Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. That it is an easy thing, and so may be done at any time; that it is but sorrowing for sin, and crying God mercy for having offended him. This prevails with too many, that know not wherein the nature of it consists. Remember therefore that it is no easy thing to get a through change wrought in your hearts; to divorce your lusts to which you have been so long wedded, to part with those sins you love best, and engage in those ways of strict holiness, which of all things in the World you hate most. The old Man will fight hard ere he die. The flesh will never yield, and hardly be overcome. And if ever God work repentance to you, he will so work it as to make you work at it too, and labour after it, his grace using and employing your faculties. And what can you ever do either in seeking repentance before the infusion of the grace, or exercising it when infused; but you will find sin opposing you in it, and so creating difficulties in your work?

1. That it is an easie thing, and so may be done at any time; that it is but sorrowing for sin, and crying God mercy for having offended him. This prevails with too many, that know not wherein the nature of it consists. Remember therefore that it is no easie thing to get a through change wrought in your hearts; to divorce your lusts to which you have been so long wedded, to part with those sins you love best, and engage in those ways of strict holiness, which of all things in the World you hate most. The old Man will fight hard ere he die. The flesh will never yield, and hardly be overcom. And if ever God work repentance to you, he will so work it as to make you work at it too, and labour after it, his grace using and employing your faculties. And what can you ever do either in seeking repentance before the infusion of the grace, or exercising it when infused; but you will find sin opposing you in it, and so creating difficulties in your work?

2. That it is a sour and an unpleasant thing, made up of sorrow and sadness and unquietness of Spirit. They know no delights but sensual ones, and think if they part with the pleasure of sin, they part with the comfort of their lives. Do not therefore look merely on the dark side of repentance, or what may make it seem uneasy to you: look through it and you will find that which will make it more pleasant. In the very sorrow you fear, if it be right, i. e. godly sorrow, there will be such a mixture of Love, as will make it in a good measure delightful to you. If it seem painful to you to strive against sin, and there be trouble in the combat, yet when you prevail over it you will find comfort in the Victory. You will be more pleased with having denied your selves, than you could with having gratified your selves. Our Saviours promise,