,anddidnotrepent”(Rev16.9).SowhentheLordpoursouthisvialandscorchesthebodywithafever,thesinnerisbetterfittoblasphemethantorepent.

(d)Howdoyou,whoputoffeverythinguntilasickbed,knowthatGodwill give you in that very juncture of time, the grace you need torepent? The Lord usually punishes neglect of repentance in time ofhealth,with hardness of heart in time of sickness. You have in yourlifetime repulsed theSpiritofGod,andareyousurehewill comeatyour call? Youhavenot taken the first season, andperhaps youwillnever seeanother springtideof theSpirit again.Consideringall this,may hasten your repentance. Do not lay too much weight upon asickbed. “Be diligent to come beforewinter” (2Tim 4.21). There is awinterofsicknessanddeathcoming.Thereforemakehastetorepent.Letyourworkbereadybeforewinter.“Today,hearGod’svoice”(Heb3.7).

ChapterNine

9.THETRIALOFOURREPENTANCE,ANDCOMFORTFORTHEPENITENT

If any say they have repented, let me ask that they try themselvesseriously by those seven adjuncts or effects of repentance which theapostlelaysdownin2Cor7.11:

1.Carefulness

The Greek word signifies a solicitous diligence or careful shunning alltemptationstosin.ThetruepenitentfliesfromsinasMosesdidfromtheserpent.

2.Clearingourselves

TheGreekwordis“apology.”Thesenseisthis:evenifweareverycareful,thestrengthoftemptationmaystillcauseustoslipintosin.Nowinthiscase, the repenting soul will not let sin lie festering in his conscience;insteadhejudgeshimselfforhissin.HepoursouttearsbeforetheLord.He begs mercy in the name of Christ, and he never leaves till he hasgottenhispardon.Hereheisclearedofguiltinhisconscience,andheisabletomakeanapologyforhimselfagainstSatan.

3.Indignation

For someone who repents of sin, his spirit rises against it, just as hisbloodmightriseatthesightofapersonhemortallyhates.Indignationisbeing outraged in his heart with his sin. The penitent is vexed withhimself.Davidcallshimselfafoolandabeast(Psa73.22).Godisneverbetterpleasedwithusthanwhenwehaveafallingoutwithourselvesforsin.

4.Fear

A tender heart is ever a trembling heart. The penitent has felt sin’sbitterness.Thishornethasstunghimandnow,havinghopesthatGodisreconciled,heisafraidtocomenearsinanymore.Therepentingsoulisfulloffear.HeisafraidtoloseGod’sfavorwhichisbetterthanlife.Forwant of diligence, he is afraid hemight come short of salvation.He isafraid that, after his heart has been softened, thewaters of repentancemight freezeandhewouldharden insinagain.“Happy is themanthatalways fears” (Pro 28.14). A sinner is like the leviathan that is made

without fear (Job 41.33). A repenting person fears and does not sin; agracelesspersonsinsanddoesnotfear.

5.Vehementdesire

Justassoursaucesharpenstheappetite,sothebitterherbsofrepentancesharpen desire. But what does the penitent desire? He desires morepoweragainstsin,andtobereleasedfromit.Itistruethathehasgottenloose fromSatan,buthe is likeanescapedprisonerwitha fetteronhisleg.Hecannotwalkwithfreedomandswiftness inthewaysofGod.Hethereforedesirestohavethefettersofsinremoved.Hewantstobefreedfromcorruption.HecriesoutwithPaul: “whowilldeliverme fromthisbodyofdeath?”(Rom7.24).Inshort,hedesirestobewithChrist,justaseverything,atitscenter,desirestobe.

6.Zeal

Desireandzealarefitlyputtogethertoshowthattruedesirepushesitselfwithzealousendeavor.Howthepenitentstirshimselfinthebusinessofsalvation!Howhetakesthekingdomofheavenbyforce!(Mat11.12)Zealquickensthepursuitofglory.Zeal,encounteringdifficulty,isemboldenedbyoppositionandittramplesupondanger.Zealmakesarepentingsoulpersist in godly sorrow against all discouragements and oppositionswhatever. Zeal carries a man above himself for God’s glory. Beforeconversion Paul was madly against the saints (Act 26.11); and afterconversion he was judgedmad for Christ’s sake: “Paul, you are besideyourself” (Act26.24).But itwas zeal, not insanity.Zeal animates spiritandduty.Itcausesfervencyinreligion,whichislikefiretothesacrifice(Rom12.11).Asfearisabridletosin,sozealisaspurtoduty.

7.Revenge

Atruepenitentpursueshissinswithaholymalice.HeseekstheirdeathjustasSamsonwasavengedonthePhilistinesforhistwoeyes.HeuseshissinsastheJewsusedChrist.Hegivesthemgallandvinegartodrink.Hecrucifieshislusts(Gal5.24).AtruechildofGodseekstoberevengedmostofallforthosesinswhichhavedishonoredGodthemost.Cranmer,whohadsignedthepopisharticleswithhisrighthand,wasrevengedon

himself;heputhisrighthandfirstintothefire.62Davidbysindefiledhis

bed;afterwardsbyrepentancehewateredhisbedwithtears. Israelhadsinned by idolatry, and afterwards they offered disgrace to their idols:“You shall defile also the covering of your graven images of silver” (Isa

30.22).MaryMagdalenehadsinnedinhereyebyadulterousglances,andnowshewillberevengedonhereyes.ShewashesChrist’s feetwithhertears.Shehadsinned inherhair. Ithadentangledher lovers.Nowshewill be revenged on her hair; she wipes the Lord’s feet with it. TheIsraelitewomenwhohaddressedthemselvesbythehour,andlenttheirmirrors to pride, afterwards, byway of revenge aswell as zeal, offeredtheirmirrorstobeusedintheserviceofGod’stabernacle(Exo38.8).Sotoo,thoseconjurerswhousedcuriousartsormagic(asitistranslatedintheSyriac),oncetheyrepented,broughttheirbooksandburnedthembywayofrevenge(Act19.19).

These are the blessed fruits and products of repentance; and ifwe canfindtheseinoursouls,thenwehavearrivedatthatrepentancewhichisnevertoberepentedof(2Cor7.10).

ANecessaryCautionForthosewhohavesolemnlyrepentedoftheirsins,letmespeaktothembyway of caution.Though repentance is sonecessary and excellent, asyou have heard, take heed that you do not ascribe too much torepentance.Thepapistsareguiltyofadoubleerror:

(1)Theymakerepentancea sacrament.Christnevermade it so.Andwho may institute sacraments but the who can give virtue to them?Repentance cannot be a sacrament because it lacks an outward sign.Andasacramentcannotproperlybesacramentwithoutasign.

(2) The papists make repentance meritorious. They say it meritspardon ex congruo (altogether fittingly). This is a gross error. Indeedrepentancepreparesusformercy.Justastheplow,whenitbreaksuptheground,preparesitfortheseed,sowhentheheartisbrokenupbyrepentance,itispreparedforremission–butitdoesnotmeritit.Godwillnotsaveuswithoutrepentance,norwillhesaveusforrepentance.It is a qualification, not a cause. I grant that repenting tears areprecious. They are, asGregory said, “the fat of the sacrifice;” asBasilsaid, “the medicine of the soul;” and as Bernard said, “the wine ofangels.” Yet, tears are not satisfactory for sin. We drop sin with ourtears;thereforetheycannotsatisfy.Augustinesaiditwell:“Ihavereadof Peter’s tears, but no man ever read of Peter’s satisfaction.” OnlyChrist’sbloodcanmeritpardon.WepleaseGodbyrepentance,butwedonotsatisfyhimbyit.TotrustinourrepentanceistomakeitaSavior.

