The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

1. He cannot be ingenuously sorrowful for his offence. 'Tis true, when the circumstances are changed, that which was pleasing will cause trouble of Spirit; As when a Malefactor suffers for his Crimes, he reflects upon his Actions with Sorrow. ⟨p. 73⟩But this hath no moral worth in it: For 'tis a forced act, proceeding from a violent Principle,¹ and is consistent with as great a love to Sin as he had before, and is entirely terminated on himself. But that grief which is divine, and is accompanied with a change in heart and life, respects the stain more than the punishment of Sin: and arises from Love to God, who is disobeyed and dishonoured by it: Now 'tis not conceivable, that the guilty Creature can love God, whilst he looks on him as an irreconcilable enemy. Distrust of the favour of a person, which is a degree of fear, is attended with coldness of affection, a strong fear, which still intimates an uncertainty in the event, inclines to hatred: But when fear is turned into despair, it causeth direct hatred. An instance of this we have in the Devils, who curse the Fountain of Blessedness. If the Evil be past Remedy, the sense of it is attended with rage and transports of blasphemy against God himself.² A despairing Sinner begins in this life the gnashing of teeth against his Judg, and kindles the fire that shall torment him for ever.

1. He cannot be ingenuously sorrowful for his offence. 'Tis true, when the circumstances are changed, that which was pleasing will cause trouble of Spirit; As when a Malefactor suffers for his Crimes, he reflects upon his Actions with Sorrow. ⟨p. 73⟩But this hath no moral worth in it: For 'tis a forc'd act, proceeding from a violent Principle,¹ and is consistent with as great a love to Sin as he had before, and is intirely terminated on himself. But that grief which is divine, and is accompanied with a change in heart and life, respects the stain more than the punishment of Sin: and arises from Love to God, who is disobeyed and dishonored by it: Now 'tis not conceivable, that the guilty Creature can love God, whilst he looks on him as an irreconcileable enemy. Distrust of the favour of a person, which is a degree of fear, is attended with coldness of affection, a strong fear, which still intimates an uncertainty in the event, inclines to hatred: But when fear is turn'd into despair, it causeth direct hatred. An instance of this we have in the Devils, who curse the Fountain of Blessedness. If the Evil be past Remedy, the sence of it is attended with rage and transports of blasphemy against God himself.