The other pretended peculiar Precept of this new Law, is Repentance; and if I then prove, that by virtue of the old Law, which was a perfect Rule of Duty, this also was enjoined, and Sinners obliged to it, this will evince, that neither this is the proper Command of the Gospel. It cannot be denied, that all which is justly due from one Person to another, is required in the Moral Law; for it is a complete Rule of Righteousness. It can as little be disputed that an hearty Acknowledgement of the Wrong with Shame and Sorrow, from a Man who hath injured another, is due to the offended Party; and common Reason and Justice doth engage Men to this, tho no other Reparations can be made. The owning then of our Offences with the most inward Mourning, and deepest Detestation of them, is much more due to God, our Sovereign and Supreme Lord, tho we are incapable by all this of making him the least Satisfaction. To confess a Fault, and to express a real Trouble for having done it, is indeed among Men a making some amends to the wronged Person; for it is some Security that he shall not be hurt by a second Injury: But all our Sorrow, and Confession of Sins with Tears, cannot in any degree satisfy, nor repair the Dishonour and Indignity offered unto God. It is yet our Duty to throw our selves at his Feet, to express an Abhorrence of our heinous Rebellion against him; and it is a Duty to which we are bound as Creatures to our Maker, and Subjects to our Sovereign, who is Lord over all, God blessed for ever. But what! it will be said, doth the Law require Repentance when it made no Proposals of Pardon for the Crime? Doth it require a sorrowful Acknowledgement of the Fault; and yet the whole Design of it is, that all this shall do the Offender no good, since it provides not the least Relief for the penitent Sinner? ⟨p. 49⟩To what purpose is such a Command, when tho the Sinner sheds floods of Tears, and mourns out a Life lasting to Eternity of Ages, there is yet no Remedy tendered by this Law to prevent his being eternally miserable? Yes, for all this, such a Command of Repentance in the Moral Law, is not only to great purpose, but absolutely necessary: for to own to God, with Shame and Sorrow, the Injury we have done him by our Sins, is a Duty which we owe to him our offended Sovereign, tho he had never promised to forgive us;
The other pretended peculiar Precept of this new Law, is Repentance; and if I then prove, that by virtue of the old Law, which was a perfect Rule of Duty, this also was enjoin'd, and Sinners oblig'd to it, this will evince, that neither this is the proper Command of the Gospel. It cannot be denied, that all which is justly due from one Person to another, is required in the Moral Law; for it is a compleat Rule of Righteousness. It can as little be disputed that an hearty Acknowledgment of the Wrong with Shame and Sorrow, from a Man who hath injur'd another, is due to the offended Party; and common Reason and Justice doth engage Men to this, tho no other Reparations can be made. The owning then of our Offences with the most inward Mourning, and deepest Detestation of them, is much more due to God, our Sovereign and Supream Lord, tho we are incapable by all this of making him the least Satisfaction. To confess a Fault, and to express a real Trouble for having done it, is indeed among Men a making some amends to the wronged Person; for it is some Security that he shall not be hurt by a second Injury: But all our Sorrow, and Confession of Sins with Tears, cannot in any degree satisfy, nor repair the Dishonour and Indignity offer'd unto God. It is yet our Duty to throw our selves at his Feet, to express an Abhorrence of our hainous Rebellion against him; and it is a Duty to which we are bound as Creatures to our Maker, and Subjects to our Soveraign, who is Lord over all, God blessed for ever. But what! it will be said, doth the Law require Repentance when it made no Proposals of Pardon for the Crime? Doth it require a sorrowful Acknowledgment of the Fault; and yet the whole Design of it is, that all this shall do the Offender no good, since it provides not the least Relief for the penitent Sinner? ⟨p. 49⟩To what purpose is such a Command, when tho the Sinner sheds floods of Tears, and mourns out a Life lasting to Eternity of Ages, there is yet no Remedy tendred by this Law to prevent his being eternally miserable? Yes, for all this, such a Command of Repentance in the Moral Law, is not only to great purpose, but absolutely necessary: for to own to God, with Shame and Sorrow, the Injury we have done him by our Sins, is a Duty which we owe to him our offended Soveraign, tho he had never promis'd to forgive us;