Though repentance helps to purge the filth of sin, it is Christ’s bloodthatwashesawaytheguiltofsin.Therefore,donotidolizerepentance.Do not rest on this: that your heart has been wounded for your sin.Rather,restonthefactthatyourSaviorhasbeenwoundedforyoursin.Whenyouhavewept,saywithPeter:“LordJesus,washmytearsinyourblood.”

ComfortfortheRepentingSinnerLet me in the next place speak by way of comfort. Christian, has Godgiven you a repenting heart? If so, know these three things for youreverlastingcomfort:

1.Yoursinsarepardoned

Pardonofsincircumscribesblessednesswithinit.(Psa32.1).WhomGodpardons he crowns: “who forgives all your iniquities, who crowns youwith lovingkindness” (Psa 103.34).A repentingcondition isapardonedcondition. Christ said to that weeping woman, “Your sins, which aremany,areforgiven”(Luk7.47).Pardonsaresealedonsofthearts.Oyouwhoseheadhas been a fountain toweep for sin, Christ’s sidewill be afountain towashaway sin (Zec 13.1).Haveyou repented?God looksatyouasifyouhadnotoffended.Hebecomesafriend,afather.Hewillnowbringoutthebestrobeandputitonyou.Godispacifiedtowardsyouandwill,aswiththefatheroftheprodigal,falluponyourneckandkissyou.Sin in Scripture is compared to a cloud (Isa 44.22). No sooner is thiscloud scattered by repentance than pardoning love shines forth. Paul,after his repentance, obtainedmercy: “Iwas all bestrewedwithmercy”(1Tim1.16).Whenaspringofrepentanceisopenintheheart,aspringofmercyisopeninheaven.

2.Godwillpassanactofoblivion

Heforgivessininsuchawaythatheforgets:“Iwillremembertheirsinnomore” (Jer 31.34).Have you been penitentially humbled? The Lordwillneverupbraidyouwithyourformersins.AfterPeterwept,weneverreadthatChristupbraidedhimwithhisdenialofhim.Godhascastyoursinsintothedepthsofthesea(Mic7.19).How?Notascork,butaslead.TheLordwillneverinajudicialwayaccountforthem.Whenhepardons,Godisasacreditorthatblotsthedebtoutofhisbook(Isa43.25).Someaskthequestion,whetherthesinsofthegodlywillbementionedatthelast day. The Lord said hewillnot remember them, and he is blotting

themout,soiftheirsinsarementioned,itshallnotbetotheirprejudice,forthedebt-bookiscrossed.

3.Consciencewillnowspeakpeace

O the music of conscience! Conscience is turned into a paradise, andthere a Christian sweetly solaces himself and plucks the flowers of joy(2Cor1.12).TherepentingsinnercangotoGodwithboldnessinprayerandlookuponhimnotasajudge,butasafather.Heis“bornofGod”andis heir to a kingdom (Luk 6.20).He is encircledwith promises.He nosoonershakesthetreeofthepromisethansomefruitfallsfromit.

Toconclude, thetruepenitentmay lookondeathwithcomfort.His lifehas been a life of tears, andnowat death all tearswill bewiped away.Deathwillnotbeadestruction,butadeliverancefromjail.Thusyouseewhatgreatcomfortremainsforrepentingsinners.Luthersaidthatbeforehis conversion he could not endure that bitter word “repentance;” butafterwardshefoundmuchsweetnessinit.

ChapterTen

10.REMOVINGTHEIMPEDIMENTSTOREPENTANCE

Before I lay down the expedients and means that are conducive torepentance, Iwill first remove the impediments to it. In this great city,when you lack water, you search for the cause, whether the pipes arebroken or stopped, or that the current of water is hindered. Likewise,when nowater of repentance comes (even thoughwe have the conduitpipesoftheordinances),wesearchtoseewhatthecauseis.Whatistheobstructionsothatthesepenitentialwatersdonotrun?

Therearetenimpedimentstorepentance:

1.Mendonotapprehendthattheyneedrepentance

They thankGod that all iswellwith them, and theyknownothing thattheyshouldrepentof:“yousay,‘Iamrich,andneednothing’”(Rev3.I7).Someonewhodoesnotapprehendanysicknessinhisbodywillnottakethemedicineprescribed for it.This is themischief that sinhasdone; ithasnotonlymadeussick,butsenseless.WhentheLordaskedthepeopleto return tohim, they answered stubbornly, “Inwhat shallwe return?”(Mal.3.7).SowhenGodasksmen to repent, they say, “Whyshouldwerepent?”Theyknownothing that theyhavedoneamiss.There is surely

nodiseaseworsethanapoplexy.63

2.Peopleconceiveitaneasythingtorepent

It isonly sayinga fewprayers: a sigh,or a “Lordhavemercy,” and thework is done. This conceit of the easiness of repentance is a greathindrancetoit.Ifitmakesapersonboldandadventurousinsinthenitmustobstructrepentance.Thisopinionthatrepentanceiseasy,makesapersonbold in sin.The angler can let out his line as far ashewill andthenpullitinagain.Likewise,whenamanthinkshecanlashoutinsinasfarashewants,andthenpull inbyrepentancewheneverhepleases,thismust embolden him in hiswickedness. But to take away this falseconceitoftheeasinessofrepentance,considerthese:

(1)Awickedmanhasamountainofguiltuponhim;isiteasytostandupundersuchaweight?Issalvationpersaltum(obtainedwithaleap)?Canamanjumpoutofsin intoheaven?Canhe leapoutof thedevil’sarmsintoAbraham’sembrace?

(2) If all the power in a sinner is employedagainst repentance, thenrepentanceisnoteasy.Allthefacultiesofanaturalmanarejoinedwithsin: “I have loved foreigners, and I will go after them” (Jer 2.25). AsinnerwouldratherloseChristandheaventhanhislusts.Death,whichpartsmanandwife,willnotpartawickedmanandhissins.Isitsoeasytorepent?Theangelrolledawaythestonefromthesepulcher;butonlyGodhimselfcanrollthestoneawayfromtheheart.

3.PresumptuousthoughtsofGod’smercy

Manysuckpoisonfromthissweetflower.Christcameintotheworldtosavesinners(1Tim1.15);yetaccidentallythisistheoccasionformanyaman’s perishing. Though to the elect Christ is the bread of life, to thewickedhe is “astumblingstone” (1Pet2.8).Tosomehisblood is sweet

wine;toothersitisthewaterofMarah.64SomearesoftenedbythisSun

of righteousness (Mal. 4.2); others are hardened by it. “Oh,” says one,“Christhasdied;hehasdoneitallforme;thereforeImaysitstillanddonothing.”Thushesucksdeathfromthetreeoflife,andheperishesbyaSavior.ImaysaythesameofGod’smercy.Itisaccidentallythecauseofmanyaman’sruin.Becauseofmercy,menpresumeandthinkthattheymay continue in sin; but should a king’s clemency make his subjectsrebel?ThepsalmistsaysthereismercywithGodsothathemaybefeared(Psa130.4),notsothatwemaysin.Canmenexpectmercybyprovokingjustice? God will hardly show those mercy who sin because mercy

abounds.65

4.Alazysluggishattitude

Repentanceislookeduponasatediousthing,requiringgreateffort;butmen are content with their dregs and do not care to stir. They wouldrathergosleepingtohellthanweepingtoheaven.“Aslothfulmanhides

his hand in his vest” (Pro 19.24); he will not strike his breast.66 Many

would rather lose heaven than ply the oar and row on the waters ofrepentance.Wecannothavetheworldcitrapulverem(withoutlaboranddiligence);wouldwenotratherhavewhatismoreexcellent?Slothisthecancerofthesoul:“Slothfulnesstossesintoadeepsleep”(Pro19.15).

ItwasawittyfictionofthepoetsthatwhenMercuryputArgustosleepandclosedhiseyeswithanenchantedflute,hethenkilledhim.It isnofictionthatwhenSatanhaslulledmentosleepinslothbyhiswitcheries,hethendestroysthem.Somereportthatwhilethecrocodilesleepswith

itsmouthopen,theIndianratgetsintoitsbellyandeatsupitsentrails.Sotoowhilemensleepinfalsesecurity,theyaredevoured.

