Sermons preached

Lastly, They agree in this, that the one cannot be without the other, neither Repentance without Faith, nor Faith without Repentance; partly, because there is no Use of Faith without Repentance. Christ as Mediator is the means; now the means are of no use without respect ⟨p. 32⟩to the end. Now Christ and the whole Gospel-Grace is the means to come to God. Besides, these things cannot be Graces but in a Concomitancy. Repentance without Faith, what would it be? When we see our Sins, and bewail them, Despair would make us sit down and die, If there were not a Saviour to heal our Natures, and convert our Souls. Neither can Faith be without Repentance; for unless there be a Confession of past Sins, with a resolution of future Obedience, we continue in our Obstinacy and Stubbornness, and so we are uncapable of Mercy, our Case is not compassionable.

Lastly, They agree in this, that the one cannot be without the other, neither Repentance without Faith, nor Faith without Repentance; partly, because there is no Use of Faith without Repentance. Christ as Mediatour is the means; now the means are of no use without respect ⟨p. 32⟩to the end. Now Christ and the whole Gospel-Grace is the means to come to God. Besides, these things cannot be Graces but in a Concomitancy. Repentance without Faith, what would it be? When we see our Sins, and bewail them, Despair would make us sit down and dy, If there were not a Saviour to heal our Natures, and convert our Souls. Neither can Faith be without Repentance; for unless there be a Confession of past Sins, with a resolution of future Obedience, we continue in our Obstinacy and Stubbornness, and so we are uncapable of Mercy, our Case is not compassionable.

In short, Repentance without Faith would degenerate into the horror of the Damned; and our Sorrow for Sin would be tormenting rather than curing to us. And then Faith would be a licentious and presumptuous Confidence without Repentance: unless it be accompanied with this hearty Consent of living in the Love, Obedience, and Service of God, with a detestation of our Former ways, it would be a turning the Grace of God into wantonness. Therefore these two always go together. Which is the first, I will not enter upon; but the one cannot be without the other.