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<DATE>2007-08-08</DATE>
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<NAME>Robyn Anspach</NAME>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
<PB REF="1">
<P><HI>ANDREWS</HI>
RESOLUTION
TO
RETURN unto GOD
BY
REPENTANCE.</P>
<P>Directed unto all the Elect Children of God
which truly repent, perfectly guiding
them in the right way therein.</P>
<P>Right godly to read, as delightful to hear, but
mo&s;t profitable to be practi&s;ed.</P>
<P>Newly publi&s;hed by <HI>John Andrews</HI> Mini&s;ter
and Preacher of Gods Word.</P>
<P><HI>Being fir&s;t &s;een and allowed.</HI></P>
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI>
Printed for <HI>William Whitwood,</HI> at the &s;ign of
the Golden Bell in <HI>Duck-Lane,</HI> near
<HI>Smith-field.</HI> 1673.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="author to the reader">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>The Author to the Reader.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IF thou do&s;t read or hear this work,</L>
<L>Only &s;ee thou do this,</L>
<L>Have care to mend thy evil ways,</L>
<L>Now pa&s;t and done a mi&s;s.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All tho&s;e that &s;till pre&s;ume in &s;in,</L>
<L>Not minding to amend,</L>
<L>D<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">yly this Book will wtine&s;s be</L>
<L>Revengeful in the end.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Each day repent, oh &s;till repent</L>
<L>With &s;peed, I humbly pray,</L>
<L>Even for his Sons &s;ake, Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</L>
<L>So &s;in is wa&s;ht away.</L>
</LG>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<HEAD>The Book to the Reader.</HEAD>
<L>IF that my lines could &s;peak with voice,</L>
<L>Oh then mo&s;t loud &s;till &s;hould they cry,</L>
<L>He tha might hear them wou'd rejoyce,</L>
<L>No doubt to buy me pre&s;ently.</L>
<L>A great<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">r Book of price more dear,</L>
<L>N<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">w mai&s;t thou have, yet not contain</L>
<L>Directions right, as <HI>I</HI> have here,</L>
<L>Repentance truly for to gain.</L>
<L>Each line doth guide thee to repent,</L>
<L>With phra&s;e mo&s;t plain unto thine ears;</L>
<L>E&s;teem it well, do not relent,</L>
<L>Sweet is the fruit Repentance bears.</L>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>To the High and Mighty King of
Kings<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">Rev. 17. 14</NOTE>, Prince of Peace<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">Ep&punc; 2 14</NOTE>, Con|querour
of Death<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">Heb <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"></NOTE>, Hell<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">Ho&s; 13. 14</NOTE>, and
Sin<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">Ho&s; 10. 8</NOTE>, the great Judge of the
World<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">Gen 18 28</NOTE>, and Bi&s;hop of my Soul<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 2. 9</NOTE>,
Chri&s;t Je&s;u my Saviour<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">Luk. 2. 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE>.</HEAD>
<P>_O Gracious and mo&s;t high
God<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 113 5</NOTE>, mo&s;t holy<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">E&s;ay 6. 3</NOTE>, mo&s;t
&s;trong<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 99. 9</NOTE>, mo&s;t mighty<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">Gen. 17</NOTE>
mo&s;t merciful<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;a. 145. 9</NOTE>, mo&s;t
righteous<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">E&s;ay 42 6</NOTE>, and mo&s;t
beautiful Saviour<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">Can 5 10</NOTE>, I the
Son of thy handmaid<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 86. 16</NOTE>,
whom thou ha&s;t created,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1. 26, 27</NOTE> and redeemed<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Eph. 1. 7 1 Cor 1. 30</NOTE>,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e in all dutifull affection a&s;&s;igned my,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">elf, and my deare&s;t love into thine hands
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> my <HI>humble Petition,</HI> which <HI>I</HI> dedi|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">red
unto thee, O &s;weet J<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;u, th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">u light
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">f my &s;oul<NOTE N="m" PLACE="marg">E&s;ay 9. 19; 20</NOTE>, and to the uttermo&s;t of my;
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ower (by thine a&s;&s;i&s;tance) have made it
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">y daily prayer, and true copy of my
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ya<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e&s;t aff<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ction unto thee, O Lord my
God<NOTE N="n" PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 98 9. P&s;alm 8. 1 P&s;alm 18 1</NOTE>, in the which, through my conti|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">ul
exerci&s;ing thereof, I know my &s;igh|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">g
for my &s;ins is not hid from thee<NOTE N="o" PLACE="marg">P&s;alm 38</NOTE>, nor
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">y tears, which cry from the bottom of My
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">eart, for thy crim&s;on pricele&s;s drops of
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ood, that trickled down thy azure veins<NOTE N="p" PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">. 22 44</NOTE>,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> wa&s;h away my &s;carlet &s;ins<NOTE N="q" PLACE="marg">E&s;. 1. 18</NOTE>, unknown to
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ee,</P>
<P><PB REF="3">
And now again, O my &s;overaign delight<NOTE N="r" PLACE="marg">Sol. &s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ng 1, 7, &amp;c Mat. 12. 41</NOTE>,
in token of my humble&s;t devotion, and dear|e&s;t
Love, which I owe unto thy mo&s;t &s;acred
&s;elf, I am here imboldned (although far