5.Theticklingpleasureofsin:‘whohadpleasureinunrighteousness’(2Thes2.12)

Sin is a sugared draft mixed with poison. The sinner thinks there isdangerinsin,butthereisalsodelight–andthedangerdoesnotterrifyhimasmuchasthedelightbewitcheshim.Platocallsloveofsinagreatdevil.Delightinginsinhardenstheheart.Intruerepentance,theremustbe grieving for sin; buthow canone grieve forwhathe loves?Theonewhodelightsinsincanhardlyprayagainstit.Hisheartissourgedbysinthathe isafraid to leave it toosoon.SamsondotedonDelilah’sbeauty,but her lap proved to be his grave. When a man rolls iniquity like a

sugared lump under his tongue,67 it infatuates him, and it will be his

deathintheend.Delightinsinisasilkenhalter.68Willitnotbebitterin

theend?(2Sam2.26)

6.Anopinionthatrepentancewilltakeawayourjoy

But that is a mistake. It does not crucify our joy but clarifies it, andremoves it fromtheattractivedregsof sin.What isall earthly joy? It isbut hilaris insania (a pleasant insanity). Falsa inter gaudia noctem

egerimus(Virgil).69Worldlymirthislikeafeignedlaugh:sorrowfollows

atitsheels.Likethemagician’srod,itisinstantlyturnedintoaserpent.

Butdivine repentance, likeSamson’s lion,hashoneycomb in it.70 God’s

kingdomconsistsasmuchin joyas inrighteousness(Rom14.17).Noneare so truly cheerful as penitent ones. Est quaedam flere voluptas

(Ovid).71

The oil of joy is poured chiefly into a broken heart: “the oil of joy formourning”(Isa61.3).InthefieldsnearPalermogrowagreatmanyreedsinwhichthereissweetjuice;sugarismadefromit.Likewiseinapenitentheart(which is thebruisedreed),growthesugared joysofGod’sSpirit.Godturnsthewateroftearsintothejuiceofthegrape,whichexhilaratesandmakestheheartglad.Whoshouldrejoiceifnottherepentingsoul?Heisheirtoallthepromises,andisnotthatamatterforjoy?Goddwellsinacontriteheart,andmusttherenotbejoythere?“Idwellwiththeonewho has a contrite spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isa57.15). Repentance does not take away a Christian’smusic, but it doessoundahighernote,andmakesitsweeter.

7.Anotherobstacletorepentanceisdespondencyofmind

Itisafutilethingforme,saysthesinner,tobegintorepent;mysinsaresogreatthatthereisnohopeforme.“Returnnoweveryonefromhisevilway ... And they said, There is no hope” (Jer 18.11-12). Our sins aremountains;howwill theseeverbe thrown into thesea?Whereunbeliefrepresents sin to our soul in its bloody colors, and God in his judge’srobes,thesoulwouldsoonerflyfromGodthantohim.Thisisdangerous.

Othersinsneedmercy,butdespairrejectsmercy.Itthrowsthecordial72

of Christ’s blood on the ground. Judas was not only damned for histreasonandmurder,butitwashisdistrustofGod’smercythatdestroyedhim.WhyshouldweentertainsuchhardthoughtsofGod?Hehasadeeplove for repenting sinners (Joe 2.13).Mercy rejoices over justice.God’sangerisnotsohotthatmercycannotcoolit;norisitsosharpthatmercycannotsweetenit.Godconsidershismercytobehisglory(Exo33.18-19).We have some drops of mercy ourselves, but God is “the Father ofmercies”(2Cor1.3);Heistheonewhoreproducesallthemerciesthatarein us. He is the God of tenderness and compassion. No sooner do wemourn thanGod’s heartmelts.No sooner do our tears fall, thanGod’scompassions kindle (Hos 11.8). Do not say then that there is no hope.Disband the army of your sins, and God will sound a retreat to hisjudgments.Remember,great sinshavebeenswallowedup in theseaofGod’s infinite compassions.Manassehmade the streets runwithblood,yetwhenhisheadwasafountainoftears,Godgrewfavorable.

8.Hopeofimpunity

MenflatterthemselvesinsinandthinkthatGod,havingsparedthemallthiswhile,neverintendstopunishthem.Becausethejudgmentsareputoff, surely therewill be no judgments at all. “He has said in his heart,‘Godhasforgotten:hehideshisface;’hewillneverseeit”(Psa10.11).TheLord is indeed longsuffering towards sinners, and by his patience hewouldbribethemtorepentance–buthereistheirwretchedness:becausehe forbears to punish, they forbear to repent. Know that the lease ofpatiencewillsoonrunout.ThereisatimewhenGodwillsay,“MySpiritshallnotalways strivewithman” (Gen6.3).A creditormay forbearhisdebtor, but forbearancedoesnot excuse thepayment.God takesnoticehowlongtheglassofhispatiencehasbeenrunning:“Igaveherspacetorepent;andshedidnotrepent”(Rev2.21).Jezebeladdedimpenitencetoher incontinency, and what followed? “Behold, I will throw her into a

bed”(Rev2.22),notabedofpleasure,butabedoflanguishingwhereshewill be consumed inher iniquity.The longerGod’s arrow isdrawn, thedeeper it will wound. Sins against patience will make a man’s hell somuchthehotter.

9.Thenextimpedimentofrepentanceisfearofreproach

“IfIrepentIwillexposemyselftoscorn.”Theheathenwouldsay,“Whenyouapplyyourselftothestudyofwisdom,bepreparedforsarcasmandreproach.” But considerwell who they are that reproach you. They areignorantofGodandspirituallymad.Areyoubotheredbythereproachofthosewhoarenotintheirrightwits?Whomindsamadmanlaughingathim?

Whatdothewickedreproachyoufor?Isitbecauseyourepent?Youaredoingyourduty.Bindtheirreproacheslikeacrownaroundyourhead.Itisbettertohavemenreproachyouforrepenting,thantohaveGoddamnyoufornotrepenting.

If you cannot bear a reproach for religion, then never call yourselfChristian.Luthersaid,“Christianusquasicrucianus”(aChristianisasif

crucified).Suffering isasaint’s livery.73Andwhatare reproaches?They

arebutchipsoffthecross,whichshouldbedespisedratherthanlaidtoheart.

10.Thelastimpedimentofrepentanceisimmoderateloveoftheworld

No wonder Ezekiel’s hearers were hardened into rebellion when theirheartswentaftercovetousness(Eze33.31).Theworldsoengrossesmen’stimeandbewitchestheiraffectionsthattheycannotrepent.TheywouldratherputgoldintheirbagthantearsinGod’sbottle.IhavereadoftheTurksthattheypaynoheedtochurchesoraltars,buttheyarediligentinlookingaftertheircrops.Likewise,manyrarelygiveheedtorepentance–they care more about breaking up clods of dirt with their plow, thanbreakingupthefallowgroundoftheirhearts.Thethornschoketheword.Wereadof thosewhowere invitedtoChrist’ssupper,andwhoputhimoffwithworldlyexcuses.Thefirstsaid,“Iboughtapieceofground,andImustgoseeit:Iaskthatyouexcuseme.Anothersaid,‘Iboughtfiveyokeofoxen ...’” (Luk14. 18-19).The farmand theshop takeupsomuchofpeople’s time that they have no free time for their souls. Their golden

weights74 hinder their silver tears. There is an herb in the country of

Sardinia,likebalm,whichmakesthemdielaughingiftheyeattoomuchof it. The world is such an herb (or rather, weed), if men eatimmoderatelyofit.Insteadofdyingrepenting,theywilldielaughing.

