Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse

4. The affections being hand-maids of the will, hence a change in them implies a change in the will, and evidenceth that that is turned: it signifies that the heart is altered from what it was; for the will exerts it self in and by the affections: When therefore we see a man truly to hate Sin and love God, we know that his will is set, fixed, his choice is certainly made: and where the will is changed, there is conversion wrought: where the soul hath indeed chosen God, there is saving grace. David therefore asserts his grace from this evidence, Psal. 73. 25.

4. The affections being hand-maids of the will, hence a change in them implies a change in the will, and evidenceth that that is turned: it signifies that the heart is altered from what it was; for the will exerts it self in and by the affections: When therefore we see a man truly to hate Sin and love God, we know that his will is set, fixed, his choise is certainly made: and where the will is changed, there is conversion wrought: where the soul hath indeed chosen God, there is saving grace. David therefore asserts his grace from this evidence, Psal. 73. 25.

5. Repentance is the exercise of the grace of Sanctification: It is practical holiness, which consists in this, to be going from Sin ⟨p. 324⟩to God. Sanctification hath two parts in it, Mortification, and Vivification; Repentance comprehends them both, brings them in to use, and continues them in practice. Now Sanctification is a benefit of the new Covenant, and a fruit of conversion, one of the things for which Christ is given to us, 1 Cor. 1. 30. and is wrought at conversion, as hath been cleared.