CHAP. IV.

On the Means of Promoting Repentance.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, whosover committeth sin is the servant of sin. John viii. 34. This is constantly seen in the world. Every man, in his natural state, yields himself to sin. All his senses, members and faculties, are its handmaids and ministers. The eye watches for it; the ear listens to it; the tongue pleads, and the hands toil for it! Fancy is the painter that draws its pictures; memory is the recorder that keeps its secrets; the will is its charioteer, that drives furiously through all restraints; the passions and appetites are the providers that hunt for its prey. And how can you be delivered from this hard master and all its miseries? If the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed! John viii. 36. He can loose you, and let you go; raise you, and renew your mind ; but no other can. The apostle Peter told the Jews, that God had raised up that Jesus whom they had crucified, as a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and for

giveness of sins. Acts v. 31. From these words it is evident, that the change which I have proved to be absolutely necessary, is an effect flowing from the free grace of God. Man can fill the measure of his sins, but not empty it. He can plunge himself into guilt and misery; but it requires an Almighty arm to draw him out again. O, Israel! thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help found. Pride and self-sufficiency are some among the many proofs and effects of our fallen and depraved state. It has been well observed, that " the first acts of sin are like single drops of water, which, rapidly following one another, 300n gather into a stream; and that stream at last swells into a torrent, and sweeps away all before it." Yet, most men, though they cannot be prevailed upon to restrain the first drops, vainly imagine they are able to stop the rolling flood. As they are not aware of the strength of sin, they think it will be an easy matter to repent, whenever they please. Dr. Preston says, "A man might as soon make, out of a clod of earth, a shining star, as turn the carnal and dead heart into the image of God!" Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil. Jer. xiii. 25. That bold blasphemer and fierce persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, was converted

and pardoned! but did he ascribe the change to his own power? No! he says, The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Tim. i. 14, 15.

The great Redeemer sends his Spirit to open the fountain of repentance in the heart. This blessing we possess in virtue of his death and intercession. It is the special office of the Holy Spirit to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. That true repentance flows from the grace and power of the Holy Spir it, is manifest from every part of the Old and New Testaments. It is expressed in various ways, to give us the strongest assurance of the fact. I shall not now mention many passages; suffice it to produce one; And I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Ezra ii. 9.

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stone (saith one) is cold, unyielding, insensible! Strike it, it resists the blow! Lay upon it a burden, it perceives no pressure! Apply a seal, it receives no impression!" Such is the heart of man, hardened in sin! But when the sweet promise, which I have just repeated, is fulfilled, this stupid senselessness gives place to tenderness.

Here it may be said, "If repentance is a gift and an effect of the Holy Spirit, how can it be a duty? why are we exhorted to repent and return to God?" To this I answer, the command of God makes it our duty; and the promise of God supplies the grace that is necessary. I should think it cruel mockery to urge you to repent, if there were no provision of mercy-no way of salvation. But there is every reason to call men to repentance, while God grants the grace of repentance, in the use of his own appointed means.

Our

Lord says, Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth to eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. John vi. 27. Though it is the gift of Christ, we are commanded to labour for it. In the same way do the scriptures speak of repentance, as both a duty and a privilege.

I. I shall now point out some of the chief means which the Spirit is pleased to use for producing repentance.

1. The reading of the holy scriptures, and other good books.

Eliphaz gives this useful advice: Acquaint now thyself with God, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, 1 pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart. Job xxii. 21, 22. There can be no proper

knowledge of ourselves, without an acquaintance with God; and no right acquaintance with God, but by his word. The scripture is a glass in which we may see our spots and blemishes. I do not wonder that the popish priests should try to prevent the people from reading the Bible; for they wished them to remain in ignorance and stupidity. By the law (says Paul) is the knowledge of sin. It shews us both its deep roots and bitter fruits; it discovers the poisonous serpent hid among the flowers. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. "It can come (as Gurnall says) where no searchwarrant from a magistrate can enter." When accompanied by the power of the Spirit, a thousand doors, with as many locks and bolts of prejudice and aversion, cannot hinder it from forcing a passage into the soul. It lays hold of the will, and bends it to compliance; and then, every thing else gives way. Reader! take the law of God into thy hand. How readest thou Examine carefully every precept. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. When you fix your attention on this single command, do you not begin to faulter? Have you not cause to cry out, "Alas! instead of loving the Lord with all my heart, living continually in his fear and