Thesearetheobstructionstorepentancewhichmustberemovedsothatthecurrentofwatermayflowclearer.

ChapterEleven

11.PRESCRIBINGSOMEMEANSFORREPENTANCE:

(1)SeriousConsiderationIn the last place I will prescribe some rules or means conducive torepentance.

The first means conducive to repentance is serious consideration: “Ithoughtonmyways,andturnedmyfeet towardyour testimonies” (Psa119.59).Theprodigal,whenhecame tohis senses, seriouslyconsideredhisriotousluxuries;andthenherepented.PeterweptwhenhethoughtofChrist’s words. There are certain things which, if they were wellconsidered,wouldbeameanstomakeusbreakoffacourseofsinning.

1.Firstly,considerseriouslywhatsinis.

Beassured,thereisenoughevilinsintomakeusrepent.Therearethesetwentyevilsinsin:

(1)Every sin is a recession from God (Jer 2.5). God is the supremegood,andourblessednessliesinunionwithhim.Butsin,likeastrongbias,drawstheheartawayfromGod.ThesinnertakeshisleaveofGod.HebidsfarewelltoChristandmercy.Everystepforwardinsinisastepbackward from God: “they have forsaken the Lord, they have gonebackward” (Isa 1.4).The furtheronegoes from the sun, thenearerheapproachesdarkness.ThefurtherthesoulgoesfromGod,theneareritapproachesmisery.

(2) Sin is walking contrary to God (Lev 26.27). The same word inHebrewsignifiesbothtosinandtorebel.SinisoppositetoGod.IfGodisofonemind, thensinwillbeofanother. IfGodsays tosanctify theSabbath, thensinsays toprofane it.SinstrikesatGod’sverybeing. Ifsincouldhelpit,GodwouldnolongerbeGod:“MaketheHolyOneofIsraelceasetoconfrontus”(Isa30.11).Whatahorriblethingthisis,forapieceofprouddusttoriseupindefianceagainstitsMaker!

(3)SinisanoffensetoGod.Itviolateshislaws.Hereiscrimenlaesuemajestatis (grievoushigh treason).Whatgreater injurycanbegivenaprincethantotrampleonhisroyaledicts?Asinnerholdsthestatutesofheaven in contempt: “they toss your law behind their backs” (Neh.

9.26),asiftheyscornedtolookatit.SinrobsGodofhisdue.Youinjureamanwhenyoudonotgivehimhisdue.ThesoulbelongstoGod.Hehasadoubleclaimtoit:itishisbycreationandbypurchase.ThussinstealsthesoulfromGod,andgivestothedevilwhatrightlybelongstoGod.

(4) Sin is profound ignorance. The Schoolmen say that all sin isfounded in ignorance. IfmenknewGod inhispurity and justice theywouldnotdaregooninacourseofsinning:“theyproceedfromeviltoevil, and they do not know me, says the Lord” (Jer 9.3). Thereforeignorance and lust are joined together (1Pet 1.14). Ignorance is thewomboflust.Vaporsarisemostlyinthenight.Theblackvaporsofsinarisemostlyinadarkignorantsoul.SatanthrowsamistbeforeasinnersothathedoesnotseetheflamingswordofGod’swrath.Theeaglefirstrolls himself in the sand and then it flies at the stag; by fluttering itswings,itduststhestag’seyessothatitcannotsee,andthenitstrikesitwith its talons.Inthesameway,Satan, thateagleorprinceof theair,first blinds men with ignorance, and then he wounds them with hisarrows of temptation. Is sin ignorance? If so, there is great cause torepentofignorance.

(5)Sinisapieceofdesperateness. Ineverytransgression.amanrunsanobviousriskofhissoul.Hetreadsonthebrinkofthebottomlesspit.Foolishsinner!Younevercommitasin,butyoudowhatmayundoyoursoulforever.Ifsomeonedrinkspoison,itisawonderifitdoesnotcosthimhislife.OnetasteoftheforbiddentreelostAdamparadise.Onesinof theangels lost themheaven.OnesinofSaul losthimhiskingdom.Thenextsinyoucommit,Godmayclapyouupasaprisoneramongthedamned. Youwho gallop on in sin, it is a question whether Godwillspareyourlifeadaylongerorgiveyouahearttorepent,sothatyouaredesperateeventoafrenzy.

(6)Sin smearswith filth. In James 1.21 sin is called “filthiness.” TheGreekwordsignifiesthepusofulcers.Siniscalledanabomination(Deu7.25); indeed it is plural, abominations (Deu20.18). This filthiness insinisinward.Aspotonthefacemayeasilybewipedoff;buttohavetheliver and lungs tainted is farworse. Sin is a pollution that has gotteninto the mind and the conscience (Titus 1.15). It is compared to amenstruouscloth(Isa30.22),themostuncleanthingunderthelaw.Asinner’sheartislikeafieldthatisspreadwithdung.Somethinkthatsinisanornament;but it is ratheranexcrement.Sin so smearsaperson

with filth that God cannot abide the sight of him: “my soul loathedthem”(Zec11.8).

(7)Insin there isodious ingratitude.Godhas fedyou,Osinner,withangels’ food. He has crowned you with a variety of mercies, yet youcontinue insin?AsDavidsaidofNabal:“invainIhaveprotectedthisman’ssheep”(1Sam25.21).LikewiseinvainhasGoddonesomuchforthesinner.AllGod’smerciesmayupbraid,evenaccuse theungratefulperson.Godmaysayhegaveyouwit,health,riches,andyouemployedalltheseagainsthim:“Igavehercorn,andwine,andoil,andmultipliedher silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal” (Hos 2.8); I sentprovisions and they served their idolswith them.The frozen snake in

thefablestungtheonewhobroughtittothefireandgaveitwarmth.75

So a sinner tries to sting God with his own mercies. “Is this yourkindnesstoyourfriend?”(2Sam16.17).DidGodgiveyoulifeinordertosin?Didhegiveyouwagesinordertoservethedevil?

(8)Sin is adebasing thing. It degrades a personof his honor: “Iwillmake your grave; for you are vile” (Nah. 1.14). This was spoken of aking.Hewasnotvilebybirthbutbysin.Sinblotsourname,andtaintsourblood.Nothingsochangesaman’sgloryintoshameassin.ItissaidofNaaman,“Hewasagreatmanandhonorable,buthewasaleper”(2Kng 5.1). However great a man may be with worldly pomp, if he iswicked,thenheisaleperinGod’seye.Toboastofsinistoboastofourinfamy, as if a prisoner should boast of his fetters or be proud of hishalter.

(9) Sin is a damage. In every sin there is infinite loss. No one everthrivedbygrazingonthispasture.Whatdoesone lose?HelosesGod;he loseshispeace;he loseshissoul.Thesoul isadivinespark lightedfromheaven; it is thegloryof creation.Whatcancompensate for thisloss?(Mat16.26)Ifthesoulisgone,thenthetreasureisgone;thereforethereisinfinitelossinsin.Sinissuchatradethatwhoeverpursuesitissuretoberuined.

(10)Sin is a burden: “My iniquities have gone over my head: like aheavyburden, they are tooheavy forme” (Psa38.4).The sinner goesaroundwith weights and fetters on him. The burden of sin is alwaysworstwhenitisfeltleast.Sinisaburdenwhereveritgoes.SinburdensGod:“Iampressedunderyou,asacartfullofsheavesispresseddown”

(Amos2.13).Sinburdensthesoul.WhataweightdidSpirafeel?76The

conscienceofJudaswassoburdened, thathehangedhimself toquiethis conscience!Thosewhocarry suchaburdenknowwhat sin is, andwillrepent.

(11)Sinisadebt.Itiscomparedtoadebtoftenthousandtalents(Mat18.24).Ofallthedebtsweowe,oursinsaretheworst.Withotherdebts,asinnermayfleetoforeignlands,butwithsinhecannot.“WhereshallIfleefromyourpresence?”(Psa139.7).Godknowswheretofindallhisdebtors.Death frees aman from other debts, but it will not free himfrom this. It is not the death of the debtor, but of the creditor, thatdischargesthisdebt.