u<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">worthy) to dedicate this other Mite unto
thee (entitu<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ed <HI>Andrews Re&s;olution)</HI> which
I ca&s;t into thy trea&s;ury<NOTE N="&s;" PLACE="marg">Luk. 21. 1</NOTE>, not of &s;uperfluity,
but meer penury, de&s;iring thee, O my Sa|viour
<NOTE N="t" PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 4, 20</NOTE>, from the tender bowels of my heart,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5. 31</NOTE>
that through the multitude of thy mercies<NOTE N="u" PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 5. 7</NOTE>,
thou wilt guide me therein.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 1. 21</NOTE> And I mo&s;t
humbly be&s;eech thee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sa. 22. 3</NOTE> that thou wilt vouch|&s;afe
to entertain and receive me, that I may
be wholly thine, and thou co-equal with
God the Father, mai&s;t be wholly mine, that
after my ended mi&s;eries, thou wilt crown
me with endle&s;s mercies: unto this (&s;weet
Je&s;us) I mo&s;t humbly be&s;eech thee to &s;ay
<HI>Amen.</HI></P>
<P>And &s;o Amen, thy earne&s;t, though mo&s;t
unworthy late repentant &s;inner, <HI>John Andrews,</HI>
Preacher of the Word, de&s;ireth with all hu|mility
daily to come unto thee.</P>
<EPIGRAPH>
<Q>Ser&ograve; &s;ed &s;eri&ograve;.</Q>
</EPIGRAPH>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB REF="3">
<HEAD>Andrews Re&s;olution.</HEAD>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Fir&s;t, what Repentance is.</HEAD>
<P>THere is no D<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ctrine in the
C<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">urch of God more nece&s;&s;ary,
than the Doctrine of Repentance,
and amendment of life; neither doth
the Holy Gho&s;t &s;o much labour in all
the Scripture, as he doth to b<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">at
Repentance into mens leads<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">2 Kin. 17, 13 Eze. 18. 21, 22. 23 Act, 11 18 Pet. 3. 9 Ho&s;. 14. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> Pet 18. 11 Jer. 25. 5 Jer. 36. 3 Ma 3. 2, 6, 8 Mar. 4. 17 Luke 3. 2 Luke 24. 4 Acts 2. 38 Acts 17 30</NOTE></P>
<P>It was not only the only Sermon
which <HI>S. John Bapti&s;t</HI> preached to pre|pare
the way for Chri&s;t<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">Mat 3 2, 6, 8</NOTE>, but <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">&s;o it
was the fir&s;t that ever was made, it
was Preached by God him&s;elf to our
fi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t Parents in Parad<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;e<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">Gen 3 17</NOTE>; and
ever &s;ince both the Prophets, Apo|&s;tles,
and many of Gods faithful
Mini&s;ters have Preached Repen|tance
unto the people<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">2 Kin. 17 13 E&s;ay 1. 16</NOTE>.</P>
<P>Yet notwith&s;tanding many are &s;o
wedded unto &s;in<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">Joh. 8. 3 Rom. 6. 20</NOTE>, and they are be|come
&s;o godle&s;s, &s;o gracele&s;s, &s;o root|ed
and fully re&s;olved to live therein,
that the mo&s;t part little under&s;tand
the Doctrine of Repentance<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">Rom. 2</NOTE>, and
le&s;s practi&s;e the duty. Many pre|&s;ume
to de&s;cribe it, though few know
it: many can talk of it<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">Mat. 72</NOTE>, but few<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 1. 19</NOTE>
walk in it; many &s;peak of it, but
<PB REF="4">
few feel it; and many think they
have caught it when they have b<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">t
the &s;hadow of it:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 3. 10</NOTE> becau&s;e it is &s;o <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="4 letters">|pery
that few can hold it, &amp; &s;o &s;ecret
that many cannot find it: it is <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">id
fro<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> the world &amp; revealed unto non<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">
but the Elect chi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">dren of God<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Lu 12, 32</NOTE>.</P>
<P>It is a work that no men with
their fine beats and deep devices can
compre<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">nd: for the conver&s;ion of a
&s;i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ner is &s;upernatural, and who&s;oever
doth, o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> hath not felt in him&s;elf what
repenta<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ce is, &s;hall be <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">amned<NOTE N="l" PLACE="marg">Lu. 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">. 5</NOTE>, there|fore
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e that hath ears to hear,<NOTE PLACE="marg">E&s;ay 59 2</NOTE> let him
hea<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Nahu. 1. 2.</NOTE> and he that hath eyes to &s;ee, let
him &s;ee what <HI>Repentance</HI> if, and with|all,
bring this pre&s;ent of the <HI>hi|lo&s;ophers</HI>
with him,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Pla<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">, Ari|&s;totles, T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">eo|phra&s;tes.</NOTE> <HI>No&s;ce t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ip&s;um</HI>
knew thy &s;elf; it is the fir&s;t thing to
be done in rep&eacute;ntance, and the begin|ning
of all grace.</P>
<P><HI>Repentance</HI> is a work of grace, ari|sing
of a<NOTE N="m" PLACE="marg">Eph 2. 8 1 Cor. 7. 8, 9</NOTE> godly &s;orrow, from a true
faith, and knowledge of a mans own
&s;piritual e&s;tate:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 4. 1</NOTE> It is a con&s;tant<NOTE N="n" PLACE="marg">Joel 2. 13</NOTE>
turning of a man in his whole life,
from all his &s;ins unto God, it is an
hear<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">y &s;orrow for sin, with amend|ment
of life, having a godly Re&s;olu|tion
to sin no more<NOTE N="o" PLACE="marg">Joh. 5. 14 John. 8. 11 Eze. 33. 15 Rom, 12 5 Rom. 5. 1</NOTE>.</P>
<P>It is a mo&s;t nece&s;&s;ary thing for
mankind; it is the very <HI>&s;uper&s;edeas</HI>
<PB REF="4">
and di&s;charge of sin, and the cau&s;e
of unity between God and man.
