The Doctrine of Repentance

1. Sorrow and melting of heart, fits¹ us for every holy duty. A piece of Lead while it is in the lump, can be put to no use, but melt it, and then you may cast it into any mould, and it is made useful: So an heart that is hardened into a lump of sin, is good for nothing, but when it is dissolved by Repentance, now it is useful. A melting heart is fit to pray. When Pauls heart was humbled and melted; then, Behold he prays, Act. 9. 11. It is fit to hear the word: Now the word works ⟨p. 102⟩kindly. When Josiahs heart was tender, he humbled himself, and rent his cloths at the hearing the words of the Law, 2 Chron. 34. 19. His heart, like melting wax, was ready to take any seal of the word. A melting heart is fit to obey. When the heart is like metal in the Furnace, it is facile and malleable to any thing. Lord, what wilt thou have me do^*? A repenting soul subscribes to Gods will, and answers to his call, as the echo to the voice.

1. Sorrow and melting of heart, fits¹ us for every holy duty. A piece of Lead while it is in the lump, can be put to no use, but melt it, and then you may cast it into any mould, and it is made useful: So an heart that is hardened into a lump of sin, is good for nothing, but when it is dissolved by Repentance, now it is useful. A melting heart is fit to pray. When Pauls heart was humbled and melted; then, Behold he prayes, Act. 9. 11. It is fit to hear the word: Now the word works ⟨p. 102⟩kindly. When Iosiahs heart was tender, he humbled himself, and rent his cloths at the hearing the words of the Law, 2 Chron. 34. 19. His heart, like melting wax, was ready to take any seal of the word. A melting heart is fit to obey. When the heart is like metal in the Furnace, it is facil and malleable to any thing. Lord, what wilt thou have me do