Ans. 4 But fourthly and lastly, As a true penitential turning from sin, is a constant and continued turning from sin; so 'tis a returning to God. Sin is an aversion from God, and repentance is a conversion to God, Act. 26.18. Sound repentance is not only a ceasing from doing evil, but also a learning to do well, Isa. 1.16, 17. Repentance and turning to God are joined together, as being one and the same thing, Act. 26.20. The Prodigals repenting, was his returning to his Father, Luke 15.17. When he came […] himself, he said, I will arise and go to my father, and say father▪ […] •ave sinned against heaven and before thee, &c. The Hebrew word for repentance is from [Greek or Hebrew] Shob, which signifies to return; implying, a going back from what a man had done; it notes a returning or converting ⟨p. 285⟩from one thing to another, as from sin to God, from evil to good, from hell to heaven. The common call of sinners to repentance, is to turn from sin, and to return to God, Isa. 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, 1and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. Jer. 1.4. If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me; and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And so Chap. 18.11. Return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your way and your doings good. 1 Pet. 2.25. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. 'Tis not enough for a sinner to forsake his sins, but he must also return to the Lord. The true penitent subjects his heart to the power of divine grace, and his life to the blessed will and word of God. Look, as negative goodness can never satisfy a penitent soul, so negative goodness can never save an impenitent soul. It is not enough, O man, that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou must be thus and thus good, or thou wilt be miserable for ever, Ezek. 18.21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Negative righteousness and holiness, is no righteousness, no holiness in the account of God.2
Ans. 4 But fourthly and lastly, As a true penitential turning from sin, is a constant and continued turning from sin; so 'tis a returning to God. Sin is an aversion from God, and repentance is a conversion to God, Act. 26.18. Sound repentance is not only a ceasing from doing evil, but also a learning to do well, Isa. 1.16, 17. Repentance and turning to God are joyned together, as being one and the same thing, Act. 26.20. The Prodigals repenting, was his returning to his Father, Luke 15.17. When he came 〈…〉 himself, he said, I will arise and go to my father, and say father▪ 〈…〉 •ave sinned against heaven and before thee, &c. The Hebrew word for repentance is from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Shob, which signifies to return; implying, a going back from what a man had done; it notes a returning or converting ⟨p. 285⟩from one thing to another, as from sin to God, from evil to good, from hell to heaven. The common call of sinners to repentance, is to turn from sin, and to return to God, Isa. 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, 1and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. Jer. 1.4. If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me; and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And so Chap. 18.11. Return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your way and your doings good. 1 Pet. 2.25. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. 'Tis not enough for a sinner to forsake his sins, but he must also return to the Lord. The true penitent subjects his heart to the power of divine grace, and his life to the blessed will and word of God. Look, as negative goodness can never satisfie a penitent soul, so negative goodness can never save an impenitent soul. It is not enough, O man, that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou must be thus and thus good, or thou wilt be miserable for ever,
- 1Consult these Scriptures, Isa. 44.22. Isa. 19.22. Isa. 59.20. Hosea 3.5. Hosea 6.1. Hosea 14.1.
- 2Luke 18.5. Mat. 20.13, 14.