There is no other means to make
peace betwen Chri&s;t and us, but
Repentance: No other to di&s;charge
sin,<NOTE N="p" PLACE="marg">Joh. 3. 5 Ge. 50 17, 18 2 P. 1. 3. 9</NOTE> nor cour&s;e to avoid <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ell, but
Repentance; neither any way to
win Heaven, but repentance and
therefore Repentance is mo&s;t ne|ce&s;&s;ary,</P>
<P>What wounded body would not
&s;eek a &s;alve: much more what woun|ded
&s;oul &s;lain with sin,<NOTE N="q" PLACE="marg">E&s;a. 1. 16 Ez. 33. 5 Luk. 13. 5&punc;</NOTE> would not
&s;eek repentance, &s;eeing it is the only
&s;alve to cure the &s;oul?</P>
<P>It is an Eybod of purity, and a
defiled man may not wear it. The
dignity of it is great, and honoura|ble;
and the Lord will not be&s;tow
it upon an unworthy per&s;on. It is a
magnificent gue&s;t,<NOTE N="r" PLACE="marg">Joh 14. 1 &amp; 23</NOTE> and will not
come into a polluted <HI>Tabernacle.</HI> It is
an holy <HI>Saint,</HI> and will not dwell in
the <HI>Synagogue</HI> of <HI>Satan.</HI></P>
<P>It is not to be bought with silver
or gold, nor to be had from the gifts
of Ring<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">, Popes, or Potentates, it
is a thing of ine&s;tima<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">le bal<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e,<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">Heb. 1. 6</NOTE> it
&s;heweth the attonement between
the Saviour and the Sinner, and
being gotten by Faith<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">Gal. 3 14</NOTE>, Prayer<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">Jam. 5. 18</NOTE>,
and hearing the Word of God<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">Rom. 10, 17</NOTE>, It
<PB REF="5">
brings thee unto Chri&s;t.<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">Act. 5. 11 2 Ti. 2. 25, 26 Joh. 12. 40</NOTE> It is <HI>libra
Donatio,</HI> a gift ab&s;olute without con|sideration,
which God ever be&s;tow|eth
upon his friends, upon tho&s;e
that love him. It is called the Spi|rit
of <HI>Burning,</HI> therefore with &s;peed
frepent, that repentance may burn
thy sins,<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5 E&s;ay 4. 4</NOTE> e&s;t the fire of Hell bnrn thy
&s;oul, <HI>E&s;ay</HI> 4. 4</P>
<P>The true <HI>E&s;&s;ence or Nature</HI> of thy
Repentance, only con&s;i&s;teth in tur|ning
from all thy &s;ins unto God<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">Eze. 18 30. 31. 32 jer. 18. 11 2 Ki. 17. 13 E&s;ay 55. 7 Eze. 33. 11 Jer. 14. 1</NOTE>:
and therefore it is not altogether
deri<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ed of the word <HI>Poenitentia,</HI> be|cau&s;e
the Divines &s;ay, it doth not
comprehend <HI>Totum Terminum a quo &amp;
ad quem,</HI> from what and to whom
thou mu&s;t return.</P>
<P>But this is the true repentance which
the <HI>Latin</HI> interpret by this word <HI>Re|&s;ipi&s;centia,
or Conver&s;io,</HI> which is not
only the changing of the mind, but it
is <HI>Rece&s;&s;us a malo</HI> a for&s;aking of e|vil,
<HI>Acce&s;&s;us ad bonum</HI> and return un|to
that which is good<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">Ro. 12. 9 Gal. 4. 18 1 The&s;. 5. 16 Acts 26, 28</NOTE>: <HI>Revertimini
u&s;que ad me,</HI> return as far as unto me.
If thou wilt repeat truly, thou mu&s;t
withall have both a purpo&s;e in mind,
and an inclination in will, and en|deavour
in life, wholly to for&s;ake
all thy &s;ins for ever and turn unto
God.</P>
<P><PB REF="5">
To repent, confideth but of two
&s;yllables: yet unto the wicked it is
too hard to be learned and &s;o unay to
be practi&s;ed, that like as the <HI>Camelion</HI>
can change him&s;elf into all colours
&s;aving white, &s;o would they change
them&s;elves from all goodne&s;s, to fol|low
evil, rather then to return unto
the Lord by repentance.</P>
<P>To conclude this point, thou &s;halt
no &s;ooner repent, but<NOTE N="i" PLACE="marg">Gen. 54, 17, 18 Deut. 4. 29 1 Kin. 8. 33 Job. 11. 14, 15 Eze. 3. 28</NOTE> Heaven &s;hall
be confirmed unto thee, <HI>habendum &amp;
tenendum,</HI> for ever and ever.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Secondly; God is the author of Re|pentance.</HEAD>
<P><HI>REpenta<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ce</HI> is <HI>libera donatio,</HI> a gift
ab&s;oluts, without con&s;ideration;
and it comes freely from God, who
is the very efficient and princi|pal
Author or <HI>Donor</HI> thereof<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Jer. 31. 18 Lam. 5. 21 2 Ti 25. 26 Acts 5. 21 Joh. 12. 40</NOTE>. It