(12) There is deceitfulness in sin (Heb 3.13). “The wickedman doesdeceptivework” (Pro 11.18). Sin is amere cheat.While it pretends topleaseus,itactuallybeguilesus!SindoesasJaeldid.FirstshebroughtthemilkandbuttertoSisera,andthenshestruckthenail throughhistemplessothathedied(Judg.5.26).Sinfirstcourts,andthenitkills.Itisfirstafox,andthenalion.Whoeversinkills,itbetrays.Thoselocustsin Revelation are the perfect symbols and emblems of sin: “on theirheadswerecrowns likegold,and theyhadhair likewomen,and theirteethwereliketheteethoflions,andtherewerestingersintheirtails”(Rev9.710).Sinisliketheusurerwhofeedsamanwithmoneyandthenmakes him mortgage his land. Sin feeds the sinner with delightfulobjects, and then he makes him mortgage his soul. Judas pleasedhimselfwiththethirtypiecesofsilver,buttheyproveddeceitfulriches.Askhimnowhowhelikeshisbargain.

(13)Sinisaspiritualsickness.Onemanissickofpride,anotheroflust,another of malice. It is with a sinner as it is with a sick patient: hispalate iscorrupted,and thesweetest things tastebitter tohim.So theword ofGod,which is sweeter than the honeycomb, tastes bitter to asinner: “They put sweet for bitter” (Isa 5.20). And if sin is a disease,thenitisnottobecherished,butrathercuredbyrepentance.

(14)Sinisabondage.Itbindsamanasanapprenticetothedevil.Ofallconditions,servitudeistheworst.Everymanisboundwiththecordsofhisownsin.“Iwasheldbeforeconversion,”saidAugustine,“notwithan

iron chain, but with the obstinacy ofmywill.”77 Sin is imperious and

tyrannical. It is called a law (Rom8.2) because it has such a bindingpoweroveraman.Thesinnermustdoassinwillhavehimdo.Hedoesnotsomuchenjoyhislustsasservethem,andhewillhaveworkenough

to do to gratify them all. “I have seen princes going on foot” (Eccles.10.7);thesoul,thatprincelythingwhichoncesatinachairofstateandwascrownedwithknowledgeandholiness,isnowmadealackeytosinanditrunsthedevil’serrands.

(15)Sinhasaspreadingmalignityinit.Ithurtsnotonlyaman’sself,but others.Oneman’s sinmay causemany to sin, just as onebeaconbeinglitmaycauseallthebeaconsinthecountrytobelit.Onemanmayhelptodefilemany.Apersonwhohastheplague,goingintocompany,doesnotknowhowmanywillbeinfectedbyhimwiththeplague.Youwhoareguiltyofopensinsdonotknowhowmanyhavebeeninfectedbyyou.Forallyouknow,theremaybemanyinhellcryingoutthattheywouldneverhavecomethereifithadnotbeenforyourbadexample.

(16) Sin is a troublesome thing. It brings trouble with it. The cursewhichGod laidupon thewoman ismost truly laiduponeverysinner:“insorrowyouwillbearit”(Gen3.16).Amantroubleshisthoughtswith

plottingsin;andwhensinisconceived,itisborninsorrow.78Likeone

whotakesagreatdealofpaintoopenafloodgate,whenhehasopenedit,theflooddrownshim.Soamanbeatshisbrainstocontrivesin,andthenittroubleshisconscience,bringscrossestohisestate,androtsthewallsandtimbersofhishouse(Zec5.4).

(17)Sin isanabsurd thing.Whatgreater indiscretion is there than togratify an enemy?Sin gratifiesSatan.When lust or angerburn in thesoul,Satanwarmshimselfatthefire.Men’ssinsfeedthedevil.SamsonwascalledouttobemadesportofbythelordsofthePhilistines(Judg.16.25).Likewise thesinner is thedevil’sentertainment. It ismeatanddrinkforhimtoseemensin.Howhe laughstoseethemriskingtheirsoulsfortheworld,asifoneshouldriskdiamondsforstraws,orshouldfishforbaitwithgoldenhooks.EverywickedmanwillbeindictedasafoolattheDayofJudgment.

(18)Thereiscrueltyineverysin.Witheverysinyoucommit,youstabyoursoul.Whileyouarekindtosin,youarecrueltoyourself, liketheman in theGospelwho cuthimselfwith stones till hebled (Mar 5.5).Thesinnerislikethejailerwhodrewaswordtokillhimself(Act16.27).The soul may rightly cry out, “I am murdering.” Naturalists say thehawkchoosestodrinkbloodratherthanwater.Sosindrinksthebloodofsouls.

(19)Sin is a spiritual death: “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2.1).

Augustinesaidthatbeforehisconversion,readingofthedeathofDido,hecouldnotrefrainfromweeping.“ButwretchthatIwas,”hesaid,“IbewailedthedeathofDidowhowasforsakenbyAeneas,andIdidnotbewailthedeathofmysoulthatwasforsakenbyGod.”Thelifeofsinisthedeathofthesoul.

Adeadmanhasnosense.SoanunregeneratepersonhasnosenseofGod inhim (Eph4.19). Persuadehim tomindhis salvation?Towhatpurposewouldyoumakeorationstoadeadman?Reprovehimforhisvice?Towhatpurposewouldyoustrikeadeadman?

Theonewhoisdeadhasnotaste.Setabanquetbeforehim,andhedoesnot relish it. Likewise, a sinner tastes no sweetness in Christ or in apromise.Theyarecordialsinadeadman’smouth.

Thedeadputrefy.MarthasaidofLazarus,“Lord,bythistimehestinks:forhehasbeendead fourdays” (Joh11.39).Howmuchmoremaywesayofawickedmanwhohasbeendeadinsinforthirtyorfortyyears,“bythistimehestinks”!

(20)Sinwithoutrepentancetendstowardfinaldamnation.Astheroseperishesbythecankerbredinitself,somenperishbythecorruptionswhichbreed in their souls.Whatwasonce said to theGreciansof theTrojanhorse, “Thisengine ismadetobe thedestructionofyourcity,”the samemaybe said to every impenitent person, “This engine of sinwill be the destruction of your soul.” Sin’s last scene is always tragic.Diagoras Florentinus would drink poison in jest, but it cost him his

life.79Mendrinkthepoisonofsininmerriment,butitcoststhemtheir

souls: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6.23).What Solomon said ofwinemayalsobesaidofsin:atfirst“itgiveshiscolorinthecup.Atthelast it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder” (Pro 23.31-32).Christ tellsusof thewormandthe fire(Mar9.48).Sin is likeoil,andGod’swrathislikefire.Aslongasthedamnedcontinuesinning,sothefire will continue scorching, and “who among us shall dwell witheverlastingburnings?” (Isa33.14).Butmenquestion the truthof this,and are like impiousDevonaxwho, being threatenedwithhell for hisvillainies,mockeditandsaid,“IwillbelievethereisahellwhenIcomethere,andnotbefore.”Wecannotmakehellenter intomenuntil theyenterintohell.

Thuswehaveseenthedeadlyevilinsinwhich,seriouslyconsidered,maymakeusrepentandturntoGod.If,forallthis,menpersistinsinandare

resolved to takea voyage tohell,who canhelp it?Theyhavebeen toldwhat a soul-damning rock sin is; but if they voluntarily run into it andsplitthemselves,thentheirbloodisontheirownhead.

2.ThesecondseriousconsiderationisthemerciesofGod.

A stone is soonest broken upon a soft pillow, and a heart of stone issoonestbrokenupon the softpillowofGod’smercies: “thegoodnessofGodleadsyoutorepentance”(Rom2.4).Theclemencyofaprincesoonercausesrelentinginamalefactor.WhileGodhasbeenstormingothersbyhisjudgments,hehasbeenwooingyoubyhismercies.

