Thirdly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, not only a1 turning from all sin, but it is also a turning unto God; it is not only a ceasing from doing evil, but it is also a learning to do well; it is not only a turning from darkness, but it is also a turning to light, as the Apostle speaks, Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes, and to ⟨p. 410⟩turn them from darkness to light, and 2from the power of Satan unto God: So in Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. It is not enough for the man of iniquity to forsake his evil way, but he must also return unto the Lord; he must subject his heart to the power of Divine Grace, and his life to the Will and Word of God. As Negative goodness can never satisfy a gracious soul, so Negative goodness can never save a sinful soul. It is not enough that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou must be thus and thus good, or thou art undone for ever. Ezek. 18. 21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Negative Righteousness and Holiness is no Righteousness no Holiness, in the account of God. It was not the Pharisees Negative Righteousness, nor3 his Comparative Goodness, that could prevent his being rejected of God, his being shut out of Heaven, his burning in Hell. It is not enough that the Tree ⟨p. 411⟩hears no ill fruit, but it must bring forth good fruit, else it must be cut down and cast into the fire; that Tree that is not for fruit is for the fire. Every 4tree that brings not forth good fruit (says Christ) is hewn down and cast into the fire. Men that content themselves with Negative Righteousness, shall find at last Heaven Gates bolted upon them with a double bolt. All that Negative Righteousness and Holiness can do, is to help a man to one of the best Chambers, and easiest Beds in Hell: That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, brings the heart and life, not only off from sin, but on to God; it makes a man not only cease from walking in the ways of death, but it makes him walk in the ways of life. They do no iniquity, they walk in his ways. Psal. 119. 3.
Thirdly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, not onely a1 turning from all sin, but it is also a turning unto God; it is not onely a ceasing from doing evil, but it is also a learning to do well; it is not onely a turning from darkness, but it is also a turning to light, as the Apostle speaks, Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes, and to ⟨p. 410⟩turn them from darkness to light, and 2from the power of Satan unto God: So in Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. It is not enough for the man of iniquity to forsake his evil way, but he must also return unto the Lord; he must subject his heart to the power of Divine Grace, and his life to the Will and Word of God. As Negative goodness can never satisfie a gracious soul, so Negative goodness can never save a sinful soul. It is not enough that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou must be thus and thus good, or thou art undone for ever. Ezek. 18. 21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Negative Righteousness and Holiness is no Righteousness no Holiness, in the account of God. It was not the Pharisees Negative Righteousness, nor3 his Comparative Goodness, that could prevent his being rejected of God, his being shut out of Heaven, his burning in Hell. It is not enough that the Tree ⟨p. 411⟩hears no ill fruit, but it must bring forth good fruit, else it must be cut down and cast into the fire; that Tree that is not for fruit is for the fire. Every 4tree that brings not forth good fruit (sayes Christ) is hewn down and cast into the fire. Men that content themselves with Negative Righteousness, shall finde at last Heaven Gates bolted upon them with a double bolt. All that Negative Righteousness and Holiness can do, is to help a man to one of the best Chambers, and easiest Beds in Hell: That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, brings the heart and life, not onely off from sin, but on to God; it makes a man not onely cease from walking in the wayes of death, but it makes him walk in the wayes of life. They do no iniquity, they walk in his wayes.
- 1Isa. 1. The Hebrew word for Repentance is from [Greek or Hebrew] Shob, which signifies to return, implying a going back from what a man had done.Isa. 1. The Hebrew word for Repentance is from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Shob, which signifies to return, implying a going back from what a man had done.
- 2It notes a returning or converting from one thing to another, as from sin to God, from evil to good, from Hell to Heaven.
- 3Luke 18. 5. Matth. 20. 13, 14.
- 4Matth. 7. 19. He that holds nor wholly with Christ, doth very shamefully neglect Christ. Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omit. Greg. Nazian. And therefore if Christ trample upon them at last, it is just.Matth. 7. 19. He that holds nor wholly with Christ, doth very shamefully neglect Christ. Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omitte. Greg. Nazian. And therfore if Christ trample upon them at last, it is just.