is therefore to be held the more pre|tious
and to be de&s;ired with the more
hope; yea: to be thy <HI>Summum Bonum</HI>
for it obtaineth Salvation, unto all
tho&s;e which truly repent and turn
unto God. And he that turneth
unto God by repentance, mu&s;t fir&s;t
of all be turned by God; and &s;o &s;aith
<HI>Jeremiah,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 31. 19</NOTE> <HI>Surely after I was converted
I repented, and after I was in&s;tructed, I
&s;mote upon my thigh; I was a&s;hamed,
<PB REF="6">
yea even confounded, becau&s;e I did bear
the reproach of my youth</HI> And our Sa|viour
Chri&s;t &s;aith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John. 6. 44</NOTE> no man can come
unto me except my Father draw him
Therefore &s;aith <HI>S. Paul In&s;truct them
with meekne&s;s:</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim 1. 25</NOTE> <HI>proving if God will at
any time give them Repentance, that
they may b<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;aved,</HI></P>
<P>For God is good<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 11. 8. Jer. 33. 11 Mat. 19 16 P&s;alm 105. Ez. ch. 18. Ro. 10. 2 P&s;. 10. 15 P&s;al. 91. 15 P&s; 145. 18</NOTE> and merciful
unto all tho&s;e that turn unto him
by repentance; he is full of pity, and
hath no plea&s;ure at all that the wic|ked
&s;hould die: But is rich unto all
that call upon him for mercy; and
hath promi&s;ed to hear thy petitions,
if thou truly repent.</P>
<P>Furthermore, if thou had&s;t re|pentance
in thine<NOTE N="l" PLACE="marg">E&s;ay 48. 8, 9</NOTE> own power, and
mighte&s;t repent when thou woul|de&s;t;
yet it were but a folly; yea it
were a<NOTE N="m" PLACE="marg">Deut. 29. 20</NOTE> meer madne&s;s to pre&s;ume
in sin becau&s;e thon ha&s;t a remedy.
But now &s;eing thy repentance is in
the hand of God, and that none can
repent without his e&s;pocial Grace
it were a double and a trebble folly to
<NOTE N="n" PLACE="marg">Deut. 30 3, 4</NOTE> d<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">lay thy repentance from day to
day or to &s;eek it from any other but
from God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chr. 7. 14 <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> 1 Cor. 11</NOTE></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Thirdly, of Examination.</HEAD>
<P>BEfore thou confe&s;s thy sins un|to
God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor, 13. 5</NOTE> thou mu&s;t take heed to
<PB REF="6">
examine thy &s;elf, that thereby thou
maye&s;t know them both in greatne&s;s
and danger: for untill thou know
thy sins, that thy con&s;cience may be
convicted by them, thou can&s;t ne|ver
humbly and heartily confe&s;s
them.</P>
<P>Far let any repentant sinner ask
his con&s;cience what was the fir&s;t
cau&s;e of his conversion, and &s;urely
he will &s;ay, that when he began to
repent, he did fir&s;t &s;earch<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 77. 6</NOTE> him&s;elf:
and finding his ways dangerous, and
his cau&s;e fearful, did thereupon re|&s;olve
to take a new cour&s;e; It is the
beginning of all grace, to &s;earch,
try, and examine thy &s;elf; It is al|&s;o
a means to prevent Gods Iudg|ment:
if thou do&s;t not &s;earch thy
&s;elf, then God will &s;earch thee with
his<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">1 Pe 1. 7 &amp; 4. 11</NOTE> fiery cro&s;&s;es and terror of his
puni&s;hments.</P>
<P>But if thou truly examine thy &s;elf
fir&s;t to be guilty of <HI>Adams</HI> sin<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">P&s;al 51. 5 1 E&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">. 4. 30 Gen. 8. 21</NOTE>.</P>
<P>Secondly, prone by nature to all
evil<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">Rom. 23</NOTE>.</P>
<P>Thirdly, &s;ubject to the cur&s;e of
Gods wrath<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">Wi&s;d. 14. P&s;al. 54. 6 P&s;a. 14. 4 Pro. 15. 8, 9. 29 E&s;a. 1. 15</NOTE>.</P>
<P>Thus in the guiltine&s;s of <HI>Adams</HI>
sin sin hath his beginning; in the
original, his continuance; and in
actual, his full perfection.</P>
<P><PB REF="7">
So an&s;werable thereunto is th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">
wrath of God; it beginning by
leaving th&eacute;e by nature unto th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">
flavery of Satan; it is continued by
death, and accompli&s;hed by damnati|on.</P>
<P>Now the&s;e thr&eacute;e rules I leave to
thy careful con&s;ideration, a&s;&s;uring
thee from God thou can&s;t never be
