Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

I. In the Act or exercise of it, which the Scripture usually expresses by turning or returning, implying that sinners are out of the way to God, and their own happiness, till by repentance they return into it. If we speak distinctly of it, we may consider,

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.