The truly blessed man

5. This Repentance will never be, so long as their contumacy abides. There belong these things to Repentance which are inconsistent with it. There is a sight and sense of sin, a confessing and bewailing of it, a self abhorrence for it, a returning to God with the whole heart: to all of which is required a willing mind, an heart laid at the foot of God. A stiff neck, and a rebellious heart go together. God, in bringing men to Repentance, takes away the heart of stone, makes the stout spirit stoop; and till this be done, the distance abides, and no hope of recovering either pardon, or comfort.

6. But when once they are made tractable, the controversy ⟨p. 463⟩is at an end. The great controversy between God, and sinful man, under the means, is who shall stoop he or they: he will not, his honour is concerned in it, and so they must, if ever they obtain his favour. Now therefore they give him his glory, and he will lift up the light of his countenance upon them: God himself declares this good issue, Levit. 26.40, 41, 42. Here then lies the great obstacle: it is not their sins, but their obstinacy under them, that keeps up the wall of separation, and if that be removed the way is open, and he will show them his Salvations.

6. But when once they are made tractable, the controversy ⟨p. 463⟩is at an end. The great controversy between God, and sinful man, under the means, is who shall stoop he or they: he will not, his honour is concerned in it, and so they must, if ever they obtain his favour. Now therefore they give him his glory, and he will lift up the light of his countenance upon them: God himself declares this good issue, Levit. 26.40, 41, 42. Here then lies the great obstacle: it is not their sins, but their obstinacy under them, that keeps up the wall of separation, and if that be removed the way is open, and he will shew them his Salvations.