&s;aved unle&s;s<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">Luk. 13. 5 2 Cor. 13. 5</NOTE> thou repent, nor nev<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">r
repent, except that thou &s;earch, try,
and examine thy &s;elf.</P>
<P>Thus if thou wilt repent truly,
thou mu&s;t &s;earch and look into thy
&s;elf, to &s;ee in what a mi&s;erable ca&s;e
thou art; as I have &s;aid before: and
thou &s;halt find that by<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">Eph. 2. 3</NOTE> Nature, thou
art the child of wrath, out of y^<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> favour
of God, not only wretched and accur|&s;ed
by the Law, a bond&s;lave unto Sa|tan
but finally &s;ubject to Death, Hell,
and Damnation.</P>
<P>Thus if thou would&s;t know if thou
art in the right way of repentance
or no. thou &s;halt find, if thou con&s;ider
in thy &s;elf whether thou ha&s;t ever
any need of Gods pardon for thy &s;in;
or of Chri&s;t his <HI>i</HI> blood to &s;alve and
cure thy &s;oul:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat 26. 28</NOTE> or was thy heart ever
wounded or grieved for thy &s;in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 10. 13 18</NOTE> &s;o
that thy &s;oul were even &s;ick with the
&s;tink thereof?<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 1. 2 1 Joh. 1. 7</NOTE></P>
<P><PB REF="7">
Or didde&s;t thou ever hunger and
thir&s;t after God in Chri&s;t? and with
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">ghs, groans, and<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Jam 4 9 Luk. 6. 21</NOTE> tears, beg for
his mercy upon thy<NOTE N="l" PLACE="marg">1 Ki. 8 54 Dan. 6. 10</NOTE> knees (as for
life and death) If thou ha&s;t not felt,
nor done the&s;e things in &s;ome mea|&s;ure,
&s;urely thy ca&s;e is very fearful
and dangerous: thou art not yet in
the way of Repentance therefore
as yet the mercies of God belong
not unto thee.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Fourthly, of Contrition.</HEAD>
<P><HI>Contrition</HI> is a fear and inward
&s;orrow of con&s;cience,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Augu&s;tinus de poeniten|tia.</NOTE> perceiving
that God is angry with &s;in and is
&s;orry that it hath <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">nned. And to
&s;peak more largely of it, thou mai&s;t
know this, that Contrition al&s;o
comphrehendeth fir&s;t t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e<NOTE N="o" PLACE="marg">Job. 11. 13, &amp; 19</NOTE> knowledg
of God, requiring obedience; and
di&s;commending di&s;obedience; and
not to remit &s;in without full and
perfect &s;atisfaction, eit<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">er in re&s;pect
of obedience it &s;elf, or el&s;e in re&s;pect
of puni&s;hment.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 13. 5</NOTE> the di&s;cu&s;&s;ing and exa|mining
of thy nature,<NOTE N="p" PLACE="marg">Lu. 2. 29 Acts 20. 20</NOTE> thy thoughts
will, affections, and all thy actions &amp;
deeds according to the &s;quare and
rule of Gods Laws in every point;
for as <HI>S. Augu&s;tine</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Peccatum
<PB REF="8">
puniendum e&s;t aut a te aut a Deo: &s;i pu|niturate,
tunc punitur &s;ine te; &s;i vero a te+non
punitur, tecum punietur.</HI> Sin mu&s;t
n&eacute;eds be puni&s;hed, either of God, or
of thy &s;elf, if by thy &s;elf, then sin is
puni&s;hed without thee, if of God then
thou and thy sin mu&s;t be puni&s;hed
together. Therefore if thou would&s;t
repent with a true contrition, that
thereby thou mai&s;t reap a mo&s;t plen|tiful
harve&s;t, thou mu&s;t &s;ow in Gods
field the<NOTE N="q" PLACE="marg">Mat. 13. 8</NOTE> &s;eeds of Repentance, and
oftentimes water then with the
tears of thy humble Contrition:
<NOTE N="r" PLACE="marg">Jam. 4. 9, 10</NOTE> &s;o &s;halt thou gather t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e true fruits
of everla&s;ting joy and felicity<NOTE N="&s;" PLACE="marg">Mat. 5. 4 Luke 6. 21</NOTE>. For
as the d&eacute;eper the wound, the more
diligent the cure: &s;o let thy repen|tance
bring forth as much &s;orrow,
as sin gave the delight.</P>
<P>And as <HI>S. Ambro&s;e</HI> &s;aith, <HI>Expectat
lacrymas no&s;tras Deus, ut profundat
pietatem &s;uam;</HI> God looketh for thy
tears in thy contrition, that he
may pour down his grace upon thy
amendment.<NOTE N="t" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 4. 6. 6</NOTE> <HI>Laudatum e&s;t cor
Penitentiae lacrymis;</HI> Thou mu&s;t wa&s;h
thy hart in a troubled Pool of<NOTE N="u" PLACE="marg">Joh. 15. 2</NOTE> <HI>Be|the&s;da,</HI>
in the true tears of repen|tance.
