The Doctrine of Repentance

4. Fear. A tender heart is ever a trembling heart. The penitent hath felt sins bitterness; this Hornet hath stung him, and now having hopes that God is reconciled, he is afraid to come near sin any more. The repenting soul is full of fear; he is afraid to lose Gods favour, which is better than life; he is afraid he should for ⟨p. 129⟩want of diligence come short of salvation; he is afraid lest after his heart hath been soft, the waters of Repentance should freeze, and he should harden in sin again, Prov. 28. 14. Happy is he that fears always. A sinner is like the Leviathan, who is made without fear, Job 41. 29. A repenting person fears and sins not, a graceless person sins and fears not.

4. Fear. A tender heart is ever a trembling heart. The penitent hath felt sins bitterness; this Hornet hath stung him, and now having hopes that God is reconciled, he is afraid to come near sin any more. The repenting soul is full of fear; he is afraid to lose Gods favour, which is better than life; he is afraid he should for ⟨p. 129⟩want of diligence come short of salvation; he is afraid lest after his heart hath been soft, the waters of Repentance should freeze, and he should harden in sin again, Prov. 28. 14. Happy is he that fears alwaies. A sinner is like the Leviathan, who is made without fear, Iob 41. 29. A repenting person fears and sins not, a graceless person sins and fears not.

5. Vehement desire. Sour sauce sharpens¹ the appetite: So the bitter herbs of Repentance sharpen desire: But what doth the penitent desire? he desires more power against sin, and to be released from it. 'Tis true, he hath got loose from Satan, but he goes as a prisoner that hath broke Prison, with a fetter on his leg; he cannot walk with that freedom and swiftness in the ways of God; he desires therefore to have the fetters of sin taken off; he would be freed from corruption; he cries out with Paul, Who shall deliver me from this body of death?