(1) What private mercies have we had? What mischiefs have beenprevented, what fears have blown over? When our foot has beenslipping,God’smercyhasheldusup(Psa94.18).Mercyhasalwaysbeenascreenbetweenusanddanger.Whenenemieslikelionshaverisenupagainstustodevourus,freegracehassnatchedusoutofthemouthoftheselions.Inthedeepestwaves,thearmofmercyhasbeenunderandhaskeptourheadabovewater.Andwillnotthisprivativemercyleadustorepentance?

(2)Whatpositivemercieswehavehad!Firstly,insupplyingmercy.Godhasbeenabountifulbenefactor: “theGodwhich fedmeallmy life tothisday” (Gen48.15).Whatmanwouldspreada table forhisenemy?YetwehavebeenenemiesofGod,andhehasfedus.Hehasgivenusthehornofoil.Hehasmadethehoneycombofmercydroponus.Godhasbeen as kind to us as if we had been his best servants. Andwill thissupplied mercy not lead us to repentance? Secondly, in deliveringmercy. When we have been at the gates of the grave, God hasmiraculouslyspunoutourlives.Hehasturnedtheshadowofdeathintomorning,andhasputasongofdeliveranceintoourmouth.Andwillnotdeliveringmercyleadustorepentance?TheLordhaslaboredtobreakourheartswithhismercies.InJudges,chapter2,wereadthatwhentheangel (which was a prophet) had preached a sermon of mercy, “thepeople lifted up their voice andwept” (v. 4). If anythingmoves us totears,itshouldbethemercyofGod.Ifthesegreatcable-ropesofGod’smercywillnotdrawsomeone to repentance,he is anobstinate sinnerindeed.

3.Inthethirdplace,considerGod’safflictiveprovidences.

Seeifourdistillerywillnotdripwhenafireisputunderit.Godhassentusinrecentyearstotheschoolofthecross.Hehastwistedhisjudgments

together. He has made good upon us those two threats, “I will be toEphraimasamoth”(Hos5.12).HasnotGodbeensotoEnglandinthedecayoftrading?And“IwillbetoEphraimasalion”(Hos5.14).Hashe

not been so to England in the devouring plague?80 All this while God

waited forourrepentance.Butwewenton insin:“Ipaidattentionandheard, but no man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have Idone?’”(Jer8.6).AndlatelyGodhasbeenwhippinguswithafieryrodin

those tremendous flames in this city,81 which were emblematic of the

great conflagration at the last day when “the elements will melt withfervent heat” (2Pet 3.10). When Joab’s corn was set on fire, he wentrunningtoAbsalom(2Sam14.31).Godhassetourhousesonfirethatwemayruntohiminrepentance.“TheLord’svoicecriestothecity:heartherodandwhoappointedit”(Mic6.9).This is the languageof therod,sothatwewouldhumbleourselvesunderGod’smightyhandand“breakoffoursinsbyrighteousness”(Dan.4.27).Manasseh’safflictionushered inrepentance (2Chr 33.12). God uses this as the proper medicine forsecurity.“Theirmotherhasplayedtheharlot”byidolatry(Hos2.5).WhatcoursewillGodnowtakewithher?“ThereforeIwillhedgeyourwaywiththorns”(Hos2.6).ThisisGod’smethod,tosetathorn-hedgeofafflictionintheway.Thustoaproudman,contemptisathorn.Toalustfulman,sicknessisathorn,bothtostophiminhissin,andtogoadhimforwardinrepentance.

TheLord teacheshispeopleasGideon taught themenofSuccoth: “Hetook theeldersof thecity,and thornsof thewildernessandbriers,andwiththemhetaughtthemenofSuccoth”(Judg.8.16).Herewastearingrhetoric.LikewiseGodhaslatelybeenteachingushumiliationbythornyprovidences.Hehastornourgoldenfleecefromus;hehasbroughtourhouseslowsothathemightbringourheartslow.Whenwillwedissolveintotearsifnotnow?God’sjudgmentsaresuchaproperameanstoworkrepentance that the Lordwonders at it, and hemakes it his complaintthathisseveritydidnotbreakmenofffromtheirsins:“Ihavewithheldthe rain from you” (Amos 4.7); “I have struck you with blasting andmildew” (Amos 4.9); “I have sent the pestilence among you” (Amos 4.10). But still this is the burden of the complaint, “Yet you have notreturnedtome.”

TheLordproceedsgradually inhis judgments.Firstly,hesendsa lessercrosstobear;andifthatwillnotdo,thenagreatercross.Hesendsonea

gentlefitoffevertobeginwith,andafterwardsaburningfever.Hesendsanotheralossatsea,thenthelossofachild,andthenofahusband.Thusbydegreeshetriestobringmentorepentance.

Sometimes God makes his judgments go in a circuit, from family tofamily.Thecupofafflictionhasgoneroundthenation;allhavetastedit.If we do not repent now, then we stand in contempt of God, and byimplicationweaskGodtodohisworst.Suchaclimaxofwickednesswillhardly be pardoned. “In that day did the Lord God of hosts call toweeping,andtomourning...Andbeholdjoyandgladness...AnditwasrevealedinmyearsbytheLordofhosts,‘Surelythisiniquitywillnotbepurged fromyou till youdie’” (Isa22.1214).That is, this sinwillnotbesatisfiedbysacrifice.

If theRomans severely punished a youngmanwho in a time of publiccalamity was seen sporting in a window with a crown of roses on hishead, then how much sorer will the punishment be for those whostrengthen themselves in wickedness and laugh in the face of God’sjudgments?Theheathenmarinersinastormrepented(Jon1.14).Nottorepentnow,andnottothrowoursinsoverboard,istobeworsethantheheathens.

4.Fourthly,letusconsiderhowmuchwewillhavetoanswerforatlastifwedonotrepent.

How many prayers, counsels, and admonitions will be added to thescore?Everysermonwillcomeasanindictment.Asforthosewhohavetruly repented, Christ will answer for them. His blood will wash awaytheirsins.Themantleoffreegracewillcoverthem.“Inthosedays,saystheLord,theiniquityofIsraelwillbesoughtfor,andtherewillbenone;andalsothesinsofJudah,andtheywillnotbefound”(Jer50.20).Thosewho have judged themselves in the lower court of conscience will beacquittedintheHighCourtofheaven.Butifwedonotrepent,thenoursinsmust be all accounted for at the last day, andwemust answer forthemourselves,withnocounselallowedtopleadforus.

Oimpenitentsinner,thinkhowyouwillbeabletolookyourjudgeintheface. The cause you have to plead is damned, and you must surelyconsider: “What thenwill IdowhenGod risesup?Andwhenhevisits,what will I answer him?” (Job 31.14). Therefore, repent now, or elseprovide your answers, and seewhat defense you canmake for yourselfwhenyoucomebeforeGod’s tribunal.ButwhenGodrisesup,howwill

youanswerhim?

ChapterTwelve

12.PRESCRIBINGSOMEMEANSFORREPENTANCE(cont’d):

(2)ComparePenitentandImpenitentConditionsThesecondhelptorepentanceisaprudentcomparison.