having an inward &s;orrow
wrought by the holy Gho&s;t, for thy
sins before committed, again&s;t &s;o
<PB REF="8">
good and gracious a God? joyned
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">oth with a perfect faith,<NOTE N="x" PLACE="marg">P&s;alm 19. 10, 12</NOTE> to be for|given
for Chri&s;t his &s;ake, and al&s;o
from hencefortb with a full and de|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">erminate
purpo&s;e to amend and lead
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> new life,</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Fifthly, of Confe&s;&s;ion.</HEAD>
<P>SAint <HI>Chry&s;o&s;tome</HI> &s;aith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Chry&s;o&s;t. in P&s;almes.</NOTE> that no|thing
plea&s;eth God more than
Confe&s;&s;ion, if it be joyned with true
Contrition; and that it is a part of
Humiliation, ever joyned with true
Repentance, becau&s;e they cannot be
truly humble and repent, who con|fe&s;s
not their &s;ins unto God: nei|ther
will be give them pardon; for
God covers when men uncover<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">1 Joh. 1. 9</NOTE> and
acknowledge; he ju&s;tifieth when men
condemn them&s;elves, and fly unto
him for mercy. If any plead unto
God, <HI>Non e&s;t factum,</HI> and deny his
deeds and debts of &s;in: there is no
rea&s;on why he &s;hould have the Ac|quittance
of Grace. Therefore, &s;aith
<HI>Solomon,</HI> He that hideth his &s;ins &s;hall
not<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">Prov. 28</NOTE> pro&s;per, but he that confe&s;&s;eth
them and for&s;aketh them, &s;hall have
mercy.</P>
<P>If thou confe&s;s them effectually,
it will cau&s;e thee to weep like<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">Joh. 20. 15</NOTE> <HI>Mary
Magdalen,</HI> wraffle with God, like
<PB REF="9">
<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">Gen. 32. 24</NOTE> <HI>Jacob;</HI> and pour forth floods of tears
like <HI>Ezeckia.</HI> Thou<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">Eze. 12. 3</NOTE> mu&s;t confe&s;s
them in this, or &s;uch like manner,
Fir&s;t, thou mu&s;t put up an indite|ment
again&s;t thy &s;elf, and accu&s;e thee
before God wherein thou mu&s;t ac|knowledge
both thy particular and
unknown &s;ins generally without any
excu&s;e, extenuation, or defence, inbid|ing
the lea&s;t of them. An example
thou mai&s;t find in <HI>David;</HI><NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 51. 3</NOTE> <HI>I know my
iniquity is ever before me.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, thou mu&s;t with <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">rief of
heart (as a Iudge upon the Bench)
give &s;entence again&s;t thy &s;elf, ac|knowledging
thy unworthyne&s;s, by
rea&s;on of thy sin, to have de&s;erved
everla&s;ting damnation; as the<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">Lu. 15. 21</NOTE> Pro|digal
child did, who &s;aid, Father I
have sinned again&s;t heaven, and be|fore
thee; Or the poor Publican, who
&s;tanding far off, would not &s;o much
as ca&s;t up his eyes to Heaven, but
&s;mote his brea&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 28. 13</NOTE> crying, <HI>Lord be merci|ful
to me a &s;inner.</HI></P>
<P>Thou mu&s;t al&s;o accu&s;e thy sins, thy
very con&s;cience mu&s;t witne&s;s again&s;t
them, and thy heart convince them;
thou mu&s;t accu&s;e them, 1. as &s;trangers
dejected, 2. as adver&s;aries convicted,
and 3. as enemies profe&s;&s;ed.</P>
<P>In &s;o doing, &s;aid <HI>Augu&s;tine,</HI> when
<PB REF="9">
thou accu&s;e&s;t thy &s;elf by confes&s;ing
thy &s;ins unto God, thou prevente&s;t
thereby the Devil of his purpo&s;e, &s;o
that he cannot accu&s;e thee at <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">he day
of Iudgment, For &s;aith he<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">Jer. 29. 13, 14</NOTE> thou
plotte&s;t out all thy sins by repen|tance.
Where there is no accu&s;er
there is no crime produced for the
Iudge to condemn; For that which
is not hath no puni&s;hment: forgiven
sins are not; <HI>ergo,</HI> forgiven sins have
no puni&s;hment: And &s;o &s;aith the Au|thor
to the <HI>Hebrews,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Leo.</NOTE> 10. 18. <HI>Leo</HI> &s;aith
that tho&s;e sins &s;hall never be con|demned
which are purged before
with<NOTE N="i" PLACE="marg">John 1. 9</NOTE> confe&s;&s;ion and repentance.
Neither is Ie&s;us Chri&s;t any longer
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">hy Iudge to condemn <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word">, but thy
Advocate to plead for thee, if thou
accu&s;e thy &s;elf by confe&s;&s;ion.</P>
<P>Therefore confe&s;s thy sins unto
God without any accu&s;e or<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Ecc. 5. 7. 1 The&s;. 3.</NOTE> delay.
For it is another manner of thing to
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">epent, than many take it for. It is
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ot every a &s;ob or sigh that brings re|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">entance:
God is merciful, &amp;c, And thus
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">ghtly da<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters"> them over, as though
Gods mercy were to be gained in a
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">oment. Let no man deceive him|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">elf;
it will co&s;t thee many a prayer,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">nd many a tear in thy confe&s;sion,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">efore thou can&s;t have pardon for thy
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">ns,</P>
<P><PB REF="10">
If thou did&s;t feel the &s;mart of &s;in but
<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">1 Cor 12. 7 Acts 2. 37</NOTE> prick in thy wounded con&s;cience,
thou would&s;t never give God any re&s;t;
but like <HI>David,</HI> cry unto God<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 51. 9</NOTE> again
and again, until thou ha&s;t found &s;ome
comfortable per&s;wa&s;ion of Gods
mercy in Chri&s;t, for the forgivene&s;s
of thy &s;ins.</P>
<P>Vntill thou do thus, thou &s;halt
never find any quietne&s;s in thy con|&s;cience,
no<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> any &s;ound comfort of
