I find no words wherein the affections of penitent minds are better and more fully expressed, than these; in which, Moses, speaking concerning the Divine mind and will, in the language of men, hath given us a lively description of the temper of our own hearts, if we truly repent, that we have offended God.

For, first, when a man repents of any thing, that thing displeases him very much. Which is the very foundation of all that is here said by Moses, concerning God's repenting that He had made mankind, with whom He was highly displeased, for their most wicked behaviour towards their Almighty Creator, and bountiful Benefactor.

Then follows, in the next place, sadness, grief and sorrow of mind; which as naturally flows from the displeasure that any thing gives us, as joy doth from complacency and good liking. And proportionable to the dislike we have of any thing, will be our sadness that we meddled with it: so that if we greatly dislike any action we have done, it will grieve us (as the phrase is in Moses) at the very heart.

Upon which follows a ceasing to do that action, which gives us such displeasure, that it creates us inexpressible grief and sorrow.

Nor is this all, but condemning in himself what he hath done, such a penitent wishes, and, as far as he hath power, endeavours, to have it undone and therefore, we may be sure, would not upon any account, do it, if it were to be done again.

In testimony whereof, because the thing cannot be undone, he takes care and uses caution for the time to come, that it be done no more; and thereby labours to destroy the whole body of sin (as God destroyed man from the face of the earth) because he heartily repents that ever he committed it, and would gladly obliterate, if it were possible, even the memory of it.

We ought not to think that we have true "Repentance towards God," as St. Paul calls it, unless we feel our hearts thus affected.

For it is confessed by every one that hath any sense of God, that all things which we do are not alike pleasing unto Him; but with some

2 Acts xx. 21.

things He is highly offended: and that if we be not of His mind, but so cross, as to please ourselves in those things which are displeasing unto Him; we run ourselves thereby into a state of opposition and enmity to His Majesty.

Upon which when we reflect, we cannot be well satisfied with ourselves, but much displeased at what we have done: because we have been so bold as to contradict God; and by that means are become guilty before Him; and obnoxious to such punishments, as He shall think fit to inflict upon us..

And if we believe the holy scriptures, the punishments due to this contempt of God, are so frightful, that no guilty man can think of them without some horror: and not only be touched with a sense of his folly and of his danger; but be very much troubled and afflicted (whether he respect God or himself) that he hath, as the scripture speaks, walked contrary to Him: and thereby made himself liable to His heavy displeasure.

And therefore condemning what he hath done (which he cannot look upon without

shame and confusion of face, as well as with grief and sorrow) he resolves to do so no more: but to betake himself hereafter unto a new life; conformable to God's holy will and pleasure in all things. In the former of which, that which we call Repentance begins; and in the latter it ends. An unfeigned sorrow and grief that we have offended God, is the beginning of it and a serious purpose of amendment of life completes it.

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All this is agreed by those that write upon. this subject. And therefore my business is only to show that the first part of repentance, doth not consist merely in that inward compunction, and grief, and shame, and heaviness of heart, which are the necessary effects of a true sense of what a sinner hath done, and of what he deserves to suffer; but likewise in such outward expressions of this inward sense, as are suitable to the dismal condition, into which he hath thrown himself; and naturally flows from a heart deeply affected with its guilt, and duly afflicted and grieved for it.

CHAPTER II.

OF SORROW FOR SIN, IN PARTICULAR.

HAT we ought to be inwardly troubled in

THAT

our mind, and exceedingly grieved, afflicted and pained at the very heart, to think we have offended so good and gracious a Father, as hath called us into a state of salvation by Christ Jesus, and thereby lost his grace and favour, is a thing, as I have said already, confessed, without any the least dispute about it. And it is as much acknowledged, I hope, that it ought not to end, till it hath wrought in us a sincere resolution to do so no more. It is senseless to think of recovering His favour; unless we be thus piously disposed.

But I shall prove as plainly, that it becomes true penitents, to make such outward expressions of those inward affections, as may not only show to all the world that they are