deed at all tends to, a real amendment. But, SERM. the mind that grieves after a godly fort dwells III. on the confideration of fin as it is in itself,

and in the lights wherein the fcripture fets

it; it confiders moral evil as an error, as unbecoming the rational nature, as a deviation from the eternal and unchangeable measures of right, as offenfive to, and difapproved by, the best of all beings, as ingratude to a benefactor who continually loads us with his favours, and exercises towards us the most amazing patience and tender compaffion; to all which the gofpel adds, that most powerful motive taken from the death and paffion of Chrift. Our glorious redeemer was, as the prophet speaks of him, a man of forrows and acquainted with grief ‡; and after a life of deep humiliation, poverty and contempt, endured a moft ignominious and painful death. And, when we remember that he fuffered and past through all his scenes of grief for our fakes, that he might redeem us from all our iniquities, and purify to himSelf a peculiar people zealous of good works* and finally bring us to the poffeffion of an eternal reft and bleffedness in heaven; when I fay, all this is confidered, it must be a hard heart that does not relent, that can look to bim

SERM. him that was pierced for our fins, and not HI.- mourn and be in bitterness.

1

It is likewife very natural for men convinced, and fenfibly affected with the res membrance of their tranfgreffions, to confefs them to God whom they have offended. Nature dictates a way of expreffing our forrows, and reafon tells us that forrow for injuries done, fhould be uttered in acknow ledgements to the perfon injured. We are very ready to expect and demand it when wrong is done us, and can we question the equity of paying it when our hearts tells us we have done wrong; efpecially, this ho mage is due to the fupreme being, when we have affronted and provoked him by violating his righteous laws. The confeffion of fin is a reproaching ourselves in the bitterness of our fpirits, as polluted by the most naufeous and loathfome thing, which we can no longer bear. It is, as the fcripture speaks, taking to ourselves fhame, and confufion of face, and justifying God whom our tranfgreffions dishonoured, making a folemn acknowledgement of the reasonableness of his laws, and the righteoufnefs of the fentence which he has pronounced against the evil deeds of men. At the fame time, it gives

glory to his mercy and the truth of his pro

mife,

1.

mife, that he will pardon iniquity, tranf- SERM greffion, and fin; the hope of which, far III from leffening the malignity of fin, in the view of a penitent, it increases it rather, as the prophet fays, in the name of the Lord. Ezekiel xvi. 63. Thou shalt remember, and be ashamed and confounded, and never open thy mouth, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done. For these reasons, the confeffion of fin is often enjoin'd in fcripture, and great promifes are made to the fincere performance of it; yet the ftrefs is not laid on the performance itself, but the value of it depends on its tendency to a reformation, which, chiefly, is well-pleafing to God.

:

The refult will certainly be a change of mind and affections from evil to good, a difpofition to alter our courfe of action; for it is altogether an inconfiftent fuppofition, that we should be forry for having offended, and acknowledge it with fhame, at the fame time refolving that we will continue in the fame courfe. But ftill all these are only preparations for repentance, it is not finish'd in them. It's true characteristic is a deliberate and refolved change of temper and behaviour; a firm purpose of amendment thoroughly executed; refolving to keep God's righteous judg-.

ments,

SERM.ments, and immediately entering upon the III. actual performance of it; no more fashioning ourfelves according to the former lufts in igno

rance, but as he that hath called us is holy, becoming holy in all manner of converfation*.

2

To convince us of this, which I take to be a point of very great moment; let us, first, confider the express declarations of scripture concerning it. The apostle Paul discourfing of godly forrow, (and certainly none can have a better character, it comprehends every good qualification of forrow for fin) fays ‡, it worketh repentance unto falvation not to be repented of; not that it is repentance unto falvation, for he maketh a plain difference as between the means and the end; the occasion or preparation and the effect. Befides, in a great many other paffages, a pious and virtuous life, a perfevering obedience and patient continuance in well doing, is the condition of our obtaining eternal life; which indeed is contained in repentance, but not in forrow, confeffion of fin, or good inclinations. On the other hand, a vitious character and wicked behaviour, difqualifies men for the kingdom of God, whatever their griefs, humiliations, and pious defires, and

and purposes may be. The adulterer, the SER M forcerer, the railer, the covetous, the drunk- III. ard, fhall not inherit the kingdom of God, tho' they should often with deep humility and regret confefs their fins, and in their con feffions and griefs incline and refolve to alter their course of life; yet they do it not, but it happens to them according to the proverb, as St. Peter expreffes it, || The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the fow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

I think no attentive perfon can doubt but this is the doctrine of the holy fcriptures upon the head of repentance; at least, that a virtuous courfe of life, ordering our converfations aright, being undefiled in the way, walking in the law of the Lord, doing no iniquity, and keeping God's precepts diligently, is abfolutely and indifpenfably neceffary to our being bleffed in enjoying the favour of God. It is a wonder that any chriftians fhould have gone into other fentiments, fome even in fpeculation and opinion, many more in the fecret fond presumption of their hearts, not fupported by any avowed principle, imagining that humiliation, and contrition, and ineffectual purposes of amendment, would at laft be fufficient to their acceptance with -VOL. I. God.

+1 Cor. vi. 9:

F

2 Pet. ii, 22,