Compare penitent and impenitent conditions and see the difference.Spread them before your eyes, and by the light of the word see theimpenitentconditionasthemostdeplorableandthepenitentasthemostcomfortable.How sad itwas for the prodigal before he returned to hisfather!Hehadspenteverything;hehadsinnedhimselfintobeggary,andhadnothingleftbutafewhusks.Hewasacompanionwiththeswine;butwhenhecamehometohisfather,nothingwasthoughttoogoodforhim.Therobewasbroughttocoverhim,theringtoadornhim,andthefattedcalftofeedhim.Ifthesinnercontinuesinhisimpenitency,thenfarewellChristandmercy.Butifherepents,thenquicklyhehasaheavenwithinhim.ThenChrist ishis, thenall ispeace.Hemaysingarequiemtohissoulandsay,“Soul, takeyourease,youhavemanygoods laidup”(Luk12.19).UponturningtoGodwehavemorerestoredtousinChristthanwe ever lost inAdam.God says to the repenting soul, Iwill clothe youwith the robe of righteousness; I will enrich you with the jewels andgraces of my Spirit. I will bestowmy love upon you; I will give you akingdom: “Son, all I have is yours.” O my friends, just compare yourestatebeforerepentanceandafterrepentance.Beforerepenting,thereisnothing to be seen but clouds and storms, clouds in God’s face andstorms in your conscience. But after repenting, how the weather haschanged! What sunshine above! What serene calmness within! AChristian’ssoulislikeMountOlympus,alllightandclear,andtherearenowindsblowing.

(3)Athirdmeansisasettleddeterminationtoleavesin.Notafaintwish,butaresolvedvow.“IhaveswornthatIwillkeepyourrighteous judgments” (Psa 119.106).All the delights and artifices of sin

will not make me renounce my vow. There must be no hesitation, noconsultingwith fleshandblood, “Should I leavemysinornot?”ButaswithEphraim,“WhathaveItodowithidolsanymore?”(Hos14.8).Iwillnotbeengulfedbymysinsanymore;IwillnolongerbefooledbySatan.This day Iwill put a bill of divorce into the hands ofmy lusts. Till wecome to this peremptory resolution, sinwill gain ground onus andwewillneverbeable to shakeoff this viper. It isnowonder that someonewhoisnotresolvedtobeanenemyofsin,isconqueredbysin.

But thisresolutionmustbebuiltuponthestrengthofChristmorethanourown. Itmustbe ahumble resolution.David,whenhewent againstGoliath, put off his presumptuous confidence as well as his armor: “Icometoyou in thenameof theLord” (1Sam17.45).SowemustgooutagainstourGoliathlusts,inthestrengthofChrist.Itisusualforapersontomakeabondwithanother.So,beingconsciousofourowninabilitytoleave sin, let us bind ourselves to Christ, and engage his strength tomortifyourcorruption.

(4)Thefourthmeansisearnestsupplication.The heathens laid one of their hands on the plow, and the other theylifteduptoCeres,thegoddessofcorn.Sowhenwehaveusedthemeansprovided,letuslookuptoGodforablessing.Praytohimforarepentingheart:“You,Lord,whobidmetorepent,givemegracetorepent.”Praythatourheartsmaybeaholydistillery,dripping tears.BegofChrist togiveussuchalookofloveashegavetoPeter,whichmadehimgooutandweepbitterly.ImplorethehelpofGod’sSpirit.ItistheSpirit’sstrikingon

therockofourhearts82 thatmakes thewatersgushout: “Hecauseshis

windtoblowandthewatersflow”(Psa147.18).WhenthewindofGod’sSpiritblows,thenthewateroftearswillflow.

ThereisgoodreasonweshouldgotoGodforrepentance:

(1)Becauseitishisgift:“ThenGodalsograntedrepentancetolifetotheGentiles” (Act 11.18). The Arminians hold that it is in our power torepent. We can harden our hearts, but we cannot soften them. Thiscrown of freewill has fallen from our head. No, there is not onlyimpotency in us, but obstinacy (Act 7.51). Therefore beg God for arepentant spirit.He canmake the stonyheart bleed.His is aword of

creativepower.

(2)WemusthaverecoursetoGodforblessingbecausehehaspromisedtobestowit:“Iwillgiveyouaheartof flesh”(Eze36.26).Iwillsoftenyouradamanthearts inmySon’sblood: showGodhishandand seal.And there is another gracious promise: “They will return to me withtheirwholeheart”(Jer24.7).Turnthispromiseintoaprayer:Lord,givemegracetoreturntoyouwithmywholeheart.

(5)ThefifthmeansistopursueclearerdiscoveriesofGod“Nowmyeyeseesyou.ThereforeIabhormyself,andrepentindustandashes” (Job 42.56). Job, having surveyed God’s glory and purity, as ahumblepenitentabhorredhimself,orinHebrew,hereprobatedhimself.By looking into the transparentglassofGod’sholiness,weseeourownblemishes,andsowelearntoregretthem.

(6)Lastly,weshouldlaborforfaith.Butwhatisthattorepentance?Yes,faithbreedsunionwithChrist,andtherecanbenoseparationfromsintillthereisunionwithChrist.Theeyeof faith looks on mercy and that thaws the heart. Faith carries us toChrist’sblood,andthatbloodmollifiesit.FaithpersuadesusoftheloveofGod,andthatlovesetsustoweeping.

ThusIhavelaiddownthemeansorhelpstorepentance.Whatremainsnow is only that we begin the work. And let us be in earnest, not asfencersbutaswarriors.

Iwill concludewith thewords of the psalmist: “Onewho goes out andweeps, bearing precious seed,will doubtless come againwith rejoicing,bringinghissheaveswithhim”(Psa126.6).Thismaterialisprovidedheresolelyfortheedificationofbelieversandtheconvictionofsinners.Asfarwecandiscern,thisisnotcopyrightedmaterial.Ifyouknowforafactthatitis,wewouldappreciatebeing informedso thatwemay take theproper steps tocorrect it. In themean timeenjoytheblessingofreadingafterthismanofover400yearsagowhilehepoursouthisheartinthismatterthatissoneglectedinourday.2/22/97

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Notes

[←1]JohnChrysostomwasmadeArchbishopofConstantinoplein398bydecreeoftheRomanEmperorArcadius. John began to reform the imperial city and its clergy because corruption had overtakenthemunderhislaxpredecessor.HiscalltorepentanceincludedtheemperorandespeciallyhiswifeEudoxia.ShejoinedwithJohn’sopponentstohaveArcadiusremovehim.

[←2]Afeelingofdeepregretforsomemisdeed.

[←3]Num21.9

[←4]“Sighsfromthebottomofyourheart.”

[←5]“Theeyesareswollenwithweeping.”

[←6]SelymusII(also“Selim”),SultanoftheOttomanEmpire,b.1524,reigned1566-1574.BasisforWm

Shakespeare’sOthello.

[←7]Latimer,Hugh(1485-1555)wasoneoftheleadingspokesmenfortheReformation.HewaschaplaintoKingHenryVIIIandin1535wasmadeBishopofWorcester.Hewasafavoritepreacherintheroyal court under Edward VI. Arrested during the persecution of Reformers under QueenMary,Latimer,alongwithNicholasRidley,wasburnedatthestakein1555.Asthefireswerelit,Latimercriedouttohiscompanion,“Beofgoodcomfort,MasterRidley,andplaytheman.WeshallthisdaylightsuchacandlebyGod'sgraceinEnglandasItrustshallneverbeputout!”

[←8]2Cor7.9

[←9]Paracelcus(1493–1541)wasafamousSwissphysician,botanist,alchemist,astrologer,andoccultist.

[←10]GregoryofNazianzus(c.329–390)–AChristiantheologianwhocontributedmuchtothedoctrineoftheTrinity.

[←11]QuotedfromVirgil’sAeneidIX,424-430“Thenitwasthat,terrifiedandoutofhismind,Nisuscriedoutandcouldnothidehimselfinthedarknessorbearsuchgriefanymore:‘Doittome,tome,I’mhere,theonewhodidit,turnyourweaponsontome,Rutulians!Thewholetrickwasmine,thisonedarednothing,norcouldhehave;Thisskyandthestarsthatsawitaremywitnesses:heonlylovedhisunluckyfriendtoomuch.’”