Gods Spirit in thee.</P>
<P><HI>David</HI> could<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">2 Sa. 12. 13&punc;</NOTE> never repent until God
&s;ent <HI>Nathan</HI> unto him to reprove him
for his &s;in; but &s;o &s;oon as he &s;aw his
&s;in, and that it was not only com|mitted
again&s;t<NOTE N="d" PLACE="marg">2 Sa. 12. 9</NOTE> <HI>Uri<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">h,</HI> but al&s;o a|gain&s;t
God, it pre&s;ently &s;o bounds
his con&s;cience, killed his poor heart,
and &s;o grieved his &s;oul, that he cryed
out in his con&s;cience, <HI>Again&s;t thee
&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>As if he would have &s;aid,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 51</NOTE> Oh my
God, it grieves me exceedingly, and
wounds my ve<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">y &s;oul, that ever I
was &s;o vile a &s;inner as to &s;in again&s;t
thee, O my mo&s;t gracious and mer|ciful
God.</P>
<P>Therefore the only way to repent,
is, from the bottom of thy heart, in
thy con&s;cience to grieve for thy &s;in,
e&s;pecially for that it is again&s;t God,
<PB REF="10">
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">nd cau&s;eth thee to break his Laws;
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">or if thou could&s;t be &s;orry for thy &s;in,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ecau&s;e it is again&s;t God, more than
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">or <HI>g</HI> fear of puni&s;hment, it were a
good &s;ign that thou wert in the ready
way of repentance.</P>
<P>Wherefore if there were no &s;hame
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">or puni&s;hment, no Hell nor dam|nation,
yet thou oughte&s;t to repent,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ecau&s;e thou ha&s;t sinned again&s;t &s;o<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 136 10</NOTE>
good and gracious a God, who hath<NOTE N="i" PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> Cor. 2. 30</NOTE>
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">reated and redeemed thee.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="part">
<HEAD>Sixthly, Faith is the ground or root of
Repentance.</HEAD>
<P><HI>FAith</HI> may be added unto repentance
not as a part, but as the ground<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Heb. 11. 1</NOTE>
or root thereof; for it cannot be, that
the root and the fruit &s;hould be doth
one thing: &amp; without faith there can
never <HI>I</HI> any true repentance, therfore
they are &s;till joyned together:</P>
<P>To clear this doubt, thou mu&s;t
consider three things: 1. the order of
nature; 2. the time; 3. the manife&s;tati|on
of them both</P>
<P>In order of nature, &s;aith goeth be|fore
repentance: in manife&s;tation of
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">hem, repentance is fir&s;t; in time they
are both joyned together.</P>
<P>By order of nature, fir&s;t a mans con|&s;cience
mu&s;t in &s;ome &s;ort be &s;etled,
touching his reconciliation with God
<PB REF="11">
in Chri&s;t before he can truly repent.</P>
<P>As <HI>S. Ambro&s;e</HI> &s;aith, <HI>No man can
rightly repent, unle&s;s he hope for par|don.</HI>
So that remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins is be|lieved,
then upon that comes Re|pentance.</P>
<P>By manife&s;tation, repentance go|eth
before faith, for it is &s;ooner de&s;|cryed
than faith.</P>
<P>Regeneration is like the &s;ap of a
tr&eacute;e, hid within thee bark; when as
repentance is like the bud, that &s;pee|dily
&s;heweth it &s;elf.</P>
<P>If we re&s;pect y^e time, neither of them
are one before the other but are begot|ten
both in an in&s;tant. So &s;oon as there
is fire, &s;o &s;oon it is hot: and &s;o &s;oon as
a man is<NOTE N="m" PLACE="marg">Joh. 3. 3 4, 5, &amp;c.</NOTE> regenerate &s;o &s;oon he
repents: for he that believes, in&s;tant|ly
repents. Therefore none can truly
repent, except he believes, that he
is Gods. And none can have belief
<NOTE N="n" PLACE="marg">Pet. 19</NOTE> but he that hath this grace, &amp; faith
in him.</P>
<P>Fur<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">hermore, none repent, unle&s;s
they hate sin, &amp; faith cau&s;eth a man to
hate &s;in Now none can hate sin, ex|cept
he be &s;anctified, and none can be
&s;anctified, without he be ju&s;tified, &amp;
this cannot be without faith<NOTE N="o" PLACE="marg">Rom. 3. 4, 25, 26 27, 28</NOTE>, faith
comprehendeth ju&s;tification.</P>
<P>Again the inward or in&s;trumen|tal
<PB REF="11">
cau&s;e of repentance, is faith
which may be called the mother of
repentance, becau&s;e it brings it forth
as the word is the begetter; and &s;o
may have the name of a Father: for
he that is without faith is dead. No
life without faith, no repentance
without life: &amp; therefore neither the
<HI>Phari&s;ees Prayer</HI><NOTE N="p" PLACE="marg">Lu. 18. 11</NOTE>, the <HI>harlots vow</HI><NOTE N="q" PLACE="marg">Pro. 7. 14</NOTE>, y^<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">
<HI>Traitors ki&s;s</HI><NOTE N="r" PLACE="marg">Lu 22. 48 Mat. 26. 18</NOTE>, the <HI>Sacrifice of Cain</HI><NOTE N="&s;" PLACE="marg">Mat. 14. 44 Gen. 4. 5.</NOTE>,
the <HI>fa&s;t of Jezabel</HI><NOTE N="t" PLACE="marg">1 Kin. 21. 9,</NOTE>, y^<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter"> <HI>oblation of An|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">anias,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5. 2</NOTE>
nor the <HI>tears of E&s;aux,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 37. 38</NOTE> could <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e
accepted of God, becau&s;e they were
not truly dedoted from a lively faith.</P>
<P>La&s;tly, the efficient or principal
working cau&s;e of faith in thy repen|tance,
is<NOTE N="a" PLACE="marg">Joh. 12. 4 <HI>Acts</HI> 5. 21 2 Tim. 2. 25 16</NOTE> God, whereby, by faith, eve|ry
true believer receiveth Chri&s;t for
<NOTE N="b" PLACE="marg">1 Jo. 3. 16 Mat. 2. 1 Luk, 2. 6, 7 John 6. 35 Joh. 25. 26 Joh. 20. 29 John 3. 16 2 Cor. 5. 15. Rom. 5. 5 1 Tim. 2. 6 1 Pet. 3. 18 1 Cor. 15. 1 Mat. 28. 6 Mat. 16. 6 Joh. 20. 27</NOTE> him&s;elf, as given for him, born for
him, dying for him, and ro&s;e again for
him: for he died for his &s;ins, and ro&s;e
again for his iu&s;tification. And to
conclude, repentance &s;eparated from
faith in Chri&s;t, is no true repentance.
