A25466:739
Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume / by several ministers in and about London, preached in October, 1689.
London: printed by James Astwood for John Dunton, 1690
Sermon 9: Quest. What's the danger of a death-bed Repentance? SERMON IX.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. The Essence of repentance, which is the turning mentioned; a turning from sin to God, i. e. from all sin both of Heart and Life, as to the love, and allowance of it, and subjection to it; and a turning to God as our Sovereign Lord from whom we had revolted, to walk with him in all known ways of obedience and holiness. And tho we cannot attain to a legal perfection in this Life, either as to freedom from all Sin, or the practice of all Duty, yet there is (not merely a temporary and transient, but) a peremptory, fixed, and settled purpose for the one, and against the other, which is more than a promise de futuro, and amounts to a present breach with all sin, and an actual will to engage in every duty, a respect to all Gods Commandments, Psal. 119.6. in the degree of our obedience to which, we notwithstanding may oftentimes fail.
1. The Essence of repentance, which is the turning mentioned; a turning from sin to God, i. e. from all sin both of Heart and Life, as to the love, and allowance of it, and subjection to it; and a turning to God as our Sovereign Lord from whom we had revolted, to walk with him in all known ways of obedience and holiness. And tho we cannot attain to a legal perfection in this Life, either as to freedom from all Sin, or the practice of all Duty, yet there is (not meerly a temporary and transient, but) a peremptory, fixed, and setled purpose for the one, and against the other, which is more than a promise de futuro, and amounts to a present breach with all sin, and an actual will to engage in every duty, a respect to all Gods Comandments, Psal. 119.6. in the degree of our obedience to which, we notwithstanding may oftentimes fail.
2. The causes from which it proceeds.
First, A right sense of sin, as to the guilt, defilement and dominion of it. Its being offensive and odious to God, Jer. 44.4. as well as hurtful to our selves, in the danger to which it exposeth us, the blot it leaves upon us, and the tyranny it exerciseth over us.
First, A right sence of sin, as to the guilt, defilement and dominion of it. Its being offensive and odious to God, Jer. 44.4. as well as hurtful to our selves, in the danger to which it exposeth us, the blot it leaves upon us, and the tyranny it exerciseth over us.
Secondly, An apprehension and belief of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to them that do repent. This is always the principle from which Evangelical repentance proceeds. Tho the terrors of the Law may help to drive Men from sin, yet there must be Gospel attractives to draw them to God, either in a way of faith or repentance. Who will dare to trust him from whom he expects no mercy, or care for serving him from whom he looks for no acceptance? Hence it is that Gods mercy is used as the grand motive to persuade Men to repentance, Matth. 3.2. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; and Isa. 55.7.
Secondly, An apprehension and belief of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to them that do repent. This is always the principle from which Evangelical repentance proceeds. Tho the terrors of the Law may help to drive Men from sin, yet there must be Gospel attractives to draw them to God, either in a way of faith or repentance. Who will dare to trust him from whom he expects no mercy, or care for serving him from whom he looks for no acceptance? Hence it is that Gods mercy is used as the grand motive to perswade Men to repentance, Matth. 3.2. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; and Isa. 55.7.
From these proceed both that Godly sorrow for sin, and that hatred of it which always accompanies Gospel repentance, and in a good measure promotes it. Paul seems to place Godly sorrow among the causes of repentance, 2 Cor. 7.10.
II. If we consider repentance in the habit, I need say no more but that it is that grace of the Holy Spirit which he infuseth into the Soul, as the immediate standing principle of actual repentance, and whereby it is both enabled, and disposed to it.
Now this repentance being a grace of Gods Spirit, and yet inherent in Man as to the habit, and exercised by him as to its acts, or, which is the same, being Gods work, and yet Mans duty; we are to consider what is Gods part in it, and what is Mans.
First, Gods work is,
1. To infuse the grace or principle, repentance in the habit, which constantly is ascribed to God in Scripture, Acts 11.18. Granted repentance, 2 Tim. 2.23. If God will give them repentance.
1. To infuse the grace or principle, repentance in the habit, which constantly is ascribed to God in Scripture, Acts 11.18. Granred repentance, 2 Tim. 2.23. If God will give them repentance.
2. To actuate and enliven that Principle when infused (as he doth other Graces, Phil. 2.13.) not merely in a moral way, by suggesting such Reasons and Arguments as may excite and move the Will to the exercise of Repentance, but by the powerful and efficacious Influence of his Grace drawing out the habit into that exercise, or causing the Soul to act suitably to this Divine Principle infused into it.
2. To actuate and enliven that Principle when infused (as he doth other Graces, Phil. 2.13.) not meerly in a moral way, by suggesting such Reasons and Arguments as may excite and move the Will to the exercise of Repentance, but by the powerful and efficacious Influence of his Grace drawing out the habit into that exercise, or causing the Soul to act suitably to this Divine Principle infused into it.