[←12]That is,wewouldnot have to be judgedbyothers in our outward conduct.Wemust be our ownharshestcriticandstrictestdisciplinarianinthesightofmen.ButinthesightofGod,oursoulmayrestinthecompletedworkofChrist:thereisnownocondemnationforthosewhodonotwalkaftertheflesh,butaftertheSpirit(Rom8.1NKJ).

[←13]Job20.12-14

[←14]Todyeingrainistodyetherawmaterial,suchaswoolorsilk,beforeitismanufactured.

[←15]MauriciusTiberiusAugustus(539–602)wastheRoman(Byzantine)Emperorfrom582to602.Hisreignwas a fiasco, and soRoman general Phocas usurped the throne, executingMaurice and hisfamily;thatprecipitatedawarwithPersia.

[←16]Origen of Alexandria (c.185 - c.254); the first systematic theologian of the church; he was laterdeclaredaheretic.

[←17]Prov26.11

[←18]Thatis,Plutarch’swritings.LuciusMestriusPlutarchus,c.46-120AD;aGreekhistorian,biographer,andessayist.

[←19]FromOvid’sMetaphorphoses:“theymakethegodstheauthorsoftheirownwickedness.”

[←20]Luk19.9

[←21]ThefriendofRomanEmperorJuliusCaesarwhobetrayedhimandstabbedhimtodeath.

[←22]ARomannaturalist.

[←23]InGreekmythology,OdysseusstayedwiththesorceressCirceonherisland.SheturnedOdysseus'men intoswine.SheofferedOdysseusanenchantedcup thatwould likewise transformhim intoabeast.

[←24]ThirdemperorofRome,notoriousforhisdrunkenness.

[←25]Thatis,‘LethimsailtoAnticyra.'HelleborewasaplantfoundatAnticyrawhichwasbelievedtobeacureforinsanity.

[←26]Dan4.33

[←27]“Schoolmen” refers to the theologians of Scholasticism, characterized by rigorous analysis andcareful distinctions. The main figures were Anselm, Abelard, Albertus Magnus, Duns Scotus,WilliamofOckham,BonaventureandThomasAquinas.

[←28]Fromthethe32ndepigramofMartial(MarcusValeriusMartialisc.40-102AD).HewrotesatiricalpoemsabouttheRomanaristocratsheknewduringthereignsofDomitian,Nerva,andTrajan.Thefullquoteisthis:"Idonotloveyou,Sabidius,norcanIsaywhy.ThisonlycanIsay:Idonotloveyou."

[←29]Exodus17.14-16

[←30]MauriciusTiberiusAugustus(539–602)wastheRoman(Byzantine)Emperorfrom582to602.Hisreignwas a fiasco, and soRoman general Phocas usurped the throne, executingMaurice and hisfamily;thatprecipitatedawarwithPersia.

[←31]PerhapsreferringtoJdg1.27

[←32]Italian lawyer Francis Spira. In 1548, Spira converted to Lutheranism and began to spread theLutheranmessagetoothers.UnderpressurefromtheCatholicChurch,herenouncedhisProtestantfaith.Hebecameconvincedhewasareprobate,destinedforhell.

[←33]Greekhistorian(484-425BC).

[←34]InGreekmythology,NiobewasthewifeofthekingofThebes.Sheboastedofhertwelvechildren.ThegoddessArtemisandher twinbrotherApolloputNiobe’schildren todeath.HergriefchangedNiobeintoastonewhichshedtearsinsummer.

[←35]2Kng5.10

[←36]Ancientastrologersthoughtthattheplanetsinfluenceaman’snature.Saturnwasthoughttoexertabadinfluence.

[←37]Thatis,“Ifafeverthatburnseverythirdday,burnseveryfourthdayinstead,thenitisnocure.”

[←38]Psalm58.4-5–thatis,lettheserpentofsinbecharmed,thatwemayobeythevoiceofGod.

[←39]1Sam14.43

[←40]NKJJeremiah31:19Surely,aftermyturning,Irepented;AndafterIwasinstructed,Istruckmyselfonthethigh;Iwasashamed,yes,evenhumiliated,BecauseIborethereproachofmyyouth.'(NKJ)

[←41]“TheEnglishraceisthebestatweeping”–quotedfromChamberlayne’sAnglicæNotitia.(1669)

[←42]Zech5.8

[←43]In1555,thesewerethelastwordsofProtestantreformerJohnBradford.HewasburnedatthestakebyCatholicMaryIofEngland(“BloodyMary”).Turningtotheyoungmanwhowouldsufferdeathwith him he said, "Be of good comfort, brother, forwe shall have a happy supperwith theLordtonight."FoxesBookofMartyrs

[←44]Mat11.12

[←45]1Tim1.19

[←46]1Sam28.14

[←47]It’stheirsfortheasking,andtheycandowithitwhatevertheywant.

[←48]Thosewhoassertthatthereisnolawanylonger;theyclaimwemayliveinrabiddisobedienceandstillbesaved.

[←49]“Who,inspeakingsuchthings,canabstainfromtears?”(Virgil)

[←50]Theimageisameatpiewithmorecrustandgravythanmeat.

[←51]Pliny,NaturalHistory,21,1,“Echeneis,”and9,25[41]).

[←52]AnOldWorldplover(bird)havingwattlesandspurs.

[←53]Thatis,awindowsash.

[←54]Nearchus(Nearchos;c.360-300BC)wasoneof thenavalofficers in thearmyofAlexander theGreat.HiscelebratedvoyagefromIndiatoSusaafterAlexander'sexpeditioninIndiaispreservedinArrian'saccount,theIndica.

[←55]“Thathislovemightbeengravedthroughoutthewholeframe.”

[←56]“Flutteringinsongabovetheheavens”

[←57]RomanCatholicbishop,achiefopponentoftheReformationofthesixteenthcentury.HeurgedthereintroductionoflawsfortheburningofProtestants.

[←58]“Delaycausesdanger”

[←59]Rev2.1-5

[←60]ProbablyfromAquinas’CommentaryontheBookofJob,ChapterSeven,fourthlesson.

[←61]Swedish cleric (1490-1558); hewrote a famous history of the Scandinavian people, their life andfolklore.

[←62]Thomas Cranmer (1489-1555) Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VIII. He wasburned at the stake by Roman Catholic Mary I of England after being persuaded to recant hisprotestantbeliefs.Becauseofhisbetrayalofthetruth,heofferedhisrighthandtotheflamesfirstashecriedout,“Thishandhasoffended,thisunworthyrighthand.”

[←63]Asuddenlossofconsciousnesswhentheflowofbloodtothebrainisstopped.

[←64]Thewatersofbitterness.SeeEx.15:23-24.

[←65]Rom6.1

[←66]Luk18.13

[←67]Job20.12-14

[←68]ThediaryofSamuelPepyscontainsthisforFeb27,1662:“ItseemsoneDillon,ofagreatfamily,after much endeavour to save him, was hanged with a silken halter this Sessions (of his ownpreparing).”

[←69]“Deceit is conducted among the pleasures of the night.”From Virgil’s Aeneid, Decent to theUnderworld;VI.126

[←70]Jdg14.8

[←71]“Thereisacertainpleasureincrying”–Ovid,Tristia,iv.3,27.

[←72]Cordial:arich,sweetdrink;liqueur.

[←73]“Livery”heremeansthegarbofaservant.

[←74]Theweightsplacedonacommercialscalethatassessthevalueofthecommoditythatissold.

[←75]Aesop'sFables,“TheFarmerandtheViper.”

[←76]FrancisSpira.Seefootnoteonpage27above.

[←77]Augustine,Confessions,c.397.

[←78]James1.15

[←79]AtalefromOedipusRex,writtenbyEuripedes,theGreekplaywright.

[←80]The Great Plague (1665–1666) was an outbreak of the bubonic plague that killed an estimated100,000peopleinLondon.

[←81]TheGreatFireofLondon,September2,1666,destroying80%ofthecityand89churches.

[←82]Num20.11