And thus much concerning Faith.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>L&s;tly, the time when to repent.</HEAD>
<P>MAn hath no time of repentance
certain, no term<NOTE N="c" PLACE="marg">Acts 9. 4</NOTE> of years,
but term of life,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ecc. 9 10</NOTE> and that is mo&s;t
uncertain.</P>
<P>T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ough God called <HI>Saul d</HI> twice, <HI>Sa|muel,</HI>
thrice<NOTE N="e" PLACE="marg">1 Sa. 3. 4</NOTE>, his <HI>Spou&s;e</HI> four times<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">Cant. 5. 2</NOTE>
<PB REF="12">
the <HI>Ninivites</HI> 40. daies<NOTE N="g" PLACE="marg">Jon. 34 Deut. 8, 2</NOTE>, and the <HI>Jews</HI>
forty years; yet he gives us no time
to repent, but to repent now.</P>
<P>The time of repentance is the time
pre&s;ent without delay, as the holy
Gho&s;t teacheth: This day if you will
hear his voice, harden<NOTE N="h" PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 95. 8</NOTE> not your
hearts: for there is but one accepta|ble
time, which being neglected, is as
a Bird e&s;caped out of the hand, or a
&s;haft &s;hot out of a bow, not to be re|called.
At what time (&s;aith the Lord.)
The Lord limits no time, if a man
repent truly. The time; of repentance
is double; 1. it mu&s;t be done pre&s;ently
without delay; 2. continually, every
day. It mu&s;t be done<NOTE N="k" PLACE="marg">Ecc. 5. 7 1 The&s; 5. 9</NOTE> &s;peedily with|out
delay: for who knows whether
this be the acceptable time, which if
thou neglect when God calls thee in
the youth, or in thy health; it may be
he will not call thee hereafter in thy
age or &s;ickne&s;s; and the longer thou
do&s;t defer thy repentance, the harder
it will be for thee to repent. There|fore
if thou ha&s;t &s;uffered the bud of
thy youth to be bla&s;ted, thy flower to
fade, thy leaves to dry up, and thy
boughs to wither, yet keep life in the
<NOTE N="l" PLACE="marg">Joh. 25. 1</NOTE> root, let the whole become fuel for
m Hell fire.</P>
<P>Be not like tho&s;e which begin not
<PB REF="12">
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> live untill they be ready to die and
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">hen after a foes de&s;ert,<NOTE N="n" PLACE="marg">P&s;. 54. 6 Wi&s; 14. 9 P&s;al. 14. 4</NOTE> come to
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">rave of God a friends entertain|ment.
Nor think to &s;natch up Hea|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">en
in a moment, which the be&s;t can
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">carce attain unto in many years:
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">r jump from<NOTE N="o" PLACE="marg">Lu. 16. 19</NOTE> <HI>Dives</HI> diet to <HI>Laza|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">us</HI>
crown; that is, from the &s;ervice
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">f Satan, to the &s;olace<NOTE N="p" PLACE="marg">Lu. 16. 22</NOTE> of Saints.
O beloved heaven, is to to be gained
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">o easily.</P>
<P>The thief indeed may be &s;aved on
<NOTE N="q" PLACE="marg">Luke 23. 42, 43</NOTE> the Cro&s;s; and mercy found at la&s;t,
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ut late repentance is &s;eldom or ne|ver
true repentance. For if a man
repent he can sin no more, then he
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">eaves not sin, but sin leaves him.</P>
<P>Oh therefore if thou would&s;t be
from from this doubt, avoid the cer|tainty
repent whil&s;t thou art in good
health,<NOTE N="r" PLACE="marg">Eph. 5. 15</NOTE> take time whil&s;t it is offered
thee, for time and tide &s;taieth for no
man. Common experience <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ee<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">eth
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 word"> that time is pre<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ious, &s;hort and
<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">revocable, which can never be re|deemed,
and withall consider, he that
is not ready to repent to day, will
be le&s;s ready to morrow: it may be
God hath appointed this day to be
the end of thy life. Oh therefore al|ways
&s;o live, that thou be ever pre|pared
to die. If thou do&s;t defer
<PB REF="13">
thy repentance untill it be to late
O <HI>I</HI> then thou would&s;t give a thou+&s;and
worlds for one days repentance
or an hours contrition. Record there+fore
a decree in thy heart, to keep all
thy &s;ins in perpetual exile and neve<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">
admit them again in thy court: But
turn O turn from &s;in to &s;anctity,
from <HI>Babylon</HI> to <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> from <HI>Be|thavan</HI>
to <HI>Bethel,</HI> from <HI>Sodom</HI> to <HI>Sion,</HI>
and from <HI>Belial</HI> to <HI>God,</HI> &s;o let not the
Sun of thy plea&s;ure be the day of thy
lives end, nor night of thy death come
before the great work of thy repen|tance
be begun.</P>
<P>Oh repent, repent therefore that
thou and I, and all the elect children
of God, may have all our &s;ins freely
forgiven us, and be with Chri&s;t Ie|&s;us
Saviour, who hath &s;o dearly
bought us: To whom with the Fa|ther
and the Holy Gho&s;t, be all<NOTE N="f" PLACE="marg">Rev. 19. 1</NOTE> Ho|nour,
Power, Glory, and Dominion,
both now and evermore. Amen.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
<PB REF="13" MS="y">
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
